Olay Vitamin C Day Cream SPF 30
64/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
Olay Vitamin C Day Cream SPF 30 is a chemical day cream built on older-generation filters Octocrylene, Homosalate, Ethylhexyl Salicylate and Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane. It dries to a matte finish with low white cast and a lightweight feel, which generally suits combination skin. Protection is rated moderate. With a score of 64.1 out of 100, it is a serviceable daily moisturizer with sun protection.
Ingredient & SPF scores
βοΈ
UV protection
Moderate
54
- +16 Octocrylene at #2, UV filter
- +11.4 Homosalate at #4, UV filter
- +7.6 Ethylhexyl Salicylate at #7, UV filter
- +24 Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane at #8, UV filter (UVA1 +12.8)
- Γ0.9 Limited long-UVA1 coverage
- +1 Label claims (SPF 30)
β’οΈ
Health safety
Medium
46
- +100 Starting score
- β40 Homosalate at #4 (regulatory/evidence concern)
- β10.5 Octocrylene at #2, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- β3.5 Avobenzone at #8, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
π€§
Allergens
Low
67
- +100 Starting score
- β18 Fragrance
- β5 3 declared fragrance allergens
- β7 Opaque "Fragrance", hidden allergens that can't be checked from the label
- β3 Photoallergen-tail UV filters (Octocrylene)
π₯
Eye sting
Medium
44
- +100 Starting score
- β8 Avobenzone at #8, migrates into eyes with sweat
- β22 Octocrylene at #2, migrates into eyes with sweat
- β6 Homosalate at #4, migrates into eyes with sweat
- β6 Octisalate at #7, migrates into eyes with sweat
- β8 Fragrance
- β6 3 declared fragrance allergens
π΄
Comedogenic
Low
99
- +100 Starting score
- β1 Palmitic Acid at #18, moderate comedogenic signal
π
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
π
Fabric stains
Medium
37
- +100 Starting score
- β38 Avobenzone at #8, reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
- β15 Octocrylene at #2, co-stains alongside avobenzone
- β10 Avobenzone + Octocrylene, the classic staining pair
π§
Moisture
Balanced
LightNourishing
- β 8 1 sebum-absorbing powders (Zea Mays Starch)
- β 10 Glycerin at #6, the anchor humectant
- β 2 1 strong humectants (Panthenol)
β¨
Finish
Matte
MatteDewy
- β 10 1 sebum-absorbing powders (Zea Mays Starch)
π
Makeup base
Okay
PillsPrimer
- β 1 Primer-style base, volatile silicones and dimethicone slip
- β 3 Humectant syrup tackiness
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 C
- β¨ Panthenol (B5)
- β¨ Vitamin E
Full ingredient list (31)
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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Legacy UV filter (Octocrylene), high in the list, a primary filter
- β 16 UV protection
- β 10.5 stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- β 22 migrates into eyes with sweat
- β 15 co-stains alongside avobenzone
-
Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light β 8 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte β 10 sebum-absorbing powder
-
Legacy UV filter (Homosalate)
- β 11.4 UV protection
- β 6 migrates into eyes with sweat
-
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
-
6 Glycerin
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 10 β nourishing the anchor humectant
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Legacy UV filter (Octisalate)
- β 7.6 UV protection
- β 6 migrates into eyes with sweat
-
Legacy UV filter (Avobenzone), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- β 24 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- β 3.5 stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- β 8 migrates into eyes with sweat
- β 38 reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
11 Panthenol
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
- 2 β nourishing humectant
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Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
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14 Dimethiconol
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
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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17 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
-
Fatty alcohol, an emollient and thickener, not the drying kind
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Fatty alcohol, an emollient and thickener, not the drying kind
-
Fatty alcohol, an emollient and thickener, not the drying kind
-
Fatty alcohol, an emollient and thickener, not the drying kind
-
Chelator, binds stray metal ions to keep the formula stable
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 9 feeds malassezia
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
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28 Fragrance
Fragrance
-
29 Limonene
Fragrance component, a declared allergen
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30 Linalool
Fragrance component, a declared allergen
-
31 Citronellol
Fragrance component, a declared allergen
Is Olay Vitamin C Day Cream good for oily skin?
It dries to a matte finish and has a low breakout-trigger rating, so it generally suits combination and oily skin. It stays lightweight under makeup.
Is the Olay Vitamin C Day Cream SPF 30 mineral or chemical?
It is a chemical day cream built on older-generation filters Octocrylene, Homosalate, Ethylhexyl Salicylate and Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane.
Is Olay Vitamin C Day Cream SPF 30 good?
It scores 64.1 out of 100 with protection rated moderate, making it a serviceable daily moisturizer with sun protection.