IT Cosmetics CC Cream has gained a loyal following for its ability to offer great coverage and a dewy finish while simultaneously delivering essential skincare benefits. As a color-correcting or complexion-correcting product, it helps to even out skin tone, redness, and other discolorations.
To top it all off, this fan-favorite also boasts SPF protection, providing broad-spectrum coverage. However, there can be a few drawbacks with the IT Cosmetics CC Cream, such as its price tag or lack of diverse shades.
Fortunately, the beauty market is filled with alternatives to help you achieve a flawless complexion without breaking the bank. In this article, I will discuss the top IT Cosmetics CC Cream dupes available to help you find the perfect match for your skin type and budget. These IT Cosmetics CC Cream dupes can provide you with similar results, some even offering additional skincare benefits.
IT Cosmetics CC+ Cream: The OG
IT Cosmetics CC+ Cream with SPF 50+ stands as the prestigious and award-winning color-correcting cream, reigning as America’s number-one choice. Its immense popularity owes to its flawless, natural look while offering many skin benefits.
This versatile CC cream acts as a full-coverage foundation, concealer, and moisturizer all in one. It also functions as an anti-aging serum and boasts the advantage of SPF 50+ sun protection. Expertly formulated with input from plastic surgeons, it showcases skin-loving active ingredients.
This lightweight foundation expertly conceals acne scars, wrinkles, redness, dark circles, and enlarged pores, doubling as a skin-smoothing primer. Dark spots vanish, and the hydrating formula ensures crease-free, all-day wear.
Application is also effortless—target areas needing correction, such as eyes, nose, chin, mouth, and forehead. Choose between a makeup brush or finger application. It comes in 12 shade options.
IT Cosmetics CC+ Cream: Key Ingredients
The IT Cosmetics CC+ Cream has a remarkable blend of crucial ingredients that synergize to provide exceptional skincare and makeup benefits. These ingredients include:
- Hydrolyzed Collagen: A skin-plumping protein that helps to improve skin elasticity and lessen the formation of fine lines and wrinkles.
- Peptides: These potent amino acid compounds promote skin regeneration and firmness, contributing to a youthful complexion.
- Niacinamide: Aka Vitamin B3, niacinamide is renowned for its ability to even out skin tone, reduce the appearance of pores, and enhance skin texture.
- Hyaluronic Acid: A potent hydrating ingredient that attracts and retains moisture, helping to keep the skin supple and smooth.
- Antioxidants: The CC+ Cream infuses skin-loving antioxidants that protect the skin from environmental damage induced by free radicals.
- Physical Sunscreen (SPF 50+): Providing broad-spectrum protection, the CC+ Cream’s high SPF shields the skin from harmful rays, preventing sunburn and premature aging.
Together, these nourishing and protective ingredients contribute to the CC+ Cream’s impressive performance, enhancing your skin’s appearance and health while delivering flawless, natural-looking coverage.
7 Best IT Cosmetics CC Cream Dupes
In this section, I will explore the best IT Cosmetics CC Cream dupes that are budget-friendly and effective alternatives to the original IT Cosmetics CC Cream. All of them provide coverage, SPF protection, and similar skin benefits.
E.l.f. Camo CC Cream
Since its launch, the E.l.f. Camo CC Cream has garnered immense praise as a dupe for the IT Cosmetics CC Cream. The two products boast strikingly similar claims, ingredients, and even packaging. Just like the IT Cosmetics CC+ Cream, the E.l.f. Camo CC Cream features critical components such as niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, peptides, and collagen, working harmoniously to create a vibrant, even, plump complexion.
With a wide shade range of 20 options, this CC cream offers medium-to-full buildable coverage. Its lightweight and hydrating formula provides a natural-looking finish, effectively camouflaging uneven skin tone and other discolorations – all for $14. It ranks as the best One of the best It Cosmetics CC cream dupes.
Maybelline Dream Urban Cover
The stunning Urban Cover foundation with SPF 50 is a fantastic find on drugstore shelves. Its luminosity, and natural appearance make it a product you may not want to replace. Speaking of the finish, both foundations are incredibly similar, although Maybelline’s version has a slightly dewier effect, which I find appealing.
