Olay Sun Face Sunscreen Serum + Makeup Primer Spf 35
65/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
Olay Sun Face Sunscreen Serum and Makeup Primer SPF 35 is a chemical sunscreen that doubles as a primer, using Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Homosalate, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, and Octocrylene, an older-style filter set. It delivers a matte finish, stays lightweight, resists clogging pores, and shows little to no white cast, which is why it is rated as a good makeup base. It can sting somewhat near the eyes, as is typical for this filter blend. With good protection but an overall score of 64.5/100, it is a serviceable primer-sunscreen rather than a top performer.
Ingredient & SPF scores
βοΈ
UV protection
Good
60
- +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
- Γ0.9 Limited long-UVA1 coverage
- +1 Label claims (SPF 35)
β’οΈ
Health safety
Medium
46
- +100 Starting score
- β40 Homosalate at #2 (regulatory/evidence concern)
- β10.5 Octocrylene at #4, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- β3.5 Avobenzone at #1, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
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Allergens
Low
61
- +100 Starting score
- β18 Fragrance
- β12 Opaque "Fragrance", hidden allergens that can't be checked from the label
- β6 Sensitizing preservatives (Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate)
- β3 Photoallergen-tail UV filters (Octocrylene)
π₯
Eye sting
Medium
35
- +100 Starting score
- β24 Avobenzone at #1, migrates into eyes with sweat
- β15 Octocrylene at #4, migrates into eyes with sweat
- β9 Homosalate at #2, migrates into eyes with sweat
- β9 Octisalate at #3, migrates into eyes with sweat
- β8 Fragrance
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Comedogenic
Low
99
- +100 Starting score
- β1 Palmitic Acid at #17, moderate comedogenic signal
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Fungal acne
Low
85
- +100 Starting score
- β9 1 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (PEG-100 Stearate)
- β6 3 ubiquitous fatty ingredients (Stearic Acid, Palmitic Acid, Cetearyl Glucoside), weak Malassezia signal
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Fabric stains
High
25
- +100 Starting score
- β50 Avobenzone at #1, reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
- β15 Octocrylene at #4, co-stains alongside avobenzone
- β10 Avobenzone + Octocrylene, the classic staining pair
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Moisture
Light
LightNourishing
- β 6.5 2 sebum-absorbing powders (Tapioca Starch, Polymethylsilsesquioxane)
β¨
Finish
Matte
MatteDewy
- β 7 2 sebum-absorbing powders (Tapioca Starch, Polymethylsilsesquioxane)
π
Makeup base
Good
PillsPrimer
- β 3 Primer-style base, volatile silicones and dimethicone slip
- β 3 1 soft-focus powders in moderation
π
Water resistance
Not resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant
Nothing flagged in the ingredient list.
How we rate water resistance βSkincare extras
Beneficial actives this formula contains. Informational only, not part of the rating: their effect depends on a concentration the label does not disclose.
- β¨ Niacinamide
- β¨ Vitamin E
- β¨ Green tea
Full ingredient list (25)
What each ingredient does and how it moves each rating: green helps, red hurts, β / β give the direction, and β / β shift a slider toward its ends (finish, moisture, makeup base). Auto-derived from our scoring rules and the ingredient's position.
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Legacy UV filter (Avobenzone), high in the list, a primary filter
- β 30 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- β 3.5 stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- β 24 migrates into eyes with sweat
- β 50 reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
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Legacy UV filter (Homosalate), high in the list, a primary filter
- β 12 UV protection
- β 9 migrates into eyes with sweat
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Legacy UV filter (Octisalate), high in the list, a primary filter
- β 8 UV protection
- β 9 migrates into eyes with sweat
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Legacy UV filter (Octocrylene)
- β 15.2 UV protection
- β 10.5 stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- β 15 migrates into eyes with sweat
- β 15 co-stains alongside avobenzone
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5 Water
Solvent base, the water phase
-
Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light β 5 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte β 6 sebum-absorbing powder
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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Soothing, skin-conditioning active
-
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
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10 BHT
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
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12 Dimethiconol
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 2 minor malassezia feeder
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Fatty alcohol, an emollient and thickener, not the drying kind
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Botanical extract
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16 Stearic Acid
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- β 2 minor malassezia feeder
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- β 1 moderate comedogenic signal
- β 2 minor malassezia feeder
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Chelator, binds stray metal ions to keep the formula stable
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 9 feeds malassezia
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Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light β 1.5 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte β 1 sebum-absorbing powder
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Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
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Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
25 Fragrance
Fragrance
Does Olay Sun Face Serum work under makeup?
Yes, it is rated a good makeup base and has a matte finish, so it generally works well as a primer under foundation. It is lightweight and shows little to no white cast.
Is the Olay Sun Face Sunscreen Serum + Makeup Primer Spf 35 good for oily or acne-prone skin?
Its matte finish and low pore-clogging rating make it generally well-suited to oily and acne-prone skin. It can sting somewhat if it reaches the eyes.
Is this a mineral or chemical sunscreen?
It is a chemical sunscreen using Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Homosalate, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, and Octocrylene. It scores 64.5/100 overall with good protection at SPF 35.