Anti-Aging Complex Emulsion Broad Spectrum SPF 30
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.
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.
Summarised from our ingredient analysis — not brand marketing copy.
The evidence
| EWG | CIR | Ingredient Name & Cosmetic Functions | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
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Homosalate
(Fragrance, Sunscreen Agent, Uv Absorber, Skin Conditioning, Uv Filter) |
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Benzophenone-5
(Uv Absorber, Uv Filter) |
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Ethylhexyl Salicylate
(Uv Absorber, Uv Filter) |
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Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
(Uv Absorber, Uv Filter) |
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Octocrylene
(Sunscreen Agent, Uv Absorber, Uv Filter) |
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Water
(Solvent) |
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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
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Ethoxydiglycol
(Fragrance, Solvent, Viscosity Decreasing Agent, Humectant, Perfuming) |
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Butylene Glycol
(Fragrance, Skin Conditioning, Solvent, Viscositydecreasing Agent, Humectant, Masking, Viscosity Controlling) |
Good for Dry Skin
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Cyclopentasiloxane
(Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Emollient, Solvent) |
Silicone
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Glycereth-26
(Humectant, Viscosity Decreasing Agent, Solvent, Viscosity Controlling) |
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Isostearyl Neopentanoate
(Binding Agent, Skin Conditioning, Emollient, Binding) |
Bad for Sensitive Skin
Bad for Oily Skin
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Alcohol Denat.
(Antifoaming Agent, Antimicrobial, Astringent, Masking, Solvent, Viscosity Controlling) |
Bad for Dry Skin
Bad for Sensitive Skin
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Nylon-12
(Bulking Agent, Opacifying, Viscosity Controlling) |
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Acetyl Octapeptide-3
(Humectant, Skin Conditioning) |
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Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38
(Skin Conditioning) |
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Acetylarginyltryptophyl Diphenylglycine
(Skin Conditioning) |
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Acetyl Tyrosine
(Skin Conditioning, Tanning) |
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Proline
(Fragrance, Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning) |
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Adenosine Triphosphate
(Skin Conditioning) |
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Hydrolyzed Malt Extract
(Skin Conditioning) |
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Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein
(Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Antistatic Agent) |
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Opuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract
(Skin Conditioning) |
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Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
(Antimicrobial, Antioxidant, Astringent, Emollient, Humectant, Masking, Oral Care Agent, Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting, Tonic, Uv Absorber) |
Good for Oily Skin
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Equisetum Arvense Extract
(Astringent, Emollient, Soothing, Tonic) |
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Panax Ginseng Root Extract
(Emollient, Hair Conditioning, Skin Protecting, Tonic) |
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Bisabolol
(Fragrance, Skin Conditioning, Soothing) |
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Tocopheryl Acetate
(Antioxidant, Skin Conditioning) |
Bad for Oily Skin
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Ascorbyl Palmitate
(Antioxidant, Masking) |
Fungal Acne Trigger
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Retinyl Palmitate
(Skin Conditioning, Skin Conditioning Miscellaneous) |
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Isononyl Isononanoate
(Skin Conditioning, Emollient, Antistatic Agent) |
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Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside
(Cleansing, Foaming, Surfactant) |
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Coco-glucoside
(Cleansing, Foaming, Surfactant) |
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Hydrogenated Lecithin
(Skin Conditioning, Emulsifying, Surfactant, Suspending Agent Nonsurfactant) |
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Glyceryl Stearate
(Emollient, Emulsifying) |
Fungal Acne Trigger
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PEG-100 Stearate
(Surfactant) |
Fungal Acne Trigger
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Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/VP Copolymer
(Viscosity Controlling) |
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Polymethyl Methacrylate
(Film Forming) |
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Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
(Anticaking Agent, Emulsion Stabilising, Opacifying, Suspending Agent Nonsurfactant, Viscosity Increasing Agent) |
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Xanthan Gum
(Binding Agent, Emulsion Stabilising, Skin Conditioning, Surfactant Emulsifying Agent, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Binding, Gel Forming, Viscosity Controlling) |
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Phospholipids
(Skin Conditioning) |
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Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin
(Chelating Agent, Emulsion Stabilising, Masking, Skin Conditioning) |
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Bis-Ethylhexyl Hydroxydimethoxy Benzylmalonate
(Antioxidant, Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting) |
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Caprylyl Glycol
(Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Emollient, Humectant) |
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Propylene Glycol
(Fragrance, Humectant, Skin Conditioningagent Miscellaneous, Solvent, Viscosity Decreasing Agent, Skin Conditioning, Viscosity Controlling) |
Good for Dry Skin
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Polyisobutene
(Binding Agent, Film Forming, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Binding, Viscosity Controlling) |
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Coconut Alcohol
(Emulsion Stabilising, Foam Boosting, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Emollient, Emulsifying, Stabilising, Viscosity Controlling) |
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Silica
(Abrasive, Absorbent, Anticaking Agent, Bulking Agent, Opacifying, Viscosity Controlling) |
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Tetrasodium EDTA
(Chelating Agent) |
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BHT
(Antioxidant, Fragrance, Masking) |
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Phenoxyethanol
(Fragrance, Preservative) |
Paraben
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Methylisothiazolinone
(Preservative) |
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Mica
(Cosmetic Colorant, Opacifying) |
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.
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.
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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