C Day Serum UV SPF 50+

Obagi

Where to buy Possibly in stock

About this product

The Obagi C Day Serum UV SPF 50+ is a emulsion. Our analysis of its 47 ingredients (36 low-risk) rates it Excellent (98/100). Based on its ingredients, it looks well-suited to oily / acne-prone and dry skin. Heads up: it contains fragrance, which can irritate sensitive or reactive skin.

Vegan-friendly

Summarised from our ingredient analysis — not brand marketing copy.

At a glance

Type
Emulsion
Ingredients
47
Low-risk
36
Fragrance
Contains fragrance
Origin
Japan
SPF
50 · blocks 98.0% UVB

The evidence

Quick Product Notes

Paraben-Free Sulfate-Free Alcohol-Free Silicone-Free EU Allergen-Free Fungal Acne (Malassezia) Safe Cruelty-Free

Notable Effects & Ingredients

No Notable Effects & Ingredients

Ingredients Related to Skin Types

Good   Bad — tap a skin type to see which ingredients · estimated from ingredient functions
Dry Skin 12/12
Good for dry skin
Glyceryl Stearate Diethylhexyl Succinate Behenyl Alcohol Saccharide Isomerate Stearyl Alcohol Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride Caprylyl Glycol Butylene Glycol Glycerin Polyglyceryl-10 Pentastearate Glyceryl Ascorbate
Caution for dry skin
Microcrystalline Cellulose Centella Asiatica Extract Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate Stearyl Alcohol Xanthan Gum Glycerin Polyglyceryl-10 Pentastearate Alumina Alcohol Sodium Hydroxide PEG-40 Stearate Silica
Oily/Acne-Prone Skin 1/0
Good for oily/acne-prone skin
Alcohol
Sensitive Skin 6/7
Good for sensitive skin
Zinc Oxide Centella Asiatica Extract Ascorbyl Glucoside Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate Glycerin Glyceryl Ascorbate
Caution for sensitive skin
Stearyl Alcohol Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride Butylene Glycol Glycerin Alcohol Acacia Senegal Gum Phenoxyethanol

