Anti-Aging Complex Emulsion Broad Spectrum SPF 30

Merle Norman

Anti-Aging Complex Emulsion Broad Spectrum SPF 30

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About this product

The Merle Norman Anti-Aging Complex Emulsion Broad Spectrum SPF 30 is a moisturizer. Our analysis of its 53 ingredients (43 low-risk) rates it Excellent (93/100). Based on its ingredients, it looks well-suited to oily / acne-prone and dry skin.

Vegan-friendly

Summarised from our ingredient analysis — not brand marketing copy.

At a glance

Type
Moisturizers
Ingredients
53
Low-risk
43
Fragrance
Fragrance-free
Origin
United States
SPF
30 · blocks 96.7% UVB

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 15/11
Good for dry skin
Glycereth-26 Glyceryl Stearate Equisetum Arvense Extract Acetyl Octapeptide-3 Ethoxydiglycol Isononyl Isononanoate Isostearyl Neopentanoate Panax Ginseng Root Extract Caprylyl Glycol Butylene Glycol Glycerin Propylene Glycol Coconut Alcohol Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract Cyclopentasiloxane
Caution for dry skin
Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer Equisetum Arvense Extract Xanthan Gum Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside Glycerin Coco-glucoside Hydrogenated Lecithin Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract PEG-100 Stearate Alcohol Denat. Silica
Oily/Acne-Prone Skin 3/0
Good for oily/acne-prone skin
Equisetum Arvense Extract Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract Alcohol Denat.
Sensitive Skin 8/13
Good for sensitive skin
Bis-Ethylhexyl Hydroxydimethoxy Benzylmalonate Equisetum Arvense Extract Ascorbyl Palmitate Panax Ginseng Root Extract Glycerin Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract Tocopheryl Acetate BHT
Caution for sensitive skin
Ascorbyl Palmitate Ethoxydiglycol Butylene Glycol Glycerin Propylene Glycol Proline Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract Alcohol Denat. Phenoxyethanol Homosalate BHT Methylisothiazolinone

