If you don’t have a BB cream in your makeup bag and you’re old enough to have watched Friends when it wasn’t in re-runs, it may be time to consider adding one to your routine. The reason? These souped up tinted moisturizers are true skin perfectors that can help not only hide signs of aging and other skin imperfections, but help eliminate them, too — all while providing a more natural look than a foundation. The only tricky part? With so many BB creams to choose from, it may feel overwhelming trying to find the right fit. That’s why we’ve taken the guesswork out of choosing the best BB cream for mature skin for every preference and skin type. Just read on to discover the one that will work best for you.
What exactly is BB cream?
BB stands for blemish balm or beauty balm, explains celebrity makeup artist and founder of New York City’s Tomy Rivero Beauty Lab, Tomy Rivero. BB creams not only provide coverage for facial flaws as a lightweight foundation, but “they’re formulated with ingredients that treat blemishes, hydrate the skin and offer sun protection.” The creams gained popularity in Korea before making their way to makeup shops and drugstores in America, where they’ve steadily gained a reputation for reducing fine lines and wrinkles, concealing blemishes, repairing the skin and blocking harmful UV rays.
Since BB creams often contain anti-aging ingredients, they’re a great addition to our skincare regimen as we get older. Warren Tricomi Salon expert stylist and makeup and brows artist Mehria Aziz explains, “As we age, our skin gets drier, so to keep it moist and healthy — and to blur out the fine lines — the best option is always BB cream.
Two things BB creams get name-checked for a lot: Controlling acne and soothing irritation like the kind that comes with rosacea. Why? Like CC creams (see below for more on those), some BBs will also have color-correctors for those battling redness from acne, rosacea or other skin conditions.
And many BB creams are packed with ingredients that help heal skin, banish impurities and make pores appear smaller. What to look for if you’re battling break-outs, according to Sotomayor: Salicylic acid, witch hazel or other anti-breakout ingredients.
Best BB cream for mature skin
What’s the difference between BB cream and CC cream?
“CC Cream is similar, but stands for color-correcting cream,” says Emmy-winning makeup artist Andrew Sotomayor. That’s because CC creams aim to balance unwanted red, green, yellow or purple tones in your skin, and they may or may not have all the other benefits you often see with a BB cream like sun protection. Confused? Don’t worry — they’re both loaded with extras that will help your skin more than your average foundation.
Related: 3 Color-Correcting Makeup Primers That Will Nix Dull Skin, Redness and Dark Circles
25 best BB creams for mature skin
Which BB cream is your match? Keep scrolling to read more about our picks for the best BB creams for mature skin for every skin concern.
Best BB cream for aging skin
Amazon/Marcelle
Why we like it:
- One truly universal shade
- Reduces redness
No guesswork here! This cream comes in a universal shade, which Rivero calls “great for all skin colors.”
It also contains ingredients like aloe, which hydrates and calms the skin and makes it the ideal product for those who have redness and inflammation caused by rosacea, acne or hyperpigmentation. This also happens to be one of the best BB creams for aging skin because it contains chamomile and antioxidants, which keep skin looking youthful. And it was formulated either to be worn alone or under your foundation for full coverage, so you can use it exactly how you like.
Best BB cream for oily skin
Amazon/CoverGirl
Why we like it:
- Lightweight water base
- Won’t clog acne-prone skin
Part of CoverGirl’s clean makeup line, this water-based cream is made only with ingredients that are gentle on your complexion.
It’s one of Aziz’s favorite BB creams for mature skin. “I always have it in my makeup kit, “ she says. “The price is very reasonable, and it gives a matte finish that keeps skin shine-free all day.”
Best Water-Resistance BB Cream
Amazon/Everglam
Why we like it:
- Barely there finish
- Great for erasing fine lines
- Water resistant
For a natural finish and a lightweight feel, K Beauty Skin Perfector by EverGlam is a must-have product and one of the best Korean BB creams for mature skin. It contains sargassum fulvellum extract, an ingredient that comes from seaweed, which has anti-inflammatory properties and contains vitamins, proteins and antioxidants. The combination of this extract and butylated hydroxytoluene, another major source of antioxidants, offers potent anti-aging properties.
