MOST WANTED

This IT Cosmetics Foundation Is Still A Favourite

Door Hanitra Ramaholimihaso and Vanessa Zaree

From full-coverage foundations to lighter skin tints or tinted moisturisers, everyone has their preference, depending on texture, finish and makeup look for that day. Whether you like a natural no-makeup makeup look, or would go more for a soft glam look, we all have our go-to makeup base that we couldn't live without. And for some people, that product is the It Cosmetics CC Cream SPF 50+, a versatile formula that has its place in any makeup bag.

Launched in 2008, the It Cosmetics CC Cream SPF 50+ was one of the first complexion products that also had skincare benefits. In a world for skincare-makeup hybrids, this foundation is formulated with hydrating peptides and hyaluronic acid, as well as being factor 50 SPF - no surprise that it's become a holy-grail for many.

Available in 22 shades and also available in a matte, oil-free formula, this product is loved for its buildable coverage, all the way to full-coverage if you want to achieve a full-glam look. Three people from the Space NK team give their honest opinion on this viral foundation, read on for their thoughts…

Hanitra's review

Skin type: Oily and acne-prone

Skin tone: Medium-tan

Shade reviewed: Tan Rich

I know it has been around for a long time but I have surprisingly never tried this product before. When it comes to my everyday base, I like a product that feel light but has buildable coverage to hide some of my hyperpigmentation. I always use a concealer to help cover any blemishes or stubborn marks but I like when my base covers my skin well. While I like to use a foundation on the occasion, my go-tos are usually skin tint or a tinted moisturiser, so I was excited to (finally) give this IT Cosmetics icon a try.

The consistency of the product is a lot thicker than I had imagined, so I would say a little bit of this goes a long way. I used my IT Cosmetics Heavenly Luxe Complexion brush to apply it, which I love to use for my everyday makeup, I think it distributes the product evenly. I like that the finish is not too glowy but also not too matte, it truly looks like skin and not cakey. The coverage is a lot fuller than I had anticipated, so the next time I used it I just made sure to use less product for a more natural finish.

The formulas worked perfectly with the rest of my makeup, I didn't experience any separation or pilling throughout the day, plus the product stayed on really well throughout the day. I did have to powder once or twice, but because of my skin, this is something I usually can't escape. I like that this product is super buildable, I would be happy with only having this in my makeup bag as I think you could achieve a natural or a full-glam look with it.

Vanessa's review

Skin type: Oily, sometimes dehydrated

Skin tone: Olive with neutral undertones

Shade reviewed: Neutral medium

IT Cosmetics CC Cream neutral medium before and after

I’m more of a full coverage foundation kind of girl – and as someone with oily and textured skin, a long-lasting formula that can help my skin look smoother and feel calmer without drying it out is the dream. This formula was an absolute staple in my makeup collection back in the day. I adored it and repurchased it multiple times – but alas, I can be fickle when it comes to makeup and rarely remain loyal to any foundation, so my love for this formula was left behind as I kept trying other bases.

I used both my fingers and BeautyBlender on different occasions and loved the finish – I wouldn’t say it had a blurring effect per say, but I did think my skin looked healthy and fairly smooth. I can barely fault this formula other than a few things. On days where I found myself wearing it for the entirety of a day, sometimes there was a little bit of settling in my fine lines towards the end of the day. However, this didn’t really bother me as I felt like my complexion overall looked good. My skin didn’t feel dried out nor excessively shiny. And that’s probably my favourite thing about this foundation – the durability is great for my oily complexion. I also loved how it photographed!

My final thoughts are simply expectations – given that it’s called a CC+ cream, this could be a little misleading. Personally, I see it as a full-coverage foundation, which I love – but if you prefer a lighter finish, this might not be for you. For me, it’s an absolute keeper – it’s one of those products that I’m wondering why I ever stopped using. It’s gone into my daily rotation of bases, and I think my love for it is here to stay this time round.

The Verdict on IT Cosmetics CC Cream SPF 50

Needless to say that the team really likes this formula, confirming its holy grail status for many people! We like that whether you want to have a natural or a soft-glam makeup look, this complexion formula will not fail you.

The Pros: The formula is very buildable, so this works for you whether you like a tinted moisturiser or a foundation - the finish is matte but still natural and will make your complexion still look like a skin.

The Cons: The name might be slightly misleading for people who are looking for a lighter formula, as this can feel more like a foundation than a BB or a CC cream.

More from IT Cosmetics

While this CC cream is the most popular product from IT Cosmetics, the brand has other gems that you might love if you are a fan of this foundation. The IT Cosmetics It Cosmetics Bye Bye Dark Spot Concealer, £ 28,00 compliments this foundation perfectly if you're looking that will brighten up your underway and camouflage any dark spots on the rest of your face too. We also love the IT Cosmetics Heavenly Luxe Complexion Brush, £ 39,00, the perfect dual-ended brush is perfect to do your makeup on-the-go. It works well with cream and powder formulas, a must-have for anyone who has tried it. If the Original CC Cream doesn't work for you, the brand has developed more version that could your skin needs better...