Physicians Formula Super BB Compact; Review & Swatches of Shades

Physicians Formula Super BB Compact SPF 30
All-in-1 Beauty Balm Cream Foundation

New for Spring 2014

Price $13-$15 for 8 grams

(Approx $1.25-1.60/gram)]

CRUELTY FREE!!!

Physicians Formula (one of the few drugstore cosmetic companies which is Cruelty Free) has added yet another complexion product to their ever growing & extensive lineup of BB & CC items; the new Super BB All in 1 Beauty Balm Compact! It's a cream compact BB Cream/Lightweight foundation with an SPF of 30 & "10 Beauty Benefits!"

One of my favorite Foundations/BB Creams/Primers with sunscreen would have to be MAC Prep + Prime BB Beauty Balm Compact SPF 30. I absolutely love it. I think that it provides the perfect amount of natural looking coverage for those with normal to dry skin to wear on its own, or it wears fabulous under a foundation (especially a long-wearing foundation.) 

I was given the Prep + Prime Compact and I absolutely love it. The problem is, that it has had me thoroughly stumped in finding a cruelty free dupe for it until Physicians Formula released their BB Compact!

Adequate (Mineral-Based) Sun Protection:

Aside from the similar packaging (the holographic lettering on a white vs a black compact), Physicians Formula has done a great job replicating MAC's formula (whether inadvertant or intentional, its a reality.)

MAC Prep + Prime BB Beauty Balm Compact & Physcians Formula BB Cream Compact All in 1 Beauty Balm both have an SPF factor of 30 which is more than adequate UV protection for you to wear either product on its own, however, MAC's version has Octinoxate & Octisalate which are synthetic sunscreens and may cause irritation. 

(I have never had an issue with MAC BB Compact getting in my eyes, but those ingredients do bother me in MAC's liquid BB Creams.) MAC also included Indian Sandalwood as an added fragrance. It may not be noticeably scented, however it's nice that Physicians Formula made their BB Cream Compact sans added fragrance!

Physicians Formula however, formulated their BB Compact with only Titanium Dioxide & Zinc Oxide, the two gentlest forms of Mineral Sunscreen available which provide more than enough UVB/UVA protection (if applied liberally.) 

Formula & Shades:

Aside from the fact that it may not be the best for those with severely oily skin, and those with normal skin may have to set it with powder if its used alone because it is a cream/emollient formula, this foundation does have one more, pretty significant limitation- the shade range.

Physcians Formula BB Cream Compact in Light, is an identical match to MAC's BB Compact in Light Plus which is a sliver too dark for me and won't work for Fair skintones.

As of right now, June 2014, there are only two shades available: Light & Light/Medium, however, they tend to run a little darker so those with medium skin will probably be able to get away with Light/Medium. Those with Fair skin will probably find Light to be a bit dark, but workable. 

I wouldn't panic yet though, even MAC only released their BB Compact in 3 shades initially (Extra Light, Light, Light Plus) but because of its success, they have extended the range to include ten shades, so hopefully Physicians Formula will do the same....


Performance:

Performance is excellent. You can easily build this up to a medium coverage or sheer it out for a natural look that just evens tone. It is such a blendable, buildable, creamy dream that absorbs easily in to your skin yet remains silky and lightweight. It is an absolute pleasure to work with and it meshes well with almost any other type of product, regardless of how you apply it.

Physicians Formula BB Cream
Compact
Swatches of Shades
Light & Light/Medium

***Just keep in mind that Physicians Formula BB Cream Compact IS a moisturizing formula so you don't want to over-do it with emollient products underneath or it won't set at all.***


Potential Drawbacks:
It's really too bad about Physicians Formula not making a Fair shade because the BB Cream Compact would be a great option for winter when everyone's skin is drier (and paler.) For now, those with light-medium skin can just use the BB Compact and your serum instead of adding a daytime moisturizer with sunscreen and foundation.

Physicians Formula Super BB Compact; Swatches of Shades
Light & Light/Medium

Physicians Formula BB Cream Compact
Super BB All-in-1 Beauty Balm
 Light vs
Mac Prep + Prime BB Cream Compact
 SPF 30 in Light Plus

Physicians Formula Super BB All-in-1 Beauty Balm Compact Cream SPF 30 IngredientsActive Ingredients: Titanium Dioxide 3.52%, Zinc Oxide 4.48% Inactive Ingredients: Octyldodecyl Neopentanoate, Polybutene, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Polyethylene, Dimethicone, Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Beeswax, C10-18 Triglycerides, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Euphorbia Cerifera (Candelilla) Wax, HDI/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Silica, Nylon-12, Calcium Aluminum Borosilicate, Cetyl Dimethicone, VP/Eicosene Copolymer, Perilla Ocymoides seed oil, Salix Alba (Willow) Bark Extract, Octyldodecyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Alumina, Aluminum Dimyristate, Caprylyl Glycol, Disodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Glycerin, Lysolecithin, Magnesium Aluminometasilicate, Neopentanoic Acid, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Stearic Acid, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Water. May Contain: Iron Oxides, Titanium Dioxide 

Physicians Formula 
BB Cream Compact Super BB All-in-1 
Beauty Balm  Light vs 
Mac Prep + Prime BB Cream Compact 
SPF 30 in Light Plus

Mac Prep + Prime BB Beauty Balm Cream Compact SPF 30
Active Ingredients: Octinoxate (7.5%), Octisalate (5.00%), Titanium Dioxide (9.8%), Zinc Oxide (6.3%) Inactive Ingredients: Octyldodecyl Neopentanoate, Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate, Polyethylene, Butyloctyl Salicylate, HDI/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer, Beeswax, Phenyl Trimethicone, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Silica, Polybutene, Alumina, Tocopherol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root Extract, Astrocaryum Murumuru Seed Butter, Santalum Album Seed Extract, Glycine Soja (Soybean) Oil, Elaeis Guineensis (Palm) Oil, Euphorbia Cerifera (Candelilla) Wax, Hydrogenated Cottonseed Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Squalene, Cetyl Dimethicone, Phytosterols, Tocotrienols, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Triethyl Citrate, Caprylyl Methicone , Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacryladipate-2, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Polyglyceryl-6 Polyricinoleate, Caprylyl Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Nylon-12, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, VP/Eicosene Copolymer, Synthetic Beeswax, Allyl Methacrylates Crosspolymer, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Lauric Acid, Isopropyl Titanium Triisostearate, Dipentaerythrityl Tri-Polyhyroxystearate, Dipentaerythrityl Dioxide