Consider it a mini facelift in a bottle — that happens to rejuvenate and camouflage at the same time. Oh, and it’s water-resistant, which means it’s especially great for warm months.
Best healing BB cream
Amazon/Missha
Why we like it:
- Soothing ingredients
- Multi-tasking
Originally developed to serve as a salve for patients to use after laser treatments, this magic formula hydrates and heals the skin to go well beyond what you expect from makeup. It also replaces several products with one tube, acting as a concealer, a skin-tone enhancer, a moisturizer and a sunscreen. And with soothing nourishers like algae, sugar beet root and purslane it’ll not only do it all, it will leave your skin feeling happier than ever. What Aziz loves about it? Its oh-so-light texture.
Best BB cream disguised as a CC
Amazon/Juice Beauty
Why we like it:
- Multi-tasking
- Mineral SPF
This BB cream for mature skin offers the best of both worlds by providing the benefits of both BB and CC creams in one tube. It doesn’t just color correct, its naturally derived SPF 30 will also help you protect yourself from the sun.
Other reasons to love it: The results are clinically tested, the ingredients are organic and the SPF is not only high, but it comes from natural zinc.
Best medium-coverage BB cream
Jane Iredale
Why we like it:
- Great coverage
- Smooth application
This formula gives a beautiful, healthy glow that will leave people complimenting your skin, not your makeup. After smoothing flaws and airbrushing wrinkles, it locks in moisture for a luminous finish that’s right on the border of dewy and matte. It’s also free of parabens and non-comedogenic for those on the hunt for a clean formula that won’t leave their pores congested.
One Amazon customer said, “It goes on smoothly, the coverage is flawless (especially with a blending sponge), I don’t have acne at the end of the day. My skin doesn’t feel super greasy. I can put makeup on over it without it smearing (it dries really quickly). Seriously, try it out.”
Best BB cream for dry skin
Amazon/Dr. Jart
Why we like it:
- Contains perfecting peptides
- Very hydrating
Sometimes, you need to splurge a bit to get the best skin-care results, and Dr. Jart+’s Premium Beauty Balm is worth its price tag. This BB cream — a favorite of Rivero’s — offers an outstanding combination of peptides and white gold that make it an anti-aging powerhouse that protects you from the sun and environmental toxins.
One Amazon buyer, said, “I am in my 60s with drier skin. This cream moisturizes and has nice light coverage to help with age-related spots, pores and fine lines, etc. and the SPF is a huge plus!”
Best glowing BB cream
Skin79/Amazon
Why we like it:
- Luxe ingredients
- Smooth application
For optimal sun protection and full coverage, reach for this formula. A little goes a long way, and less than one pump is enough to cover your face plenty. Its gold and caviar extracts will hydrate and repair your skin, so you can feel like you’ve given yourself a five-star facial without leaving your house.
“I like to mix this product with moisturizer on my clients. It creates a great base and I can apply different layers of makeup on top and the skin looks fabulous,” says Aziz.
Best mineral BB cream
COOLA/Amazon
Why we like it:
- High SPF
- Moisturizing but still matte
COOLA’s matte formula airs more on the side of tinted moisturizer, so it is perfect for those looking for a subtle skin boost. With mineral-based SPF 30 and antioxidants, it not only holds off sun damage but may even help correct it. And the rose hip oil inside ensures it will keep you moisturized along the way.
One Amazon reviewer said, “It goes on light and does not make my skin feel greasy at all. It is more expensive than some others, but if you want to protect your skin without breakouts, this is the way to go.”
Best BB cream for hiding spots
Physician’s Formula/Rite Aid
Why we like it:
- Great buildable coverage
- Excellent for sensitive types
Occasionally, you may want a BB cream with a thicker consistency to spot-treat blemishes or conceal unwanted pigmentation. Whether it’s rosacea or acne, a compound that works double-time as a concealer will give you the coverage you need with the benefits of a BB cream — and this one does just that. Oh, and it also serves as a primer, which gives you a buildable base, whether you’re just wearing the BB cream or adding blush and bronzer on top..
Still not convinced? This may do it: It’s also great for sensitive skin because it doesn’t contain any of the 150+ potentially harmful ingredients found in many other beauty brands.
