Physicians Formula Super CC+ Color-Correction + Care Powder SPF 30, Light
Works for
3 of 3 advertised claims delivered
Sun protectionSPF 30 · 2 UV filtersBroad spectrum
This product offers a good level of protection against both UVB and UVA rays.
It is a mineral sunscreen. In other words, it contains non-organic UV filters. It will probably not sting your eyes but might leave a white cast.
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-aging2 ingredients credited for this claimStrong support
“Anti-aging brighteners restore a look of radiance and smoothness.”
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 tone2 ingredients credited for this claimStrong support
“Yellow corrects blue imperfections and warms skin tone.”
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 · 9 ingredients credited for this claimGood support
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, butylene 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: dimethicone, glyceryl caprylate.
Can it cause trouble?
Irritancy2 strong irritants: Hydroxycinnamic acid, Retinyl palmitateMedium risk
ComedogenicClean of flagged comedogenic ingredientsNone flagged
User reviews
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Ingredients
Filter by role to see what each ingredient is doing.
Zinc oxide10%
- 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 oxideMica~23–34%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Creates an illusion of smoother and more radiant skin tone. Adds shimmer to the skin by reflecting light
More about MicaBoron nitride~5.7–8.5%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Helps to absord oil and evenly disperse other ingredients (for example, pigment) in product formulation
More about Boron nitrideZinc stearate~4.1–6.1%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Octyldodecyl stearoyl stearate~3–4.5%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Dimethicone~2.4–3.5%
- 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 DimethiconeCalcium aluminum borosilicate~2–2.9%
Vinyl dimethicone/methicone silsesquioxane crosspolymer~1.6–2.5%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A type of silicone that create a smooth product finish and can create an optical soft-focus effect on the skin. Helps to thicken the product consistency
More about Vinyl dimethicone/methicone silsesquioxane crosspolymerLauroyl lysine~1.5–2.2%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Helps soften the upper layer of the skin and creates a nice product texture
More about Lauroyl lysineTriethylhexanoin~1.2–1.9%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Helps soften the upper layer of the skin
More about TriethylhexanoinGlyceryl caprylate~0.9–1.4%
- Irritation risk
- Low
An emollient that can also help water and oil mix together, as well as prevent bacteria growth in products
More about Glyceryl caprylateCaprylic/capric triglyceride~0.6–1.35%
- 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 triglycerideButylene glycol~0.5–1.1%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Used to create a nice product texture and help delivery of other ingredients. Might be somewhat helpful in attracting water to the upper layer of the skin
More about Butylene glycolGlycerin~0.45–1.1%
- 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 GlycerinHydroxycapric acid~0.4–0.95%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Hydroxycaprylic acid~0.4–0.9%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Hydroxycinnamic acid~0.4–0.9%
- Irritation risk
- High
Lysolecithin~0.4–0.9%
- 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 LysolecithinPeg-4~0.35–0.85%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Perilla ocymoides seed oil~0.35–0.75%
- 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 oilRetinyl palmitate~0.2–0.8%
- Irritation risk
- High
Three steps removed from the active form of vitamin A - retinoic acid. To have an effect in the skin, it first needs to be converted twice to become the retinoic acid. This means it is less potent than retinol, but could also be less irritating. Once converted to the retinoic acid in the skin, it helps against all signs of aging, improves skin cell turnover and helps fight blemishes and clogged pores. However, in many cosmetic formulations, it is used in a concentration that is too low to have the full effect
More about Retinyl palmitateSalix alba bark extract~0.3–0.75%
- 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 extractSilica~0.4–0.9%
Teprenone~0.2–0.75%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate~0.2–0.75%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Being a lipid soluble form of vitamin C, it is more stable than ascorbic acid, but still degrades quickly and needs to be stabilized in a formulation with another ingredient. It is claimed to penetrate skin better than pure vitamin C and have the the similar benefits, but solid studies of its effectiveness are lacking. Is likely to require a higher concentration in a product than pure vitamin C to be effective. It might be able to help reduce pore clogging.
More about Tetrahexyldecyl ascorbateTocopheryl acetate~0.2–0.75%
- 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 acetatePotassium sorbate~0.3–0.6%
Sodium dehydroacetate~0.15–0.6%
Synthetic fluorphlogopite~0.15–0.65%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A mineral that is used as an optical filter (makes the skin looks nicer through light reflection) and to improve the texture of cosmetic products
More about Synthetic fluorphlogopiteTin oxide~0.2–0.75%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A colorant that can add a pearl-like appearance to the formulation
More about Tin oxideCi 75470~0.1–0.45%
Chromium oxide greens~0.1–0.35%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Iron oxides~0.05–0.25%
- 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 dioxide15%
- 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 dioxideCi 19140~0.05–0.15%
Ingredient list view
Zinc oxide, Mica, Boron nitride, Zinc stearate, Octyldodecyl stearoyl stearate, Dimethicone, Calcium aluminum borosilicate, Vinyl dimethicone/methicone silsesquioxane crosspolymer, Lauroyl lysine, Triethylhexanoin, Glyceryl caprylate, Caprylic/capric triglyceride, Butylene glycol, Glycerin, Hydroxycapric acid, Hydroxycaprylic acid, Hydroxycinnamic acid, Lysolecithin, Peg-4, Perilla ocymoides seed oil, Retinyl palmitate, Salix alba bark extract, Silica, Teprenone, Tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate, Tocopheryl acetate, Potassium sorbate, Sodium dehydroacetate, Synthetic fluorphlogopite, Tin oxide, Ci 75470, Chromium oxide greens, Iron oxides, Titanium dioxide, Ci 19140
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Product summary
We assess that "Physicians Formula - Super CC+ Color-Correction + Care Powder SPF 30, Light" can provide reliable sun protection based on the ingredient list. We love that it can protect from both UVA and UVB rays (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).
Because it includes good moisturizing ingredients, it can also work as a hydrating day cream. Like all broad-spectrum sunscreens, this product has an anti-aging benefit.
Sunscreen filters
It is a mineral sunscreen. It uses titanium dioxide and zinc oxide for sun protection. Both titanium dioxide and zinc oxide almost never irritate even the most sensitive skin and eyes, but can leave a white cast.
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 product to be medium. 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 for 17.74$ 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 19 studies and safety reviews.
- 1A review of inorganic UV filters zinc oxide and titanium dioxideonlinelibrary.wiley.com
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6Safety Assessment of Boron Nitride as Used in Cosmetics cir-safety.org
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