Is BB cream good for oily skin?

Since BB cream tends to have a lighter formula, some claim it works better for those with oily skin. The formulas are also infused with ingredients that may help control shine and prevent excess oil.

What is the difference between BB and CC cream?

A BB cream is a beauty balm skincare, primer, and foundation hybrid that provides lightweight coverage. In contrast, CC cream is a complexion corrector that corrects uneven skin tone and adds coverage. Both may contain skincare ingredients.

Is it OK to use BB cream everyday?

BB cream may be used as part of your daily makeup routine in the place of foundation. Some claim it's safer to use every day since the formula is more lightweight than foundation.

The 14 Best BB Creams for Oily Skin of 2023

BB cream (short for beauty balm or blemish base, depending on who you talk to) first took off in the Korean beauty market. The Western cosmetics industry was a bit late to the game, but today, these lightweight foundation alternatives are nearly everywhere. Having said that, those with naturally oily complexions might want to be choosier with their BB creams.

"If you have acne-prone or oily skin, opt for a matte formula that's oil-free," says celebrity makeup artist Sir John. To help you narrow it down, we found standout products that offer smoothing, blurring, and complexion-enhancing effects while keeping shine under control.

Meet the Expert

Sir John is a renowned celebrity makeup artist and the creative director for L'Oréal Paris USA.

Scroll down for the best BB creams for oily skin.

Our Top Picks

Best Overall:

Pūrlisse BB Cream SPF 30 at Amazon

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Best Budget:

COVERGIRL Matte BB Cream

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Best Drugstore:

L'Oréal Paris B.B. Cream

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Best Splurge:

Jane Iredale Mineral BB Cream

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Best K-Beauty:

Erborian BB Cream with Ginseng

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Best Shade Range:

Nu Skin BB+ Skin Loving Foundation SPF 35 at Etsy

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Best With SPF:

Dr. Jart+ Premium BB Beauty Balm SPF 40 at Sephora

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Best Buildable:

Tarte BB Tinted Treatment Primer SPF 30

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Best Sheer:

Coola Organic BB+ Cream SPF 30

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Best for Uneven Skin Tone:

MDSolarSciences Mineral BB Cream SPF 50 at Amazon

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In This Article

Our Picks
Final Verdict
What to Look For
FAQ
How We Researched & Tested
Why Trust Byrdie

4.6

Amazon

View On Amazon View On Walmart View On Purlisse.com

What We Like

Contains SPF
Oil-free formula
Diverse shade range

What We Don’t Like

Contains PEGs

Who else recommends it? Elite Daily and StyleCraze both picked the Pūrlisse BB Cream SPF 30.

What do buyers say? 90% of 3,900+ Amazon reviewers rated this product 4 stars or above.

BB cream has roots in the K-beauty industry, and not surprisingly, Korean brands still make the best formulas. Our favorite is the Pūrlisse Perfect Glow. Offering medium coverage, the oil-free balm camouflages dark spots, smoothes fine lines, and diffuses blemishes.

The super-smooth formula is easy to blend and delivers a natural-looking, semi-matte finish, plus SPF 30 protection from the sun. We like that it's available in 11 shades ranging from deep brown to ivory. This BB cream also comes in a mini size if you need something for travel or want to try it out before buying the full tube.

Price at time of publish: $36

CoverGirl Clean Matte BB Cream for Oily Skin

Courtesy of CVS

View on Ulta View On Amazon View On Walmart

What We Like

Budget-friendly
Oil-free formula

What We Don’t Like

Shade range isn't diverse

BB cream is not as serious as a foundation, and it doesn't need to cost as much either. This oil-free formula from CoverGirl is not only budget-friendly but also super easy to apply with your fingers or whatever's within reach.

Price at time of publish: $8

L'OrÃ©al Paris Magic Skin Beautifier B.B. Cream

Amazon

View on Ulta View On Amazon View On Target

What We Like

Budget-friendly
Adaptive pigments
Hydrating

What We Don’t Like

Contains PEGs

L'Oréal Magic Skin only comes in four shades, but the adaptive pigments adjust to match your skin tone. And since it doubles as a lotion, you don't necessarily need to wear moisturizer underneath—just don't skip the SPF.

