Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Bum Bum Cream – A Review

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I try not to buy things just because they look good, at least when it comes to skincare. And Sol de Janeiro’s Brazilian Bum Bum Cream is the very epitome of an Insta worthy photograph opportunity. But, I’d also seen so many glowing reviews that my interest was piqued – did it deliver the results it claimed? Was the smell so gorgeous (or overpowering if some reviews are to be believed) that I’d be transported to a white sandy beach under tropical skies the minute I opened the pot? I had to try it to find out for myself!

The product

Bum Bum Cream comes with some big claims, the US based makers, Sol de Janeiro say that their

‘Award-winning, cult favourite Brazilian Bum Bum Cream is a luxurious all-over body cream that absorbs quickly to help visibly tighten the appearance of skin. Infused with all-powerful caffeine-rich Guaraná extract and a cocktail of Cupuaçu Butter, Açaí Oil, and Coconut Oil, this fast-absorbing cream with our addictive Pistachio and Salted Caramel fragrance will bring out your most radiant skin ever.’

Sol de Janeiro

The cream, although designed as ‘Bum Bum’, which apparently is what bottoms are called in Brazil! Can be used all over the body, it also claims to give your skin a subtle shimmer. And it comes in a fun yellow tub which, as I mentioned above, is indeed insta worthy.

Ingredients

The ingredient list is long, but its main components are:

Guarana – a native Amazonian Plant that contains one of the most potent forms of caffeine. Caffeine stimulates your circulation, tones the skin, and claims to reduce cellulite.

Capuacu Butter, Acai, and Coconut Oil to provide a triple threat of hydration.

Carrot Seed Oil and Brazil Nut Oil to prevent dryness.

My review

The first thing you notice when you open a pot of Bum Bum Cream is indeed the smell! If it wasn’t in the description I would be hard-pressed to say what exactly the scent is! It doesn’t immediately strike me as pistachio and salted caramel if I’m honest. And it also isn’t particularly coconutty, which I’ll admit I was sort of expecting! But it does evoke a summery, at the beach, drinking margaritas sort of vibe to it, inherently tropical and warm. And it’s strong! Too strong definitely depends on personal preference – I like it. If it was going anywhere near my face I’d have a different view, but as a body cream, I enjoy the scent. And it actually doesn’t linger long. Something cocoa butter based definitely has a stronger, more lingering smell in my opinion.  

Secondly is the colour, again So de Janeiro have gone for a beachy summer feel with this pale yellow Bum Bum Cream. It looks gorgeously shiny and lush in the pot! I like to think I’m not shallow when it comes to my skincare, the appearance of my lotions and potions isn’t as important as how they perform, but the colour definitely pleases me.

As claimed it is indeed lightweight. It sinks in really really quickly and is really a treat to smooth onto the skin. Not at all sticky, it really does just melt into your skin and provides an instant hit of moisture. I have particularly dry skin and find al lot of perfumed, lighter body creams don’t quite deliver the hydration I need. Brazillian Bum Bum cream definitely gets it just right!

Now, onto the more controversial of side – does it tighten skin and reduce cellulite? Hard to fully say. I have used this now for about a month and would say that my more troublesome areas (bum, thighs, stomach) do look a bit more smooth and tightened. My skin certainly feels more hydrated which I think itself improves its appearance. But the results aren’t eye-opening, just a pleasant improvement in tone and smoothness.

As for cellulite, well anyone who has done any research on cellulite knows that it occurs deep in the skin and is mainly attributed to the genetic makeup of your body. Exercise can help, as can a healthy diet, but no cream is going to remove it, sadly! That being said, there are no claims here that Brazillian Bum Bum Cream actually removes cellulite – just that the guarana in the cream helps to minimise it. Which I guess in its own way is true, by tightening and smoothing the skin my cellulite on my bottom is definitely less visible. So I see it as a win!

Price

The price of Brazilian Bum Bum cream does need to be mentioned. It isn’t particularly cheap – £18 for 75ml or £44 for 240ml, so it is definitely a luxury product. But, it also does deliver mostly on its claims and feels like a real treat to apply. Personally, I’m happy to continue using it, although maybe not daily so as to try and eke it out a bit longer! For others spending close to £50 on body lotion may not be practical.

Final thoughts

I bought Sol De Janeiro Brazilian Bum Bum Cream not necessarily expecting to be wowed, and was pleasantly surprised! The smell and the feeling of summer, and beaches, and tropical holidays it evokes is a joy. I also feel like it has improved the tone and smoothness of my skin, and it is a real pleasure to apply. The price is somewhat trickier, and would possibly put me off using this every day, and may be prohibitive to some as it’s pretty spendy. But overall, if you can afford it, try it, you might just fall in love with it like I did!

You can buy Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Bum Bum Cream from Cult Beauty and Look Fantastic.