Creme vs. Cream — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Fiza Rafique — Updated on September 26, 2023
"Creme" refers to a creamy product, often in cosmetics or food, while "Cream" is the thicker part of milk or a product made from this substance.
Difference Between Creme and Cream
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
"Creme" and "Cream" both hint at a rich and smooth texture, but their primary uses differ. "Creme" often gets associated with specialty or gourmet foods and cosmetics. For instance, "Creme Brulee" is a popular dessert, and "creme lipstick" denotes a particular texture in beauty products. On the other hand, "Cream" is a dairy product, resulting when milk separates, creating a thicker layer.
In the culinary world, "Creme" may refer to products that mimic the texture of dairy cream but don't necessarily contain it, such as "creme patisserie." "Cream," meanwhile, is a fundamental ingredient in many recipes and can be whipped, churned into butter, or used in sauces.
In beauty and skincare, the distinction becomes more pronounced. "Creme" is a term often found in the names of luxury or specialized products, suggesting a lush or velvety texture. Conversely, "Cream" in skincare typically refers to a thicker moisturizing product, more substantive than a lotion.
While "Creme" carries a somewhat exotic or French connotation, "Cream" is straightforward in its English usage. If a product is labeled "Creme fraiche," it sounds more specialized than simply "sour cream," even if their uses overlap in cooking.
Comparison Chart
Primary Usage
Cosmetics and gourmet foods
Dairy product
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Origin
French
English
Consistency
May or may not be dairy-based
Typically dairy-based
Common Associations
Luxury, specialized
Everyday, common
Examples
Creme Brulee, creme lipstick
Whipping cream, moisturizing cream
Compare with Definitions
Creme
A term often used for specialty foods.
I love the taste of Creme Brulee.
Cream
A pale yellow or off-white color.
She wore a cream-colored dress.
Creme
A word implying luxury or a higher-end product.
This perfume has a creme de la creme reputation.
Cream
Cream is a dairy product composed of the higher-fat layer skimmed from the top of milk before homogenization. In un-homogenized milk, the fat, which is less dense, eventually rises to the top.
Creme
A creamy filling or layer in desserts.
The chocolate had a mint creme center.
Cream
The yellowish fatty component of unhomogenized milk that tends to accumulate at the surface.
Creme
A descriptor for cosmetics suggesting a smooth texture.
This creme foundation blends seamlessly.
Cream
Any of various substances resembling or containing cream
Hand cream.
Creme
A non-dairy product with a creamy texture.
The dessert uses almond creme instead of dairy.
Cream
A pale yellow to yellowish white.
Creme
Alternative spelling of crème
Cream
The choicest part
The cream of the crop.
Creme
Alternative spelling of crème
Cream
To form cream.
Creme
Alternative spelling of crème
Cream
To form foam or froth at the top.
Creme
Cream; - a term used esp. in cookery, names of liqueurs, etc.
Cream
To have an orgasm.
Cream
To be excited or delighted about something.
Cream
To remove the cream from; skim.
Cream
To take or remove (the best part)
Creamed off the highest-paying jobs for her cronies.
Cream
To take the best part from
Creamed the whole department to form his management team.
Cream
To beat into a creamy consistency.
Cream
To prepare or cook in or with a cream sauce.
Cream
To add cream to.
Cream
To defeat overwhelmingly
Creamed our rival on their home court.
Cream
To damage severely; destroy
My camera got creamed when I dropped it.
Cream
Vulgar Slang To have an orgasm in (one's pants, for example).
Cream
The butterfat/milkfat part of milk which rises to the top; this part when separated from the remainder.
Take 100 ml of cream and 50 grams of sugar…
Cream
The liquid separated from milk, possibly with certain other milk products added, and with at least eighteen percent of it milkfat.
Cream
The liquid separated from milk containing at least 18 percent milkfat (48% for double cream).
Cream
(tea and coffee) A portion of cream, such as the amount found in a creamer.
I take my coffee with two cream and three sugar.
Cream
A yellowish white colour; the colour of cream.
Cream
(informal) Frosting, custard, creamer, or another substance similar to the oily part of milk or to whipped cream.
Cream
(figuratively) The best part of something.
