Pure Balancing Gel
The MD Formula Pure Balancing Gel is a moisturizer. Our analysis of its 21 ingredients (17 low-risk) rates it Excellent (98/100). Based on its ingredients, it looks well-suited to oily / acne-prone and dry skin.
The MD Formula Pure Balancing Gel is a moisturizer. Our analysis of its 21 ingredients (17 low-risk) rates it Excellent (98/100). Based on its ingredients, it looks well-suited to oily / acne-prone and dry skin.
Summarised from our ingredient analysis — not brand marketing copy.
The evidence
Dry Skin
3/3
Oily/Acne-Prone Skin
2/0
Sensitive Skin
5/7
| EWG | CIR | Ingredient Name & Cosmetic Functions | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
1
|
|
Water
(Solvent) |
|
|
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
Fungal Acne Trigger
|
|
1
|
|
Sorbitol
(Flavoring Agent, Fragrance, Humectant, Plasticizer, Skin Conditioning) |
|
|
1
|
|
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
(Emulsion Stabilising, Film Forming, Viscosity Controlling) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
1,2-Hexanediol
(Solvent) |
|
|
|
Retinyl Palmitate
(Skin Conditioning, Skin Conditioning Miscellaneous) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
Arginine
(Fragrance, Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Antistatic Agent, Masking) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
Dehydroacetic Acid
(Preservative) |
|
|
1
|
|
Litchi Chinensis Fruit Extract
(Skin Conditioning) |
|
|
|
|
Actinidia Chinensis Fruit
(Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning) |
|
|
1
|
|
Althaea Officinalis Root Extract
(Skin Conditioning) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract
(Masking, Perfuming, Skin Conditioning) |
|
|
1
|
|
Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract
(Masking, Perfuming, Skin Conditioning) |
Good for Sensitive Skin
Good for Dry Skin
|
|
|
|
daucus carota sativa root extract
(Skin Conditioning) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
(Antioxidant) |
|
|
1
|
|
Arbutin
(Antioxidant, Skin Conditioning) |
Good for Dry Skin
|
4
|
B
|
Salicylic Acid
(Antiacne Agent, Antidandruff Agent, Corn/Callus/Wart Remover, Denaturant, Exfoliant, Fragrance, Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Keratolytic, Masking, Preservative) |
Good for Oily Skin
Bad for Sensitive Skin
|
|
2
3
|
|
Lecithin
(Skin Conditioning, Emulsifying, Surfactant, Antistatic Agent, Emollient) |
|
|
2
|
|
Iron Oxides
(Colorant, Cosmetic Colorant) |
|
|
1
|
|
Rosa Damascena Flower Oil
(Masking, Skin Conditioning) |
|
|
1
|
|
Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
(Antimicrobial, Skin Protecting) |
No personal ingredient notes yet. Save ingredients to your profile to get good/bad alerts here.
How to use
General guidance from this product's category and active ingredients — always follow the directions on the package.
Trust & honesty
Contains ingredients some choose to avoid or double-check while pregnant or nursing.
Topical retinoids (retinol, retinaldehyde, retinyl esters) are widely advised against in pregnancy as a precaution. The strongest evidence is for ORAL retinoids; topical absorption is low, but most clinicians err on the side of caution.
Low-strength topical salicylic acid (BHA) is generally considered fine. Caution is usually reserved for high-strength leave-on products and salicylic peels.
This is general information, not medical advice. Pregnancy guidance varies and depends on concentration and your individual situation — always check with your doctor, midwife or pharmacist. How we flag this.
The concentrations these actives are typically effective at in research — not a measurement of this product.
Most studied between 0.1% and 1%. Higher is not automatically better — irritation climbs with dose, so a well-formulated lower strength is often the sweet spot.
Retinyl Palmitate
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.
Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Salicylic acid is OTC-capped at 2%; 0.5–2% is the usual leave-on range. Much below that it acts more as a soothing agent than an exfoliant.
Salicylic Acid
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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