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Olay Luminous Brightening & Protecting Lotion With Sunscreen Broad Spectrum Spf 30

Olay Luminous Brightening & Protecting Lotion With Sunscreen Broad Spectrum Spf 30

55/100 overall score

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About this sunscreen

Olay Luminous Brightening & Protecting Lotion is an SPF 30 broad-spectrum chemical lotion on an older filter set (Avobenzone, Homosalate, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Octocrylene, Oxybenzone) with a little Titanium Dioxide. It has a balanced, lightweight finish and a low white cast, but it rates high on sweat-sting, so it may feel uncomfortable near the eyes. The low breakout-trigger profile is a plus. Protection is good, and the score of 55.1/100 places it as a middling option, mainly for those after the brightening angle.

Ingredient & SPF scores

β˜€οΈ

UV protection

Good 66
  • +30 Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane at #1, UV filter (UVA1 +16)
  • +12 Homosalate at #2, UV filter
  • +8 Ethylhexyl Salicylate at #3, UV filter
  • +15.2 Octocrylene at #4, UV filter
  • +20.9 Benzophenone-3 at #5, UV filter
  • +9.9 Titanium Dioxide at #21, UV filter (UVA1 +1.5)
  • βˆ’13.7 UVB coverage saturated
  • βˆ’9.8 UVA2 coverage saturated
  • Γ—0.9 Limited long-UVA1 coverage
  • +1 Label claims (SPF 30)
How we rate uv protection β†’
☒️

Health safety

Low 0
  • +100 Starting score
  • βˆ’70 Oxybenzone at #5 (regulatory/evidence concern)
  • βˆ’14 Homosalate at #2, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
  • βˆ’10.5 Octocrylene at #4, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
  • βˆ’3.5 Avobenzone at #1, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
  • +0 2 endocrine-scrutinized filters together
  • βˆ’10 Propylparaben at #28, endocrine-scrutinized preservative
  • +8 Penalties exceed the scale, floored at 0
How we rate health safety β†’
🀧

Allergens

Medium 49
  • +100 Starting score
  • βˆ’18 Fragrance
  • βˆ’1 1 declared fragrance allergens
  • βˆ’11 Opaque "Fragrance", hidden allergens that can't be checked from the label
  • βˆ’6 Sensitizing preservatives (Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate)
  • βˆ’9 Photoallergen-tail UV filters (Benzophenone-3, Octocrylene)
  • βˆ’6 Sensitizers from 3 different categories
How we rate allergens β†’
πŸ‘»

White cast

Low 94
  • +100 Starting score
  • βˆ’6 Titanium Dioxide at #21
How we rate white cast β†’
πŸ”₯

Eye sting

High 24
  • +100 Starting score
  • βˆ’24 Avobenzone at #1, migrates into eyes with sweat
  • βˆ’15 Octocrylene at #4, migrates into eyes with sweat
  • βˆ’11 Oxybenzone at #5, migrates into eyes with sweat
  • βˆ’9 Homosalate at #2, migrates into eyes with sweat
  • βˆ’9 Octisalate at #3, migrates into eyes with sweat
  • βˆ’8 Fragrance
How we rate eye sting β†’
πŸͺ¨

Heavy feel

Low 92
  • +100 Starting score
  • βˆ’2 Titanium Dioxide at #21
  • βˆ’6 Polyethylene at #10, wax film
How we rate heavy feel β†’
πŸ”΄

Comedogenic

Low 99
  • +100 Starting score
  • βˆ’1 Palmitic Acid at #41, moderate comedogenic signal
How we rate comedogenic β†’
πŸ„

Fungal acne

Low 76
  • +100 Starting score
  • βˆ’18 2 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (PEG-100 Stearate, Laureth-7)
  • βˆ’6 3 ubiquitous fatty ingredients (Stearic Acid, Palmitic Acid, Cetearyl Glucoside), weak Malassezia signal
How we rate fungal acne β†’
πŸ‘•

Fabric stains

High 3
  • +100 Starting score
  • βˆ’50 Avobenzone at #1, reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
  • βˆ’20 Oxybenzone at #5, yellow stains on white cotton
  • βˆ’15 Octocrylene at #4, co-stains alongside avobenzone
  • βˆ’10 Avobenzone + Octocrylene, the classic staining pair
  • βˆ’2 Titanium Dioxide at #21, white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
How we rate fabric stains β†’
πŸ’§

Moisture

Hydrating
LightNourishing
  • ← 3 1 sebum-absorbing powders (Polymethylsilsesquioxane)
  • ← 1 Volatile carriers flash off, leaving a dry finish
  • β†’ 10 Glycerin at #7, the anchor humectant
  • β†’ 1 1 strong humectants (Panthenol)
How we rate moisture β†’
✨

Finish

Balanced
MatteDewy
  • ← 3 1 sebum-absorbing powders (Polymethylsilsesquioxane)
  • ← 1 Volatile carriers flash off, leaving a dry finish
How we rate finish β†’
πŸ’„

Makeup base

Okay
PillsPrimer
  • β†’ 3 1 soft-focus powders in moderation
  • ← 1 Gel polymers prone to pilling under friction (Polyacrylamide, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer)
  • ← 2 Occlusives/waxes float the foundation
  • ← 1.5 Humectant syrup tackiness (partly offset by the base)
How we rate makeup base β†’
🌊

Water resistance

Not resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant
  • +4 1 water-locking waxes
How we rate water resistance β†’

Skincare extras

Beneficial actives this formula contains. Informational only, not part of the rating: their effect depends on a concentration the label does not disclose.