Best skin-balancing formula
Tarte/Sephora
Why we like it:
- Skin-balancing base
- Packed with vitamins
- 7 shades
There’s a reason this formula has a cult following: The Amazonian clay inside is the ultimate master of balance. It contains properties that remove oil from your skin, (which prevents your BB cream from sliding off throughout the day), while reducing dryness and flakiness.
It also blurs fine lines and wrinkles and helps nourish your skin with vitamins A, C and E. And Sotomayor points out, “Tarte has always plant-based ingredients for every skin tone, and most BB creams can’t claim that!”
Best Finish on camera for a BB cream
NARS
Why we like it:
- Versatile formula
- Looks natural in all lights
Sotomayor is a huge fan of this cult-favorite formula. “It looks great on camera or in person,” he insists. It also comes packed with broad-spectrum SPF 30 and soothing botanicals to keep your skin looking and feeling healthy while repairing and preventing further damage at the same time. Dark spots and discoloration aren’t only covered, but the tinted moisturizer’s formula also helps fade and fix problem areas with results in as little as four weeks.
Related: Fade Even Stubborn Liver Spots With These Dermatologist-Approved Remedies
Best budget-buy BB cream
Amazon/Revlon
Why we like it:
- Very hydrating
- Six shades
With the word PhotoReady in the title, you know that this formula will last all day and keep your skin looking fabulous, whether you’re in front of the camera or behind it. Fans love the glow it leaves behind, thanks to hibiscus extract — and that it comes in six shades so you can find the one that blends the most seamlessly into your skin tone. For less than $10 a tube, it’s hard to beat.
Best corrective BB cream
L’Oréal Paris/Amazon
Why we like it:
- Soft blurring effect
- Nourishing ingredients
This one made Aziz’s list for the beautiful blurring effect of its encapsulated pigments, which perfect without concealing. Infused with antioxidants Vitamins C and E, it’s a multi-tasker made to hydrate, correct and even-out your skin over time. No wonder it’s called magic.
Best multi-tasker BB cream
Maybelline
Why we like it:
- Great for acne and oily skin
- Light, gel-like texture
If you have oily and/or acne-prone skin, this formula is for you. Made with 2% salicylic acid, it helps clear out pores and slough away dulling dead skin cells to reveal a renewed radiance. Rivero also loves its gel-like texture that goes on cool and that it tones down redness on contact.
Best BB cream for fine lines
Neutrogena
Why we like it:
- Smoothes wrinkles with retinol
- Perfects even after you take it off
Another best BB cream for mature skin? This lightweight cream with line-erasing retinol. This must-have features a clinically proven retinol treatment as well as vitamins and antioxidants to fight wrinkles well after you’ve taken it off at night. Part serum and part BB cream, fans will tell you it gives a dewy natural finish that blurs imperfections and leaves you looking more well-rested.
Related: The $8 Secret To Younger Overnight According to Beauty Pros? A Silky Pillowcase
Best fragrance-free BB cream
L.A. Girl/Amazon
Why we like it:
- No irritating extras
- Good shade range
- 8 shades
This semi-matte pick made Rivero’s best-of list for its “great range of deep/dark colors.” Plus, it sports vitamins B3, C and E to nourish skin as it covers to improve texture. It’s really great for sensitive types because it’s packed with hydrating sodium hyaluronate, while being free of parabens and potentially irritating fragrances. At such a low price, that’s a lot to love!
Best illuminating BB cream
Nivea
Why we like it:
- Creamy texture
- Makes skin glow
Rivero calls this surprisingly rich cream “fabulous for very dry skin types.” And since it’s packed with jojoba oil, we can see why.
Devotees also sing the praises of the lovely natural glow it leaves behind while also covering up dark circles and minor discolorations. It all makes for a great daily go-to.
Best BB cream for finicky skin
Clinique
Why we like it:
- Soothing and protective
- Dermatologist tested
While this matte formula has a lot to offer, it’s what it doesn’t offer that makes it a best BB cream for mature skin. That’s parabens, phthalates, oil, allergens and fragrance. And just to make sure it’s extra gentle, it’s been tested by dermatologists. We only wish it came in more shades — it’s only available in two!
