Can drugstore Maybelline really outshine IT Cosmetics CC+ in SPF, coverage, and all-day wear—or does the cult favorite still reign supreme?
Choosing between heavy-duty coverage and effortless glow? This guide helps you pick between full-coverage IT Cosmetics CC+ (SPF 50) and lightweight Maybelline Dream Fresh BB (SPF 30), comparing coverage, protection, skincare benefits, wear, shade range, and overall value for you.
Maximum Coverage
Creamy, multi‑functional formula that combines near full‑coverage makeup with skincare and strong SPF protection. Performs best when you want coverage and anti‑aging/hydrating benefits in one step, though the cost and shade matching can be limiting for some.
Everyday Protection
A lightweight, budget‑friendly BB that hydrates the skin and provides light, natural coverage with SPF protection. Best suited for everyday wear or no‑makeup looks; not intended as a high‑coverage foundation alternative.
IT CC+ Cream
Maybelline BB Cream
IT CC+ Cream
Maybelline BB Cream
IT CC+ Cream
Maybelline BB Cream
It Cosmetics CC Cream vs. Maybelline Dream Urban Cover: Face-Off
Product Snapshot: Ingredients, Claims, and Packaging
IT Cosmetics CC+ Cream — quick specs
IT Cosmetics CC+ is a full-coverage cream that doubles as a color-correcting foundation and anti-aging serum. It emphasizes skincare actives and sun protection in one step.
Maybelline Dream Fresh BB — quick specs
Maybelline Dream Fresh is a lightweight BB (beauty balm) marketed as an 8-in-1 skin-perfecting product that feels like skincare with tint.
Feature Comparison Chart
Coverage & Finish: How They Look on Skin
Real-world coverage & texture
IT Cosmetics CC+ delivers true full coverage out of the tube but is buildable. Texture is thick-creamy; it spreads smoothly and can be sheered with a damp sponge. One small pump (pea-sized) covers most of the face for medium coverage; two pumps give full, photo-ready coverage without looking cakey when blended well.
Maybelline Dream Fresh BB is sheer-to-light coverage with a lightweight, watery-cream texture that melts into skin. One dab (about 1–2 pea-sized drops) gives an even, “your-skin-but-better” tint; three small drops layered lightly can approach light-medium coverage but won’t mask heavy discoloration.
Blending, transfer resistance & finish
Skin-type guidance & common use cases
Use cases:
Testing notes (quick):
Skincare Benefits and SPF Performance
Active skincare ingredients: real benefits in a tinted base
IT CC+ contains niacinamide and hyaluronic acid and markets an “anti‑aging serum” blend. Those actives can improve hydration, barrier function, and skin tone over time, but concentrations in makeup are usually lower than in dedicated serums. Expect supportive, not transformative, long‑term benefits—better hydration, slight brightening, and plumper-looking skin with regular use rather than rapid clinical results.
Maybelline Dream Fresh focuses on lightweight hydration and skin‑smoothing claims but does not advertise the same targeted actives. It feels like skincare, but any anti‑aging impact will be minimal compared with a proper treatment routine.
Sun protection: SPF 50 vs SPF 30 — practice vs. label
Reapplication recommendations:
Sensitivities, comedogenicity & skin-type fit
Practical Considerations: Shades, Wear Time, Price & Value
Shades & undertones
IT CC+: broader, more nuanced shade range with multiple undertone options; some users still mix shades for perfect matches.
Maybelline Dream Fresh: only ~5 sheer shades with limited undertone variety—works if your skin falls near a standard light-to-medium spectrum but can miss deeper or very cool/warm tones.
Portability & bottle sizes
IT CC+: 1.08 fl oz pump tube — travel-friendly, hygienic pump, slightly larger than drugstore standard.
Maybelline: 1 fl oz squeeze tube — compact and lightweight, easy to stash in a makeup bag.
Longevity, oxidation & creasing
IT CC+: Fuller coverage and blurring finish tend to last longer (typically 8–12 hours with primer and setting powder). Slight oxidation can occur on very oily skin; use mattifying primer if needed. Rare creasing except around expressive areas when layered heavily.
Maybelline: Sheer, lightweight wear—usually 4–8 hours depending on skin type. Tends to fade or become patchy on oily zones without powder; minimal creasing thanks to thin texture.
User-friendliness & layering
IT CC+: Applies well with fingers, sponge, or brush; buildable from medium to full but use small amounts to avoid heaviness. Blends into most primers and powders.
Maybelline: Extremely beginner-friendly—blends effortlessly with fingers, ideal for quick, no-makeup looks or under a light powder.
Price per ounce & value
IT CC+: ~$47 / 1.08 fl oz → about $43.50 per fl oz; premium price justified if you want high coverage + skincare/SPF in one.
Maybelline: ~$8 / 1 fl oz → $8 per fl oz; excellent budget value for daily sheer coverage and SPF.
Quick buyer profiles:
Final Verdict: Which Should You Buy?
IT CC+ is the clear winner for anyone prioritizing fuller coverage, anti‑aging ingredients and higher sun protection. It delivers true full coverage, a serum-like formula with niacinamide and hyaluronic acid, and SPF 50, but is pricier and can feel heavier on skin.
