When I visited Sephora in Sydney, I mentioned that one of the brands I really wanted to try out was IT Cosmetics. A few weeks ago, I reviewed their CC+ Radiance Ombre Blush and today, I’d like to share my thoughts with you on the CC cream. Just before I hit the store, I fired up a quick Google on recommended items to get from the brand. One of them was the CC cream and I thought oh why not? So I took one of the full-sized CC creams in the shade Medium and popped in to my shopping basket.
However, when I was queuing up to pay, I stumbled upon a smaller-sized version of the CC cream. You know how Sephora loves enticing you with cute and tiny versions of beauty products just as you’re queuing up for the checkout counter? Naturally, I got sucked in too. Even though it would be cheaper per ml to buy the full-sized product, I figured that if I end up not liking the CC cream at all, it’s just going to be a waste of money anyway so I decided to buy the 12ml version instead.
Thank goodness I did because I know for sure I won’t be able to use up the full-sized CC cream. It’s good but it’s not great.
The CC+ claim is that it’s a colour-correcting full coverage cream and that it’s also an anti-aging hydrating serum (reckon the latter is the reason for the plus sign). The CC cream is basically a foundation and I really wouldn’t say it’s a full coverage one at all. At best, I’d give it a light-medium. It starts off as light, almost like a tinted moisturiser but as you build on light layers, it goes to about a medium in coverage.
It’s a lightweight and creamy foundation that spreads and blends well onto the skin, leaving a satin finish. It looks good on the skin and it looks even better after an hour or two. It’s buildable to higher coverage and doesn’t look cakey or crepey on the skin with more layers on. IT Cosmetics calls it “your skin but better” and I absolutely agree with the statement. Your skin still looks like your skin but with an even skin tone and slightly covered up blemishes. I’d say it’s on par with a number of high-end CC creams out there. I also love the fact that it also contains a broad spectrum sunscreen and a high SPF of 50.
Now comes the part where I tell you why it’s good but not great. I don’t like how it smells. It doesn’t smell bad when you sniff the tube. It doesn’t smell when it’s swatched. However, for some very odd reason, when I apply it on my face, I smell vomit, especially when I blend it around my nose. It’s really strange but to me, it smells like throw-up. It could be hormones or that that time of the month is coming, but I’ve been using this for a while and I could still smell it. Sometimes it’s bearable but other times, I had to remove everything and start again with another foundation. I had to wonder if it’s just me because really, who’d allow such an awful scent in their products?
Other than that, if I overlooked the unpleasant scent, it’s a good CC cream. Heck, it’s a good foundation. I’m very pleased that I bought a smaller tube because not only would it be easier to finish, it would also be a breeze to travel with.
If you’re used this CC cream before and don’t find anything wrong with the scent at all, please let me know. I hope it’s just me who has a problem and not the product. Perhaps I bought a dud?
IT Cosmetic’s CC+ Colour Correcting Cream retails at AU$39.00 for 12ml. I can’t remember the exact price for the full-sized product but I’m guessing it’s around the AU$45-$55 range for 30ml. If you’re looking to give this a go but already have 5930 bottles of foundations to deal with, look for the smaller-sized version instead. This CC cream retails in the US at US$38.00 for 30ml and is available at Ulta.
What I like about it: Lightweight, non-greasy, looks natural on the skin, high SPF.
What I do not like about it: I don’t like how it smells when it’s on my face because it kind of smells like sick. Could just be me though.
Tine, return it! You must have gotten a bad one. I adore IT Cosmetics CC Cream and use it all the time. I have both Fair and Light. There is an ever so faint sweet, maybe slightly floral scent that smells good though I can hardly smell it. I just checked both my tubes and there is no bad smell. Take it back!!
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Argh crapola. Mine must be a dud then. I can’t return it; Australia’s return policy for cosmetics differ from the US. Once opened, it cannot be returned or refunded. š
Wow, that is harsh! So unfair if it’s not your fault that the manufacturer screwed up. You should send an email to IT Cosmetics and let them know explaining the Australia return policy. My guess is they’ll do something to make it up to you.
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Definitely sounds like a dodgy batch to me. I have one too and it smells pretty normal. Unfortunately I was low on time and I decided to trust the store lighting. Nope nope never again. The colour match is just so wrong for me š I do like to mix it with foundations and it’s a great foundation overall but I just have an annoying shade to match.
sayyip.blogspot.com.au
Oh no, that’s not good. Needing to mix with foundations is a good solution but ultimately, you’d rather not have to spend that extra time doing that.