However, it’s important to note that the Maybelline foundation cannot be classified as an exact dupe for the It Cosmetics CC cream. Maybelline’s offering is solely a foundation without skincare benefits, whereas It Cosmetics CC cream hydrates due to hyaluronic acid, collagen, peptides, niacinamide, and antioxidants.
Nevertheless, the two foundations remain highly comparable in finish, consistency, and texture. Considering the price difference, you can acquire this dupe for the It Cosmetics CC cream for under $10.
Neutrogena Clear Full Coverage Flawless Matte CC Cream
The Neutrogena Clear Full Coverage Flawless Matte CC Cream is an excellent alternative to the It Cosmetics CC Cream, particularly if you have oily and acne-prone skin. Similar to the It Cosmetics version, this CC cream contains niacinamide, which aids in improving the appearance of acne, breakouts, and blemishes.
Designed for oily skin, this foundation offers full coverage with a matte finish. It effectively color corrects, concealing imperfections, discoloration, and uneven skin tone.
Notably, this CC cream boasts a clean formula free from oil, fragrance, parabens, sulfates, and phthalates. This makes it suitable for those seeking a more skin-friendly and non-irritating product.
Physicians Formula CC Cream
Physicians Formula CC Cream offers a unique combination of foundation, moisturizer, and sunscreen in one remarkable product. The CC cream boasts invisible, micro color-correcting pigments in yellow, green, and pink, which work wonders in achieving an immaculate complexion. Its anti-aging ingredients contribute to a stunning skin-like finish, enhancing your natural beauty.
Similar to It Cosmetics, this CC cream features a smooth, blendable, lightweight formula that effortlessly evens and refines skin texture. However, unlike It Cosmetics, it provides SPF 30 protection.
One notable drawback, and perhaps one of the most significant, is the limited shade range offered by Physicians Formula, which might concern you if you’re seeking a perfect match for your skin tone. Despite all the drawbacks, it ranks well among the other It Cosmetics CC cream dupes
Missha M Perfect Cover BB Cream
One of the best It Cosmetics CC cream dupes is the BB cream from Missha. This product offers a beautiful combination of skincare and makeup, providing a flawless finish with medium coverage. It effectively hides blemishes without feeling heavy or cakey, making it an ideal choice for a natural look.
Both the Missha BB cream and It Cosmetics CC cream contain hyaluronic acid, resulting in similar hydration when applied to the skin. Additionally, they offer the same level of SPF protection.
In terms of texture and finish, the It Cosmetics cream may have a slightly thicker and richer consistency, but this does not affect its performance on the skin.
However, regarding longevity, the It Cosmetics cream tends to outlast the Missha one. The Missha cream starts to fade after around 5-6 hours, whereas the pricier counterpart can often last for the entire day.
Maybelline Dream Fresh BB Cream 8-In-1 Skin Perfector
Maybelline Dream Fresh BB Cream is an 8-in-1 skin perfector that offers multiple benefits in one product. This lightweight BB cream provides sheer coverage, moisturizes the skin, and blurs imperfections for a natural-looking finish. With SPF 30, it helps protect against sun damage. The formula is oil-free and contains antioxidants to enhance the overall health of your skin.
Maybelline Dream Fresh BB Cream is easy to apply and blends seamlessly, leaving your skin fresh and radiant. Whether you want to even out your skin tone or achieve a no-makeup makeup look, this affordable BB cream is a fantastic option for a flawless complexion.
Purito Cica Clearing BB Cream
The Purito Cica Clearing BB Cream combines the benefits of skincare and makeup in one. Designed with “cica,” which stands for centella asiatica, it offers soothing properties, making it ideal for sensitive or troubled skin. This BB cream provides natural-looking coverage while concealing blemishes and imperfections without feeling heavy or cakey.
With a focus on gentle ingredients, the Purito Cica Clearing BB Cream is free from harmful chemicals such as parabens, sulfates, and artificial fragrances, making it fit for sensitive skin. This BB cream also includes SPF 38 PA++ sun protection, ensuring your skin stays shielded from harmful UV rays and prevents further damage.
How to Use CC Cream?
To use CC cream effectively, follow these simple steps:
- Start with a clean and moisturized face: Ensure your skin is clean before applying CC cream. This will help form a smooth base and enhance the application.
