Editors and K-Beauty Experts Swear by BB Creams—These Are the 11 Best Available (2024)

Our Top Picks

Key Ingredients: Zinc oxide, titanium dioxide, ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate | SPF: 42 | Benefits: Blocks UV rays, evens skin tone, fills in fine lines, hydrates | Cruelty-Free: No

This formula is a power player, full stop. It has a high SPF (42, to be exact) and provides broad-spectrum protection from the sun's damaging rays. We also love its good-for-the-skin ingredients, like hydrating hyaluronic acid, calming chamomile, and nourishing plant oils.

The coverage is light but buildable, seamlessly camouflaging blemishes, filling in fine lines, and creating a smooth, healthy-looking complexion. The result? A natural finish for skin that looks like, well…skin. We do however wish it came in darker shades so that it can be used by all skin tones.

Who It's For

This fan-favorite BB cream is great for anyone looking for a skin-friendly foundation alternative that offers lightweight, buildable coverage and a natural finish.

Key Ingredients: Titanium dioxide, cyclopentasiloxane | Benefits: Controls sebum, fills in fine lines, boosts radiance | SPF: 30 | Cruelty-Free: No

Super+ Beblesh Balm is formulated to address various signs of photoaging (aka the damage the sun's rays can do to your skin). It promises to camouflage dark spots, minimize the appearance of fine lines, even out skin tone, and promote collagen production (which helps skin look younger). This BB cream also helps control sebum (oil production), which is great for those with oxymoron complexions: mature, acne-prone skin. The product can look a little greyish upon application, but if you wait a few minutes, it should adjust to match your skin tone.

Who It's For

If you're looking for a formula that delivers lightweight coverage while addressing the signs of photoaging, Beblesh Balm is a stellar choice. However, it does have a limited shade range.

Key Ingredients: Ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate, octinoxate, titanium dioxide, zinc oxide | Benefits: Plumps, reduces shine, soothes | SPF: 20 | Cruelty-Free: Yes

If you have oily skin, you might be nervous about trying a new cream makeup, but this one from Erborian is designed to combat those oily patches. Those of us with oily T-zones appreciate how this makeup base absorbs excess oil, minimizes the look of pores, and delivers a mattified finish. But it won't leave your skin high and dry, either, thanks to ginseng. Dr. Gonzalez says this ingredient helps hydrate the skin to create a smooth canvas for the makeup products to follow.

Who It's For

We stand behind this mattifying Korean BB cream for those with oily complexions, greasy T-zones, or enlarged pores.

Key Ingredients: Cyclopentasiloxane | Benefits: Smooths, conceals, promotes cell turnover | SPF: 40 | Cruelty-Free: No

We love a BB cream with numerous skin-boosting ingredients, like brightening niacinamide and moisturizing glycerin. For those wanting a higher SPF with broad-spectrum sun protection as well, Dr. Gonzalez recommends the Dr. Jart+ Premium Beauty Balm. This wildly popular BB cream is a go-to for the acne-prone set. "It provides a good amount of blemish coverage while promoting cell turnover, which is a nice bonus,” says Dr. Gonzalez.

Who It's For

If you're on the hunt for a BB cream with broad-spectrum SPF protection that not only conceals but also prevents breakouts, Dr. Jart+is your guy. It can feel a little sticky upon initial application, so just wait a bit for it to set before continuing with your makeup routine.

Key Ingredients: Cyclopentasiloxane, titanium dioxide | Benefits: Calms skin, evens tone, moisturizes | SPF: 37 | Cruelty-Free: No

Applying foundation to a parched complexion can leave you with a tight feeling and uneven coverage. That's why it's important to use a BB cream with moisturizing components. If your skin is on the drier side, we recommend The Face Shop's Power Perfection BB Cream. This product calls on omega-3 fatty acids to deliver much-needed moisture without clogging the pores or creating a greasy feel. It also evens the skin tone and provides subtly glowy coverage. It does have a bit of a runny consistency though, so it's best to start with less and add more product as you apply.

Who It's For

This hydrating beauty balm is ideal for those with dry complexions who want their makeup base to add moisture to their skin without feeling heavy or clogging pores.

Key Ingredients: Titanium dioxide | Benefits: Corrects tone, improves wrinkles, prevents sunburn | SPF: 50+ | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Wacky as it may sound, snail extract (a natural source of hyaluronic acid) is a massively popular ingredient in Korean skincare—and the Mizon Snail Repair BB Cream is packed with it. In addition to this humectant, which draws moisture in from the air, the nonirritating, fragrance-free formula contains gentle ingredients—ideal for sensitive skin. We also like that it offers SPF 50+ protection to safeguard your skin from the sun's damaging rays.

Who It's For

This super hydrating SPF 50+ BB cream is just the thing for people with reactive complexions.

