Anti-Redness Foaming Cleanser

Merle Norman

Where to buy Possibly in stock

About this product

The Merle Norman Anti-Redness Foaming Cleanser is a cleanser. Our analysis of its 53 ingredients (31 low-risk) rates it Excellent (97/100). Based on its ingredients, it looks well-suited to oily / acne-prone and dry skin.

Vegan-friendly Reef-safe

Summarised from our ingredient analysis — not brand marketing copy.

At a glance

Type
Cleansers
Ingredients
53
Low-risk
31
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

PH Level

(Know the PH? Submit it here! )

N/A - No submissions yet

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 10/8
Good for dry skin
Inositol Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride Butylene Glycol Sodium PCA Glycerin Fructose Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract Sodium Lactate Urea Lactic Acid
Caution for dry skin
Decyl Glucoside Rosa Canina Flower Extract Xanthan Gum Glycerin PPG-2 Hydroxyethyl Coco/Isostearamide Cucumis Melo Cantalupensis Fruit Extract Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract Balanites Aegyptiaca Fruit Extract
Oily/Acne-Prone Skin 3/0
Good for oily/acne-prone skin
Rosa Canina Flower Extract Cucumis Melo Cantalupensis Fruit Extract Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Sensitive Skin 4/12
Good for sensitive skin
Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract Passiflora Incarnata Fruit Extract Glycerin Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Caution for sensitive skin
Glycine Menthyl Lactate Elettaria Cardamomum Seed Extract Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride Butylene Glycol Glycerin Citric Acid Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract Sodium Benzoate Lactic Acid Phenoxyethanol Cananga Odorata Flower Extract

Ingredients list

53 total
Lower hazard (1) Higher hazard (6)
All53 Skin Conditioning40 Humectant13 Fragrance12 Perfuming10 Hair Conditioning9 Masking6 Solvent5 Antistatic Agent5
EWG CIR Ingredient Name & Cosmetic Functions Notes
1
Water
(Solvent)
4
B
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
(Antistatic Agent, Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Sufactant, Foam Boosting, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Viscosity Controlling)
1
B
Decyl Glucoside
(Cleansing, Emulsion Stabilising, Surfactant)
1
A
Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate
(Hair Conditioning, Sufactant, Foam Boosting, Hydrotrope, Skin Conditioning)
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
Pentylene Glycol
(Skin Conditioning, Solvent)
1
PPG-2 Hydroxyethyl Coco/Isostearamide
(Surfactant)
1
Sea Whip Extract
(Skin Conditioning)
Chrysanthemum Parthenium Extract
(Skin Conditioning)
1
Acacia Concinna Fruit Extract
(Skin Conditioning)
1
Gypsophila Paniculata Root Extract
(Skin Conditioning)
1
Rosa Canina Flower Extract
(Astringent)
Ananas Sativus Fruit Extract
(Skin Conditioning)
Aniba Rosaeodora Wood Extract
(Fragrance, Perfuming)
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
Cananga Odorata Flower Extract
(Perfuming, Skin Conditioning)
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Extract
(Binding, Emulsion Stabilising, Perfuming, Skin Conditioning, Viscosity Controlling)
Citrus Grandis Seed Extract
(Astringent, Perfuming, Skin Conditioning, Tonic)
Citrus Limon Fruit Extract
(Fragrance, Skin Conditioning)
Cocos Nucifera Fruit Extract
(Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Skin Conditioning Emollient)
Coffea Arabica Leaf/Seed Extract
(Fragrance, Skin Conditioning)
1
Cucumis Melo Cantalupensis Fruit Extract
(Cosmetic Astringent, Skin Conditioning)
Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
(Skin Conditioning, Skin Conditioning Emollient)
1
Elettaria Cardamomum Seed Extract
(Perfuming, Tonic)
Jasminum Officinale Flower/Leaf Extract
(Fragrance, Moisturising, Perfuming, Skin Conditioning, Soothing)
1
Passiflora Incarnata Fruit Extract
(Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting)
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Protein
(Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning)
Balanites Aegyptiaca Fruit Extract
(Foam Boosting, Surfactant)
Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract
(Skin Conditioning)
Rubus Idaeus Fruit Extract
(Astringent, Keratolytic, Skin Conditioning, Smoothing, Tonic)
Santalum Album Wood Extract
(Perfuming, Skin Conditioning)
1
Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract
(Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting, Smoothing)
glycyrrhiza glabra root extract
(Bleaching, Perfuming, Skin Conditioning, Skin Conditioning Emollient, Smoothing, Soothing)
Prunus Armeniaca Fruit Extract
(Skin Conditioning)
1
B
Sodium PCA
(Hair Conditioning, Humectant, Antistatic Agent, Skin Conditioning)
Good for Dry Skin
Good for Dry Skin
1
A
Fructose
(Flavoring Agent, Humectant)
1
A
Glycine
(Buffering Agent, Fragrance, Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning Agent Miscellaneous, Antistatic Agent, Skin Conditioning)
1
Inositol
(Antistatic Agent, Hair Conditioning, Humectant)
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
A
Niacinamide
(Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Smoothing)
3
A
Urea
(Buffering Agent, Humectant, Antistatic Agent, Skin Conditioning)
1
A
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
(Emollient, Masking, Perfuming, Skin Conditioning, Solvent)
1
Menthyl Lactate
(Flavoring Agent, Fragrance, Masking, Refreshing)
1
A
Xanthan Gum
(Binding Agent, Emulsion Stabilising, Skin Conditioning, Surfactant Emulsifying Agent, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Binding, Gel Forming, Viscosity Controlling)
3
B
Sodium Lactate
(Buffering Agent, Exfoliant, Humectant, Keratolytic)
1
A
Butylene Glycol
(Fragrance, Skin Conditioning, Solvent, Viscositydecreasing Agent, Humectant, Masking, Viscosity Controlling)
Good for Dry Skin
Good for Dry Skin
1
A
Disodium EDTA
(Chelating Agent, Viscosity Controlling)
3
A
Sodium Benzoate
(Fragrance, Preservative, Anticorrosive, Masking)
2
A
Citric Acid
(Chelating Agent, Fragrance, Ph Adjuster, Buffering Agent, Masking)
Bad for Sensitive Skin
Bad for Sensitive Skin
4
A
Phenoxyethanol
(Fragrance, Preservative)
Paraben
Paraben
1
Tropolone
(Skin Conditioning)
6
B
Diazolidinyl Urea
(Preservative)
2
CI 42090
(Colorant, Cosmetic Colorant)

