Physician's Formula is available at a multitude of locations (i.e. pick your poison), such as Target, WalMart, Walgreens, Rite Aid... and the list goes on. Normal price of this is $14.95 for 1oz, but I nabbed it through a combo deal of 50% off and a $5 off coupon for about $3.
Physician's Formula says:
- Delivers maximum SPF 50 broad spectrum UVA/UVB protection while providing sheer and natural-looking color.
- Protects- SPF Boosters and Mineral-based ingredients provide SPF 50 protection without residue or greasiness.
- Prevents- Potent antioxidant blend helps prevent future UV damage and premature signs of aging.
- Restores- Licorice Extract & Tomato Derivatives help brighten skin and diminish the appearance of sun spots.
Ingredients:
ACTIVE INGREDIENTS: OCTINOXATE 7.5%, OCTOCRYLENE 5.0%, TITANIUM DIOXIDE 8.5%, ZINC OXIDE 2.94% INACTIVE INGREDIENTS: CYCLOPENTASILOXANE, WATER, STYRENE/ACRYLATES COPOLYMER, CAPYRLIC/CAPRIC TRIGLYCERIDE, BUTYLENE GLYCOL, SD ALCOHOL 40, C12-15 ALKYL BENZOATE, CETYL PEG/PPG-10/1 DIMETHICONE, HEPTYL UNDECYLENATE, LECITHIN, PEG/PPG -20/15 DIMETHICONE, ALUMINUM HYDROXIDE, ASCORBYL PALMITATE, C12-16 ALCOHOLS, DIACETYL BOLDINE, DIMETHICONE/METHICONE COPOLYMER, DISODIUM EDTA, DISTEARDIMONIUM HECTORITE, GELATIN, GENISTEIN, GLYCYRRHETINIC ACID, ALPHA LIPOIC ACID, MAGNESIUM ALUMINUM SILICATE, PALMITIC ACID, PEG-12 GLYCERYL DIMYRISTATE, POLYGLYCERYL-3 PALMITATE, POTASSIUM CETYL PHOSPHATE, PROPYLENE CARBONATE, RETINYL PALMITATE, SILICA DIMETHYL SILYLATE, SOLANUM LYCOPERSICUM (TOMATO) FRUIT EXTRACT, SQUALANE, SUCROSE, TOCOPHEROL, TOCOPHERYL ACETATE, TRIETHANOLAMINE, TRIETHOXYCAPRYLYLSILANE, UBIQUINONE, XANTHAN GUM, ZEA MAYS (CORN) STARCH, ETHYLENE BRASSYLATE, PHENOXYETHANOL MAY CONTAIN: IRON OXIDES, TITANIUM DIOXIDE
Habida-wha? That's a lot of stuff. Notice the Dimethicone -- this wouldn't be suitable for anyone sensitive to silicones.
I picked up the shade Fair to Light as I'm about an NC20 in Mac and tend to be the lightest shade in most foundations, if not the second lightest. After doing some research, I've discovered that this is in fact NOT the lightest shade carried -- Ivory to Fair is. However, I haven't seen that shade at any location that I've seen this product, so it may be an online exclusive, discontinued, or otherwise a limited stock.
That being said, does this look like fair to light to you?
Didn't think so, especially when the sticker on the front of the tube shows something that would be "Fair to Light". This is brown. Very brown.
Applying this is a bit like applying an oil to your face. It has a very strange consistency for a tinted moisturizer. I'm no connoisseur, but I've tried a few in my time. I wouldn't say it's not moisturizing, but it doesn't exactly feel like you're spreading lotion on your face. There is a slight scent -- again, almost like oil, a bronzing oil maybe, slightly tropical smelling.
The result is this, before powdering (flash photos):
Sorry for making you see my spot, I was trying to show how light the coverage is, eh?
This has a VERY dewy finish, bordering on oily. I took the photos 1-2 minutes after application and you can see how shiny it is. It does apply smoothly and evenly and doesn't dry down too quickly so I feel like I can work it into my skin without it caking on me. Once powdered, it reduces the shine drastically and you're left with this (top photos are natural light, bottom is flash):
(Blogger is being weird with downsizing my photos, so you may want to blow those up. It's smoothing out my skin in the smaller versions)
The powder gives it a much nicer finish. I used Mac MSF Natural in Light-Medium, if you're interested. The MSF helps to diffuse the large look of your pores from the shininess of the tinted moisturizer.
As for the color match, if you didn't guess, it's not spot on for me. I feel like it's a little too dark. I can make it work if I really rub it into my skin and powder well, but this would be much too dark for anyone even a smidgen lighter than me. I'm glad that the range covers darker skintones (even though it only goes 2 shades darker than what I have and I'm not sure how that would cover on a woman with a dark skintone) but the description 'Fair to Light' feels inaccurate here. I don't get a line or anything but let's just be sure (flash photo):
I don't see a particularly noticeable line but I do feel like it's so close to being too dark for me that we may as well say it is!
The lasting power is good (again, with powder), I'd say I get 6-7 hours before I get any fading or oilyness in my T-Zone, but without the powder, this would definitely be an out of control oily foundation.
Overall, decent tinted moisturizer for the price I paid ($3), but I wouldn't repurchase at full price, even though the SPF 50 really makes me happy. My CoverGirl TM is much better as a tinted moisturizer and half the price. They have an Organic Wear one that I'd like to try, however!
The color looks like it would match my skin tone more than yours. I am using the Mary Kay tinted moisturizer at the moment, but want to try the Laura Mercier one. Great review doll!
ReplyDeleteThanks for reviewing this. I keep thinking about trying it, but I think now I'm going to pass. I'm also an NC20, and I sweat alot in summer, so...between the two, no. I love dewy finishes, but there's dewy, and then there's oily, and I think this would just be oily on me, booooo.
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