Key Ingredients: Zinc oxide | Benefits: Smooths skin, retains moisture | SPF: Not specified | Cruelty-Free: Yes

BB creams aren't always the best for full-coverage looks, but this multitasker is different. EverGlam BB Skin Perfector is buildable, allowing you to go from medium to full coverage, depending on your day-to-day preferences. It also delivers sun protection, has botanical anti-aging ingredients, minimizes the appearance of pores, and enhances your complexion. The formula is long-lasting, too, so there's no need for frequent touch-ups. We just hope that they come out with more than one shade soon.

Who It's For

We suggest this buildable BB cream for those who want a bit more coverage than other formulas but aren't fans of traditional foundation.

Key Ingredients: Cyclopentasiloxane, ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate, titanium dioxide, zinc oxide | Benefits: Improves texture, corrects redness, hydrates | SPF: 30 | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Korean BB creams usually come in a very limited range of shades—sometimes just one—often without any dark options. Since they're supposed to blend into different skin tones, they don't have to be a perfect match like foundation, but most K-beauty brands don't cater to melanin-rich skin at all. While there's still room for improvement (the deepest shade isn't that deep), Pūrlisse Perfect Glow has one of the best shade ranges we found. We also like how the cool-toned hues correct for redness and complement all skin undertones, and the natural-looking dewy finish is hard to beat.

Who It's For

This BB cream is a good option for people with light to medium-dark skin with olive undertones who like healthy-looking, glowy coverage.

Key Ingredients: Niacinamide, hyaluronic acid | Benefits: Hydrates, evens tone, conceals imperfections | SPF: None | Cruelty-Free: Yes

We're all about the lightweight breathability of BB cream. But for those who don't want to sacrifice good coverage, a buildable formula like Joah Perfect Complexion is ideal. It's easy to apply, blends beautifully, and never looks or feels cakey when you add more layers. This makeup base also contains skin-loving ingredients like calming and tone-evening niacinamide, and hydrating hyaluronic acid. However, unlike most BB creams on this list, it doesn't have SPF.

Who It's For

If you like the lightweight, breathable feel of BB cream but want more coverage (and don't need SPF), this buildable formula is the way to go.

Key Ingredients: Titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, niacinamide, vitamin E | Benefits: Calms irritated skin, hydrates, reinforces skin barrier | SPF: N/A | Cruelty-Free: Yes

If you're dealing with super irritated skin or have a skin condition such as eczema or psoriasis, applying a standard foundation can sometimes cause even more irritation and redness. This BB cream from Purito is the perfect formula if you want some coverage without making your skin react even more. Its star ingredient is centella asiatica extract (also known as cica), which is known for its soothing and healing properties. The cream also has panthenol and niacinamide—two ingredients that can strengthen the skin barrier and add hydration—in order to improve the complexion's capability to fight external stressors. It has a lightweight feel but buildable coverage, and it leaves a natural, dewy finish on the skin.

Who It's For

Applying base makeup on red or reactive skin can cause even more harm. Reach for this product to calm the irritation and have a flawless base.

Key Ingredients: Titanium dioxide, cyclopentasiloxane, ethylexyl methoxycinnamate | Benefits: Color corrects, conceals, moisturizes | SPF: 50+ | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Yes, we know this is a list of BB creams, but since this CC cream has multiple benefits similar to a BB cream, we felt it was worthy to include. CC creams tend to offer more coverage than BB creams and, as the name suggests, help adjust discoloration on the skin (such as hyperpigmentation). Mother Made AquaLight is a multifunctional product that can be used in place of foundation, as a concealer, as a primer, or on its own when you're going for a no-makeup makeup look. We also love how the dewy finish delivers the coveted "glass skin" appearance of an ultra-hydrated, extra-smooth complexion. However, the product is currently only available in one shade.

Who It's For

Mother Made AquaLight is a multiuse makeup product that creates a smooth, moisturized base while correcting discoloration and concealing imperfections.

FAQ

• What is the difference between foundation and BB cream?

  BB cream is similar to foundation in that it often works as a makeup base applied before concealer. But it goes further by providing additional benefits like hydration and sun protection. BB cream is also typically sheerer than foundation.

• What is BB cream used for?

  BB cream can be used as a makeup base to smooth, blur, and cover minor imperfections. It provides light coverage and evens out skin tone while offering benefits like sun protection, hydration, pore-minimizing effects, and acne prevention.

• What is the difference between BB cream and CC cream?

  BB cream (or beauty balm cream) is a lightly tinted, protective, multipurpose cream that walks the line between makeup and skincare. CC cream (or color corrector cream) is used to even out skin tone, reduce redness, address sallowness, or correct dark circles with light coverage.

• Is BB cream better than foundation?

  BB cream may provide more benefits than foundation. However, a foundation typically offers more coverage. The product you pick will depend on your unique needs, preferences, and skin type. If you want medium to full coverage, go with foundation. But if you want light coverage with skincare benefits, BB cream might be your best bet.