Beautiful Bamboo - Review of Physicians Formula Bamboo Wear™ Bamboo Compact

I was excited to see the new line and compact looked nice. I definitely need something durable because the compact that my Organic Wear Face Powder came in did not survive. One of the covers eventually ripped off the paper hinge… I’m rough on my cosmetics. I’m always in a hurry in the morning, so everything just gets pitched around.

Thankfully, since I’m trying out the new Physicians Formula® Bamboo Wear™ line, I can use something more durable. The Bamboo Compact is designed to replace all the other throw-aways that just end up as waste in a landfill. Instead of buying a completely compact every time you use up all of your makeup, the Bamboo Wear™ line consists of the empty Bamboo Compact (Mirror and brush included. By empty, I mean that there’s no makeup in it.) and Face Powder or Bronzer refills. Much better for the environment and less in my waste basket.

Bamboo is a highly sustainable material and very durable. It grows like fire (up to eight feet per day) and won’t break during even the most fierce winds and storms. Perfect for me. Plus, it’s a beautiful material and has become popular for use in household flooring. The compact has bamboo silk-screened onto the front of it and enhances the eco-friendly vibes that it puts off. Aside from the compact being natural, the brush is also made of 100% natural hairs with a 100% bamboo handle.

The compact is composed of two compartments; one which is designed to hold the powder refill and another that has an attached mirror and space to hold a brush. There are six small magnets within the compact. Two are for holding the powder refill in place, while the other four are for keeping the sliding compartments of the compact secure.

Directions for Use

Swivel the lid to open the top compartment in order to access the mirror and brush. Swivel again to reveal the bottom compartment and insert your powder refill pan into this compartment. It will simply drop into place in the cavity and will be held securely by two magnets in the bottom of the cavity. Once your powder refill is spent, just use the finger notch to lift the empty pan up. Swivel in reverse to seal the compact back up.

One Thing Bothers Me

The brush has a bad tendency of losing hairs. It wouldn’t be bad if it would have just been a couple, but I’d say mine has lost around 20 hairs. It’s really annoying.

Rating:

 

The only reason I’m taking off half a point is because of the brush losing hairs. It wasn’t really a big deal after the loose hairs came out, but it was annoying. After the first couple, I washed the brush out thoroughly to make sure all of the loose hairs were out. I haven’t had anymore problems since. Otherwise, it seems very durable and I love that it swivels instead of flipping like normal compacts.

 

 

FTC Statement: The Bamboo Wear™ Bamboo Compact was provided by Physicians Formula® for free in exchange for a review. This has not affected the opinions within the review.

Sustainable Beauty - Review of Physicians Formula Bamboo Wear™ Bamboo Silk Face Powder Refill (Creamy Natural)

Hypoallergenic. Fragrance Free. Paraben Free. Dermatologist Approved. Non-Comedogenic. Oil-Free.

For a while, I had been using Physicians Formula® Organic Wear Face Powder (Translucent), but I was running dangerously low. On one of our regular outings, my mother and I stopped at Target to check out some of the makeup for each of us. Turned out she was looking for some face powder, too. Since very few companies have safe products (IE No parabens, phthalates, petrochemicals, etc), my mom tends to get a bit flustered trying to find something safe.

I led her over to the section with Physicians Formula® cosmetics and promptly noticed the new Bamboo Wear™ line. Looking over the ingredient list, everything seemed fine. The package states that the product is, “free of harsh chemicals, synthetic preservatives, parabens, synthetic colors, synthetic fragrances”.

Coverage: Unfortunately, I have some stubborn blackheads that have been with me for quite a while; and I’ve been searching for something that will help cover them up until I can get rid of them. Thankfully, the Bamboo Silk Face Powder covers them really well. It does a fair job covering any pimples I may get, too (Darn those pms pimples…).

Another thing, I pluck my eyebrows. Why? I have to. Thank you, grandpa, for giving me your eyebrows… Anyway, when those hair start to grow back in, that means little black dots. The Bamboo Silk Face Powder covers those pretty well, and I like to use the lighter part where the bamboo design is to highlight my brow bone. I love the fact that it covers those dots so well. If a face powder can’t do that for me, I’m returning it to the store.

Because the Bamboo Silk Face Powder is bi-colored, it helps to give my skin that nice, smooth look. The combination of two colors helps even out skin tone. If you have scars from pimples, chickenpox, or something else, this will help make your skin look more like it has one even tone of color.

How Long Does it Last?

My skin naturally tends to get oil towards the evening, but I haven’t had to re-apply the Bamboo Silk Face Powder. It really does seem to absorb the extra oil that my skin produces.

Appearance

I love the Bamboo Silk Face Powder. The first time I put it on, I did think my skin looked healthier. I wanted to make sure it wasn’t just in my head, though. Reading that a product can do something can trick your mind into thinking it really does even if it doesn’t. However, when I met my mom later that day, she asked me what I had been doing to my skin and that it looked better. My mom is not one to lie or to say something just to make me feel better. She’s blunt, just like me. Also, when we went out to lunch with my old boss from the Painted Daisy art gallery, she said I looked good, too. Between the three of us, I think the Bamboo Silk Face Powder gets some pretty good ratings. 

How is it Sustainable?

The Bamboo Silk Face Powder Refill is simply that, a refill. It’s nothing more than powder cake in a metal pan which is meant to fit in the Bamboo Compact. Bamboo is very sustainable and grows like fire. It can actually grow up to eight feet in one day! Bamboo is very durable and makes a wonderful reusable compact. Whenever you need more Bamboo Silk Face Powder, you just buy a refill. No wasted cardboard or plastic compact to throw out when the powder is spent. You just keep using the same one.

INGREDIENTS: TALC, MICA, BAMBUSA ARUNDINACEA STEM POWDER, DIMETHICONE, ZINC STEARATE, DIISOSTEARYL MALATE, OCTYLDODECYL STEAROYL STEARATE, NYLON-12, GLYCERYL CAPRYLATE, LAUROYL LYSINE, CINNAMIC ACID, SORBITAN SESQUIOLEATE, TOCOPHERYL ACETATE, MAY CONTAIN: IRON OXIDES, TITANIUM DIOXIDE, ULTRAMARINES.

Wear Instructions: May be worn alone or over makeup. Lightly brush powder over face and neck to even out skin tone. For the most even application, be sure to tap excess powder from brush before applying. For best results on dry to very dry skin, apply moisturizer prior to using powder.

Available Shades: Translucent, Creamy Natural, and Beige

Rating:

Any powder that can cover my blackheads while being completely safe and sustainable is ok in my book. 

FTC Statement: The Bamboo Wear™ Bamboo Silk Face Powder Refill was provided by Physicians Formula® for free in exchange for an honest review. This has not affected the opinions within the review, and complies with FTC standards.