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Product Comparison

Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of COSRX Aloe Soothing Sun Cream SPF 50 PA+++ versus Olay Face Sunscreen Serum And Shine Control - SPF 35 .

Last updated on July 18, 2023. Published on January 06, 2021

Overview

What they are

These products are both sunscreens. They have a total of 10 ingredients in common

Cool Features

They both contain SPF and Vitamin E

Suited For

They're both likely to be good for brightening skin, sensitive skin and dark spots

Free From

They both do not contain any oils, parabens or sulfates

What's Inside

They both contain fragrances and silicones

We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that need an update? Let us know.

Sunscreen South Korean Brand South Korea
Sunscreen American Brand United States

Sunscreen

Sunscreens help absorb or reflect UV radiation and protect skin against skin damage. Sunscreens may come in the form of lotion, gel, foam, spray, or solid-stick.

Sunscreen

Sunscreens help absorb or reflect UV radiation and protect skin against skin damage. Sunscreens may come in the form of lotion, gel, foam, spray, or solid-stick.

Price

Shop

Buy Aloe Soothing Sun Cream SPF 50 PA+++

Starts at $8.99
Shop

Buy Face Sunscreen Serum And Shine Control - SPF 35

Starts at $16.99

Ingredient Info

Click any item below to learn more and view relevant ingredients.
alcohol-free
silicon-free
fragrance-free
sulfate-free
paraben-free
oil-free
fungal-acne safe
reef-safe
eu-allergen-free
vegan
cruelty-free
spf rating
50
alcohol-free
silicon-free
fragrance-free
sulfate-free
paraben-free
oil-free
fungal-acne safe
reef-safe
eu-allergen-free
vegan
cruelty-free
spf rating
35

At a glance

Click on any of the items below to learn more

Notable Ingredients

Chemical UV Filter (4)
Mineral UV Filter
Vitamin E
Exfoliators

Benefits

Hydrating
Redness Reducing
Reduces Irritation
Dark Spots
Brightening (2)

Concerns

Drying
May Worsen Oily Skin (3)
Acne Trigger
Irritating (3)
Rosacea (4)
Eczema (5)

Notable Ingredients

Chemical UV Filter
Vitamin E
Niacinamide

Benefits

Good For Oily Skin
Redness Reducing (2)
Reduces Irritation
Reduces Large Pores (2)
Anti-Aging
Dark Spots
Acne Fighting (2)
Brightening (2)

Concerns

May Worsen Oily Skin (3)
Acne Trigger
Rosacea
Eczema (2)
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Ingredients Compared

Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.

Ingredients Side-by-side

Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.

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Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.

1
What it does: Skin Conditioning, Solvent
Community Rating: Loved

Water. It's the most common cosmetic ingredient of all. You'll usually see it at the top of ingredient lists, meaning that it makes up the largest part of the product.

So why is it so popular? Water most often acts as a solvent - this means that it helps dissolve other ingredients into the formulation.

You'll also recognize water as that liquid we all need to stay alive. Talk about multi-purpose! If you see this, drink a glass of water. Stay hydrated!

Learn more about Water

COSRX Aloe Soothing Sun Cream SPF 50 PA+++ contains this as ingredient number 1.

Olay Face Sunscreen Serum And Shine Control - SPF 35 contains this as ingredient number 2.

2
What it does: Emollient, Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting
Community Rating: Very Disliked

Dimethicone is a silicone used for making products smooth and silky. It also has the added benefit of sealing in hydration. The amount of dimethicone found in beauty products is considered safe and non-comedogenic, meaning it won't clog pores.

Dimethicone has been found increase absorption in skin, boosting the benefits of other ingredients. While there is concern for the safety of dimethicone, the levels used in skincare are safe for use.

COSRX Aloe Soothing Sun Cream SPF 50 PA+++ contains this as ingredient number 12.

Olay Face Sunscreen Serum And Shine Control - SPF 35 contains this as ingredient number 4.

3
What it does: Emollient, Emulsifying, Emulsion Stabilising
Community Rating: Very Disliked

Cetearyl alcohol is a mixture of two fatty alcohols: cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. It is mainly used as an emulsifier. Emulsifiers help prevent the separation of oils and products. Due to its composition, it can also be used to thicken a product or help create foam.

Cetearyl alcohol is an emollient. Emollients help soothe and hydrate the skin by trapping moisture.

Studies show Cetearyl alcohol is non-toxic and non-irritating. The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.

This ingredient is usually derived from plant oils such as palm, vegetable, or coconut oils. There is debate on whether this ingredient will cause acne.

Due to the fatty acid base, this ingredient may not be Malassezia folliculitis safe.

Learn more about Cetearyl Alcohol

COSRX Aloe Soothing Sun Cream SPF 50 PA+++ contains this as ingredient number 18.

Olay Face Sunscreen Serum And Shine Control - SPF 35 contains this as ingredient number 11.

4
What it does:
Community Rating: Very Disliked

Peg-100 Stearate is an emollient and emulsifier. PEGS are a hydrophilic polyether compound . There are 100 ethylene oxide monomers in Peg-100 Stearate. Peg-100 Stearate is polyethylene glycol ester of stearic acid.

Peg-100 Stearate helps keep skin soft by trapping moisture in. It helps prevent oil and water from separating in a product. By binding oil and water, it helps remove dirt and oil to be rinsed away.

COSRX Aloe Soothing Sun Cream SPF 50 PA+++ contains this as ingredient number 19.

