If you've been following the "alphabet cream" trend, you know all about BB creams and CC creams, and you've probably been waiting patiently for DD creams to surface. (A few brands have tried to make DDs happen, without much success.)
Well, the latest iteration is here, and -- shockingly -- it doesn't fall between the letters D and Z. Instead, it's a CC spinoff: color-correcting primers.
While traditional makeup primers fill in fine lines and pores, preparing skin for foundation, CC primers take it one step further and improve your skin's tone. They hide redness, brighten sallowness and even diffuse pigmentation, meaning your foundation only has to work half as hard to give you flawless skin. You can even wear CC primers alone -- it's the perfect no-makeup makeup … which means you might not need your other BB or CC after all.
This stick looks more like a tool for coloring Easter eggs than something you'd want to put on your face. But the pinwheel of colors isn't just for show: pastel green pigments balance out redness while lavender tones down sallowness and brightens skin. The colors are naturally derived from clay that's sourced in Brazil. And, with anti-inflammatory and hydrating properties, it's good for your skin, too. Plus, we love that it's available in five colors ranging from fair to deep.
If you're a fan of Dior DiorSkin AirFlash Foundation (with a Totalbeauty.com rating of 8.7, we know many of you are), you're going to flip for this CC primer. The formula is dewy with light-reflecting particles, and the best part is the delivery system: the can dispenses a perfect veil of pearlescent mist. It feels more like a luxurious rose water spray than a makeup primer, but any foundation looks exponentially prettier when you're wearing this underneath.
If you're looking for another way to sneak some extra SPF into your routine, this SPF 30 primer is perfect. And -- miraculously -- the extra sunscreen won't make you look like an oil slick (there are shine-absorbing ingredients built into the formula). It comes in four colors: Adjust (a peachy beige for brightening fair to medium skin), Neutralize (a yellow tone for reddish skin), Illuminate (lavender for brightening sallowness) and Recharge (a warm apricot for deeper skin tones). While Adjust and Recharge give you a bit of coverage, the yellow and lavender versions are barely noticeable on the skin.
MAC's contribution to the CC primer trend doesn't end there. They also launched MAC Prep + Prime CC Colour Correcting Compact, $25, as well as MAC Prep + Prime CC Colour Correcting Loose powder, $25, both in four shades that correspond to the liquid primers.
The folks over at Smashbox know a thing or two about primers (they make more than a dozen varieties), and they managed to pack a ton of benefits into the color correcting formulas. Infused with soy and vitamin C (for brightening) as well as vitamin E and orchid extract (for maximum hydration), these hide fine lines incredibly well.
Choose one according to what you need most: Adjust has a green tint to counteract redness; Blend is a peach tone, which helps hide dark spots; and Balance is lavender to make skin appear less yellow.
