Now that BB creams—short for blemish or beauty balm—are a bona fide hit, cosmetics companies are moving down the alphabet: More than a dozen CC creams—short for color or complexion correcting—have launched this spring. Like BBs, they include sunscreen and moisturizers, but "CCs offer more pigment and, in general, a more matte finish," says the always discerning makeup artist Pati Dubroff. In other words, if BB creams are the near-twin sisters of tinted moisturizers (as we told you last year), then CCs share their DNA with full-coverage foundations. But while they can leave skin looking very even, they can also leave it looking a bit flat—so top them with a luminous cream blush or highlighter. And because CC creams are less sheer than BBs, you need to find a close color match.

Our favorites come in at least three shades (from left to right):

Smashbox Camera Ready CC Cream SPF 30 ($42; smashbox.com)

Almay Smart Shade CC Cream Complexion Corrector SPF 35 ($10; drugstores)

Clinique Moisture Surge CC Cream Hydrating Colour Corrector Broad Spectrum SPF 30 ($35; clinique.com)

Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare CC Cream SPF 18 ($36; dgskincare.com)

Next up? We're predicting DD creams (for the generously endowed), XXX creams (when you want to look risqué), and ZZ creams (to help you get your beauty sleep).

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