  • ✨ Niacinamide
  • ✨ Panthenol (B5)
  • ✨ Vitamin E
  • ✨ Green tea
  • ✨ Allantoin

Full ingredient list (42)

What each ingredient does and how it moves each rating: green helps, red hurts, ↑ / ↓ give the direction, and ← / β†’ shift a slider toward its ends (finish, moisture, makeup base). Auto-derived from our scoring rules and the ingredient's position.

  1. Legacy UV filter (Avobenzone), high in the list, a primary filter

    • ↑ 30 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
    • ↓ 3.5 stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
    • ↑ 24 migrates into eyes with sweat
    • ↑ 50 reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
  2. 2 Homosalate

    Legacy UV filter (Homosalate), high in the list, a primary filter

    • ↑ 12 UV protection
    • ↓ 14 stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
    • ↑ 9 migrates into eyes with sweat
  3. 3 Ethylhexyl Salicylate

    Legacy UV filter (Octisalate), high in the list, a primary filter

    • ↑ 8 UV protection
    • ↑ 9 migrates into eyes with sweat
  4. 4 Octocrylene

    Legacy UV filter (Octocrylene)

    • ↑ 15.2 UV protection
    • ↓ 10.5 stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
    • ↑ 15 migrates into eyes with sweat
    • ↑ 15 co-stains alongside avobenzone
  5. 5 Benzophenone-3

    Legacy UV filter (Oxybenzone)

    • ↑ 20.9 UV protection
    • ↑ 11 migrates into eyes with sweat
    • ↑ 20 yellow stains on white cotton
  6. 6 Water

    Solvent base, the water phase

  7. 7 Glycerin

    Humectant, pulls water into the skin

    • 10 β†’ nourishing the anchor humectant
  8. 8 Polymethylsilsesquioxane

    Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish

    • light ← 3 sebum-absorbing powder
    • matte ← 3 sebum-absorbing powder
  9. 9 Niacinamide

    Soothing, skin-conditioning active

  10. 10 Polyethylene

    Emollient, softens and smooths skin

    • ↑ 6 wax film
    • ↑ 4 wax water lock
  11. 11 Pentylene Glycol

    Humectant, pulls water into the skin

  12. Protein, peptide or amino acid, conditions and hydrates skin

  13. 13 Panthenol

    Soothing, skin-conditioning active

    • 1 β†’ nourishing humectant
  14. 14 Tocopheryl Acetate

    Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin

  15. Botanical extract

  16. 16 Allantoin

    Soothing, skin-conditioning active

  17. 17 Carnosine

    Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin

  18. 18 Dimethicone

    Emollient, softens and smooths skin

  19. Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream

  20. 20 Benzyl Alcohol

    Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling

  21. 21 Titanium Dioxide

    Mineral UV filter (Titanium Dioxide), low in the list, likely a minor contributor

    • ↑ 9.9 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
    • ↑ 2 white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
  22. 22 Stearyl Alcohol

    Fatty alcohol, an emollient and thickener, not the drying kind

  23. 23 Behenyl Alcohol

    Fatty alcohol, an emollient and thickener, not the drying kind

  24. 24 Polyacrylamide

    Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream

  25. 25 PEG-100 Stearate

    Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended

    • ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
  26. 26 Cetyl Alcohol

    Fatty alcohol, an emollient and thickener, not the drying kind

  27. 27 Methylparaben

    Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling

  28. 28 Propylparaben

    Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling

    • ↓ 10 endocrine-scrutinized preservative
  29. 29 Fragrance

    Fragrance

  30. 30 Ethylparaben

    Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling

  31. 31 C13-14 Isoparaffin

    Emollient, softens and smooths skin

    • light ← 1 volatile carrier, flashes off
    • matte ← 1 volatile carrier, flashes off
  32. 32 Cetearyl Glucoside

    Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended

    • ↑ 2 minor malassezia feeder
  33. 33 Cetearyl Alcohol

    Fatty alcohol, an emollient and thickener, not the drying kind

  34. 34 Dimethiconol

    Emollient, softens and smooths skin

  35. Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin

  36. 36 Citric Acid

    pH adjuster

  37. 37 BHT

    Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin

  38. 38 Laureth-7

    Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended

    • ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
  39. 39 Disodium EDTA

    Chelator, binds stray metal ions to keep the formula stable

  40. 40 Stearic Acid

    Emollient, softens and smooths skin

    • ↑ 2 minor malassezia feeder
  41. 41 Palmitic Acid

    Emollient, softens and smooths skin

    • ↑ 1 moderate comedogenic signal
    • ↑ 2 minor malassezia feeder
  42. 42 Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate

    Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling

Does Olay Luminous Brightening Lotion sting the eyes?

It rates high on sweat-sting, so it may feel uncomfortable around the eyes, especially when you sweat. People sensitive to stinging may want to keep it away from the eye area.

Is Olay Luminous Brightening Lotion mineral or chemical?

It is mostly a chemical sunscreen, using an older-style set of Avobenzone, Homosalate, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Octocrylene and Oxybenzone, with a small amount of mineral Titanium Dioxide.

Is Olay Luminous Brightening Lotion any good?

It scores 55.1/100, which is middling. Protection is good and it has a lightweight finish with a low white cast, but its high sweat-sting rating and older filters hold it back.

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