Differences between primers, tinted moisturizers, and CC creams
A common question clients ask me is if there is a difference between makeup primers, moisturizers, and CC creams and BB creams. The answer is a definite YES! Please see below:
- PRIMERS: The main purpose of a primer is to ensure longevity of the makeup that will go on top of it. It is designed to ensure that sebum is balanced and that pores and fine lines feel and look smoother. The result is that the makeup that you apply on top stays put all day long. There are a lot of primers in the market today. A bulk of them have a silicone base to help block oils as well as refine the skin texture. When applying a primer, you will still need a moisturizer as primers do not contain one. No matter what type of skin you have, always make sure you moisturize so that your skin is nice and balanced prior to any makeup application. A plus for primers is that the silicone barrier it creates helps to seal in moisture for drier skins. For oiler skin, you will find that you will need to powder less as the oil is controlled from beneath your makeup layer. Primers are great under powder foundations so that the skin doesn't look dry. In fact, it distributes the product evenly, giving a liquid-like finish when applied with a fluffy brush.
- TINTED MOISTURIZERS: Tinted moisturizers are a great way to get a little coverage and moisturizer all in one product. A lot of them do come with an SPF. They can be mixed into a foundation, or used alone. To find a shade that is right for you, test some on your jawline and on the center of the neckline. A good match will look just like your skin and be undetectable. Tinted moisturizers are a great alternative for those who have great skin and for younger girls who want a quick skin fix.
- CC CREAMS: CC stands for 'Color Correct'. Thus, CC is a cream with a slight color tint that will help even out your skin tone. A lot of the CC creams in the market have a slight peach, pink, lavender, green, yellow, or orange undertone. Plus, many of them contain a little bit of primer and SPF in them. If you have rosacea or hyperpigmentation, you may benefit from a CC cream. The peach tones are great for minimizing the look of freckles and sunspots. As peach is a derivative of orange, it will cancel out the blue cast that exists in skin discoloration to 'warm up' the spots and make them less apparent. The pink tone is great if your skin looks dull (a bit too yellow). The pink will neutralize the yellow and create a more palatable peachy tone. Lavender is a great skin brightener to provide a cool highlight in the t-zone and the tops of cheeks. Green is great for mixing into foundations to help make them more olive (depending on the shade of green), or for the cheek areas for people that have rosacea. The green will neutralize the areas that are red to make foundations look less 'hot'. Yellow will brighten skin for those who have a really ruddy complexion, but have a more olive complexion from the neck down. Yellow also makes a great hightlighter for the face in the high planes (top of cheeks, t-zone). Last but not least, the Orange or rusty colors are great for deep skin tones. If a foundation looks 'off' or 'gray', you can mix an orange CC cream with the foundation to adjust it. It also works great for softening undereye circles and eyelid 'shadow'. Please note that you don't have to apply CC cream over your ENTIRE face. It is meant to spot correct actual discolorations. Sometimes, it is better to layer a CC cream on top of the foundation to maximize the color correction benefits.
- BB CREAMS: BB creams are a Beauty Base. It is an all-in one mixture of primer, color base, and SPF in one product. They can be used alone, under makeup as a base, or even mixed into foundation. For those who are often on the go, I often recommend a BB cream under powder foundations as it helps to control oil, refine texture, protect from the elements, AND give minimal coverage. Think of the product as a tinted moisturizer with an added plus (a primer). You can find the shade for your by testing as you do a tinted moisturizer (test on jawline and center of neckline).
I hope this answers any questions in regards to the differences of the 4 types of products. To prime or not to prime is up to you. Primers will help your makeup last longer, minimizing the need for touch ups during the day (especially for drier skins). Plus, for oilier skins, you will find that using a primer will prevent makeup from sliding around and protect the integrity of your foundation and powder color by regulating oil.
Thank you for taking the time to read this and have a great day!