Sol de Janeiro Bum Bum Cream Dupes: What to Know

No single product has been agreed as the Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Bum Bum Cream dupe, so this is a shortlist rather than an answer. Tree Hut Tropic Glow, Palmer's Brazilian Coco Whipped Body Cream and a Costco find called Nutrius are the names that come up. Since the scent is the main draw, smell before you buy.

The main candidates

Alternative	Who suggests it	Worth knowing
Tree Hut Tropic Glow	The List, citing PrismPop	Glam describes it as shimmery and lightweight
Palmer's Brazilian Coco Whipped Body Cream	A Kidspot piece reposted on Palmer's own site	It's the brand's own blog, so read it with care
Nutrius	A Business Insider reviewer preferred it to the original	Sold at Costco in that review

Glam's roundup says the Tropic Glow body butter contains shea butter, guaraná extract and cupuaçu butter, which helps explain the comparison. Product names and formats can vary, so check the label on the exact one you're looking at.

For balance, some members of the Sephora community say they don't know of any real dupe. That's worth keeping in mind if you're hoping for a perfect match.

Why this cream is hard to copy

Most shoppers aren't buying it for one single reason. It's a combination of:

• A distinctive sweet scent
• A whipped, fast-sinking feel
• A slightly glowy finish
• A recognizable tub

A cheaper product can match one or two of these, but all four together is rare. So choose which you care about most.

Pick your priority

If you want the scent: Skip buying online on reputation alone. Smell it in a store, or buy the smallest size. You could also look at a body mist in a similar style, and our post on Sol de Janeiro mist alternatives covers those.

If you want the texture: Compare how thick it feels and how quickly it sinks in. A lotion and a whipped cream behave differently, so read lotion vs cream vs body butter.

If you want the glow: Check how much shimmer a product leaves on skin and clothes. Our guide to shimmer body oils has more on how to compare them.

A test you can do on your legs

You've got two legs, so it's a natural side-by-side.

1. After a shower, use one product on each leg.
2. Use the same amount, about a coin-sized scoop per area.
3. Time how long until it no longer feels tacky.
4. Pull on jeans. Does it transfer?
5. Smell each leg at one hour and at bedtime.
6. Note which one you'd choose to use tomorrow.

Avoid testing on freshly shaved skin, and stop if anything stings or itches. Ask a clinician or pharmacist if irritation doesn't settle.

Compare the real cost

Tubs come in very different sizes. Work out the cost per ounce before you decide, as a body cream that looks cheap could turn out to be a small jar. Cost-per-ounce math for body care shows you how.

About firming claims

You'll see marketing about firming and tightening in this category. We only cover scent, texture and feel, and we don't judge claims about what a product does to skin. Glam makes a similar point when noting that some alternatives don't claim to firm or tighten.

Vote on the comparison

Tried both? Help others on the Bum Bum Cream and Tropic Glow comparison, browse body care dupes, and save your pick to your shelf for price alerts.