- This lightweight CC cream provides natural-looking coverage without the cakey, mask-like effect often associated with traditional foundations.
- The formula delivers a skin-smoothing, blurring finish with added skincare benefits and SPF, making it an easy everyday staple for a polished, radiant look.
- While the shade range is limited, the adaptable texture works well for many skin types and is especially flattering on textured or sensitive skin.
As I’ve gotten older, I’ve realized that most foundations don’t actually make my skin look better. I’ve tested countless formulas—from prestige to drugstore to the latest viral obsessions—and applied them with every top-rated brush and sponge out there. Yet 9 times out of 10, foundation leaves my skin looking cakey, creased, or just…mask-like.
For a while, I resorted to layering concealer and translucent powder over tinted sunscreen to fake that perfected-skin finish. It covered the darkness under my eyes and the melasma on my cheeks, sure, but it also meant using way too many products every morning. That all changed when I tried Erborian’s CC Cream SPF 25 with Korean Centella Asiatica Extract. It’s easily the best complexion product I’ve found in my 10+ years as a beauty writer. Here’s why:
About Erborian's CC Cream:
- What it is: A K-beauty BB cream that combines coverage with hydrating and soothing benefits, plus SPF. One of these sells every 12 seconds worldwide.
- What it costs: $46
- Number of shades: 4 (clair, dore, caramel, rich)
- Where to buy: amazon.com, ulta.com, erborian.com
Why I love it:
Like every other beauty and skincare enthusiast, Korean beauty products have earned coveted spots in my skincare routine, and I was so excited to add this viral favorite to my makeup routine. Let’s say, it exceeded my expectations; it’s like airbrushing in a tube. My skin looks like I ran it through Facetune, which is an effect I’ve never been able to achieve with regular foundation.
As a very dedicated SPF girlie, I deeply appreciate that this CC cream has SPF 25 in the formulation, minus any weird cast that titanium dioxide can sometimes leave on the skin. I do wish it had a higher SPF factor, especially for the summer, but for now, I just layer it over my regular SPF to ensure adequate UV protection.
As for the skincare benefits, the hero ingredient is centella asiatica extract. This super buzzy K-beauty skincare ingredient supports skin repair, soothes irritation, and helps improve the quality of your skin over time. And runner-up hero ingredient glycerin helps the skin to retain moisture. The combo is ideal for plump, dewy skin.
The magic, if you will, of this CC cream is in the brand’s pigment technology. The microscopic encapsulated pigments are released as you start rubbing and blending the formula into your skin. The blurring effect it creates is unreal. The skin-like finish and coverage level are comparable to those of a light to medium foundation. I use the CC cream daily after applying my normal sunscreen, and I usually mix it with bronzing drops for an extra glowy effect. In the evening, I’ll still apply some concealer and translucent powder and apply the rest of my makeup as usual.
While I can’t sing the praises of this CC cream enough, I do wish that the shades were a bit more inclusive. It comes in four different shades, which are sheer enough to be adaptable, but still likely too light to work for the deepest skin tones. Putting that aside, I do love that this CC cream benefits skin of any age and sensitivity level. I especially love how mature skin-friendly it is, especially because regular foundation can easily dry out the skin and end up looking cakey.
Taryn is a beauty writer and editor in digital media with more than 10 years of experience. She has covered the newest and most innovative skincare and beauty products, aesthetic treatments, and plastic surgery trends. Her stories touch on everything from the best products to treat hyperpigmentation to why fat grafting is the better alternative to filler. In addition to Cosmopolitan, she currently contributes to Allure, InStyle, PS (formerly POPSUGAR), Marie Claire, The Zoe Report, and Bustle. In addition to her writing, Taryn directs, produces, and writes short films that have appeared at numerous film festivals around the country. Whenever she has a free moment, you can find her hopping around New York City with her Maltese pup, Bryn, and probably daydreaming about being at the beach. Follow her on Instagram for the latest.
