Physicians Formula Super BB All-in-1 Beauty Balm Compact Cream SPF 30, Light/Medium
Works for
1 of 1 advertised claim delivered
Sun protectionSPF 30 · 3 UV filtersBroad spectrum
This product offers a good level of protection against both UVB and UVA rays.
This sunscreen uses organic (so-called "chemical") sunscreen filters. Organic, or "chemical" filters usually provide reliable sun protection and rarely leave a white cast. Sunscreens with organic filters can sting eyes.
This product can be considered "reef safe" because it does not contain the UV filters (oxybenzone and octinoxate) that can be harmful to coral reefs when present in the water in high concentrations.
Anti-agingNot advertised by the brand · MAGNESIUM ALUMINUM SILICATEStrong evidence
This product can help prevent early signs of skin aging because it offers a good level of broad spectrum sun protection. Sun damage is the main cause of premature skin aging, and protecting your skin from the sun is the best anti-aging strategy.
Evens skin toneNot advertised by the brand · No ingredient credited for this claimStrong evidence
This product offers broad spectrum sun protection. It means that it can prevent hyperpigmentation and help keep the skin tone even (sun damage is the main factor causing age spots, darkening of post-acne marks and other discolorations).
MoisturizingNot advertised by the brand · Beeswax, Caprylic/capric triglyceride + 12 moreGood evidence
This product can help improve hydration of the skin with the two types of ingredients.
The first type is called “humectants”:
these ingredients help attract water.
When humectants are on the surface of the skin, they “pull in” the moisture from the outside environment, or from
within deeper layers of the skin. The following ingredients in this product do the job:
glycerin, caprylyl glycol.
This product also contains ingredients called “occlusives”. They help reduce the speed with which our skin loses moisture to the outside environment. These ingredients also help soften the upper layer of the skin, so it feels less tight and nicer to the touch. The following ingredients in this product do the job: beeswax, caprylic/capric triglyceride.
Can it cause trouble?
Irritancy10 flagged ingredientsLow risk
Comedogenic1 ingredient rated 2 or more on the 0–5 pore-clogging scale1 flagged
User reviews
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Ingredients
Filter by role to see what each ingredient is doing.
Zinc oxide4.48%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A broad spectrum sunblock (protects from both UVA and UVB rays). Is suitable for most sensitive skins. In small concentrations, can be used as a colorant
More about Zinc oxideOctyldodecyl neopentanoate~23–34%
- Irritation risk
- Low
An emollient that helps soften the skin. Often used to stabilize other ingredients, for example, sunscreen
More about Octyldodecyl neopentanoatePolybutene~4.4–6.7%
Caprylic/capric triglyceride~3.7–5.6%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
A good mix of fatty acids that forms a protective layer on the skin. Improves the shelf life of products. Derived from coconut and glycerin
More about Caprylic/capric triglyceridePolyethylene~2.7–4.1%
Dimethicone~2.1–3.1%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A silicone that helps to reduce water loss from the surface of the skin. Can temporarily "fill in" lines and wrinkles, absorb oil, and create a nice product finish
More about DimethiconeNeopentyl glycol diheptanoate~1.7–2.5%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Helps soften the upper layer of the skin and create a nice product consistency
More about Neopentyl glycol diheptanoateButyloctyl salicylate~1.4–2.1%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
A synthetic ester of salicylic acid that is used to help disperse pigments and boost effectiveness of sunscreen ingredients. It is able to absorb UV light (working as an organic, or chemical filter), but is not approved as a sunscreen ingredient on its own
More about Butyloctyl salicylateBeeswax~1.3–1.9%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Forms a protective barrier that holds water and keeps dry skin hydrated. Keeps an emulsion from separating into its oil and liquid components, and increases the thickness of a product. Can be an allergen
More about BeeswaxC10-18 triglycerides~1–1.5%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Helps soften the skin and attract water to its upper layer. Helps create nice product texture
More about C10-18 triglyceridesEthylhexyl palmitate~0.9–1.3%
- Irritation risk
- Low
- Comedogenicity
- 3/5
An emollient that helps soften the skin and create a nice product texture
More about Ethylhexyl palmitateEuphorbia cerifera wax~0.85–1.25%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Hdi/trimethylol hexyllactone crosspolymer~0.45–1.05%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Used to create a silky product texture and add volume to products
More about Hdi/trimethylol hexyllactone crosspolymerCetyl peg/ppg-10/1 dimethicone~0.4–0.95%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A type of silicone that helps water and oil mix together. Can help to soften upper layer of the skin
More about Cetyl peg/ppg-10/1 dimethiconeSilica~0.6–1.35%
Nylon-12~0.4–0.95%
Calcium aluminum borosilicate~0.4–0.9%
Cetyl dimethicone~0.35–0.85%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A type of silicone. Helps soften the upper layer of the skin and creates a nice, light product texture
More about Cetyl dimethiconeVp/eicosene copolymer~0.35–0.8%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Used to improve the product adherence to the skin, for example, to pro-long the protective effect of sunscreens. Can be irritating to very sensitive skin
More about Vp/eicosene copolymerPerilla ocymoides seed oil~0.2–0.8%
- Irritation risk
- High
A plant extract that works as an emollient. It might help neutralize free radicals in skin but solid research is lacking. Contains some volatile compounds and could be irritating
