The Sunscreen Project, Part 31: Smashbox Camera Ready BB Cream SPF 35

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FTC: I received a sample of this product from Sephora. I am not compensated for any reviews.

During a recent trip to Sephora, I received several samples of BB creams. The nice lady at Sephora told me that this was her second favorite BB cream, other than the one from Dr. Jart+. She gave me a hefty sample and told me to try it out to see how I liked it.

Ingredients:

-Octinoxate 7.5 %

-Octisalate 4%

-Oxybenzone 2.5 %

-Titanium Dioxide 1.10%

Water, Dimethicone, Butylene Glycol, Phenyl Trimethicone, Pentylene Glycol, Glyceryl Stearate, Behenyl Alcohol, Trioctyldodecyl Citrate, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Octyldodecyl Stearoyl Stearate, Peg-40 Stearate, Polyglyceryl-10 Pentastearate, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/VP Copolymer, Triticum Vulgare (Wheat) Germ Extract, Hordeum Vulgare (Barley) Extract (Extrait D'Orge), Cucumis Sativus (Cucumber) Fruit Extract, Laminaria Saccharina Extract, Pyrus Malus (Apple) Fruit Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Polyquaternium-51, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Trehalose, Oryzanol, Octyldodecyl Neopentanoate, Urea, Polyglyceryl-6 Polyricinoleate, Propylene Glycol Laurate, Glycyrrhetinic Acid, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sucrose, Glycerin, Sodium Stearoyl Lacylate, Caffeine, Linoleic Acid, Cholesterol, Lecithin, Squalane, Sodium PCA, Isopropyl Titanium Triisostearate, Propylene Glycol Stearate, Stearic Acid, Polysorbate 20, Sorbitan Laurate, Xanthan Gum, Aluminum Hydroxide, Sodium Hyaluronate, Silica, Disodium EDTA, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Chlorphenesin, Phenoxyethanol [+/- Mica, Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Zinc Oxide (CI 77947), Iron Oxides (CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499)]

A cursory glance reveals that the SPF products here are octinoxate, octsalate, oxybenzone, and titanium dioxide. Other than that, there are several skin protectant (-methicone ingredients), silicone-based ingredients for a silky finish, as well as a bunch of other stuff in smaller concentrations.

So what did I find?

Pros:

• Relatively high SPF for a Western BB cream (SPF 35)
• Did not break me out
• Light-to-medium coverage
• Lasts 8+ hours in humid air and high temperatures
• Smashbox in general is touted to be a good brand (originally created by a makeup artist)

Cons:

• Only partial UVA ray coverage provided by titanium dioxide
• Controversy w/ oxybenzone
• Price ($39 for 1 fl oz)

Bottom line, I wouldn't purchase the full-sized version of this product because of its lack of complete UVA ray coverage. I seriously wonder why a lot of BB creams and tinted moisturizers use only TiO2 for UVA ray coverage instead of the more potent zinc oxide. Perhaps it has less of a "white streak" in the tinted formula?