Best whisper-light BB cream
Burt’s Bees
Why we like it:
- Stunning glowy finish
- Ultra Lightweight
Made to land somewhere between a lightweight foundation and a super-hydrating lotion, Burt’s Bees BB cream is a great introduction to BB creams for the uninitiated. Packed with noni extract to provide antioxidants, it helps beautify as it provides a hint of color — all with 98.9% natural ingredients. Rivero insists, “It’s great on sensitive skin.”
Best BB cream for crepey skin
MIZON/Amazon
Why we like it:
- Locks in hydration
- Endlessly layerable
Snail mucin extract is a bit of an “it ingredient” right now, and if you try this smoothing formula, you’ll see why. It not only hydrates but it locks in moisture, leaving skin feeling baby soft while plumping fine lines and smoothing texture. It’s also made to be buildable, so you can layer it on to your heart’s content. But take note: The shade range is not dark-skin-friendly.
Related: Snail Slime Can Powerfully Regenerate Skin So It Looks Plump + Taut
Best Shade-Range BB cream
Tower 28/Sephora
Why we like it:
- 16 shades
- Ultra-protective
This daily tinted sunscreen has a shade for everyone — which is great because everyone deserves a great skin-perfecting product like this. It not only features mineral sunscreen with SPF 30, but it also features prickly pear extract and white sage extract for more antioxidant protection that will hold off signs of aging, all while giving you a skin-like finish no one will suspect came from a bottle.
Best BB cream for textured skin
Pacifica/Ulta
Why we like it:
- An almost-bare finish
- Blendable and buildable
When we say this stuff is sheer, we mean it — which means it never collects into lines and wrinkles. Intensely hydrating, it helps to plump and blur areas of texture to make skin look instantly smoother, making it an easy choice as a best BB cream for mature skin . And as a bonus, it’s also vegan and cruelty-free! Just make sure to shake it well before applying!
Best breathable BB cream
Erborian
Why we like it:
- Next-level ingredients
- Easy to blend
For anyone who feels buried under makeup the moment foundation touches this skin, this ultra-breathable formula will feel heaven-sent. What it boasts: Fancy ingredients like licorice, ginseng and horsetail for hydration boost to perk your skin up. We also love the velvety, ultra-soft matte finish and the fact that all four shades are surprisingly versatile across a wide range of skin tones.
Best BB cream applicators and cleansers
Found the best BB cream for mature skin? Great, now it’s time to round out the rest of your stash to make sure you get the best application possible.
Best Sponges: Beakey 5 Piece Wonder Blender Set (Buy from Amazon, $7.99)
Sometimes, cleaning your brushes and blenders every couple of days — or even once a week — seems like too much work. With a set of five, you can alternate between blenders and use different ones for different products. Because they’re color-coded, you won’t forget which one is for BB cream and which one is for liquid bronzer. As for how they work? They not only help makeup go on smoothly, they blend it like a dream!
Best brush: Real Techniques Expert Face Brush (Buy from Ulta, $9.99)
If you prefer the traditional brush route, a medium-density, fluffy face brush is great for blending out BB cream. This one from Real Techniques is only $10 and creates a flawless, smooth finish in seconds.
Best Sponge Cleanser: beautyblender blendercleanser solid (Buy from Sephora, $18)
Cleaning your makeup brushes is one thing, but cleaning those squishy egg-shaped applicators that give you airbrushed skin is another. While you may not be able to swirl and spin dry blenders, this small washing compact will take the effort and confusion out of cleansing them. Paraben-, sulfate- and phthalate-free, this soapy pad will rub and rinse the grime away. Slip it into your makeup bag for a quick on-the-go cleanser.
Best Brush Cleanser: Oracle Jayne Station Makeup Brush Cleaning Soap (Buy from Oracle Jane Station, $18)
Sotomayor developed this organic plant-oil-based, fragrance-free cleanser himself, so he may be a bit biased when he says it’s the best. But it delivers again and again — in fact, one jar can clean up to 1000 brushes! He says, “Makeup artists on Broadway shows like Wicked and Lion King use it, and Oscar-nominated makeup artist Nikki Lederman bought 10 jars for her team for season two of Gilded Age!”
Related: Dirty Sponges and Makeup Brushes: Here’s the Best Way to Clean Them
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