More about Perilla ocymoides seed oilSalix alba bark extract~0.2–0.7%
- Irritation risk
- High
A plant extract that can help neutralize free radicals in skin. It contains a compound salicin that can theoretically be converted into salicylic acid that, in turn, helps reduce inflammation in skin, but the evidence of effectiveness in skin is lacking and the extract is usually not used in a concentration that would enable an exfoliating effect
More about Salix alba bark extractAlcohol~0.2–0.7%
- Irritation risk
- High
Can be drying and contribute to skin irritation. Used in formulars to dissolve other ingredients, create a thinner product consistency or for its antibacterial properties
More about AlcoholPhenoxyethanol~0.2–0.7%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A preservative. It helps prevent bacterial growth in cosmetic products
More about PhenoxyethanolAlumina~0.35–0.8%
- Irritation risk
- Low
The same compound that is used safely in dental implants and bone cements. In cosmetics, it is used to improve the consistency of products
More about AluminaAluminum dimyristate~0.15–0.65%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Caprylyl glycol~0.15–0.65%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Helps preserve products and creates a nice product texture
More about Caprylyl glycolDisodium stearoyl glutamate~0.2–0.75%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Helps oil and water mix together and workd as a cleanser
More about Disodium stearoyl glutamateTocopheryl acetate~0.15–0.6%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
A more stable but less bio-available form of vitamin E compared to Tocopherol. Might help moisturize and protect the skin from free radicals, but mostly used in low concentrations to stabilize other ingredients.
More about Tocopheryl acetateGlycerin~0.15–0.6%
- Irritation risk
- Low
One of the best moisturizing ingredients. Naturally present in skin. It attracts water to the upper layer of the skin working as a humectant
More about GlycerinLysolecithin~0.1–0.5%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Lecithin derivative. It helps oil and water mix together and can enhance penetration of other ingredients. It helps soften the upper layer of the skin
More about LysolecithinMagnesium aluminometasilicate~0.15–0.55%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Polyhydroxystearic acid~0.1–0.35%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Used to create a thicker product consistency and stabilize the formulation
More about Polyhydroxystearic acidStearic acid~0.15–0.55%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Helps oil and water mix together and works as an emollient
More about Stearic acidTriethoxycaprylylsilane~0.05–0.25%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A type of silicone that helps oil and water mix well together. Helps to disperse other ingredients, e.g. pigments, evenly in a formulation
More about TriethoxycaprylylsilaneWater~0.05–0.2%
Iron oxides~0.05–0.1%
- Irritation risk
- Low
An umbrella term for the following three colorants: CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499. They might be able to offer some protection against visible light, but the degree of the protection is not clear
More about Iron oxidesTitanium dioxide3.52%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Works as a UV filter when used in high concentrations. It is photostable and is effective mostly against the UVB light, with some protection in the UVA range. In small concentrations, used for its ability to improve the color of cosmetic products. Is usually well tolerated by the skin
More about Titanium dioxideIngredient list view
Zinc oxide, Octyldodecyl neopentanoate, Polybutene, Caprylic/capric triglyceride, Polyethylene, Dimethicone, Neopentyl glycol diheptanoate, Butyloctyl salicylate, Beeswax, C10-18 triglycerides, Ethylhexyl palmitate, Euphorbia cerifera 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 bark extract, Unknown, Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Alumina, Aluminum dimyristate, Caprylyl glycol, Disodium stearoyl glutamate, Tocopheryl acetate, Glycerin, Lysolecithin, Magnesium aluminometasilicate, Polyhydroxystearic acid, Stearic acid, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Water, Iron oxides, Titanium dioxide
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Product summary
Based on the ingredient list, we assess that "Physicians Formula - Super BB All-in-1 Beauty Balm Compact Cream SPF 30, Light/Medium" can provide reliable sun protection. It can protect from both UVA and UVB rays. This is great news because not all sunscreens with SPF ratings give UVA protection. (UVA rays do not cause sunburn, but still damage our skin and lead to early aging).
It contains good moisturizing ingredients and can double as a hydrating day cream. Like all broad-spectrum sunscreens, this product has an anti-aging benefit.
Sunscreen filters
This sunscreen uses a mixture of both mineral and organic (so-called "chemical") UV filters. Here are the organic filters this product uses: butyloctyl salicylate. As for the mineral filters, this sunscreen uses both titanium dioxide and zinc oxide.
Irritation risk
This formulation includes some common irritants, including ingredients that do not provide a benefit for the skin. We assess the overall irritancy of this moisturizer to be low. For a detailed overview of all potential irritants: click here
You can see the detailed formula review with the breakdown of all actives in the product and the full ingredient list with estimated concentrations in the tables below.
Price
The product retails from 18.70$ up to 44.01$ in the United States.
For a detailed price comparison: click here.
Sources cited in this review
Every concentration estimate and effectiveness label is anchored to one of these 18 studies and safety reviews.
- 1A review of inorganic UV filters zinc oxide and titanium dioxideonlinelibrary.wiley.com
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