Ingredients list

47 total
Lower hazard (1) Higher hazard (6)
All47 Skin Conditioning25 Viscosity Controlling11 Emulsion Stabilising10 Emollient8 Solvent7 Fragrance7 Viscosity Increasing Agent6 Humectant6
EWG CIR Ingredient Name & Cosmetic Functions Notes
1
Water
(Solvent)
1
A
Butylene Glycol
(Fragrance, Skin Conditioning, Solvent, Viscositydecreasing Agent, Humectant, Masking, Viscosity Controlling)
Good for Dry Skin
Good for Dry Skin
6
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
(Uv Absorber, Uv Filter)
Bad for Oily Skin
Bad for Oily Skin
Bad for Sensitive Skin
Bad for Sensitive Skin
2
Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
(Uv Absorber, Uv Filter)
1
A
Diethylhexyl Succinate
(Emollient, Film Forming, Plasticizer, Skin Conditioning, Solvent)
Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
(Skin Conditioning, Uv Absorber, Uv Filter)
1
3
Titanium Dioxide
(Cosmetic Colorant, Opacifying, Sunscreen Agent, Uv Absorber)
Good for Sensitive Skin
Good for Sensitive Skin
1
Ascorbyl Glucoside
(Antioxidant)
1
A
Behenyl Alcohol
(Binding Agent, Emulsion Stabilising, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Binding, Emollient, Viscosity Controlling)
Glyceryl Ascorbate
(Antioxidant, Humectant)
1
Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate
(Antioxidant, Skin Conditioning, Emollient)
TOCOPHEROL
(Antioxidant, Fragrance, Skin Conditioning)
1
Saccharide Isomerate
(Humectant)
1
B
Centella Asiatica Extract
(Cleansing, Skin Conditioning, Smoothing, Soothing, Tonic)
Cynara Scolymus Leaf Extract
(Skin Conditioning)
Caesalpinia Spinosa Fruit Extract
(Skin Protecting)
Kappaphycus Alvarezii Extract
(Skin Conditioning)
2
A
Alumina
(Abrasive, Absorbent, Anticaking Agent, Bulking Agent, Opacifying, Viscosity Controlling)
A
Diphenyl Dimethicone/Vinyl Diphenyl Dimethicone/Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer
(Viscosity Controlling)
Citrus Grandis Fruit Extract
(Astringent, Perfuming, Skin Conditioning, Tonic)
2
3
Zinc Oxide
(Bulking Agent, Cosmetic Colorant, Skin Protecting, Sunscreen Agent)
Good for Oily Skin
Good for Oily Skin
1
A
Phytosteryl Macadamiate
(Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning)
2
A
Glycerin
(Denaturant, Fragrance, Hair Conditioning, Humectant, Oral Care Agent, Oral Health Care Drug, Skin Protecting, Viscosity Decreasing Agent, Perfuming, Solvent)
Good for Dry Skin
Good for Dry Skin
Fungal Acne
Fungal Acne Trigger
1
A
Caprylyl Glycol
(Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Emollient, Humectant)
1
A
Pentylene Glycol
(Skin Conditioning, Solvent)
3
A
PEG-40 Stearate
(Emulsifying, Surfactant)
Fungal Acne
Fungal Acne Trigger
1
Diphenylsiloxy Phenyl Trimethicone
(Antifoaming Agent, Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning)
1
A
Glyceryl Stearate
(Emollient, Emulsifying)
Fungal Acne
Fungal Acne Trigger
2
Mica
(Cosmetic Colorant, Opacifying)
1
B
Polyglyceryl-10 Pentastearate
(Skin Conditioning, Emollient, Emulsifying, Surfactant)
1
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
(Emulsion Stabilising, Viscosity Controlling)
3
B
Sodium Hydroxide
(Denaturant, Ph Adjuster, Buffering Agent)
1
Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate
(Emulsifying, Surfactant)
1
A
Xanthan Gum
(Binding Agent, Emulsion Stabilising, Skin Conditioning, Surfactant Emulsifying Agent, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Binding, Gel Forming, Viscosity Controlling)
1
A
Microcrystalline Cellulose
(Abrasive, Absorbent, Anticaking Agent, Bulking Agent, Emulsion Stabilising, Slip Modifier, Viscosity Increasing Agent)
1
A
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
(Emollient, Masking, Perfuming, Skin Conditioning, Solvent)
1
A
Carbomer
(Emulsion Stabilising, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Gel Forming, Viscosity Controlling)
1
2
A
Silica
(Abrasive, Absorbent, Anticaking Agent, Bulking Agent, Opacifying, Viscosity Controlling)
1
A
Disodium EDTA
(Chelating Agent, Viscosity Controlling)
1
DNA
(Skin Conditioning)
3
A
Acacia Senegal Gum
(Adhesive, Fragrance, Film Forming, Masking)
1
Caprylhydroxamic Acid
(Chelating Agent)
1
Hydrogen Dimethicone
(Film Forming)
1
A
Stearyl Alcohol
(Emulsion Stabilising, Fragrance, Emulsifying, Surfactant, Foambooster, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Emollient, Foam Boosting, Masking, Opacifying, Refatting, Viscosity Controlling)
4
A
Phenoxyethanol
(Fragrance, Preservative)
Paraben
Paraben
2
Alcohol
(Antifoaming Agent, Antimicrobial, Astringent, Masking, Solvent, Viscosity Controlling)
Bad for Dry Skin
Bad for Dry Skin
Bad for Sensitive Skin
Bad for Sensitive Skin
PARFUM
(Fragrance, Perfuming)

My Ingredient Notes

No personal ingredient notes yet. Save ingredients to your profile to get good/bad alerts here.

