Clarifying Serum

MDSun

Where to buy Possibly in stock

About this product

The MDSun Clarifying Serum is a emulsion. Our analysis of its 37 ingredients (33 low-risk) rates it Excellent (99/100). Based on its ingredients, it looks well-suited to oily / acne-prone, dry, and sensitive skin.

Vegan-friendly Reef-safe

Summarised from our ingredient analysis — not brand marketing copy.

At a glance

Type
Emulsion
Ingredients
37
Low-risk
33
Fragrance
Fragrance-free
Origin
United States

The evidence

Quick Product Notes

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

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 11/4
Good for dry skin
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate Caprylyl Glycol Butylene Glycol Sodium PCA Sodium Hyaluronate Glycerin Cyclomethicone Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract Dimethicone Cyclopentasiloxane Lactic Acid
Caution for dry skin
Dimethicone Crosspolymer Glycerin Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract Polysorbate 20
Oily/Acne-Prone Skin 1/0
Good for oily/acne-prone skin
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Sensitive Skin 6/5
Good for sensitive skin
Ergothioneine Ethylbisiminomethylguaiacol Manganese Chloride Glycerin Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract Dimethicone Allantoin
Caution for sensitive skin
Butylene Glycol Glycerin Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract Potassium Sorbate Lactic Acid

Ingredients list

37 total
Lower hazard (1) Higher hazard (4)
All37 Skin Conditioning28 Humectant11 Solvent8 Hair Conditioning7 Viscosity Controlling6 Skin Protecting6 Fragrance5 Emollient5
EWG CIR Ingredient Name & Cosmetic Functions Notes
1
Potassium Azeloyl Diglycinate
(Skin Conditioning)
1
Mandelic Acid
(Antimicrobial)
1
Acetyl Glucosamine
(Skin Conditioning)
1
A
Niacinamide
(Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Smoothing)
1
Hydroxyethylpiperazine Ethane Sulfonic Acid
(Buffering Agent)
4
B
Lactic Acid
(Exfoliant, Fragrance, Humectant, Ph Adjuster, Skin Conditioning Agent Humectant, Skin Conditioning, Buffering Agent)
Bad for Sensitive Skin
Bad for Sensitive Skin
1
Water
(Solvent)
1
A
Allantoin
(Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting, Soothing)
Good for Oily Skin
Good for Oily Skin
Good for Sensitive Skin
Good for Sensitive Skin
1
A
Panthenol
(Antistatic Agent, Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning)
Good for Dry Skin
Good for Dry Skin
1
B
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
(Antimicrobial, Antioxidant, Astringent, Emollient, Humectant, Masking, Oral Care Agent, Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting, Tonic, Uv Absorber)
Good for Oily Skin
Good for Oily Skin
1
Glycyrrhiza Inflata Root Extract
(Skin Conditioning)
1
Dimethyl Isosorbide
(Solvent, Viscosity Decreasing Agent, Viscosity Controlling)
1
Octadecenedioic Acid
(Emulsifying)
1
B
Capryloyl Salicylic Acid
(Skin Conditioning)
1
Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
(Antidandruff Agent, Antimicrobial)
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
Chrysanthemum Parthenium Extract
(Skin Conditioning)
4-Ethoxybenzaldehyde
(Fragrance, Perfuming)
1
A
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
(Flavoring Agent, Skin Conditioning, Humectant)
1
Ergothioneine
(Antioxidant)
1
A
Sodium Hyaluronate
(Skin Conditioning, Humectant)
Good for Dry Skin
Good for Dry Skin
1
Ethylbisiminomethylguaiacol Manganese Chloride
(Antioxidant)
1
A
Hydroxyethylcellulose
(Binding Agent, Emulsion Stabilising, Film Forming, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Binding, Stabilising, Viscosity Controlling)
1
A
Dimethicone Crosspolymer
(Emulsion Stabilising, Hair Fixing, Suspending Agent Nonsurfactant, Viscosity Increasingagent Nonaqueous, Viscosity Controlling)
2
A
Cyclomethicone
(Antistatic Agent, Emollient, Hair Conditioning, Humectant, Solvent, Viscosity Controlling)
Silicone
Silicone
1
A
Caprylyl Glycol
(Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Emollient, Humectant)
1
A
Disodium EDTA
(Chelating Agent, Viscosity Controlling)
3
A
Cyclopentasiloxane
(Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Emollient, Solvent)
Silicone
Silicone
3
A
PEG/PPG-18/18 Dimethicone
(Emulsifying)
3
A
Dimethicone
(Antifoaming Agent, Skin Protecting, Emollient, Skin Conditioning)
Silicone
Silicone
3
B
Polysorbate 20
(Emulsifying, Surfactant)
Fungal Acne
Fungal Acne Trigger
1
Methylpropanediol
(Solvent)
1
A
Butylene Glycol
(Fragrance, Skin Conditioning, Solvent, Viscositydecreasing Agent, Humectant, Masking, Viscosity Controlling)
Good for Dry Skin
Good for Dry Skin
1
A
1,2-Hexanediol
(Solvent)
1
B
Sodium PCA
(Hair Conditioning, Humectant, Antistatic Agent, Skin Conditioning)
Good for Dry Skin
Good for Dry Skin
Avena sativa Kernel Extract
(Abrasive, Antioxidant, Skin Conditioning, Skin Conditioning Emollient)
3
A
Potassium Sorbate
(Fragrance, Preservative)