The cream of the crop
The cream of a collection of books or pictures
Cream
(medicine) A viscous aqueous oil/fat emulsion with a medicament added, used to apply that medicament to the skin. (compare with ointment)
You look really sunburnt; you should apply some cream.
Cream
Semen.
Cream
(obsolete) The chrism or consecrated oil used in anointing ceremonies.
Cream
Cream-coloured; having a yellowish white colour.
Cream
To puree, to blend with a liquifying process.
Cream the vegetables with the olive oil, flour, salt and water mixture.
Cream
To turn a yellowish white colour; to give something the color of cream.
Cream
(slang) To obliterate, to defeat decisively.
We creamed the opposing team!
Cream
To ejaculate used of either gender.
Cream
To ejaculate in (clothing or a bodily orifice).
Cream
To rub, stir, or beat (butter) into a light creamy consistency.
Cream
(transitive) To skim, or take off by skimming, as cream.
Cream
To take off the best or choicest part of.
Cream
(transitive) To furnish with, or as if with, cream.
Cream
(intransitive) To gather or form cream.
Cream
The rich, oily, and yellowish part of milk, which, when the milk stands unagitated, rises, and collects on the surface. It is the part of milk from which butter is obtained.
Cream
The part of any liquor that rises, and collects on the surface.
Cream
A delicacy of several kinds prepared for the table from cream, etc., or so as to resemble cream.
Cream
A cosmetic; a creamlike medicinal preparation.
In vain she tries her paste and creams,To smooth her skin or hide its seams.
Cream
The best or choicest part of a thing; the quintessence; as, the cream of a jest or story; the cream of a collection of books or pictures.
Welcome, O flower and cream of knights errant.
Cream
To skim, or take off by skimming, as cream.
Cream
To take off the best or choicest part of.
Cream
To furnish with, or as with, cream.
Creaming the fragrant cups.
Cream
To form or become covered with cream; to become thick like cream; to assume the appearance of cream; hence, to grow stiff or formal; to mantle.
There are a sort of men whose visagesDo cream and mantle like a standing pool.
Cream
The best people or things in a group;
The cream of England's young men were killed in the Great War
Cream
The part of milk containing the butterfat
Cream
Toiletry consisting of any of various substances resembling cream that have a soothing and moisturizing effect when applied to the skin
Cream
Make creamy by beating;
Cream the butter
Cream
Put on cream, as on one's face or body;
She creams her face every night
Cream
Remove from the surface;
Skim cream from the surface of milk
Cream
Add cream to one's coffee, for example
Cream
The thick white or pale yellow fatty liquid that rises to the top when milk is left to stand.
I need some cream for my coffee.
Cream
A thick liquid or semi-solid cosmetic or medical preparation.
She applied the cream to her face every night.
Cream
The best individuals or things in a group or category.
Only the cream of the crop gets selected.
Cream
To beat or stir (food, especially butter and sugar) to a smooth, soft, and creamy consistency.
She creamed the butter and sugar together for the cake.
Common Curiosities
Is "Cream" always a dairy product?
Often, but it can also refer to a consistency or color.
Can "Creme" be used in cosmetics?
Yes, it's common in beauty products, like "creme lipstick."
Why do some products use "Creme" instead of "Cream"?
"Creme" often suggests luxury or specialization.
What's a popular dessert using "Creme"?
Creme Brulee is a well-known dessert.
How does "Cream" relate to excellence?
As in the phrase "cream of the crop," meaning the best.
Is there a color called "Cream"?
Yes, it's a pale yellow or off-white shade.
Is "Creme fraiche" similar to sour cream?
They're similar, but creme fraiche is richer and less tangy.
Is "Cream" used in cooking?
Yes, it's a common dairy ingredient in many recipes.
Does "Creme" imply a thicker consistency in cosmetics?
Often, suggesting a lush or velvety texture.
Can "Creme" be non-dairy?
Yes, it can refer to a creamy texture without dairy.
Can you "cream" ingredients together in cooking?
Yes, like creaming butter and sugar for a recipe.
Is "Cream" a common term in everyday English?
Yes, it's widely used in various contexts.
Can "Cream" refer to a skincare product?
Yes, like moisturizing cream.
Do all products labeled "Creme" contain dairy?
No, some might mimic the texture without dairy.
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Written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
