10 Best CC Creams, Tested by Beauty Experts

This drugstore color-correcting cream from GH Seal star Olay clinched the top spot as the best hydrator in our Lab tests. We found that it boosted skin's moisture levels by 36% over six hours and reduced the look of brown spots and pores after four weeks, making it a great choice if you have dry skin. Just be mindful, while the shades blend into a variety of skin tones, there is a limited shade range.

"My complexion was glowing," a tester commented. "I actually felt like my skin looked more natural and like I didn't even have any foundation on." Another reviewer uses it in place of any other makeup and finds that "it is by far the best" as it is " just enough foundation for a slight color but looks completely natural."

One note: We recommend wearing SPF 30+ daily, so you'll want to layer another face sunscreen with SPF 30 above or under this product to stay fully protected.

Neutrogena's budget-friendly CC cream is specifically formulated for acne-prone skin. The CC cream leaves a matte finish to dull down greasy complexions. It also contains niacinamide, which can help reduce inflammation and acne. It doesn't contain SPF, so be sure to apply a separate sunscreen on top.

“My skin loves this CC cream,” says one GH editor. “It blurs my imperfections and doesn’t cause breakouts.” Another reviewer commented that she loves that a little goes a long way with this formula. "It’s extremely buildable and blends super well with my skin," she says.

IT Cosmetics original CC cream has a cult following, so it's no surprise this matte CC Cream formulation is a GH editor favorite. The non-greasy formula gives you a flawless matte finish, making it ideal for people with oily or combination skin.

It's rich without feeling heavy on your skin, so you don't need to use a ton of product for full coverage. One reviewer raves, "I have very oily skin, and this keeps my skin looking great and fights oil all day!" Another shares that she has repurchased many times and it’s the only thing that works with her oily/acne-prone skin. "If your skin is on the normal to dry side, I don’t know if you’d love it because it is very mattifying," she adds.

The perfect option for those with dry skin, Yensa's rich formula received the highest score for hydration in our GH Beauty Lab testing. It also proved to leave skin smooth, provide lasting coverage and absorb quickly. The only downside? The applicator may be a little messy.

"To say I'm obsessed is an understatement," one tester says. "It blends so nicely and looks incredible on my skin. It doesn't cling to dry patches and doesn't emphasize my under eye wrinkles at all." Another likes how "it provided all day full coverage without the heavy feel of a foundation."

IT Cosmetics CC+ Nude Glow was rated highly among our testers, giving feedback they were highly satisfied with it. It had top scores for leaving skin feeling hydrated and smooth. It works well on combination skin with one self-proclaimed combination skin tester who said, "It gives a nice healthy finish and doesn't leave an oily mess on my skin." We also found it evened out skin tone well.

While it is a pricier option, this is Watson's go-to choice for CC creams because it's made of 90% skincare and 10% foundation. "I also like that it's formulated with a clear sunscreen so there isn’t any white, ashy cast or flashback left on the skin," she says. This medium coverage CC cream claims to brighten skin and improve its texture with ingredients such as niacinamide, hyaluronic acid and green tea extract. It's available in 22 shades and has a soft glow without making skin look oily.

If you want less shine than a dewy CC cream but want more radiance than a matte finish, this Jason Wu CC Cream is the perfect in-between with its satin finish. One tester commented they liked that it wasn't glowy on their skin, but it didn't exaggerate wrinkles and lines.

In GH Beauty Lab testing, it had perfect scores for spreading and blending easily without feeling tacky. It's perfect for someone looking for natural coverage to enhance their skin rather than hide dark spots and blemishes. One thing to note: we found the coverage wasn't as long-lasting as others.

One of Los Angeles makeup artist Shadi Malek's favorite formulas, she says this best-selling IT Cosmetics CC cream delivers a full-coverage finish, boosted with powerful SPF 50 and antioxidants.

"It’s definitely a heavier CC cream but I love the shade range," she says. "I’d wear it in more dry climates rather than humid!" The hydrating cream is ideal for those with mature or dry skin. "It wears well on my mature 58-year-old face without settling into wrinkles or exaggerating pores," says one reviewer.

GH Beauty Lab Chemist Danusia Wnek calls this “a beast with coverage” and many testers echoed that saying it thoroughly covers red, brown and liver spots, veins and redness around the nose and made their skin look smooth. "It covered up every spot with one brush stroke," she marveled. "My skin tone was as even as it gets and the coverage lasted all day."

You’ll want to watch out for how much you apply, though, as GH Beauty Lab testers found it can look and feel heavy if too much is applied. We advise starting small and layering more on as necessary since a little goes a long way.

For those who spend a lot of time outside in the sun, Supergoop!'s CC cream is for you as this formula offers a high level of protection against both UVA and UVB rays. "I wear it to the beach or pool so I can get a little color correction without having a full face of makeup," says GH Beauty Assistant Catharine Malzhan. "It enhances my natural glow, and with the SPF level, I don’t have to worry about layering face sunscreen as well."

Reviewers also rave about the formula and glowy finish. "Love the slight glow and fresh dewey look with coverage that doesn't feel heavy," says one. "Plus, it hides all my red spots." A few reviewers did note that it can get cakey if you over apply.

The Thrive Causemetics CC Cream offers a good range of 28 shades for light and dark skin tones alike. Not sure which shade you are? Many reviewers say the brand's customer service was super-helpful when it came to picking a shade — or exchanging the wrong one. They also love how well it covers imperfections and smooths their skin tone and texture.

"It blurs my imperfections, leaving my complexion looking clear, fresh and dewy! Though it's not a full coverage foundation it gives me the perfect veil of coverage," one reviewer says. Some customers did find the cream to be too heavy on their skin.