This $15 CC Cream Is My New Holy Grail Product

At this point, I feel like my name is synonymous with the word glow. My government ID should practically recognize me as Ariel Glow-y Makeup Baker. This is a title that I wear with pride, as there was once a time when matte liquid foundations or powders were the only products I would wear. Now, I've revamped my entire makeup collection in hopes of finding some of the best beauty products on the market that will give me the ultimate radiant finish.

Through trial and error, I've found a few holy grail items, but when a drugstore brand drops its hat into the ring, I can't help but be intrigued. Recently, E.l.f. Cosmetics released the Camo Hydrating CC Cream ($15), which promises to be a full-coverage, color-correcting cream that will result in dewy, hydrated skin upon application. I'm already a huge fan of the original CC cream, but it does leave my skin fairly matte. With my updated preferences, I had to see if this new version lives up to the very high bar set by its predecessor. Read ahead for my review of the latest addition to the E.l.f. CC line.

Camo Hydrating CC Cream

From

$15

$15 at Ulta

I've always been a big fan of the E.l.f. CC cream packaging. It feels similar to the other, more high-end products that I'd typically find at Sephora sans the hefty price tag. As for the formula itself, I love the soft glow that this cream leaves behind when I apply it to the skin. I consider it to be a medium coverage complexion product, so I can still see the true texture of my skin after I finish putting it on, which I personally really like. The combination screams my skin but infinitely better. There's no unnatural creasing or patchiness to worry about (as I once feared with my matte products) — my face just looks dewy and healthy.

Using a dense, synthetic brush, I like to blend the CC cream into my skin as I would a normal foundation. The synthetic bristles don't take up as much product as a natural fiber brush or beauty blender would, allowing for more of the product to sit on the skin, and in turn, allowing for better coverage.

Though the new Camo Hydrating CC Cream boasts 30 shades, the undertones could use some work. I'm between two colors: Tan 450 N and Tan 460 W. I initially opted for the latter shade but found it to be extremely warm. Because of that, I'm not able to throw this CC cream on and rush out of the house; I have to adjust the coloring with a lighter concealer or mix it with another shade.

Though many makeup artists say that most people need two complexion products to really get their shades right, having to buy two separate products isn't very realistic for many people.

You can buy the E.l.f Camo Hydrating CC Cream at ElfCosmetics.com or Ulta.com.

Rating: ★★★★