We Tried Tarte’s New CC Tinted Serum — & We’ll Be Using Every Last Drop

Before skin tints and sheer foundations reigned supreme, BB and CC creams had their moment — especially in Japan and Korea.  
BB creams (short for “beauty balm” or, sometimes, “blemish balm”) were designed as all-in-one complexion products meant to replace your moisturizer, primer, foundation, and even sunscreen if formulated with UV filters. CC creams, meanwhile, are typically more focused on color correction (hence the name: “color-correcting” or “complexion-correcting”).  

Unlike traditional foundations and concealers, BB and CC creams occupy a middle ground between makeup and skincare, offering lightweight coverage and a natural, radiant finish that doesn’t look overly done. And while BB and CC creams have long since made their way stateside thanks to mainstream brands like Maybelline, IT Cosmetics, Kosas, and e.l.f. Cosmetics, a newcomer has entered the chat — and it just might be our new favorite. 

CC color-correcting tinted serum, $42

Introducing Tarte’s new CC color-correcting tinted serum, a multitasking complexion product that pairs lightweight, comfortable hydration (thanks to skincare ingredients like hyaluronic acid, strengthening peptides, and oil-balancing niacinamide) with sheer, blurred coverage that still looks like skin. Available in six flexible shades designed to work across Tarte’s existing Shape Tape concealer shade range, the formula dispenses white at first, then blends out as encapsulated pigments adapt to your skin tone and help neutralize discoloration, like redness around the cheeks or purplish under-eye shadows. Don’t forget to shake it first, to dispense the product evenly, then wait up to two minutes for the true shade to reveal itself once on the skin. Retailing for $42, CC Tinted Serum is available at Sephora and Ulta, as well as Tarte’s website. 

Ahead, three Refinery29 editors put the new launch to the test. 

Shade tested: Medium

“I’m calling it: this is my new favorite complexion base for summer. While I’ve tried heaps of CC creams, I’m always amazed when those icy white pearls of pigment burst and magically adapt to your skin tone. The thing is, most end up looking too orange or too pale on my light olive skin, but Medium was just right. I had to get close to the mirror to actually see it on my skin — it looked like my skin, but better.

After applying it to the back of my hand and using a fluffy brush to buff it evenly over my face and neck, I put it through its paces during a full day of socializing — hugging, cheek kisses, the works — and it held up better than most of my medium- to full-coverage foundations, and far more impressively than my skin tints. I’ve been dealing with a few breakouts recently and would normally need an extra dot of concealer to mask the redness, but not with this. It blurred post-breakout staining so well that I didn’t bother. I didn’t even top up under my eyes with concealer.

One quick squeeze was all I needed for my face and neck, and it felt comfortable and breathable throughout the day, much like a tinted moisturizer. I’ll be wearing this all summer long.” — Jacqueline Kilikita, beauty director

Shade(s) tested: Deep and Rich

“I’m usually underwhelmed by most beauty launches, but Tarte’s CC Tinted Serum is one of the most innovative formulas I’ve tried in a long time. It’s equal parts skincare and a color-matching science experiment. On first squeeze, the ‘Deep’ shade emerges completely white — almost like sunscreen — but as soon as you begin blending, encapsulated pigments burst and transform into a skin-tone tint. It’s the kind of beauty magic trick that feels genuinely thoughtful rather than gimmicky.

One thing to note: the shade names can be a little misleading, so I’d recommend relying on the model photos rather than the labels alone. The ‘Deep’ shade, which seemed like the obvious match for my complexion, looked pale and slightly ashy once blended. Fortunately, I also had the ‘Rich’ shade on hand. While it initially dispenses with an orange, color-corrector-like hue, it blended seamlessly into my skin and proved to be a true match for melanin-rich complexions.

I’ll definitely be adding this lightweight formula to my no-makeup makeup routine. After a quick shake, it glides onto the skin effortlessly and feels virtually weightless. Even better, I experienced no pilling or interference with the skincare products underneath, making it an easy addition to my everyday lineup.” — Alexis Bennett Parker, director of shopping partnerships

Shade tested: Medium

“I’ve yet to meet a Tarte complexion product I don’t like. There’s the bestselling Shape Tape concealer (I’m partial to its Blur Concealer Stick and Creamy formula, which I swear is a dupe for NARS’ Radiant Creamy Concealer) and the highly slept-on BB Blur tinted moisturizer, which is lightweight yet delivers sheer coverage. And now, my Tarte Mount Rushmore is complete, thanks to the CC Tinted Serum. I can sometimes be skeptical of BB and CC creams that don’t come from Asia (I’m biased, having grown up scouring Tokyo pharmacies for the coolest new formulas I couldn’t find stateside), but Tarte has proven me wrong not once, but now twice. The CC Serum is lightweight and truly feels like a hydrating milk, but offers surprisingly good coverage, even when worn without concealer.

Just like magic, the white, speckled cream seamlessly transformed into my medium olive skin as I rubbed a pump of product in with clean fingers. (I also like using a fluffy brush to buff it out for an extra diffused, airbrushed effect.) The result was truly undetectable makeup; I was so amazed that I couldn’t stop whipping out my compact mirror in public to examine my skin up close. My skin truly looked like skin, just evened out. It also didn’t transfer (I always say a little prayer before putting on a white tee after doing my makeup!), and lasted all day long — even in 90° Texas heat! — which was truly impressive. I’ll be using this to the very last drop.” — Karina Hoshikawa, senior beauty writer

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