Olay Total Effects Bb Cream Moisturiser Foundation Spf 15 Fair
70/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
Olay Total Effects BB Cream Moisturiser Foundation SPF 15 Fair is a tinted daily moisturiser using older-generation chemical filters plus titanium dioxide and zinc oxide. It has a balanced finish, low white cast, lightweight feel, and a low pore-clogging profile, but at SPF 15 the protection is meant for light, everyday cover rather than sun exposure. With a score of 70 out of 100 and the noted excellent rating for its level, treat it as a makeup step and layer a higher SPF for real sun.
Ingredient & SPF scores
βοΈ
UV protection
Excellent
86
- +8 Ethylhexyl Salicylate at #3, UV filter
- +28.5 Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane at #5, UV filter (UVA1 +15.2)
- +31.4 Titanium Dioxide at #7, UV filter (UVA1 +4.8)
- +11.2 Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid at #9, UV filter
- +12.8 Octocrylene at #10, UV filter
- +24.6 Zinc Oxide at #20, UV filter (UVA1 +10.8)
- β18.6 UVB coverage saturated
- β12.1 UVA2 coverage saturated
β’οΈ
Health safety
Medium
57
- +100 Starting score
- β30 Octocrylene at #10 (regulatory/evidence concern)
- β3.5 Avobenzone at #5, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- β10 Propylparaben at #43, endocrine-scrutinized preservative
π€§
Allergens
Medium
55
- +100 Starting score
- β18 Fragrance
- β5 3 declared fragrance allergens
- β7 Opaque "Fragrance", hidden allergens that can't be checked from the label
- β6 Sensitizing preservatives (Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate)
- β3 Photoallergen-tail UV filters (Octocrylene)
- β6 Sensitizers from 3 different categories
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White cast
Low
88
- +100 Starting score
- β2.5 Zinc Oxide at #20 (nano)
- β35 Titanium Dioxide at #7
- β10 Zinc Oxide + Titanium Dioxide together
- +33.3 Tinted formula, pigment masks the cast
- +2.1 Coated minerals (Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Alumina)
π₯
Eye sting
Medium
56
- +100 Starting score
- β16 Avobenzone at #5, migrates into eyes with sweat
- β7 Octocrylene at #10, migrates into eyes with sweat
- β9 Octisalate at #3, migrates into eyes with sweat
- β2 Ensulizole at #9, migrates into eyes with sweat
- β8 Fragrance
- β2 1 declared fragrance allergens
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Heavy feel
Low
79
- +100 Starting score
- β3 Zinc Oxide at #20
- β16 Titanium Dioxide at #7
- β2 Polyethylene at #30, wax film
π΄
Comedogenic
Low
92
- +100 Starting score
- β7 Isopropyl Isostearate at #8, heavy comedogenic ester
- β1 Palmitic Acid at #28, moderate comedogenic signal
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Fungal acne
Medium
46
- +100 Starting score
- β12 1 polysorbate/sorbitan emulsifiers that feed Malassezia (Sorbitan Stearate)
- β36 4 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (PEG-9 Laurate, PEG-4 Dilaurate, PEG-100 Stearate)
- β6 3 ubiquitous fatty ingredients (Stearic Acid, Palmitic Acid, Cetearyl Glucoside), weak Malassezia signal
π
Fabric stains
High
0
- +100 Starting score
- β45 Avobenzone at #5, reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
- β15 Octocrylene at #10, co-stains alongside avobenzone
- β10 Avobenzone + Octocrylene, the classic staining pair
- β40 Iron-oxide pigments at #48, makeup-like collar marks (washable)
- β10 Titanium Dioxide at #7, white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
- β5 Both minerals present, heavier deposit
- +25 Penalties exceed the scale, floored at 0
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Moisture
Hydrating
LightNourishing
- β 3 2 sebum-absorbing powders (Silica, Aluminium Starch Octenylsuccinate)
- β 1 Volatile carriers flash off, leaving a dry finish
- β 16 Glycerin at #2, the anchor humectant
- β 2 1 strong humectants (Panthenol)
β¨
Finish
Balanced
MatteDewy
- β 2 2 sebum-absorbing powders (Aluminium Starch Octenylsuccinate, Silica)
- β 1 Volatile carriers flash off, leaving a dry finish
- β 2 1 slippy emollient esters (Isopropyl Isostearate)
π
Makeup base
Okay
PillsPrimer
- β 3 Primer-style base, volatile silicones and dimethicone slip
- β 1.5 Gel polymers prone to pilling under friction (Carbomer, Ammonium Polyacrylate, Polyacrylamide)
- β 7 Humectant syrup tackiness
- β 3 High mineral load at #7 greys under foundation (tinted)
π
Water resistance
Not resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant
- +2 1 water-locking waxes
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.