Choose IT CC+ if you want visible coverage, anti‑aging benefits and SPF 50 protection — clear winner for special occasions, mature or uneven skin. Choose Maybelline Dream Fresh BB if you prefer lightweight, breathable, wallet-friendly daily wear with sheer tint, hydration and SPF 30. Buy suggestions: Buy IT CC+ for fuller coverage/anti‑aging needs; buy Maybelline BB for everyday hydration, light coverage and budget shoppers. Ready to test them side‑by‑side? Shop, compare, and decide.
Hey, I’m Ava Wilson—a skincare enthusiast and a certified esthetician. I’m dedicated to sharing my knowledge and empowering others to achieve healthy, glowing skin through simple, effective routines and natural remedies. Join me on this exciting skincare journey, and let’s unlock your skin’s potential for a confident, beautiful you.
Hey! Slightly OT but does anyone mix moisturizers into these to sheer them out? I did that with IT and it made it more dewy and skin-like. Maybelline mixes easily too. Works if you want less coverage.
Yep, diluting with moisturizer is a common hack — great for customizing finish and coverage.
I mix with a tiny bit of vitamin C serum for glow — results vary but sometimes a nice radiance.
I have sensitive skin and the ingredient list in IT (niacinamide, hyaluronic) actually helped calm redness. Maybelline felt fine but didn’t do anything for my redness. Worth noting if you have reactive skin.
Thanks for the heads-up, Emily. We noted similar reports in our testing — IT’s serum-like formula can be soothing for some sensitive skin types.
Do you use sunscreen separately with IT? It says SPF50 but I always wonder if that’s enough.
Good to know. Do either pill with retinol or other actives?
Ryan — I didn’t experience pilling. If you layer heavy actives, patch test first though.
I’m 45 and texture/lines are a thing. IT’s anti-aging claims felt legit — my fine lines looked softer under makeup. The Maybelline was too sheer to help with texture, but it looked very natural.
Do you recommend IT for daytime or nighttime? Concerned about SPF in photos.
Daytime for sure. For photos, test your makeup with flash — I didn’t get flashback but YMMV.
Appreciate that perspective, Sofia — we aimed to test across age groups and saw similar results for mature skin.
Short and sweet: Maybelline = sheer, breathable, cheap. IT = full coverage, skincare benefits, $$$. Choose your fighter.
Also: both have SPF so don’t skip reapplying if you’ll be in sun a long time.
Agreed. Even SPF in makeup isn’t a substitute for sunscreen reapplication.
Perfect summary, Zoe. That’s the gist we wanted readers to take away.
Okay hear me out: I use IT CC+ for evenings and the Maybelline BB for brunch/weekend errands. Why choose? Use both. 😂
Also, IT actually helped my skin texture after a month (niacinamide + hyaluronic) — noticed less texture/pore prominence.
Does IT make your skin oily midday? I have oily T-zone and worry about shine.
Anyone tried both in humid climates? Curious how they perform.
Chloe — I powder lightly on the T-zone around hour 6 and I’m good. Or use mattifying primer under it.
That’s clever. Saves money while still getting the benefits of IT when you want them.
Nice routine, Ava — layering products for different occasions is smart. Appreciate the note about visible texture improvements!
Price comparison: IT is a splurge but you get a lot of coverage + skincare. Maybelline is great for the price. It depends on whether you want a tinted moisturizer or a foundation substitute.
Exactly — we tried to highlight that trade-off in the post. Budget vs performance vs skincare benefits.
Financially speaking, a little goes a long way with IT, but up-front cost is steep.
I have acne-prone skin — Maybelline didn’t break me out and felt lightweight. IT was fine too but I felt it emphasized dry patches until I exfoliated first. Pro-tip: hydrate/exfoliate before heavy coverage.
Sam — water-based priming serum for me. Silicone felt weird with the CC+.
Do you use a silicone or water-based primer with IT? Wondering which pairs better.
Noted — we’ll include primer pairing tips in future comparisons.
If you have dry patches, a hydrating primer or facial oil under (very minimal) can help.
Great tip, Rachel — prepping skin can change how full-coverage formulas sit.
Random nitpick: packaging on IT feels luxe but the nozzle can be messy. Maybelline tube is simple and portable. Function over form sometimes wins for me.
I clip the nozzle sealed between uses — less mess that way lol.
Good observation about packaging — we’ve seen users mention dispensing control issues with IT.
Anyone tried color matching for deeper skin tones? I found IT has a wider range but still wasn’t a perfect match. Maybelline’s shades were too limited for me.
We noticed similar — IT offers more shade breadth but perfect matches may still require mixing or buying online swatches.
Try mixing a drop of a darker foundation into Maybelline. I did that and it worked okay.
Shade inclusivity still needs work across brands, unfortunately.
LOL I bought IT expecting miracle coverage and it DID deliver, but I still woke up late one day and smudged it everywhere. Lesson: setting spray + blotting papers are your friends. 😂
Haha yes! Setting spray helps lock it in. Thanks for the relatable tip.
Good mix of tips — powder + spray often gives the best staying power without heaviness.