AC
AGreat
MD Formulations Vit-A-Plus Illuminating Serum
The MD Formulations Vit-A-Plus Illuminating Serum is a serums, essence, ampoule. Our analysis of its 36 ingredients (27 low-risk) rates it Excellent (87/100). Based on its ingredients, it looks well-suited to oily / acne-prone and dry skin.
The MD Formulations Vit-A-Plus Illuminating Serum is a serums, essence, ampoule. Our analysis of its 36 ingredients (27 low-risk) rates it Excellent (87/100). 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
9/8
Oily/Acne-Prone Skin
2/0
Sensitive Skin
7/10
| EWG | CIR | Ingredient Name & Cosmetic Functions | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
1
|
|
Water
(Solvent) |
|
4
|
|
Ammonium Glycolate
(Exfoliant, Ph Adjuster, Buffering Agent, Keratolytic) |
|
|
4
|
B
|
Glycolic Acid
(Exfoliant, Ph Adjuster, Buffering Agent) |
Good for Oily Skin
Bad for Sensitive Skin
|
|
1
|
A
|
Glycine Soja (Soybean) Oil
(Antioxidant, Fragrance, Emollient, Skin Conditioning) |
Bad for Oily Skin
Fungal Acne Trigger
|
|
1
|
A
|
Copernicia Cerifera (Carnauba) Wax
(Epilating Agent, Depilatory) |
|
|
3
|
|
Tocopheryl Acetate
(Antioxidant, Skin Conditioning) |
Bad for Oily Skin
|
9
|
A
|
Retinol
(Skin Conditioning) |
Bad for Sensitive Skin
|
|
3
|
B
|
Ceteareth-20
(Cleansing, Emulsifying, Surfactant) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
Butylene Glycol
(Fragrance, Skin Conditioning, Solvent, Viscositydecreasing Agent, Humectant, Masking, Viscosity Controlling) |
Good for Dry Skin
|
|
|
Palmitoyl Hydroxypropyltrimonium Amylopectin/Glycerine Crosspolymer | |
|
2
3
|
|
Lecithin
(Skin Conditioning, Emulsifying, Surfactant, Antistatic Agent, Emollient) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Extract
(Anticaries Agent, Antidandruff Agent, Antifungal Agent, Antimicrobial Agent, Antioxidant, Oral Care Agent, Oral Health Care Drug, Sunscreen Agent, Uv Absorber) |
Good for Dry Skin
|
|
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
|
A
|
Glyceryl Stearate
(Emollient, Emulsifying) |
Fungal Acne Trigger
|
|
3
|
A
|
PEG-100 Stearate
(Surfactant) |
Fungal Acne Trigger
|
|
1
|
|
Sucrose Cocoate
(Skin Conditioning, Emollient, Emulsifying, Surfactant, Antistatic Agent) |
Fungal Acne Trigger
|
|
1
|
|
Morus Bombycis Root Extract
(Skin Conditioning) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Leaf Extract
(Skin Conditioning) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
Ceresin
(Binding Agent, Epilating Agent, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Antistatic Agent, Binding, Emulsion Stabilising, Hair Conditioning, Opacifying, Viscosity Controlling) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
Microcrystalline Cellulose
(Abrasive, Absorbent, Anticaking Agent, Bulking Agent, Emulsion Stabilising, Slip Modifier, Viscosity Increasing Agent) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
Cellulose Gum
(Binding Agent, Emulsion Stabilising, Film Forming, Fragrance, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Binding, Masking, Viscosity Controlling) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
Sorbitan Stearate
(Fragrance, Emulsifying, Surfactant) |
Fungal Acne Trigger
|
|
1
|
A
|
Allantoin
(Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting, Soothing) |
Good for Oily Skin
Good for Sensitive Skin
|
|
1
|
A
|
Glycyrrhetinic Acid
(Skin Conditioning) |
|
|
1
|
|
(-)-alpha-isabolol | |
|
3
|
A
|
Dimethicone
(Antifoaming Agent, Skin Protecting, Emollient, Skin Conditioning) |
Silicone
|
|
1
|
B
|
Isododecane
(Fragrance, Solvent, Emollient, Perfuming) |
|
|
1
|
B
|
Isohexadecane
(Skin Conditioning, Emollient, Solvent) |
|
|
3
|
B
|
Steareth-2
(Emulsifying, Surfactant) |
|
|
6
|
A
|
BHT
(Antioxidant, Fragrance, Masking) |
|
|
4
|
A
|
Methylparaben
(Fragrance, Preservative) |
Paraben
|
|
7
|
A
|
Propylparaben
(Fragrance, Preservative, Perfuming) |
Paraben
|
|
1
|
A
|
Hydroxyethylcellulose
(Binding Agent, Emulsion Stabilising, Film Forming, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Binding, Stabilising, Viscosity Controlling) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
Disodium EDTA
(Chelating Agent, Viscosity Controlling) |
|
|
6
|
B
|
Diazolidinyl Urea
(Preservative) |
|
|
4
6
|
B
|
Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate
(Preservative) |
No personal ingredient notes yet. Save ingredients to your profile to get good/bad alerts here.
EWG flags hazard, not real-world risk — ratings don't account for how much of an ingredient a product contains. Treat these as things to research, not verdicts. How we score →
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.
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.
Retinol
OTC leave-on AHAs are usually 5–10%. The effect also depends on pH and free-acid value, not the percentage alone.
Glycolic 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.
From the community
Used this product? Rate it in 10 seconds
Alternatives