Ingredients list

53 total
Lower hazard (1) Higher hazard (7)
All53 Skin Conditioning39 Viscosity Controlling10 Humectant10 Fragrance9 Emollient9 Solvent8 Uv Absorber7 Masking6
EWG CIR Ingredient Name & Cosmetic Functions Notes
4
Homosalate
(Fragrance, Sunscreen Agent, Uv Absorber, Skin Conditioning, Uv Filter)
4
A
Benzophenone-5
(Uv Absorber, Uv Filter)
4
Ethylhexyl Salicylate
(Uv Absorber, Uv Filter)
2
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
(Uv Absorber, Uv Filter)
3
Octocrylene
(Sunscreen Agent, Uv Absorber, Uv Filter)
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
Good for Dry Skin
Fungal Acne
Fungal Acne Trigger
1
A
Ethoxydiglycol
(Fragrance, Solvent, Viscosity Decreasing Agent, Humectant, Perfuming)
1
A
Butylene Glycol
(Fragrance, Skin Conditioning, Solvent, Viscositydecreasing Agent, Humectant, Masking, Viscosity Controlling)
Good for Dry Skin
Good for Dry Skin
3
A
Cyclopentasiloxane
(Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Emollient, Solvent)
Silicone
Silicone
1
Glycereth-26
(Humectant, Viscosity Decreasing Agent, Solvent, Viscosity Controlling)
1
B
Isostearyl Neopentanoate
(Binding Agent, Skin Conditioning, Emollient, Binding)
Bad for Sensitive Skin
Bad for Sensitive Skin
Bad for Oily Skin
Bad for Oily Skin
4
Alcohol Denat.
(Antifoaming Agent, Antimicrobial, Astringent, Masking, Solvent, Viscosity Controlling)
Bad for Dry Skin
Bad for Dry Skin
Bad for Sensitive Skin
Bad for Sensitive Skin
1
A
Nylon-12
(Bulking Agent, Opacifying, Viscosity Controlling)
1
Acetyl Octapeptide-3
(Humectant, Skin Conditioning)
1
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38
(Skin Conditioning)
Acetylarginyltryptophyl Diphenylglycine
(Skin Conditioning)
1
Acetyl Tyrosine
(Skin Conditioning, Tanning)
1
A
Proline
(Fragrance, Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning)
1
Adenosine Triphosphate
(Skin Conditioning)
1
Hydrolyzed Malt Extract
(Skin Conditioning)
1
Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein
(Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Antistatic Agent)
1
Opuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract
(Skin Conditioning)
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
Equisetum Arvense Extract
(Astringent, Emollient, Soothing, Tonic)
1
A
Panax Ginseng Root Extract
(Emollient, Hair Conditioning, Skin Protecting, Tonic)
Bisabolol
(Fragrance, Skin Conditioning, Soothing)
3
Tocopheryl Acetate
(Antioxidant, Skin Conditioning)
Bad for Oily Skin
Bad for Oily Skin
1
A
Ascorbyl Palmitate
(Antioxidant, Masking)
Fungal Acne
Fungal Acne Trigger
Retinyl Palmitate
(Skin Conditioning, Skin Conditioning Miscellaneous)
1
B
Isononyl Isononanoate
(Skin Conditioning, Emollient, Antistatic Agent)
1
Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside
(Cleansing, Foaming, Surfactant)
1
B
Coco-glucoside
(Cleansing, Foaming, Surfactant)
2
A
Hydrogenated Lecithin
(Skin Conditioning, Emulsifying, Surfactant, Suspending Agent Nonsurfactant)
1
A
Glyceryl Stearate
(Emollient, Emulsifying)
Fungal Acne
Fungal Acne Trigger
3
A
PEG-100 Stearate
(Surfactant)
Fungal Acne
Fungal Acne Trigger
1
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/VP Copolymer
(Viscosity Controlling)
1
A
Polymethyl Methacrylate
(Film Forming)
1
Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
(Anticaking Agent, Emulsion Stabilising, Opacifying, Suspending Agent Nonsurfactant, Viscosity Increasing Agent)
1
A
Xanthan Gum
(Binding Agent, Emulsion Stabilising, Skin Conditioning, Surfactant Emulsifying Agent, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Binding, Gel Forming, Viscosity Controlling)
1
A
Phospholipids
(Skin Conditioning)
1
A
Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin
(Chelating Agent, Emulsion Stabilising, Masking, Skin Conditioning)
1
Bis-Ethylhexyl Hydroxydimethoxy Benzylmalonate
(Antioxidant, Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting)
1
A
Caprylyl Glycol
(Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Emollient, Humectant)
3
B
Propylene Glycol
(Fragrance, Humectant, Skin Conditioningagent Miscellaneous, Solvent, Viscosity Decreasing Agent, Skin Conditioning, Viscosity Controlling)
Good for Dry Skin
Good for Dry Skin
1
A
Polyisobutene
(Binding Agent, Film Forming, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Binding, Viscosity Controlling)
1
A
Coconut Alcohol
(Emulsion Stabilising, Foam Boosting, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Emollient, Emulsifying, Stabilising, Viscosity Controlling)
1
2
A
Silica
(Abrasive, Absorbent, Anticaking Agent, Bulking Agent, Opacifying, Viscosity Controlling)
2
A
Tetrasodium EDTA
(Chelating Agent)
6
A
BHT
(Antioxidant, Fragrance, Masking)
4
A
Phenoxyethanol
(Fragrance, Preservative)
Paraben
Paraben
7
B
Methylisothiazolinone
(Preservative)
2
Mica
(Cosmetic Colorant, Opacifying)

My Ingredient Notes

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Key ingredients

Homosalate
Uv Absorber, Skin Conditioning
Benzophenone-5
Uv Absorber, Uv Filter
Ethylhexyl Salicylate
Uv Absorber, Uv Filter
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
Uv Absorber, Uv Filter
Octocrylene
Uv Absorber, Uv Filter
Glycerin
Humectant, Skin Protecting

Benefits

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

Concerns

Contains paraben
Contains silicone
Not fungal acne (malassezia) safe
Methylisothiazolinone — higher EWG
May not suit sensitive skin