- β¨ Niacinamide
- β¨ Vitamin E
- β¨ Panthenol (B5)
- β¨ Green tea
- β¨ Vitamin C
Full ingredient list (50)
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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1 Water
Solvent base, the water phase
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2 Glycerin
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 16 β nourishing the anchor humectant
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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
-
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
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Legacy UV filter (Avobenzone)
- β 28.5 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- β 3.5 stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- β 16 migrates into eyes with sweat
- β 45 reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Mineral UV filter (Titanium Dioxide)
- β 31.4 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- β 10 white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
- pills β 3 High mineral load greys under foundation (tinted)
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- β 7 heavy comedogenic ester
- 2 β dewy slippy emollient ester
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Legacy UV filter (Ensulizole), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- β 11.2 UV protection
- β 2 migrates into eyes with sweat
-
10 Octocrylene
Legacy UV filter (Octocrylene), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- β 12.8 UV protection
- β 7 migrates into eyes with sweat
- β 15 co-stains alongside avobenzone
-
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
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12 Panthenol
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
- 2 β nourishing humectant
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Botanical extract
-
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
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15 PEG-4
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
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Fatty alcohol, an emollient and thickener, not the drying kind
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Fatty alcohol, an emollient and thickener, not the drying kind
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Fatty alcohol, an emollient and thickener, not the drying kind
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19 Dimethiconol
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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20 Zinc Oxide
Mineral UV filter (Zinc Oxide), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- β 24.6 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 12 feeds malassezia
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22 Laureth-7
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 9 feeds malassezia
-
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
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 9 feeds malassezia
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 9 feeds malassezia
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27 Stearic Acid
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- β 2 minor malassezia feeder
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- β 1 moderate comedogenic signal
- β 2 minor malassezia feeder
-
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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30 Polyethylene
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- β 2 wax film
- β 2 wax water lock
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31 Carbomer
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
pH adjuster
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 9 feeds malassezia
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Supporting ingredient
-
37 Silica
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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38 Alumina
Supporting ingredient
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- light β 1 volatile carrier, flashes off
- matte β 1 volatile carrier, flashes off
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
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42 Ethylparaben
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
- β 10 endocrine-scrutinized preservative
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Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
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45 Fragrance
Fragrance
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Fragrance component, a declared allergen
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Fragrance component, a declared allergen
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48 Ci 77492
Colorant or pigment
- β 40 makeup-like collar marks (washable)
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49 Ci 77491
Colorant or pigment
-
50 Ci 77499
Colorant or pigment
Does this Olay BB cream leave a white cast?
White cast is low, and as a tinted BB cream it is meant to blend into skin with a balanced finish.
Is the Olay Total Effects Bb Cream Moisturiser Foundation Spf 15 Fair mineral or chemical?
It is mainly chemical, using older filters alongside titanium dioxide and zinc oxide, in a tinted moisturiser format.
Is SPF 15 enough?
SPF 15 is light, everyday cover rather than strong sun protection. It scores 70 out of 100, so treat it as a makeup step and layer a higher SPF when you expect real sun exposure.