I think you got a bad one too. I have the medium also and mine has a very slight floral smell as well.
See, the thing is, it smells all right when I swatch it (I sniffed the back of my hand). It’s just when it goes on my face that something goes off. Hmm….
So funny you wrote about this- I thought the same thing!!! I too thought I was crazy, or that it was my body chemistry. I like the product, but omg I HATE the smell! Just wanted to let you know you were’t alone. Unfortunately it seems that is it’s ‘normal’ smell. Um, ick.
OMG Kari I’m not the only one!! It could be our body chemistry; the rest all said it smells fine to them. So weird!
Mine smells like vomit too!
I’m on my 3rd tube and my sister uses it too. I have a very sensitive nose and mention the fragrance of every product I use in my reviews. The one you got is a dud. It shouldn’t have that fragrance at all. I’d write IT and tell them.
I reckon I’ll let them know. I can’t return the product; Australia’s return policy on cosmetics doesn’t allow it. But it’s good to let IT Cosmetics know nonetheless.
I just bought the cc cream, tried it this morning. It does have a weird smell, kind of lemon but not exactly a good lemon. I didnt care for the smell. I also agree its not full coverage. It bary covered my red areas, but maybe I should have used more. Ill give it a week and see how it goes. Glad I wasn’t the only one with the smell issue lol
OMG YEA FINALLY. SOMEONE WHO THINKS THIS TOO. I received a sample of this from Ulta and I seriously cannot get past the smell. I felt like there was vomit on my face. This happened to me with another product… It was a sample of Philosphy’s Hope in a Jar… It’s such a bummer because I really want to love these products people talk so highly about, but when I use them on my face, I feel so nauseous.
OMG RIGHT? But so many people don’t smell it! For them, this smells good! Which makes me wonder, what exactly are we smelling that smells like vomit??
You’re not alone — I used a sample from Ulta today, and as soon as I started squirting the packet onto my fingertips, I thought “Ew. Baby spit-up! Or milk about to go bad…or is it questionable cheese?” It would be interesting to have people who think it smells great smell the stuff from a packet or tube we think smells like vomit.
You are definitely not alone! It does smell like vomit. I tried it at two different stores to make sure it wasn’t a bad batch and even had someone else sniff the same tube, they thought it smelled fine, I was absolutely disgusted!
I just googled It Cosmetics CC+ Cream smells and I found your site. I am so glad that I did. I got the CC Cream because I had read so many great reviews on the product. I don’t have a store close by so I had to wait to get it. Then I tried it and the smell came. I thought maybe my face cream and it together caused the smell so I changed that. I have tried changing several things even thinking its my hair spray but unfortunately it is the CC Cream which totally bums me out. I can return it once I get back to the Ulta that is 100 miles from me…….. Thank you for being honest with your review and thank you to your comments I know that I am not crazy. I had smelling that smell it makes me want to go take another shower.
RIGHT?? See, I knew I wasn’t the only one who thought it smells like vomit. š
OMG I completely agree it smells like vomit!!! I just googled it to see if other people thought it smelled and sure enough I came across your review. I hope It cosmetics changes that because I love the way it looks!
Mine stinks too, is yours a sample size or the full size? I feel like everyone saying it smells has the travel size.
Google brought me here. It smells like vomit. My friend just got some and said she loved the smell and I was like, is it just me?? It’s a good cream but the smell is the worst. My daughter agrees with me. I wonder why it’s only some people.
Oh my goodness!
Mine stinks too!
Once I get it on my face I donāt really smell it but when Iām putting it on I can smell it.
I just googled this because Iāve experienced the same thing. Iām on my second tube and I smell a weird sour smell at times. I had to stop applying with a foundation brush, because after one day of using a clean brush it would smell like clothes that had soured in the washer. Then I would smell it on my face all day. (This is Bare Minerals foundation brush that I wouldnāt have to clean for weeks when using bare minerals CC cream.) I still smell it at times when applying with my fingers, but the first tube got worse as it got older. The new tube wasnāt as sour when first opened. Itās a great āfoundation,ā but the smell has caused me to try something different once itās gone. My mom uses this and does not smell it. I wonder if different people smell different things just like we taste things differently as well?
OMG…I have been searching for answers for a LONG time for why I keep smelling bad odors. Iāve been thinking my body was excreting bad odors. Iāve been to all kind of doctors and no one has suggested that it could be makeup. After reading all of these posts Iām totally convinced that it is the makeup. Iām going tomorrow and buy a different brand of makeup. Thank you everyone who posted.