Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Bum Bum Cream vs tarte sugar rush Cake Butter Review- Are They Dupes?

By Kimberly

A question I’ve seen since the launch of tarte sugar rush Cake Butter regards whether it is a dupe for the Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Bum Bum Cream. At $23 for the newcomer, many hoped it could dethrone the $45 cult classic. After all, who doesn’t like to save money. I am going to review both the tarte sugar rush Cake Butter and the Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Bum Bum Cream, so you can see the similarities and the differences. For those who have never purchased either and are trying to decide which to splurge on (let’s face it, they are both a splurge), I will make sure I hit every aspect. After all, a pro to some is a con to others.

The question of whether these are dupes makes sense to me. A lot of people describe the Bum Bum cream as having a cake scent. To me, it smells more like butter cookies. My first piece of advice to anyone considering either cream may seem obvious. Do not purchase either of these if you are not looking for a sweet fragrance. You will smell sweet with both, but how similar are they?

Similarities and Differences Between tarte sugar rush Cake Butter and Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Bum Bum Cream

It’s not surprising that there are not a lot of common ingredients between the two. Products that have common ingredients are more likely to mimic one another. Sol de Janeiro brings in ingredients that are somewhat unique to Brazil while tarte Sugar Rush uses much more common ones. We also see Red 4 in the tarte formula to give it the pink appearance. The Sol de Janeiro has no coloring, so its pale yellow shade comes naturally from the ingredients. These are both medium density formulas, but the tarte works into the skin much faster and absorbs very quickly.

Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Bum Bum Cream Ingredients

Water, Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate, Phenyl Trimethicone , Dodecane, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Fragrance, Cetearyl Alcohol , Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Glyceryl Caprylate, Glycerin, Cetyl Alcohol, Sodium Phytate, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Paullinia Cupana (Guaranà) Seed Extract, Theobroma Grandiflorum (Cupuaçu) Butter, Euterpe Oleracea (Açaí) Oil , Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Mica Daucus Carota Sativa (Carrot) Seed Oil, Bertholletia Excelsa (Brazil Nut) Seed Oil, Ilex Guayusa Leaf Extract, Ilex Paraguariensis Leaf Extract, Distilled Alcohol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydroxyethyl Acrylates/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Squalane, Phenoxyethanol , Ethylhexylglycerin, and Xanthan Gum.

tarte sugar rush Cake Butter Ingredients

Water/Aqua/Eau, Ethylhexyl Stearate, Propylene Glycol, Cetyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate SE, Isononyl Isononanoate, Glycerin, Polysorbate 60, Dimethicone, Phenoxyethanol, Fragrance/Parfum, Palmitic Acid, Stearic Acid, Carbomer, Tetramethyl Acetyloctahydronaphthalenes, Chlorphenesin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Peel Oil, Benzyl Alcohol, Benzotriazolyl Dodecyl P-Cresol, Sodium Hydroxide, Methyldihydrojasmonate, Ethyl Vanillin, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Disodium EDTA, Styrax Benzoin Gum, Benzyl Salicylate, Coumarin, Macadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil, Vegetable Oil/Olus/Huile Végétale, Limonene, and Tocopherol, Red 4 (CI 14700).

Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Bum Bum Cream Review

At $45 for the 8.1oz Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Bum Bum Cream, this product costs a whopping $5.56 an ounce. You can get a price break by purchasing the 2.5oz size for $20, but you will pay $8 an ounce that way. This stuff is expensive, but there is a reason so many people love it. While we all have our opinion on what this smells like, it smells like butter cookies to me. It is supposed to make people think of a tropical locale, but I always think about Christmas. That is likely because I feel like I am indulging in a tin of butter cookies families place out every time the holidays roll around. The smell invigorates the senses (for those who enjoy it), so we are left feeling very satisfied.

A huge drawback is I cannot use this in the winter when I think I would enjoy it the most. My skin gets really dry in the winter and this is just not moisturizing enough. It does a great job in spring and summer though. The scent always makes me think of winter, so it is a pleasant reminder. Of every scented moisturizer I’ve ever tried, this is one of the longest lasting. You can still smell it over 24 hours later. That is great for those who love the fragrance and not good for those who don’t.

The thing that really makes this moisturizer special is missing in the tarte formula. There is a very fine, micro glitter. You can only see it when the light hits your skin just right. It gives the skin a little luminosity. I like feeling like Edward Cullen for a second when the light hits it perfectly. This subtle glitter is so nuanced that it is almost imperceptible indoors and radiates perfectly outside. There is no way to describe this propriety glow other than just plain gorgeous.

tarte sugar rush Cake Butter Review

At $23 for 10.58oz tarte sugar rush Cake Butter, it costs $2.17 an ounce. That is less than half of the price per ounce on the Bum Bum Cream, so I can really see why so many wanted this to be a duplicate. For those who purchase this hoping to get a cake scent, I think most of you will not be disappointed. It really smells like cake to me. The medium density formula blends into the skin like a dream. Those looking for something non-greasy, that will let the skin breathe, and will absorb quickly, this is the cream for you. While I generally prefer a cream that does not fully absorb (I like to feel tacky), it is nice for warm weather.

One major drawback is it loses its fragrance as it absorbs. If you want to smell sweet all day, this will not work for you. It will get you through an event that lasts a few hours, but I noticed almost no fragrance after 5-6 hours. Not only does the formula absorb quickly, but it does not change the appearance of the skin. Most body butters don’t, but I had to mention (and photograph) this, because it is one of the main selling points on the Bum Bum Cream. For those who dislike glitter (even subtle glitter), this could be a pro for you. To me, it makes it another run of the mill, scented body butter.

That does not mean I do not enjoy it. I do, and I kept reaching for it a lot in the spring. It’s just I am not sure I would continually pay $23 for it knowing it is not overly special even though I loved it while I had it. Because it absorbs faster than the Sol de Janeiro, I also find this less moisturizing. However, it is still moisturizing enough for warm weather. During fall and winter, I would not even attempt using this.

Ae the tarte sugar rush Cake Butter and the Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Bum Bum Cream Dupes?

Sorry to let you down. These are not dupes. Yes, they have some similarities, but there are enough differences to really prefer one over the other. My preference is the Bum Bum cream, but as I mentioned in my Spring Favorites, I really enjoy the Cake Butter as well. Neither of these formulas are rich enough for cold weather, but they both provide enough moisture without feeling heavy on the skin when it is hot outside. The Sol de Janeiro is more moisturizing, it’s fragrance is longer lasting, and it provides a subtle glow (thanks to the glitter). Are those differences enough to justify the increased price tag? I would say they are at times and aren’t at other times. Because I rarely invest a lot in body products, I am more likely to repurchase the Cake Butter. Whenever I want to splurge, I will go for the one I prefer though.

Have you tried the tarte sugar rush Cake Butter or the Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Bum Bum Cream? What are your thoughts on them? Let me know below. See all dupe and product articles. View my main page for the guide map to the site and deeper deal exploration.

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