Reviews · Sol de Janeiro · Body care
Is Sol de Janeiro Bum Bum Cream worth it? Who it suits, and who should skip it
Brazilian Bum Bum Cream is the yellow tub that made Sol de Janeiro famous: a body cream known as much for its pistachio and salted caramel scent as for what it does for skin. This is a research-based guide rather than a hands-on test. It covers what's in it, what it smells like and who it's worth it for, using Sol de Janeiro's own product information and UK retailers' listings.
Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Bum Bum Cream 240ml
What works
- A fast-absorbing body cream, according to Sol de Janeiro and its retailers
- Made with cupuaçu butter, açaí oil and coconut oil to keep skin moisturised, plus guaraná extract
- Its warm, sweet scent (pistachio, almond, jasmine, vanilla, salted caramel and sandalwood) is a big part of its appeal
- Vegan and certified cruelty-free by PETA, according to the brand
- Sold in several sizes, from a 25ml travel size to the 240ml tub, and there's a refill for the large tub
Worth knowing
- The scent is strong and lingers, which is the point for fans but a problem if you prefer unscented products or have sensitive skin
- Sol de Janeiro says it visibly tightens and smooths skin; like any body cream, that's a cosmetic effect that lasts only as long as you keep using it
- Costs a lot more than an ordinary body moisturiser that does the same moisturising job
Who it's for
It's worth it if you love sweet, gourmand scents and want your body cream to double as a fragrance, or as a gift for someone who does. Skip it if you have sensitive or reactive skin, dislike strong scents, or simply want a rich moisturiser: an unscented body cream does that part for far less.
Sol de Janeiro is a Brazilian-inspired brand, and Bum Bum Cream is its signature product. The cream is designed to sink in quickly rather than sit on the skin, and its scent, which the brand calls Cheirosa '62, has become so popular that it's also sold as a perfume mist and an eau de parfum.
The moisturising work is done by a blend of cupuaçu butter, açaí oil and coconut oil, which the brand says locks in moisture. It also contains guaraná extract, which Sol de Janeiro says is naturally rich in caffeine. Other ingredients include Brazil nut oil, squalane and sodium hyaluronate. The brand says it is free of parabens, phthalates, sulfates and mineral oil.
The scent opens with pistachio and almond, has heliotrope and jasmine at its heart, and dries down to vanilla, salted caramel and sandalwood. If you like it, you can layer it with the matching Cheirosa '62 mist. If you're unsure, try a small size first, because the scent is the main reason people love or dislike this cream.
Sol de Janeiro says the cream visibly tightens and smooths skin. Like any well-made moisturiser, it can leave skin softer and smoother while you use it, but no body cream changes your skin for good, so buy it for the texture and scent rather than for firming.
It comes in several sizes, including 75ml and the 240ml tub linked on this page, which makes a generous present. Sol de Janeiro also sells a 240ml refill, which it says uses 89% less plastic packaging than the tub. The smaller 75ml tub is in my luxury beauty stocking fillers guide.
How this page was written: I haven't tested this cream myself. Everything here comes from Sol de Janeiro's product information and major UK retailers' listings. If I test it, I'll update this page with a hands-on verdict.
The verdict
Bum Bum Cream is worth it if you're buying the scent as much as the moisturiser: it's a fast-absorbing, pleasant body cream with one of the most recognisable fragrances in beauty, which is why it makes such a popular gift. If you don't love sweet scents or your skin is sensitive, a fragrance-free body cream will do the moisturising job for much less.
Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Bum Bum Cream 240ml