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 →

Ingredients explained

Homosalate
Fragrance, Sunscreen agent
Low-to-moderate hazard.Read moreShow less
EWG 4 FragranceSunscreen agentUv absorberSkin conditioningUv filter
Benzophenone-5
Uv absorber, Uv filter
Low-to-moderate hazard.Read moreShow less
EWG 4 CIR A Uv absorberUv filter
Ethylhexyl Salicylate
Uv absorber, Uv filter
Low-to-moderate hazard.Read moreShow less
EWG 4 Uv absorberUv filter
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
Uv absorber, Uv filter
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 2 Uv absorberUv filter
Octocrylene
Sunscreen agent, Uv absorber
Low-to-moderate hazard.Read moreShow less
EWG 3 Sunscreen agentUv absorberUv filter
Water
Solvent
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 Solvent
Ethoxydiglycol
Fragrance, Solvent
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 CIR A FragranceSolventViscosity decreasing agentHumectantPerfuming
Glycereth-26
Humectant, Viscosity decreasing agent
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 HumectantViscosity decreasing agentSolventViscosity controlling
Nylon-12
Bulking agent, Opacifying
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 CIR A Bulking agentOpacifyingViscosity controlling
Acetyl Octapeptide-3
Humectant, Skin conditioning
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 HumectantSkin conditioning
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38
Skin conditioning
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 Skin conditioning
Acetylarginyltryptophyl Diphenylglycine
Skin conditioning
Limited public safety data.Read moreShow less
EWG N/A Skin conditioning
Acetyl Tyrosine
Skin conditioning, Tanning
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 Skin conditioningTanning
Proline
Fragrance, Hair conditioning
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 CIR A FragranceHair conditioningSkin conditioning
Adenosine Triphosphate
Skin conditioning
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 Skin conditioning
+ 24 more — see the full ingredients list above
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
Butylene Glycol
Fragrance, Skin conditioning
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 CIR A FragranceSkin conditioningSolventViscositydecreasing agentHumectantMaskingViscosity controlling Good for Dry Skin
Cyclopentasiloxane
Hair conditioning, Skin conditioning
Low-to-moderate hazard.Read moreShow less
EWG 3 CIR A Hair conditioningSkin conditioningEmollientSolvent Silicone
Isostearyl Neopentanoate
Binding agent, Skin conditioning
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 CIR B Binding agentSkin conditioningEmollientBinding Bad for Sensitive SkinBad for Oily Skin
Alcohol Denat.
Antifoaming agent, Antimicrobial
Causes moisture evaporation - prone to dry out skinRead moreShow less
EWG 4 Antifoaming agentAntimicrobialAstringentMaskingSolventViscosity controlling Bad for Dry SkinBad for Sensitive 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
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant, Skin conditioning
Potentially comedogenic - can block poresRead moreShow less
EWG 3 AntioxidantSkin conditioning Bad for Oily Skin
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant, Masking
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 CIR A AntioxidantMasking Fungal-acne trigger
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient, Emulsifying
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 CIR A EmollientEmulsifying Fungal-acne trigger
PEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
Low-to-moderate hazard.Read moreShow less
EWG 3 CIR A Surfactant Fungal-acne trigger
Propylene Glycol
Fragrance, Humectant
Low-to-moderate hazard.Read moreShow less
EWG 3 CIR B FragranceHumectantSkin-conditioningagent - miscellaneousSolventViscosity decreasing agentSkin conditioningViscosity controlling Good for Dry Skin
BHT
Antioxidant, Fragrance
Moderate-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 6 CIR A AntioxidantFragranceMasking
Phenoxyethanol
Fragrance, Preservative
Low-to-moderate hazard.Read moreShow less
EWG 4 CIR A FragrancePreservative Paraben
Methylisothiazolinone
Preservative
Higher-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 7 CIR B Preservative

How to use

How to use

  • 1 Where it fits: Apply near the end of your routine, after thinner serums.
  • 2 Morning only: Apply as the last step of your AM routine, after moisturiser, and reapply every ~2 hours of sun exposure.
  • 3 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

Pregnancy & breastfeeding

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

Often avoided
Retinoids (Vitamin A) (Retinyl Palmitate)

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.

Effective levels — general guide

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

Retinoids (Vitamin A) 0.01–1%

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

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 Palmitate

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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