When a product has over 15,000 5-star reviews on Amazon, you know it has to be good. That’s the case for Sol De Janeiro Brazilian Bum Bum Cream, a body butter that promises to help visibly smooth and tighten the appearance of your skin. Brazilian Bum Bum Cream is praised for its rich, silky texture that melts into your skin, leaving a dewy, velvety finish without any greasy residue.
But what customers love most is the scent, which has been described as “intoxicating”, “heavenly”, and “like a warm tropical vacation”.
So is Brazilian Bum Bum Cream just a nice-smelling body butter? Or can it actually smooth and tighten the appearance of your skin? We’ll answer these questions and more in our Brazilian Bum Bum Cream review.
We’ll give you all the details on the key ingredients in Brazilian Bum Bum Cream, as well as the research that supports (or doesn’t support) their use in skin care. We’ll also share some Brazilian Bum Bum Cream reviews so that you can get an idea of what customers really think of this product.
Is Brazilian Bum Bum Cream Right For You?
Before we get into the details, here’s the TL;DR if you just want to know whether or not Brazilian Bum Bum Cream is right for you.
- Key ingredients? Guaraná extract, coconut oil, acai fruit oil, cupuacu seed butter, brazil nut oil
- Skin type? All skin types
- Texture? Rich cream
- Fragrance? Yes
- Cruelty free? Yes
- Cost? $10 USD for 25 mL, $20 USD for 75 mL, and $45 for 240 mL
- EWG Rating? 4
What Are The Key Ingredients in Brazilian Bum Bum Cream?
In order to determine how well Brazilian Bum Bum Cream performs, we’ll have to evaluate the key ingredients in this formula. Let’s get started.
Guaraná for Skin Tightening
Brazilian Bum Bum Cream is said to help smooth and visibly tighten the appearance of skin, and one of the main ingredients that provides this benefit is Guaraná extract.
Found in the Amazon, Guaraná is a climbing plant that has five times more caffeine than coffee, and caffeine is well known for its ability to tighten the look of skin.
As a natural stimulant, caffeine causes vasoconstriction (constriction of the blood vessels) and stimulates blood flow when applied to the skin. Vasoconstriction can tighten and firm the skin due to the removal of excess fluids and possible stimulation of the lymphatic drainage system.
Caffeine also prevents excessive accumulation of fat in cells. According to a publication in the journal Skin Pharmacology and Physiology, caffeine stimulates the degradation of fats during lipolysis through inhibition of the phosphodiesterase activity.
Furthermore, dermatologist Julie Russak, M.D., explains to Women’s Health, “Caffeine dehydrates the fat cells and stimulates circulation, therefore making the skin appear tighter and smoother.”
However, she notes that these effects are temporary and shouldn’t be relied on as long-term solutions.
Emollients for Soft, Silky Skin
The rest of Brazilian Bum Bum Cream consists of a variety of emollients, including coconut oil, acai fruit oil, cupuacu seed butter, brazil nut oil, and more.
These emollients are rich in fatty acids and nutrients that help to soften and moisturize skin, thereby preventing water loss.
Plus, acai fruit oil is full of antioxidants that help to protect skin from free radicals, the unstable molecules that contribute to the formation of premature wrinkles and fine lines on the skin.
And brazil nut oil, the most selenium-rich food in the world, helps support the skin’s natural ability to protect itself while giving it a healthy glow.
Fragrance: Not Your Skin’s Friend!
The brand makes it a point to emphasize the presence of fragrance in Brazilian Bum Bum Cream, mentioning that it’s “addictively scented” with their Cheirosa ’62 fragrance with delicious notes of pistachio, salted caramel, and vanilla.
This is good if you like to use body creams and lotions with fragrance. But just know that fragrance isn’t doing your skin any favors.
The use of fragrance is problematic because the brand can use a proprietary blend of chemicals to create the fragrance. On average, this consists of 30 to 50 chemicals (but it can have as much as 200 components).
Want to know the worst part? The brand does not have to disclose which chemicals they use on the label. They are allowed to list this blend as “Fragrance (Parfum)” on the ingredient list.
Furthermore, a 2018 study by Women’s Voices for the Earth discovered that in over 3,000 chemicals reportedly used for fragrances, 1,242 were chemicals of concern – and that included at least 7 possible carcinogenic (cancer-causing) agents.
Fragrance ingredients also have the potential to cause skin irritation and sensitivity.
While many Brazilian Bum Bum Cream reviews praise the tropical smell of this cream, using scented skin care products isn’t something we recommend!
Does Brazilian Bum Bum Cream Help Cellulite?
