Olay Whip Face Moisturizer with Sunscreen SPF 40 Versus CAY SKIN Universal Mineral Face Moisturizer with SPF 55 and Squalane
This chemical sunscreen covers most of the UV range, lighter on the deep UVA that drives aging.
This hybrid sunscreen covers the full UV range and blocks ~98% of UVB at SPF 55.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%
UV Absorber
Homosalate 10%
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexyl Salicylate 5%
UV Absorber
Octocrylene 9%
UV Absorber
Water
Skin ConditioningTapioca Starch
Glycerin
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Dimethicone
Emollient
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Polyacrylate Starch
AbsorbentStearyl Alcohol
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Dimethiconol
Emollient
Cetearyl Glucoside
Emulsifying
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Polymethylsilsesquioxane
Parfum
Masking
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Disodium EDTA
ChelatingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4
Skin Conditioning
Ceratonia Siliqua Fruit Extract
MaskingButyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%, Homosalate 10%, Ethylhexyl Salicylate 5%, Octocrylene 9%, Water, Tapioca Starch, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Dimethicone, Panthenol, Sodium Polyacrylate Starch, Stearyl Alcohol, PEG-100 Stearate, Caprylyl Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Phenoxyethanol, Cetyl Alcohol, Behenyl Alcohol, Dimethiconol, Cetearyl Glucoside, Cetearyl Alcohol, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Parfum, Stearic Acid, Palmitic Acid, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Hyaluronate, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Ceratonia Siliqua Fruit Extract
Zinc Oxide 12%
Cosmetic Colorant
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Isoamyl Laurate
Emollient
Squalane
Emollient
Butyloctyl Salicylate
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Cyclodextrin
AbsorbentJojoba Esters
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Silica
Abrasive
Polyglyceryl-2 Dipolyhydroxystearate
Skin Conditioning
PEG-75 Stearate
Surfactant
Methylpropanediol
SolventPyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Rutin
Antioxidant
Lysolecithin
EmulsifyingSclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingLecithin
Emollient
Ceteth-20
CleansingPhenylpropanol
Masking
Steareth-20
CleansingPullulan
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCitrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Iron Oxides
Lens Esculenta Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder
Skin Conditioning
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
ChelatingSodium Lactate
Buffering
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Chondrus Crispus Extract
Skin Conditioning
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingPolyglyceryl-4 Diisostearate/Polyhydroxystearate/Sebacate
Emulsifying
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingZinc Oxide 12%, Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Isoamyl Laurate, Squalane, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Glycerin, Caprylyl Glycol, Cyclodextrin, Jojoba Esters, Cetyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Silica, Polyglyceryl-2 Dipolyhydroxystearate, PEG-75 Stearate, Methylpropanediol, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Allantoin, Rutin, Lysolecithin, Sclerotium Gum, Lecithin, Ceteth-20, Phenylpropanol, Steareth-20, Pullulan, Xanthan Gum, Citrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract, Bisabolol, Iron Oxides, Lens Esculenta Fruit Extract, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder, Maltodextrin, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Sodium Lactate, Phenoxyethanol, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Sodium PCA, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hexylene Glycol, Polyglyceryl-4 Diisostearate/Polyhydroxystearate/Sebacate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Tocopherol, Sodium Hydroxide
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Caprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolCetyl Alcohol is a fatty alcohol. Fatty Alcohols are most often used as an emollient or to thicken a product.
Its main roles are:
Though it has "alcohol" in the name, it is not related to denatured alcohol or ethyl alcohol.
The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe. It is a primary fatty alcohol with a chain length above 12 carbons. A study from 2019 show Malassezia can feed on fatty alcohols in this range, so it may trigger fungal acne in those prone to it.
Learn more about Cetyl AlcoholGlycerin (or glycerol) is a compound naturally found in your skin. It's a powerhouse humectant that pulls water into the stratum corneum.
Topically, glycerin does several things at once:
Your skin makes glycerin on its own (mostly from sebaceous oil breakdown) and shuttles it to your outermost layer of skin, or your epidermis, via aquaporin-3.
Aquaporin-3 is a transporter that is essential for normal skin hydration, elasticity, and repair. Interestingly, mice lacking in AQP3 have dry and less elastic skin that can be fully corrected with glycerin.
This ingredient is non-irritating, plays well with almost every ingredient, and works across all skin types. Typical use is anywhere between 3-10% but can go up to 79% in some leave-on products.
Just know very high concentrations (>40%) can feel tacky in low humidity.
Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
Learn more about GlycerinPhenoxyethanol is one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!).
It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome.
On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive.
Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10).
You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own.
Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU.
Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages.
Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon.
Learn more about PhenoxyethanolWater. 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. If you see this, drink a glass of water. Remember to stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water
