
I’ll never forget the first time I opened a box of beauty products from a PR firm. I was 23 years old, and the editor of a hip new magazine on South Beach that was trying to compete with established publications like Ocean Drive and the New Times. It was a dream job in so many ways, as my days were spent running the magazine with a much older staff, and my nights were spent at art galleries and restaurant openings.
It was right when everything was exploding in South Beach, and I’ll never forget those days.
As a magazine editor, I enjoyed lots of perks, despite the tiny salary. Lavish meals at local restaurants. A birthday party at Betsey Johnson. Clothes on loan from local designers.
But, without a doubt, my favorite perk was the products.
Oh. My. Goodness. The first time I opened a box the size of my desk filled with every product ever made by Kiehl’s, I was speechless. And, as the only girl on our 3-person staff, I didn’t even have to share.
Let’s just say I had enough Blue Astringent and Creme de Corps to last for years.
In subsequent jobs as a beauty editor, editorial director, and fashion editor, it never got old. Sure, eventually I had an intern open all of the packages (and grab what she wanted!) but I still felt like a kid at Christmas when the daily PR deliveries came.
And my obsession with beauty products has never waned. I don’t do product reviews like this often, but that’s because they take a lot of time. I don’t just try something once or twice and then tell you how I feel. With a product like the ones in today’s video, where performance really counts, I try them over a period of months, in different conditions, to determine whether they are worth recommending.
(All of the products mentioned in today’s video can be found in this catalog of my beauty faves!)
I followed the same exact routine for applying each of these products. I started with a sunscreen that has a primer built-in, and foler. Then I rubbed the products onto my face with my fingertips so that you could more easily see the texture and color. (Typically, I use a brush from Rodan + Fields or IT! Cosmetics.)
Today, I discuss 3 of the Best CC Creams for women over 40. The contenders:
- IT Cosmetics CC+ Cream Oil-Free Matte with SPF40
- Rodan + Fields Radiant Defense
- NV Perricone MD No Makeup Foundation Serum
IT Cosmetics CC+ Cream Matte

Pros: Great coverage, long-lasting, natural finish, high SPF, packaging is easy to use, soft matte finish
Cons: Dries down relatively quickly, so you need to work fast when blending.
To Buy: Click here.
Rodan + Fields Radiant Defense

Pros: Glowy, dewy finish, long-lasting, natural finish, high SPF, convenient packaging, medium coverage
Cons: Most expensive
Perricone MD No Makeup Foundation Serum

Pros: Very natural finish, glowy, dewy effect, long lasting, light coverage
Cons: Very annoying bottle (the dropper is tight and doesn’t work to dispense product), slightly greasy, bottle must be shaken before application or product separates, lowest SPF (20)
Have you tried any of these CC creams, or do you have another favorite? Let me know in the comments. And to find everything from today’s video/post in one place (and many of my other favorite products), check out my Beauty Catalog!
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