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Key ingredients

Butylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning, Humectant
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
Uv Absorber, Uv Filter
Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
Uv Absorber, Uv Filter
Diethylhexyl Succinate
Emollient, Skin Conditioning
Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin Conditioning, Uv Absorber
Titanium Dioxide
Uv Absorber

Benefits

Good for oily/acne-prone skin

Concerns

Contains paraben
Not fungal acne (malassezia) safe
May not suit sensitive skin

Ingredients explained

Water
Solvent
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 Solvent
Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
Uv absorber, Uv filter
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 2 Uv absorberUv filter
Diethylhexyl Succinate
Emollient, Film forming
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 CIR A EmollientFilm formingPlasticizerSkin conditioningSolvent
Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin conditioning, Uv absorber
Limited public safety data.Read moreShow less
EWG N/A Skin conditioningUv absorberUv filter
Ascorbyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 Antioxidant
Behenyl Alcohol
Binding agent, Emulsion stabilising
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 CIR A Binding agentEmulsion stabilisingViscosity increasing agentBindingEmollientViscosity controlling
Glyceryl Ascorbate
Antioxidant, Humectant
Limited public safety data.Read moreShow less
EWG N/A AntioxidantHumectant
Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate
Antioxidant, Skin conditioning
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 AntioxidantSkin conditioningEmollient
TOCOPHEROL
Antioxidant, Fragrance
Limited public safety data.Read moreShow less
EWG N/A AntioxidantFragranceSkin conditioning
Saccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 Humectant
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing, Skin conditioning
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 CIR B CleansingSkin conditioningSmoothingSoothingTonic
Cynara Scolymus Leaf Extract
Skin conditioning
Limited public safety data.Read moreShow less
EWG N/A Skin conditioning
Caesalpinia Spinosa Fruit Extract
Skin protecting
Limited public safety data.Read moreShow less
EWG N/A Skin protecting
Kappaphycus Alvarezii Extract
Skin conditioning
Limited public safety data.Read moreShow less
EWG N/A Skin conditioning
Alumina
Abrasive, Absorbent
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 2 CIR A AbrasiveAbsorbentAnticaking agentBulking agentOpacifyingViscosity controlling
+ 23 more — see the full ingredients list above
Butylene Glycol
Fragrance, Skin conditioning
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 CIR A FragranceSkin conditioningSolventViscositydecreasing agentHumectantMaskingViscosity controlling Good for Dry Skin
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
Uv absorber, Uv filter
Potentially a skin irritantRead moreShow less
EWG 6 Uv absorberUv filter Bad for Oily SkinBad for Sensitive Skin
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic colorant, Opacifying
Low-to-moderate hazard.Read moreShow less
EWG 1–3 Cosmetic colorantOpacifyingSunscreen agentUv absorber Good for Sensitive Skin
Zinc Oxide
Bulking agent, Cosmetic colorant
Low-to-moderate hazard.Read moreShow less
EWG 2–3 Bulking agentCosmetic colorantSkin protectingSunscreen agent Good for Oily Skin
Glycerin
Denaturant, Fragrance
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 2 CIR A DenaturantFragranceHair conditioningHumectantOral care agentOral health care drugSkin protectingViscosity decreasing agentPerfumingSolvent Good for Dry SkinFungal-acne trigger
PEG-40 Stearate
Emulsifying, Surfactant
Low-to-moderate hazard.Read moreShow less
EWG 3 CIR A EmulsifyingSurfactant Fungal-acne trigger
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient, Emulsifying
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 CIR A EmollientEmulsifying Fungal-acne trigger
Phenoxyethanol
Fragrance, Preservative
Low-to-moderate hazard.Read moreShow less
EWG 4 CIR A FragrancePreservative Paraben
Alcohol
Antifoaming agent, Antimicrobial
Causes moisture evaporation - prone to dry out skinRead moreShow less
EWG 2 Antifoaming agentAntimicrobialAstringentMaskingSolventViscosity controlling Bad for Dry SkinBad for Sensitive Skin

How to use

How to use

  • 1 Morning only: Apply as the last step of your AM routine, after moisturiser, and reapply every ~2 hours of sun exposure.

General guidance from this product's category and active ingredients — always follow the directions on the package.

Trust & honesty

Effective levels — general guide

The concentrations these actives are typically effective at in research — not a measurement of this product.

Vitamin C (ascorbic) 5–20%

L-ascorbic acid is usually used at 5–20% (around 10–15% is common). Above ~20% adds little and tends to irritate more; it also needs a low pH to work.

Ascorbyl Glucoside, Glyceryl Ascorbate, Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate

INCI lists don't disclose amounts, and we don't claim to know this product's levels — these are the ranges these ingredients are usually effective at, so you can tell a real formula from "fairy-dusting" a marketed active. How we estimate this.

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