Olay Face Sunscreen Serum And Shine Control - SPF 35 contains this as ingredient number 16.

5
What it does: Cleansing, Emulsifying, Emulsion Stabilising, Masking
Community Rating: Very Disliked

Stearic Acid is a fatty acid. It is an emollient, emulsifier, and texture enhancer.

As an emollient, stearic acid helps soften skin. It aids the skin's protective barrier by preventing water loss. It also provides a gentle cleansing effect without stripping away natural oils.

Stearic acid may also be used to enhance the texture of products. It can add volume and stabilize ingredients such as water and oil. This can help water and oil ingredients from separating.

Sources of stearic acid include animal or vegetable fats/oils such as coconut or shea. It can be naturally found in butter, cocoa butter, shea butter, vegetable fats, and animal tallow.

This ingredient may not be Malassezia folliculitis, or fungal-acne safe.

Learn more about Stearic Acid

COSRX Aloe Soothing Sun Cream SPF 50 PA+++ contains this as ingredient number 26.

Olay Face Sunscreen Serum And Shine Control - SPF 35 contains this as ingredient number 13.

6
What it does: Masking, Perfuming
Community Rating: Very Disliked

Parfum is a catch-all term for an ingredient or more that is used to give aroma to products. Parfum, or fragrance, can be a blend of hundreds of chemicals or plant oils. This means every product with "fragrance" or "Parfum" in the ingredients list is a different mixture.

In the US, the alternative name for parfum is 'fragrance'. The term 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term.

For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance. One example is Calendula flower extract. Essential oil ingredients still impart a scent or 'fragrance'.

Depending on the blend, it can cause allergies and sensitivities on the skin. Some ingredients that are known EU allergens include linalool and citronellol.

Products use parfum often to give products a scent or cover up smells of different ingredients.

The bottom line is: not all fragrances/parfum/ingredients are created equally. If you are worried about fragrances, we recommend taking a closer look at an ingredient. And of course, we always recommend speaking with a professional.

Learn more about Parfum

COSRX Aloe Soothing Sun Cream SPF 50 PA+++ contains this as ingredient number 27.

Olay Face Sunscreen Serum And Shine Control - SPF 35 contains this as ingredient number 22.

7
What it does: Emollient, Humectant, Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Liked

Caprylyl Glycol is a humectant and emollient, meaning it attracts and preserves moisture.

It is a common ingredient in many products, especially those designed to hydrate skin. The primary benefits are retaining moisture, skin softening, and promoting a healthy skin barrier.

Though Caprylyl Glycol is an alcohol derived from fatty acids, it is not the kind that can dry out skin.

This ingredient is also used as a preservative to extend the life of products. It has slight antimicrobial properties.

Learn more about Caprylyl Glycol

COSRX Aloe Soothing Sun Cream SPF 50 PA+++ contains this as ingredient number 28.

Olay Face Sunscreen Serum And Shine Control - SPF 35 contains this as ingredient number 8.

8
What it does: Preservative
Community Rating: Very Disliked

Phenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent germ and microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.

It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.

COSRX Aloe Soothing Sun Cream SPF 50 PA+++ contains this as ingredient number 29.

Olay Face Sunscreen Serum And Shine Control - SPF 35 contains this as ingredient number 20.

9
What it does: Antioxidant, Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Liked

Tocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.

One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.

Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.

Learn more about Tocopheryl Acetate

COSRX Aloe Soothing Sun Cream SPF 50 PA+++ contains this as ingredient number 36.

Olay Face Sunscreen Serum And Shine Control - SPF 35 contains this as ingredient number 12.

10
What it does:
Community Rating: Disliked

Disodium EDTA plays a role in making products more stable by aiding other preservatives.

It is a chelating agent, meaning it neutralizes metal ions that may be found in a product.

Disodium EDTA is a salt of edetic acid and is found to be safe in cosmetic ingredients.

Learn more about Disodium EDTA

COSRX Aloe Soothing Sun Cream SPF 50 PA+++ contains this as ingredient number 37.

Olay Face Sunscreen Serum And Shine Control - SPF 35 contains this as ingredient number 15.

Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these two products.

16% are loved or liked
11% have mixed ratings
64% are disliked or very disliked
9% have no rating yet
23% are loved or liked
9% have mixed ratings
64% are disliked or very disliked
5% have no rating yet

Usage

Here's some more info on how this product is used by our community.

When to use

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Reviews

Here's what our community thinks

COSRX Aloe Soothing Sun Cream SPF 50 PA+++ 45 ingredients

2.3 /5
from 23 ratings
Irritating (6) Doesn't Work (4) Broke Me Out (4) Light Scent (3) Pilling (3) Heavy (2)
mooj's avatar

mooj

5 months ago · Dry Skin
Review

this sunscreen stung my eyes super bad. even when i took care to avoid my eye area, it still burnt. left my skin red and irritated looking.

sword's avatar

sword

11 months ago · Oily Skin
Review

Broke Me Out Horrifically
I used to use this when I was in school and had awful acne, so I didn't notice it caused me to break out until I decided...

Broke Me Out Horrifically
I used to use this when I was in school and had awful acne, so I didn't notice it caused me to break out until I decided to try it again recently. It gave me an awful break out all over my cheeks, and flared up my rosacea. It took a few days to recover. Also this has a white cast, so beware if that's something you typically avoid.

Olay Face Sunscreen Serum And Shine Control - SPF 35 22 ingredients

Face Sunscreen Serum And Shine Control - SPF 35 hasn't been rated yet.
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