Etude House CC Cream in #1 Silky Review

BB cream, CC cream... DD cream?! The trend of BB Creams has now been exceptionally popular worldwide after its success in the asian markets for the past few years. CC Cream was developed to retain all the skincare properties of BB Cream while providing skin correcting makeup.

Etude House has two options in their CC Cream line, #01 Silky and #02 Glow. I received the Silky one for free (for review purposes) before exams and now I'm here to share my opinion on my first CC cream ever. The texture is exactly that, silky, smooth, without shimmer or shiny particles.

So I guess, we all heard of CC Creams right? :D
Let me debrief you all quickly....
CC stands for colour corrector. And it claims to be a mix between skincare and makeup, a more better, in terms of a skincare product, than BB cream, but less coverage/sheerer than BB cream.



First impression: When it comes to Etude House’s products, the packaging is always the first one to capture our attention. And this one is no exemption to that. The CC cream comes in a white and sleek tube with a pump. It’s simple yet very classic and royal. This CC cream sure is easy to spread and like BB cream, a little goes a long way. It has a hint of lavender scent and is not overwhelming. It has a smooth and a bit runny consistency.
My skin became instantly smooth and soft like a silk (I'm not joking here - it certainly has an absolute matte finish after it dries up). You just have to wait a minute or two before you settle it with your favorite powder then you’re good to go!

How to apply? Etude House themselves stated it's better to apply with fingers as it create warmth and hence, applied easily. When I first squeezed this product out, it looks white and I noticed there are little "capsules" that burst upon contact with the skin (which allow the colour to adjust to your skin tone). And because of this, I suggest that you apply a little at a time so that you can adjust how much your skin needs. After I applied it, I understand why fingers are better tool when apply this CC Cream as fingers pop the capsules better than a brush or sponge would.

So what does Etude House claims about its Silky CC Cream?
- Hydration: 2/5
Yes it does contains hyaluronic acid as part of the hydrating properties, but I don't feel any hydrating effect by wearing this CC cream. Well, maybe a bit, but it tends to cling on dry patches and accentuate acne scars.
- Conceals: 1/5
NO! They must have been joking when they said this CC cream can CONCEAL. The coverage is very sheer and barely covers anything. Even BB cream works better. This Etude House CC cream is formulated not to conceal, but to even out skin tone. That's being said.
- Primes: 2.5/5
An okay product to be used as a primer. Though it won't fill-in wrinkles/pores. Hence, for me, it's more of a makeup base.

The 8-in-1 formula is very interesting indeed as it is the first and (only one?) product that has a lot of benefits in just one product.

• Anti-aging(×): getting tired of seeing this 'anti-aging' label being used everywhere, this CC cream have a lot of herbal extract on their ingredients list. But I don't think that using 'anti-aging' label is appropriate. Regular use may proof that and moreover, this is not a skincare product. Eventhough it has a decent SPF and UV rays are a huge culprit in making your skin age..
• Stress relief(?): I literally laughed when I saw this. Can't comment much on this one. If what they meant is rejuvinating, then I'd say, this is not a skincare product, and really this is not rejuvinating at all. 
• Hydration (×): as stated above, it's not hydrating at all. It's lacking its moisturing property.
• Whitening(✓): With continuous use I think it's possible, since it has arbutin in it.
• Sun Protection(✓): Yes! SPF 30 PA++
• Tone-up(×): I'm gonna just assume it means that it evens out tone. Yes, it does.
• Smooth texture(✓): Yes, it has smooth, runny texture which blends easily.
• Luminosity(×): it definitely gives me a brighter complexion, if that's what they mean. 

Pros:
- Offer some coverage (but quite sheer) which is enough for me to go out with for daily life without BB creams.
- Makes my face brighter,
- Long lasting (last around 6 hours for me for a normal outing day in this spring weather)
- SPF 30 PA++ (perfect for summer!)
- does not oxidise or change colour after hours of applying (look the same as before)
- easy to blend
- comes with a pump = hygienic
- overall still gives a natural skin tone. It makes my face naturally brighter, but not because of the makeup effect but the "care" system it has
- Is matte finish which is quite different from my everyday look!
- can be used as makeup base
- natural finish

Cons:
- a bit sticky
- one shade fits all
- light coverage
- accentuates dry patches/flaky skin
- small! :( The lid takes up 1/3 of the bottle

Sheer coverage can be a pro or con (depends on your preferences) but the product is meant to be sheer anyway.

Overalls: Personally, I have an uneven skin tone and has most redness around my nose. However, since it feels a lot lighter than BB Cream, I think for summer I can get away with just using CC Cream with a little bit of concealer and powder. When I apply moisturiser beforehand, it applies very smoothly. It definitely brightens up any dull areas on your face and helps minimise pores in photos so I would say this is a great makeup base for those who wear foundation or BB Cream or alone for those fortunate enough to have great skin!

Final Thoughts:
The difference between BB Cream and CC Cream is that BB cream focuses on the makeup aspect with more coverage, yet there are still a lot of skincare benefits. CC Cream focuses on the skin care aspect with super sheer coverage, but it still evens out tone well. Hence, you can't really compare which is better as they have different properties. The biggest thing is that with this product, less is more. With BB cream you can put on a layer and then build up, here, I'd suggest applying it one section of your face at a time and then really working it in. It does make a difference. 

Would I recommend this? Honestly, I would. I really like using this product on ready-to-go days.

PS. I'm heading to a mini getaway soon hence I won't be able to post any products reviews for the next 2 weeks or so :( But! I will definitely be doing more posts after I come back. Meanwhile, thankyou for reading (if you have read from the top), stay safe and happy everyone!

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Love,
Velene xoxo

*I received this product for free for review purposes. All opinions are honest and my own*