Price at time of publish: $12

Jane Iredale Glow Time Full Coverage Mineral BB Cream

Ulta

View on Ulta View On Amazon View On Nordstrom

What We Like

Contains SPF
Non-comedogenic
Reduces appearance of pores

What We Don't Like

Expensive
Contains PEGs

Jane Iredale's Glow Time is a premium take on BB cream. It offers the pore-blurring effects of a soft-focus primer and the full coverage of a foundation, plus SPF protection from the sun's damaging rays.

Price at time of publish: $52

Sephora

View on Ulta View On Amazon View On Dermstore

What We Like

Contains SPF
Oil-free formula

What We Don’t Like

Shade range isn't diverse

Erborian's best-selling BB Crème flaunts a silky-smooth formula that blends effortlessly and diffuses the look of blemishes. Offering both moisture and a matte finish, you'll notice a visible improvement in your complexion.

Price at time of publish: $45

Nu Skin

View On Etsy View On Nuskin.com

What We Like

Diverse shade range
Long-lasting

What We Don’t Like

Expensive

This foundation-BB cream hybrid is available in 15 shades ranging from deep espresso to almond to ivory. We appreciate that the buildable formula offers as much or as little coverage as you want and stays put for a whopping 12 hours.

Price at time of publish: $44

Dr. Jart+

View On Sephora View On Drjart.com

What We Like

Contains SPF
Blends seamlessly
Visibly enhances complexion

What We Don’t Like

Contains PEGs
Shade range isn't diverse

As one of the first BB creams to launch in the U.S. in the early aughts, Dr. Jart+ introduced many of us to the makeup category. Though it only comes in three shades, the formula blends exceptionally well and works with most skin tones. This complexion-enhancing balm also contains SPF 45.

Sephora

View on Ulta View On Amazon View On Sephora

What We Like

Contains SPF
Long-lasting

What We Don’t Like

Contains PEGs

For buildable coverage that doesn't slide off your oil-slick complexion, this wood-capped tube from Tarte is your best bet. The creamy texture is super lightweight and blendable, diffusing the look of your pores and delivering a natural matte finish for up to 12 hours, plus SPF 30 protection.

Price at time of publish: $35

Coola Rösilliance Organic BB+ Cream SPF 30

Courtesy of Sephora

View on Ulta View On Amazon View On Sephora

What We Like

Contains SPF
Made with organic ingredients

What We Don’t Like

Expensive

Want something a bit more sheer? Coola Rōsilliance leans more toward a tinted moisturizer but still has the complexion-boosting benefits of a beauty balm. Though it only comes in three shades, the idea is that they enhance rather than match your skin tone—extra points for SPF 30 protection.

Price at time of publish: $52

MD Solar Sciences

View On Amazon View On Dermstore View On Walmart

What We Like

Contains SPF
Color-correcting

What We Don’t Like

Limited shade range

If you're dealing with discoloration, go with MDSolarSciences. This whipped beauty balm corrects for redness, covers dark spots, and fades hyperpigmentation, leaving you with a matte finish and a more even-toned complexion.

Price at time of publish: $39

BareMinerals Prime Time BB Primer-Cream Daily Defense SPF 30

Ulta

View On Bareminerals.com View On Hsn.com View On QVC

What We Like

Contains SPF
Absorbs oil
Diffuses blemishes

What We Don’t Like

Contains PEGs
Shade range isn't diverse

Prime Time is a makeup primer and BB cream hybrid that absorbs excess oil to reduce shine on your T-zone and anywhere else you want to mattify. Not only that, but the silky-smooth formula diffuses blemishes and leaves you with more even-toned skin.

Fenty Beauty by Rihanna Eaze Drop Blurring Skin Tint

Sephora

View on Ulta View On Sephora View On Fentybeauty.com

What We Like

Transfer-resistant
Diverse shade range
Soft-focus effect

What We Don’t Like

Contains PEGs
Not technically BB cream

Available in a diverse range of 25 shades, Fenty Eaze Drop provides light, buildable coverage, and an instant soft-focus blurring effect. The smooth, user-friendly texture is also easy to apply with your fingers or your favorite brush.