My Ingredient Notes

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Key ingredients

Potassium Azeloyl Diglycinate
Skin Conditioning
Acetyl Glucosamine
Skin Conditioning
Niacinamide
Skin Conditioning
Lactic Acid
Exfoliant, Humectant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning

Benefits

Good for dry skin
Good for oily/acne-prone skin
Good for sensitive skin

Concerns

Contains silicone
Not fungal acne (malassezia) safe

Ingredients explained

Potassium Azeloyl Diglycinate
Skin conditioning
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 Skin conditioning
Mandelic Acid
Antimicrobial
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 Antimicrobial
Acetyl Glucosamine
Skin conditioning
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 Skin conditioning
Niacinamide
Hair conditioning, Skin conditioning
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 CIR A Hair conditioningSkin conditioningSmoothing
Hydroxyethylpiperazine Ethane Sulfonic Acid
Buffering agent
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 Buffering agent
Water
Solvent
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 Solvent
Glycyrrhiza Inflata Root Extract
Skin conditioning
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 Skin conditioning
Dimethyl Isosorbide
Solvent, Viscosity decreasing agent
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 SolventViscosity decreasing agentViscosity controlling
Octadecenedioic Acid
Emulsifying
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 Emulsifying
Capryloyl Salicylic Acid
Skin conditioning
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 CIR B Skin conditioning
Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antidandruff agent, Antimicrobial
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 Antidandruff agentAntimicrobial
Chrysanthemum Parthenium Extract
Skin conditioning
Limited public safety data.Read moreShow less
EWG N/A Skin conditioning
4-Ethoxybenzaldehyde
Fragrance, Perfuming
Limited public safety data.Read moreShow less
EWG N/A FragrancePerfuming
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Flavoring agent, Skin conditioning
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 CIR A Flavoring agentSkin conditioningHumectant
Ergothioneine
Antioxidant
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 Antioxidant
+ 10 more — see the full ingredients list above
Lactic Acid
Exfoliant, Fragrance
Skin irritation can occur at high concentrationRead moreShow less
EWG 4 CIR B ExfoliantFragranceHumectantPh adjusterSkin-conditioning agent -humectantSkin conditioningBuffering agent Bad for Sensitive Skin
Allantoin
Skin conditioning, Skin protecting
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 CIR A Skin conditioningSkin protectingSoothing Good for Oily SkinGood for Sensitive Skin
Panthenol
Antistatic agent, Hair conditioning
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 CIR A Antistatic agentHair conditioningSkin conditioning Good for Dry Skin
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial, Antioxidant
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 CIR B AntimicrobialAntioxidantAstringentEmollientHumectantMaskingOral care agentSkin conditioningSkin protectingTonicUv absorber 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
Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin conditioning, Humectant
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 CIR A Skin conditioningHumectant Good for Dry Skin
Cyclomethicone
Antistatic agent, Emollient
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 2 CIR A Antistatic agentEmollientHair conditioningHumectantSolventViscosity controlling Silicone
Cyclopentasiloxane
Hair conditioning, Skin conditioning
Low-to-moderate hazard.Read moreShow less
EWG 3 CIR A Hair conditioningSkin conditioningEmollientSolvent Silicone
Dimethicone
Antifoaming agent, Skin protecting
Low-to-moderate hazard.Read moreShow less
EWG 3 CIR A Antifoaming agentSkin protectingEmollientSkin conditioning Silicone
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying, Surfactant
Low-to-moderate hazard.Read moreShow less
EWG 3 CIR B EmulsifyingSurfactant Fungal-acne trigger
Butylene Glycol
Fragrance, Skin conditioning
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 CIR A FragranceSkin conditioningSolventViscositydecreasing agentHumectantMaskingViscosity controlling Good for Dry Skin
Sodium PCA
Hair conditioning, Humectant
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 CIR B Hair conditioningHumectantAntistatic agentSkin conditioning Good for Dry 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.
  • 2 Wear SPF the next day: Acids and retinoids increase sun sensitivity — daily sunscreen is a must while using this.

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

Trust & honesty

Officially notified as a cosmetic in Malaysia (NPRA). Government registration record.

Pregnancy & breastfeeding

Contains ingredients some choose to avoid or double-check while pregnant or nursing.

Use with caution
BHA (salicylic) (Capryloyl Salicylic Acid)

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.

Effective levels — general guide

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

Niacinamide 2–5% (up to 10%)

Most research uses 2–5%; some formulas go to 10%. Very high levels can cause flushing in sensitive skin.

Niacinamide

BHA (salicylic) 0.5–2%

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.

Capryloyl Salicylic Acid

AHA (acid exfoliant) 5–10% (OTC)

OTC leave-on AHAs are usually 5–10%. The effect also depends on pH and free-acid value, not the percentage alone.

Mandelic Acid, Lactic 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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