The alphabet has officially taken over beauty shelves. Nearly every brand boasts a Beauty Balm (BB) or Color Corrector (CC) lotion that combines skin benefits with sunscreen, while others have even ventured into DD through ZZ territory with other marketable claims. Now we’re seeing these familiar letters on a whole new plethora of products, from eye creams to bronzer and even lipstick.What does it all mean?“As compared to conventional makeup, these new products generally contain a higher concentration of skincare ingredients and are designed to be multi-tasking treatments,” explains Washington, D.C., dermatologist Noelle Sherber, M.D.But buyer beware: Not all BB/CC-labeled products are the real deal. “Some products are just joining the craze and don’t contain significant concentrations of active ingredients, so it’s always critical to read the labels,” warns Dr. Sherber.“For example, what might have just been called a moisturizing lipstick a few years ago may now be the same thing marketed as a CC lipstick—so look for ingredients like antioxidants, peptides and SPF to know that you’re getting a product that may really improve the condition of skin,” she adds.YouBeauty Cosmetic Chemistry Expert Ni’Kita Wilson agrees. “Don’t get caught up in the hype! Strip away the trendy words and really see what is being said about the product,” she advises.If you prefer pure pigment and full coverage, you’d likely be happier sticking with traditional products that deliver fuller color payoff. Though if you’re looking to save time by treating skin and applying color in the same step and you fancy a sheerer finish, these new BB and CC launches are ideal for you, says Wilson.You have plenty to choose from.
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For your pout, It Cosmetics CC+ Liquid Lip Serum ($24) provides sheer “your lips but better” tinting drenched in peptides, collagen, hyaluronic acid and nine essential oils. For glossy pink or plum lips, StriVectin Anti-Aging Lip Tint SPF 20 is fortified with a proprietary NIA-114 molecule that the brand claims minimizes the look of lip lines while increasing hydration levels.
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New for face, Tarte Colored Clay CC Primer blurs imperfections with purple pigment to brighten skin and green to neutralize redness and discoloration. The clay is chock-full of natural good-for-skin minerals like iron, manganese and titanium. Hard Candy Color Correcting Tinted Moisturizer Stick also uses marbled purple and green center-cores to even out skintone, which are nestled into foundation layers.
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Meanwhile, Laura Geller CC Crème Compact Swirl Foundation SPF 25 cocoons skin with anti-aging derma peptides and hydrating Omega Plancton from the sea to smooth texture. And even contour is getting in on the act: Physicians Formula Glow-Boosting Beauty Balm BB Bronzer SPF 20 infuses a luminous terra cotta with phospholipids, carob tree extract and vitamins C and E to moisturize and improve skin’s clarity and radiance.
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Peter Thomas Roth blends the vitamin C-rich Amazonian berry known as Camu Camu with complexion correction, sunscreen, illumination and coverup in his CC Eye Correcting Concealer that launches in April. And L’Oréal Paris Visible Lift CC Eye Concealer incorporates a cooling roller ball applicator that works with illuminating pigments to brighten eyes.The eye category bursts at the seams with new launches. Olay just added Total Effects Dark Circle Minimizing CC Cream with iron oxides and an automatic blending brush as well as Eye Brightening CC Cream with pro-vitamin B5 and niacinamide to its line of products.And there’s more!Physicians Formula joins the charge with Super CC+ Concealer SPF 30 that corrects with yellow, green and pink pigments while offering anti-aging benefits with mild alpha hydroxy acids and a brightening component that the brand claims tests more effective than kojic acid.Finally, StriVectin brings the same Nia-114 molecule technology that’s in its lip tints above to its Clinical Corrector Anti-Aging Eye Illuminator, too. You can use the wand in other dark areas of the face in need of radiance, like on the inner corners of eyes and around the nose.OK, we give in—BB me up, Scotty!