Price at time of publish: $32

Amazon

View On Amazon View On IHerb View On Stylevana.com

What We Like

Budget-friendly
Helps heal blemishes
Soothing

What We Don’t Like

Shade range isn't diverse

If your oily skin is also acne-prone, Purito BB Cream is your new best friend. In addition to blurring any existing blemishes, the soft, blendable formula helps heal and clear them. We also appreciate the super wallet-friendly price point.

Price at time of publish: $10

4.3

Macy's

View On Amazon View On Nordstrom View On Sephora

What We Like

Contains SPF
Blends seamlessly
Color-correcting

What We Don’t Like

Contains PEGs
Contains oil

IT Cosmetics CC+ Cream with SPF 50+ Is Lightweight and Hydrating

CC cream is like BB cream but with additional color-correcting benefits. The queen of this category is undoubtedly It Cosmetics, which boasts a full-coverage formula that blends effortlessly and leaves you with a natural (albeit better-looking) complexion.

Price at time of publish: $44

Final Verdict

Our number one pick is the Pūrlisse Perfect Glow BB Cream SPF 30, an oil-free Korean BB cream that diffuses blemishes, corrects dark spots, and protects with SPF 30. On a budget? Go with CoverGirl Clean Matte BB Cream.

What to Look For in a BB Cream for Oily Skin

Consistency

Opt for a lightweight consistency when searching for a BB cream for oily skin. It'll blend more seamlessly across the skin without leaving a greasy finish. Plus, it won't feel too heavy against a complexion that might already feel congested.

Shine Control

Find a BB cream specifically formulated to help mattify. Scan the ingredients list for additives that help control shine like clay or silica. It'll also help keep excess oil in check, which will prevent you from worrying about blotting your face throughout the day. Acne-fighting BB creams may also be a great alternative if you can't find shine control since their formulas typically already have something for excess sebum in them.

FAQ

Is BB cream good for oily skin?

Since BB cream tends to have a lighter formula, some claim it works better for those with oily skin. The formulas are also infused with ingredients that may help control shine and prevent excess oil.
What is the difference between BB and CC cream?

A BB cream is a beauty balm skincare, primer, and foundation hybrid that provides lightweight coverage. In contrast, CC cream is a complexion corrector that corrects uneven skin tone and adds coverage. Both may contain skincare ingredients.
Is it OK to use BB cream everyday?

BB cream may be used as part of your daily makeup routine in the place of foundation. Some claim it's safer to use every day since the formula is more lightweight than foundation.

How We Researched & Tested

To compile this list, our team of editors and contributors spent hours researching the best products on the market in this category, evaluating their key features—like ingredients, shade range, or design—in addition to reviews from customers and other trusted sources. Our team also incorporated their own personal experiences testing products in their own lives. We then used these insights from our research and testing to assign a star rating from one to five (five being the best; one being the worst) to certain products on the list.

Why Trust Byrdie

Theresa Holland is a freelance commerce writer with substantial experience researching, testing, and reviewing beauty products. With insight from a celebrity makeup artist in mind, she searched high and low to find standout BB creams that play well with oily skin, ultimately choosing oil-free, mattifying, easy-to-apply formulas with complexion-enhancing benefits. Theresa covers makeup, skincare, haircare, and fitness gear at Byrdie.

The 10 Best CC Creams of 2023, Tested and Reviewed

Article Sources

Byrdie takes every opportunity to use high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial guidelines to learn more about how we keep our content accurate, reliable and trustworthy.

7 Holy Grail BB Creams For Anyone With Oily Skin. Elite Daily. https://www.elitedaily.com/p/the-7-best-bb-creams-for-oily-skin-7788638
10 Best BB Creams For Oily And Acne-Prone Skin. StyleCraze. https://www.stylecraze.com/articles/bb-creams-for-oily-skin/