I’ve been using the Physician’s Formula Healthy Wear SPF 50 in Translucent Light for a few weeks now. I wanted to finally share my thoughts with you on it.
SPF
I love the fact that it’s SPF 50. Because I’m so fair skinned, I always wear sunblock, but I like having a physical barrier in addition to my moisturizers with SPF. This is actually one of the many reasons that I love mineral makeup, because they provide a physicial barrier, just like this Healthy Wear does. However, because Physician’s Formula is such a large company, they can afford to do the expensive testing required to prove that it is indeed SPF 50 in rating, which is really nice. It gives broad spectrum UVA/UVB coverage on my face.
Price
The price is reasonable. It’s $14.95 for a pressed powder that is around .34 oz (9.6 g) While it’s not as inexpensive as most of my mineral makeup foundation, it’s not as expensive as my MAC foundation I used to wear, which can cost about $26 USD. Plus if you use a coupon for Ulta for $3 off any item, you only end up paying about $11.99. And I’m sure you can find other deals at other places that carry Physicians Formula, making it an affordable drugstore purchase.
Ingredients
The ingredients are ok. They are:
ACTIVE INGREDIENTS: OCTINOXATE 4%, TITANIUM DIOXIDE 21%, ZINC OXIDE 3%,
INACTIVE INGREDIENTS: TALC, MICA, NYLON-12, CAPRYLIC/CAPRIC TRIGLYCERIDE, STYRENE/ACRYLATES COPOLYMER, ASCORBYL PALMITATE, DIACETYL BOLDINE, DIISOSTEARYL MALATE, DIMETHICONE, GENISTEIN, GLYCYRRHETINIC ACID, LAUROYL LYSINE, ALPHA LIPOIC ACID, OCTYLDODECYL STEAROYL STEARATE, PEG-12 GLYCERYL DIMYRISTATE, SOLANUM LYCOPERSICUM (TOMATO) FRUIT EXTRACT, SQUALANE, TOCOPHEROL, TOCOPHERYL ACETATE, UBIQUINONE, ZINC STEARATE, DISODIUM EDTA, PHENOXYETHANOL, SODIUM DEHYDROACETATE, SORBITAN SESQUIOLEATE
MAY CONTAIN: IRON OXIDES, TITANIUM DIOXIDE, ULTRAMARINES
I’m not particularly crazy about Talc, specifically, but it’s not causing me to break out, or giving me any issues.
Product Claims
I did look at the website and they claim the following:
1. Delivers maximum SPF 50 broad spectrum UVA/UVB protection and full coverage with a soft-matte finish.
2. Protects- SPF Boosters and Mineral-based sunscreens provide SPF 50 protection without residue or greasiness.
3. Prevents- Potent antioxidant blend helps prevent future UV damage and premature signs of aging.
4. Restores- Licorice Extract & Tomato Derivatives help brighten skin and diminish the appearance of sun spots.
I can attest to 1, 2 and 4. I’m not sure about 3, but I think that 3 is probably a reasonable claim, if only for the fact that using sunscreen does help prevent future damage and premature signs of aging. I do feel that the powder does a reasonable job of brightening up my skin for #4, as well. However, because I exfoliate and moisturize, I don’t tend to feel like my skin looks dull.
Shades Available
The powder comes in Translucent Light, Translucent Medium, Natural Beige and Creamy Beige. This is where I can see there being a problem. I picked up Translucent Light because that’s the palest shade, and I feel like it does a very good job of matching with my skintone. I do have a mix of undertones: a bit of cream, a bit of beige, a bit of peach and a bit of yellow, along with a pinkish overtone. This can make it hard to find a foundation that matches, so I’m very happy with the fact that the way the Healthy Wear foundation works, it meshes with my own coloring. The powder seems to even me out, dimishing my red/pink tones. I would be concerned for how well darker skinned ladies could wear this powder, so I would love to hear anyone chime in who’s tried this.
Packaging
I LOVE the packaging for this product! I really like the colors pink and orange, and this compact is so cute! It’s orange on the outside with a pink sponge on the inside. While I have been applying it with the sponge, it’s not bad to apply with a kabuki brush, either.
Not Animal Tested
I was curious, so I checked. Physicians Formula does not test on animals, nor do they commission an outside facility to conduct tests on animals.
Hypoallergenic
While a lot of products claim to be hypoallergenic, they can still irritate my sensitive skin. This one definitely fits the hypoallergenic bill. It doesn’t have a scent. It’s not greasy. It doesn’t clog my pores. It doesn’t irritate my skin in any fashion.
I also peeked around in the Cosmetic Safety Database and while I couldn’t find this specific foundation, I did see that most Physicians Formula products are rated between 2 and 4 (so low to moderate hazard rating).