Brazilian Bum Bum Cream may be able to temporarily help with cellulite due to the caffeine content of Guaraná extract, but this cream cannot permanently get rid of cellulite.
As you’ll read in the Brazilian Bum Bum Cream reviews below, some customers found that the cream helped reduce the appearance of cellulite while others didn’t notice any difference whatsoever.
How to Use Brazilian Bum Bum Cream?
Massage Brazilian Bum Bum Cream in a circular motion to create warmth for better absorption and circulation.
Where to Buy Brazilian Bum Bum Cream?
Brazilian Bum Bum Cream and other Sol De Janeiro skin care products are sold on the brand’s website (soldejaneiro.com), as well as several third party online retailers, such as Sephora, Amazon, Walmart, and more.
How Much is Brazilian Bum Bum Cream?
Brazilian Bum Bum Cream costs $10 USD for 25 mL, $20 USD for 75 mL, and $45 for 240 mL.
What is The Sol De Janeiro Return Policy?
The Sol De Janeiro return policy states, “Sol de Janeiro will accept full and partial returns within 60 days of purchase for a refund if you are not completely satisfied with our products. We will accept returns containing at least 50% of the product and in their original product packaging only.”
Is Sol De Janeiro Cruelty Free?
Yes, Sol De Janeiro is cruelty free. Their animal testing policy states, “We are proudly cruelty-free and only test our products on ourselves. None of our raw materials are tested on animals, nor do any of our labs or suppliers test on animals.”
Is Brazilian Bum Bum Cream Vegan?
Yes, Brazilian Bum Bum Cream is vegan.
Brazilian Bum Bum Cream Reviews
The Brazilian Bum Bum Cream reviews on the brand’s website are overwhelmingly positive, with the product receiving an impressive average rating of 4.9 out of 5 stars after nearly 20,000 customer reviews.
There are many 5-star reviews for Brazilian Bum Bum Cream from customers who love the smell of this cream.
For example, one review says, “My favorite thing about it is the smell!! I just bought the Bum Bum Scrub and body mist to add to the regimen. I want to smell like this all the time. I am constantly getting compliments on how good I smell.”
There are also some Brazilian Bum Bum Cream reviews from customers who noticed a reduction in their cellulite, as one reviewer shares, “This product worked as expected! The smell is wonderful and while there is no cure for cellulite, this product did help to lessen the appearance of cellulite. Would recommend it!”
Another 5-star review says, “I purchased this SOL DE JANEIRO Brazilian Bum Bum Cream based on all of the positive reviews. I am 60 and notice that no matter how much diet and exercise I do, (I’m a size 2), I could not get rid of the cellulite on my legs. I started using this product 6 weeks ago and can noticeably see a difference. I apply morning and evening, before bed for optimal results. It goes on smooth and has a creamy, non-sticky feel. The smell is dreamy, and even my husband has commented on the improvement.”
In contrast, there are a handful of 1-star Brazilian Bum Bum Cream reviews from customers who didn’t see any difference in their cellulite.
For example, one review says, “Smells GREAT but didn’t help with cellulite.”
And a similar review says, “I was very excited when I received my Bum Bum. I have cellulite really bad in my thighs so I thought that I would give it a try. After using it for two weeks, I really didn’t see a difference at all. However, I must say that it smells really good, but I didn’t purchase it for the smell. I am disappointed because I really thought that this product would work for me, and for the price, it should have shown me some type of promising results by now.”
Our Verdict
Overall, we like the blend of emollients and Guaraná extract in Brazilian Bum Bum Cream, but the inclusion of such a high concentration of fragrance prevents us from recommending this product.
Pros
- Product contains beneficial key ingredients (Guaraná extract, cupuacu butter, coconut oil, acai oil, etc.)
- Many positive Brazilian Bum Bum Cream reviews
- Sol De Janeiro is cruelty free
Cons
- Very high concentration of fragrance
- Caffeine in Guaraná extract only works temporarily to reduce the appearance of cellulite
What Are Some Alternatives to Brazilian Bum Bum Cream?
There’s no need to compromise when it comes to finding skincare that’s effective and safe.
If you’re looking for effective skincare products that skip harmful toxins, one brand we recommend is Carrot & Stick.
Carrot & Stick is committed to creating plant-derived formulas that deliver extraordinary results without relying on toxic chemicals or standard preservatives.
Carrot & Stick takes a tough love approach to skincare, perfectly balancing the gentle nurturing of plants with innovative science.
References:
Skin Pharmacol Physiol 2013;26(1):8-14.
Women’s Voices for the Earth “Unpacking The Fragrance Industry” 2018
