A foundation with SPF 50: what colour-correcting coverage does, and why the SPF on a foundation is not your sunscreen

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Researched. We have not used this one long enough to give you a verdict, and we would rather say so than invent one. What follows is how it works, who it suits, and what it will not do. When we have used it properly, this page carries the verdict and the date.

IT Cosmetics CC+ Cream SPF 50

This is one of the most popular full-coverage foundations there is, and it sits among Amazon's best-selling beauty products this week. It combines several products in one tube: foundation, colour corrector, a hydrating serum, and SPF 50+. Most of that delivers exactly as promised. One part needs a caveat.

What colour-correcting means

Colour correctors cancel colours rather than covering them: green tones neutralise redness, peach and yellow tones counteract dark circles and dullness. According to the listing, the correcting pigments are built into the formula, so you do not need separate correctors under it. That is why a single layer can even out redness, dark spots and shadows that a sheer foundation would show.

Why it suits mature skin

The listing describes a hydrating formula with hyaluronic acid, niacinamide and vitamin E, and says it works well on mature skin. Dry, matte foundations settle into lines; a hydrating, flexible cream sits better on skin that has more texture. It is buildable, so you can wear a thin layer for an even tone or more for full coverage. Shade matching matters with full coverage — see why a foundation matches indoors and not out.

The SPF caveat

The SPF 50+ on the tube was measured using a set, generous amount of product — about a quarter of a teaspoon for the face. Almost nobody wears that much foundation; most people use a fraction of it. With less product, you get much less protection than the number suggests.

One useful detail from the listing: most shades use mineral filters, while the deeper shades, Tan Cool to Deep Cool, use clear chemical filters so there is no grey or white cast.

So treat the SPF in any foundation as a bonus, not your sunscreen. Wear a dedicated sunscreen underneath, and let the CC cream add to it. We explain how SPF is measured in what SPF measures, and what it leaves out.

How to apply it

Over moisturizer and sunscreen, once they have settled. The listing suggests one to two pumps for full coverage, blended with a brush. Tap and press rather than drag, and let it set for a minute before adding concealer where you need more.

Who it suits

Anyone who wants full, even coverage with a natural finish, particularly on mature or dry skin, and anyone with redness or uneven tone who would otherwise layer correctors. The listing says it is dermatologist and allergy tested and suitable for sensitive skin.

What it will not do

It will not give you SPF 50 protection unless you apply far more than you would for makeup. It will not suit someone who wants a sheer, skin-like tint. And it will not cover heavy texture without some settling into lines by the end of a long day.

The product

A full-coverage, colour-correcting CC cream with SPF 50+ and hydrating serum ingredients, sold by IT Cosmetics' own store when we checked.

The one people are searching for is the IT Cosmetics CC+ Cream with SPF 50+.

IT Cosmetics CC+ Cream SPF 50

We do not print prices here, because a price we typed last month is a price that is wrong today.

Written by JamieG in Garner Town, Tennessee.