Would I purchase again?
Yes, I would. This is the first pressed powder that I’ve liked in over 2 years. I don’t feel like it looks cakey on me, like a lot of pressed powders do. In fact, I think it looks almost as good on me as mineral foundation does, which is really saying something.
Would I recommend this product?
Yes! If you’re looking for a light foundation to even out skintone that has a high SPF rating and is unlikely to irritate your skin, I think this is a good foundation.
I purchased this product because I wanted to try it out and review it.
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Hello Cotton
I'm definately checking this out! I hate putting sunscreen on my face as it makes me looks like a glowstick. This might be perfect! Thank you!
Do you by any chance know of a good online store where you can buy this?
Hmm, I may have to try this out. Thanks for the review Phyrra!
I bought mine online from http://www.discountbeautycenter.com/search.asp?se…
Glad you like it! I love it and plan on stocking up when it goes on sale.
I've been thinking about buying this so it was nice to read your review. I just hope the Translucent Light is right colour for me since mostly the lightest tone is still too dark for me.
Hi there! Usually drugstore brands are too dark for me. In Meow I wear Inquisitive Siamese or Inquisitive Sphynx. In Aromoaleigh I wear 1CL + Alabaster. In Fyrinnae I wear Moonstone, though I have Quartz for when I wanna be REALLY pale. This powder seems to work with my natural coloring and even it out, more like a tint, as opposed to a full coverage powder. Hope that helps
You're quite welcome!
I bought this because of you, Blix
I REALLY am glad I tried it, because I do love it. I think it's the first drugstore powder I've ever been able to wear and have look good on me.
I don't usually put straight sunscreen on. I tend to use moisturizers with SPF but it's so hard to find some that don't leave my skin feeling greasy! So I know what you mean
Thank you SO SO much for this review. I saw this at CVS, and I wasn't sure if the product would be worth purchasing. Glad to hear that it is – I've had so much bad luck dropping $10+ dollars on makeup that would be used one and tossed into a box somewhere. I really like their stuff — well, not their brushes, but their makeup. Their tinted moisturizer is really nice with an herbal scent, though I heard some people dislike it. (Right now, CVS has a buy one, get another Physician's Formula product for 50% off!)
You're quite welcome! I'm very pleased with it. Seriously, I can't think of another pressed foundation that I've bought in the past 10 years from the drugstore that was even half as good. I do wish that their ingredients list was closer to what's in my Meow or Aromaleigh foundations, but, I understand why it's not.
Yay me too
yayy another person who likes this! I LOVE this stuff! It's great =]
Thank you for the link!!!
I really want to try this out, but I dont think it'll be released in Australia because for some reason there's nothing above SPF 30 here, which is the dumbest thing ever
Yay!
Really? Why is that? Is it a law? Or is it that they feel that sunblock above a certain level is not effective?
I have no idea – the fact that you can't find any above 30 AT ALL makes it seem like it would be a law, but if it is, it's gotta be the dumbest law ever. I'm going to email the Cancer Council Australia and find out!
I look forward to seeing your answer!
I've got to say, this is a thorough, well researched, A++++ review! I own a Healthy Wear powder foundation and didn't even notice there was talc in it XD I agree that it doesn't provide full coverage but I think it does smell ever so slightly of tomato but I'm glad it's nowhere near as strong as the smell of sunscreen on one's face.
Aww thanks! Glad you like it!
thanks for this review. I want to try this because Good Housekeeping magazine recommended it for covering sun damage in the decolage area . they say it won’t get on your clothes and covers well. I am going to go out and buy it tomorrow.
You’re quite welcome! It does work very well, I just wish it came in a lighter shade
hi!
I have a one big question, becouse i’m wondering about does this shade have a rose undertones??? This is really important for me, becouse my skin is pink and i can’t have anything in pink shade.
Thank for your response.
And one more:), does the darker shade has a orange undertones??? i’m set on beige undertones, without orange, yellow and pink, to natural look.
Hi, I only have the 1 shade, and I don’t believe it has any pink undertones. To me it’s more beige/neutral.
maybe, anybody have a darker shade, translucent medium, and can tell me does this shade is beige or have another undertones and does it heavily differ from translucent light. I will be gratefull, becouse, I live in Europe and I want to odrer it.
Nice review!
Thank you very much :>
I would like to know how do you purchase this physicians healthy wear product… like to try it out! It seems like it would work for me I just don’t know how to purchase this!
Can you send me info on how I can be a customer of this product?
Hi, I think you can purchase it at Ulta, CVS, or Walmart.
Hi. Does anyone has an idea about where I could buy this ? I’m asking because I live in France and I only find sites that ship them in the US and Canada.
Thanks !