Physician's Formula, Bamboo Wear Product Review

Physicians Formula recently introduced a brand new, ecologically friendly beauty product: Bamboo Wear. As a stylist, makeup junkie and big fan of the environment, I love this concept. The idea is simple - the makeup, either a silky face powder or bronzer - fits neatly into a reusable bamboo compact. Not only is there less waste, but the compact itself is made out of a sustainable material. When I saw this product advertised in a fashion magazine, I couldn't wait to get my hands on it.

The compact is beautiful. It has no odd varnish-y smell like you find with Sephora's Pure Naturals compacts. It's round, with a natural wood (bamboo) finish. On the top is printed some green leafy bamboo, and the words "Bamboo Wear" and "Physicians Formula". The top compartment opens to reveal a mirror and a beautiful brush, made of natural hair with a bamboo handle. The bristles are very soft and an ivory color. The bottom compartment holds the replaceable compact, which is sold separately.

The makeup itself looks pretty. I chose the Light Bronzer to complement my skin tone. It is a very sheer, lightweight powder that just adds a hint of color to your face. It makes for a very soft, natural look and it applies smoothly. The bronzer is in a round pan, which is recyclable, and the makeup has the imprint of bamboo on it. The bamboo shape is a lighter shade than the rest of the makeup. It is a very attractive package. The pressed powder contains Bamboo Silk, which is said to condition, tone, and lift. The makeup is also supposed to revive skin, absorb excess oil, and smooth skin surface. I have no reason to doubt those claims, although I'm pretty sure they are not regulated by the FDA.

I did choke just a little at the price - the compact, sold separately, and the makeup, were each around eight dollars in change, bringing my total to around seventeen dollars. I thought that was a little bit steep for makeup that I can purchase at WalMart, especially when I saw the first (and largest) ingredient: talc. While talc is technically a mineral, most folks on the eco-friendly/ all natural side of beauty tote Talc as a cheap filler which is harmful to sensitive skin at best, and at worst, potentially carcinogenic. Robert Steele, MD, points out on the ivillage.com website that Talcum powder, a relative to talc, can be life threatening to infants who inhale it because the particles are so tiny. What I personally have found is that when I use cosmetic products containing talc on a daily basis I beak out in large, cystic type acne. This was disappointing to me as the packaging claims the makeup is "free of harsh chemicals, synthetic preservatives, parabens, synthetic colors, synthetic fragrances. Hypoallergenic. Fragrance Free. Dermatologist Approved. Oil free. Non-comedegenic." I was also disappointed at the plastic packaging which held the makeup and the compact. It was made of heavy plastic which did NOT bear any words such as, "Made of post-consumer recycled product" or even, "Please recycle this carton." So while the bamboo compact may be saving space in landfills, the product packaging sure won't.

So while I love this pretty compact, I am sad to say that I will not be able to use it on a regular basis without suffering from stubborn, painful acne. I can't decide if Physicians Formula was really trying to do something great for the environment and our skin by coming up with this product, or if they were just jumping on the green bandwagon to make some extra dough from the environmentally conscious. I certainly encourage you to try it for yourself to see what you think! In the meantime, maybe I'll take a look at the Physicians Formula, Organic Wear line...