Too Good Not To Share
Regular readers will know I rarely wear foundation anymore, having downshifted to tinted moisturizer (a.k.a. BB Creams or CC Creams—similar products, different marketing.) I find lighter, sheerer formulas to be more flattering on my aging skin, as they don’t sink into pores or lines—or cling to dry patches.
Erborian CC Creme High Definition Radiance Face Cream Note: The whiteish color at the top of this "smear" is similar to what the product looks like straight from the tube. Then, as you rub it in, the cream subtly transforms into a flesh-toned hue—closer to what you see at the bottom.
I wrote here and here about some of my favorites, but I’ve found a new one that’s also worth a shout out: Erborian CC Crème. The brainchild of a Korean/French company, this skin perfector evens out my skin tone (downplaying the redness left over from my dalliance with Vintner’s Daughter Serum) and makes my pores and lines less apparent. And it does all this with almost no discernible “color” so I don’t have to worry about my complexion becoming orangey a few hours after application.
The details: When the cream comes out of the tube, it’s whitish-grey. Yep, not beige, tan—or skin-colored at all. It does come in two shades (Clair for fairer skin and Dore for medium to tan tones), but they look pretty similar initially. Then, as you massage the cream (or crème) into your face, it morphs into a very (very) subtle fleshtone shade.
Once the CC Crème has been applied, the soft-focus finish is similar to what you’d get from a good primer, while the coverage is akin to a tinted moisturizer (e.g. it minimizes redness but won’t erase very dark under-eye circles). The formula also boasts broad-spectrum SPF 25 (a chemical + physical sunscreen cocktail). One caveat: The physical sunscreen ingredient, titanium oxide and zinc oxide, in the Erborian formula can make darker skin appear ashy. So, although the Dore shade is touted for tan skin, I’d do a patch test before purchasing. Finally, don't let the word "radiance" on the packaging scare you—there is no pore-and-fine-line-magnifying shimmer in this product. It'll just leave you glowy, in a good way.
Erborian CC Crème is currently available at Sephora stores nationwide, as well as sephora.com. It did sell out a few weeks ago so I'm not alone in thinking it's a must-try. But I’ve been assured most stores have since restocked. Also, for some reason, on sephora.com, the Dore shade is called Regular. Apparently they don't trust our ability to translate French.