My Ingredient Notes

No personal ingredient notes yet. Save ingredients to your profile to get good/bad alerts here.

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Key ingredients

Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Skin Conditioning
Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant, Skin Protecting
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Sea Whip Extract
Skin Conditioning
Chrysanthemum Parthenium Extract
Skin Conditioning

Benefits

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

Concerns

Contains paraben
Not fungal acne (malassezia) safe
May not suit sensitive skin

Ingredients explained

Water
Solvent
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 Solvent
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Antistatic agent, Hair conditioning
Low-to-moderate hazard.Read moreShow less
EWG 4 CIR B Antistatic agentHair conditioningSkin conditioningSufactantFoam boostingViscosity increasing agentViscosity controlling
Decyl Glucoside
Cleansing, Emulsion stabilising
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 CIR B CleansingEmulsion stabilisingSurfactant
Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate
Hair conditioning, Sufactant
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 CIR A Hair conditioningSufactantFoam boostingHydrotropeSkin conditioning
Pentylene Glycol
Skin conditioning, Solvent
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 CIR A Skin conditioningSolvent
PPG-2 Hydroxyethyl Coco/Isostearamide
Surfactant
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 Surfactant
Sea Whip Extract
Skin conditioning
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 Skin conditioning
Chrysanthemum Parthenium Extract
Skin conditioning
Limited public safety data.Read moreShow less
EWG N/A Skin conditioning
Acacia Concinna Fruit Extract
Skin conditioning
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 Skin conditioning
Gypsophila Paniculata Root Extract
Skin conditioning
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 Skin conditioning
Rosa Canina Flower Extract
Astringent
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 Astringent
Ananas Sativus Fruit Extract
Skin conditioning
Limited public safety data.Read moreShow less
EWG N/A Skin conditioning
Aniba Rosaeodora Wood Extract
Fragrance, Perfuming
Limited public safety data.Read moreShow less
EWG N/A FragrancePerfuming
Cananga Odorata Flower Extract
Perfuming, Skin conditioning
Limited public safety data.Read moreShow less
EWG N/A PerfumingSkin conditioning
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Extract
Binding, Emulsion stabilising
Limited public safety data.Read moreShow less
EWG N/A BindingEmulsion stabilisingPerfumingSkin conditioningViscosity controlling
+ 30 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
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
Sodium PCA
Hair conditioning, Humectant
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 CIR B Hair conditioningHumectantAntistatic agentSkin conditioning Good for Dry Skin
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
Butylene Glycol
Fragrance, Skin conditioning
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 CIR A FragranceSkin conditioningSolventViscositydecreasing agentHumectantMaskingViscosity controlling Good for Dry Skin
Citric Acid
Chelating agent, Fragrance
Skin irritation can occur at high concentrationRead moreShow less
EWG 2 CIR A Chelating agentFragrancePh adjusterBuffering agentMasking Bad for Sensitive Skin
Phenoxyethanol
Fragrance, Preservative
Low-to-moderate hazard.Read moreShow less
EWG 4 CIR A FragrancePreservative Paraben
Diazolidinyl Urea
Preservative
Moderate-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 6 CIR B Preservative

How to use

How to use

  • 1 Where it fits: Use as the first step, on clean hands, before the rest of your routine.
  • 2 Morning only: Apply as the last step of your AM routine, after moisturiser, and reapply every ~2 hours of sun exposure.

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

Trust & honesty

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

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.

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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