Makeup Tips for Older Women: What’s the Difference Between BB and CC Creams

Sometimes we aren’t aware of the specific purpose of a makeup product. So how do we decide whether it’s good for us? Join us in discussion with makeup professional Ariane Poole, who reveals the different benefits of BB and CC creams. Enjoy the show.

Margaret Manning:

My guest today is Ariane Poole. Ariane is a professional makeup artist who has been working with Sixty and Me for many years now. She is an absolute expert in all things makeup, beauty and positive aging.

Ariane is featured a lot on QVC UK and also on TVSN in Australia. Her products are fabulous, and like usual, we’ve got lots of questions for her. Welcome, Ariane.

Ariane Poole:

Hi, there Margaret. It’s so lovely to see you.

Margaret:

Our community really loves you and the advice you share. The question today has to do with the products we should use as our skin ages and our skin tone changes. Many women like to have a foundation on as it gives a palette for playing with makeup.

But there’s a lot of confusion about BB creams and CC creams. What are they? How do they differ from a regular cream or foundation? When do we use them?

Ariane:

That’s a question I’ve been asked a lot because it is really confusing. BB stands for blemish balm. People in the west think blemishes are spots, like pimples. But this cream was originally developed in the Far East for women who had procedures done, like microdermabrasion, to get rid of the brown spot.

So, if you’ve had microdermabrasion or laser treatment done, you would put on a BB cream, which is really thick, quite hydrating and always has very high SPFs. That’s what it was made for.

I know some women who have oily or an acne prone skin – even as we get older, we still can have those kind of issues – reach for a BB cream, but they see no results. That’s because the purpose of a BB cream is different.

Margaret:

I’ve noticed BB creams tend to be a little bit thicker, high-coverage and maybe a little bit oilier.

Ariane:

Yeah, BB creams are heavier. I’d like to compare three BB creams for you: mine, a Clarence one, and a brand new Estée Lauder one, which comes in a compact. All three are really thick, and if you’re somebody who doesn’t like heavy coverage, it’s going to be too much for you.

My one and the Clarence one are really thick. The Estée Lauder one just came out, and it’s got like a little spongy cushion to wet your finger on. It’s not as thick as the other ones, but it’s still heavy.

Margaret:

You sometimes need that kind of coverage though, if you have got spots or surgery scars, for instance.

Ariane:

Yes. So if you need the coverage and the high SPF level, this is something you should choose. But if you’ve got oily skin, stay away.

Margaret:

I actually went into the store the other day, and I looked at the Estée Lauder one. I was very curious about it, too. I looked at it, and it is very light. But I didn’tthink it was that much different from the It cosmetics foundation that I sometimes use. So, I guess it really depends on your individual situation.

Ariane:

Yes, but the one big thing you should remember is that if you’ve got oily skin, and you’re prone to occasional breakouts, a BB cream is what you should not be using.

Margaret:

So how would you compare that to a CC cream?

Ariane:

A CC cream everyone can use. It stands for complexion corrector. Sometimes, when your skin looks a little bit dull and lifeless, a CC cream is the thing to use because it has a brightening aspect. Everyone’s CC cream has got a slightly different angle, but they’re more or less similar.

They’re lighter weight than the BB creams, and anybody can use them. They’re not specifically going to have a high SPF, and they’re used underneath a foundation to brighten up the skin.

If you’ve been on medication, like a course of antibiotics, or the seasons are changing, that’s the time when you might choose a CC cream.

I’m going to compare the Clinique one and my one. Now, my CC cream is a little bit different because it’s a funny color. But actually, a lot of the CC creams come in weird colors because of the brightening aspect.

Even though my CC cream has a weird color and it looks like it’s going to keep it, once you spread it on your skin, it actually goes to a skin color. The same thing happens with the Clinique one. It’s really lovely. And they’re much lighter weight than the BB creams.

Margaret:

They seem very luminescent, which is a really nice look for the evening. Did you say that you would put it on underneath your foundation, or on top?

Ariane:

You put it on underneath your foundation. You can apply it on its own, too, if you don’t need very much coverage. CC creams tend to have light coverage. So, if you’re somebody who wants something that’s lightweight, then by all means, choose a CC cream.

Margaret:

So, do you apply it in place of a primer?

Ariane:

Yeah, use it in place of a primer.

Margaret:

Your Ultimate Face Tint, which is my go-to foundation, is a wonderful product. I actually wear it all the time when out in the world. On the packaging it says it’s a CC, BB and primer. Do you want to explain that?

Ariane:

Well, it gets very confusing for people when to put which product – on top or underneath… I understand that because, how many layers can you put on?

Margaret:

Exactly. They start rubbing off on each other.

Ariane:

A lot of the ladies that I was working with – whether private clients, or doing red carpet things, or on talks – were all saying the same things: When do I use this? When do I use that? Do I combine this together?

Literally, they were trying to put on three or four different products on their face. One, it’s not time-efficient, and two, like you said, the products kind of rub off on each other.

With the Ultimate Face Tint I decided to do a primer, a BB, a CC, a tinted moisturizer and a foundation, all rolled up into one. I know you’re thinking, “Oh, my gosh, a BB cream is supposed to be much heavier!”

Actually, we made it pigment-rich so you get the high coverage, but it’s got the light weight and the glow of the CC. Honestly, it was not an easy task to create such a product. But it does work.

Margaret:

I know that’s one of your best sellers for that very reason. What I really like about it is, it’s super light – it doesn’t look like you’re wearing a lot of makeup – but you get a little bit of color. That’s the primary reason why I use foundation. Otherwise, I’d just use moisturizer on my face.

Ariane:

Exactly. If you’re somebody who doesn’t want heavy coverage, it’s the product to use. If you want heavier coverage, then it’s not the product for you. There’s other stuff out there available, like this brand new Estée Lauder thing I’m going to share with you another time.

Margaret:

Oh this is a nice teaser. I’m really happy that you shared with us the difference between a CC cream and a BB cream. I know you’re open to questions, Ariane, so we welcome them below. Thanks again for everything you do for us, and we will talk again soon.

Do you use a BB or CC cream? Did you know what each of them is used for? How valuable is Ariane’s advice? Do you have any specific questions you’d like to ask her? Please comment below, share your stories and ask your questions.