If it seemed as if every brand hopped aboard the beauty balm (BB) bandwagon last year, it’s because they pretty much all did. From Bobbi Brown to Olay, Clinique to Garnier, 2012 was the year of the balm: an all-in-one multitasker that primes, hydrates, protects, and perfects skin in a single swoop. It seemed like this product had it all. Until now.

The next generation of skin-perfecting cosmetics, these “color correcting” creams incorporate all the benefits of their popular predecessor, then up the ante with the addition of skin-brightening, dark-spot-correcting ingredients.

Whether you stick by your BB or go for one of the new CCs, like this one by Smashbox, the real secret to a flawless finish is to test out shades until you find one that blends perfectly into your skin.

$42 at Sephora