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In the past five years, a new breed of products has emerged in the beauty market. They’re called “alphabet creams” and promise to deliver even-toned, blemish-free skin. Some also claim to blur wrinkles and correct imperfections. It sounds too good to be true, right? Wrong. The BB, CC and DD creams are all products you can incorporate into your skincare regimen to help you achieve that smoother, more flawless complexion we all long for.
According to Melanie Burnicle, Revlon’s Australasia Make-Up Director, the success and popularity of alphabet creams are largely due to their multiple uses, meaning they can fit in with our busy lives and tight budgets. “Whatever your title – mum, grandma, working woman – our schedules are always full, so if we can save time and money, we will,” she says. “One product that can do five steps and allow you an extra 10 minutes sleep-in is brilliant. Also five beauty products can add up dollar-wise, so one affordable product that can pretty much do it all on the skin front makes total sense.”
Priceline’s Make-Up Director, Rae Morris, agrees, adding that alphabet creams are skincare and make-up rolled into one. “Women are in a hurry, they don’t want to put on a sunscreen and a moisturiser, and they don’t want to clog their skin or break out from them,” she says. “Wearing a good foundation – which will even out your skin tone – has one of the best anti-ageing effects and I think alphabet creams are a great way to bring foundation into the skincare category. They protect your skin and they have sunscreen in them, but they make you look good as well.”
“Some days, you don’t feel like a full foundation, you want a more natural feel. This is when its best to use your alphabet creams. Be aware of your skin type and purchase the cream that will work best for you. For example, with mature skin, I’d always choose a CC cream as it is designed to not only provide lightweight coverage, but also contains skincare benefits and coverage of imperfections that can come with ageing.”
Rae Morris recommends testing colours on your décolletage, not your face, to ensure you get the correct match for your skin tone. “You shouldn’t see colour. Rather, you should see your skin evening out because you really want your face and body to be the same colour,” she says. “Always make sure they have sunscreen in them and they’re not a pinky shade.”
BB Cream
It means: Blemish Balm or Beauty Balm
“This has the lightest coverage of all the alphabet creams,” says Melanie. “It hydrates like a moisturiser, covers like a foundation, blurs flaws like a concealer, smooths like a primer and protects the skin with a built-in SPF.”
Elizabeth Arden Visible Difference Multi-Targeted BB Cream with Sunscreens, $40
Clarins BB Skin Perfecting Cream SPF25, $50
Rimmel London BB Cream Radiance SPF 20, $12.95
CC Cream
It means: Colour Correcting
“It’s a lightweight formula that has a light yet buildable coverage if required. The main focus is colour correction,” says Melanie. “The product contains an SPF, moisturiser and gives a lift to dull flat skin, and covers imperfections – great if you have pigmentation or suffer with redness, as it gives great coverage for dark spots. These products can have antioxidants and are infused with vitamins.”
Clinique Moisture Surge CC Cream SPF 30 Hydrating Colour Corrector, $45
Palmer’s Colour Correcting CC Cream SPF 15, $12.99
L’Oreal PAris Nude Magique Anti-Dullness CC Cream SPF20, $26.95
DD Cream
It means: Dynamic Do It All or Daily Defence
“This product combines the effects of the BB and the CC creams in one,” says Melanie. DD creams also improve the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
Models Prefer DD Fresh Face Daily Detox, $16.99
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