Product Review: Healthy Wear Foundation

Physician's Formula Healthy Wear 
SPF 50 mineral powder foundation

Price: $14.50
Rating: 4 out of 5
Source: CVS Pharmacy
Shade: Translucent Light

SPF 50 UVA/UVB coverage
Not Animal Tested






Product Claims (from Physician's Formula web site)

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.

My experience:

Color: Very good color for very pale skin -- neutral colored pale so no pink, orange, or yellow base.

Texture: Like any other pressed powder.

Applicator:  Pink sponge inside smells strongly of latex rubber, enough to leave the smell on your face for an hour or two. If you have a latex sensitivity, throw it away immediately.  The sponge applies the powder a bit unevenly, so I would suggest using a fluffy brush like a Kabuki or blusher instead.

Before and after applying foundation

Coverage: Matte coverage, light to moderate opacity depending on how it is applied.  I drew an "X" on the top of my hand with red lip liner and the powder was able to mask it fairly well, almost as well as my liquid concealer and with no visible edges.


Sensitivity/Acne: I have experienced zero pimples from this foundation, which is remarkable for a product containing talc. Liquid, Cream, and talc makeups usually give me 1-3 pimples after wearing the product for 2 hours.  The latex sponge applicator is my biggest concern.

Rating: 4 out of 5   I would have given this product 5 out of 5 if they had fewer questionable ingredients.  It contains 4 ingredients which are harmful at low dosages, and I have no way of verifying the contained concentrations. On the whole though, there are far fewer "iffy" ingredients than most shelf-stable makeups. Mineral makeup contains very few, but making it a "pressed powder" forces the addition of dozens of otherwise unnecessary ingredients (so it holds its shape and doesn't crack out of the compact).

__________________________________________________

Ingredients (Green = Very low risk, Yellow = Potential sensitivity or allergy reactions, Red = Shown to be somewhat toxic)

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