- Choose the right shade: Select a CC cream shade close to your skin tone for a natural and seamless look.
- Apply a small amount: Take a small amount of CC cream and dot it onto your forehead, cheeks, nose, and chin. Remember, a little goes a long way, so start with a conservative amount and add more if needed.
- Blend it in: Use your fingers, a makeup brush, or a damp sponge to blend the CC cream into your skin. Start from the center of your face and work outward for an even and blended application. Mix it well into the hairline, jawline, and neck for a seamless finish.
- Build up coverage if desired: If you prefer more coverage, you can layer the CC cream by adding a thin layer on areas that need more concealing or evening out.
- Set with powder (optional): If you have oily skin or want to enhance the longevity of the CC cream, you can set it with a light dusting of translucent powder.
- Complete your makeup routine: Depending on your preference, you can continue with the rest of your makeup routine, such as applying concealer, blush, bronzer, and setting spray.
By following these steps, you can correctly apply the best IT Cosmetics CC Cream dupes. The most crucial step, in my opinion, is the blending part. If you don’t blend well, patches and white spots will be visible on your face. Now that’s the part most people ignore, so remember to blend the cream well.
How to Achieve Different Looks?
Creating different looks using IT Cosmetics CC Cream dupes is both fun and easy. These versatile products can help you achieve a variety of styles, from natural and dewy to full coverage and matte. Here are some tips on how to use the IT Cosmetics CC Cream dupes to create different looks:
Natural Look
- Start with a clean and moisturized face.
- Apply a small amount of the CC Cream dupe, such as Maybelline Dream Urban Cover, to your fingertips or a makeup sponge.
- Gently dab and blend the product onto your face, focusing on areas that need some extra coverage like dark spots and redness. Remember, less is more for a natural look.
- Finish with a light dusting of translucent powder to set your makeup and prevent shine.
Dewy Look
- Prep your skin by applying a hydrating primer or facial oil before using the CC Cream dupe.
- Use a damp makeup sponge to apply the product, as this will help to give your skin a more hydrated and dewy appearance.
- Opt for a CC Cream dupe with a luminous finish, like Maybelline Dream Urban Cover.
- Lightly apply a cream blush or highlighter to the high points of your face (cheekbones, bridge of the nose, and cupid’s bow) to enhance the glow.
Full Coverage Look
- Use a CC Cream dupe that offers full coverage and a matte finish, such as a product formulated with niacinamide.
- Apply the product to your face using a dense foundation brush or sponge, building up coverage in areas that require more attention.
- Set your makeup with a full coverage powder foundation to further enhance coverage and create a matte finish.
Remember to experiment with different IT Cosmetics CC Cream dupes to find the products that best suit your skin type and desired look. And don’t forget to protect your skin by choosing a CC Cream with SPF, like Maybelline Dream Urban Cover SPF 50, to shield your skin from the sun’s harmful rays.
Conclusion
These affordable IT Cosmetics CC Cream dupes provide numerous skincare advantages while being budget-friendly. Among the various options, the e.l.f. Camo CC Cream stands out due to its comparable formula, packaging, and performance.
Why spend more when you can opt for drugstore makeup dupes like these BB creams or CC creams? They offer equivalent coverage, SPF protection, and skincare benefits at a fraction of the cost of IT Cosmetics CC Cream.
Which is your favorite dupe from the list? Let me know in the comment section.
FAQs
What Does “CC Cream” Mean?
CC cream stands for color correcting or complexion corrector cream. These creams address issues like redness and uneven skin tone, offering skincare benefits and SPF protection. While they typically provide lighter coverage than foundations, many CC creams can be built up to achieve medium to full coverage.
How Do BB Creams Differ from CC Creams?
While CC cream stands for color-correcting cream, BB cream stands for beauty blemish balm. BB creams are similar to CC creams as they often offer skincare benefits and makeup coverage. However, BB creams resemble tinted moisturizers and generally provide a lighter range than CC creams.
Is IT Cosmetics CC+ Cream Suitable for Vegans?
IT Cosmetics CC+ Cream is not considered vegan due to the inclusion of snail secretion filtrate, which comes from snails. Additionally, the product contains hydrolyzed collagen, an ingredient derived from animal sources, making it unsuitable for those following a vegan lifestyle.