ME
AGreat
Skintelligent Cleanser
The Merle Norman Skintelligent Cleanser is a cleanser. Our analysis of its 27 ingredients (23 low-risk) rates it Excellent (100/100). Based on its ingredients, it looks well-suited to sensitive skin. Heads up: it contains fragrance, which can irritate sensitive or reactive skin.
The Merle Norman Skintelligent Cleanser is a cleanser. Our analysis of its 27 ingredients (23 low-risk) rates it Excellent (100/100). Based on its ingredients, it looks well-suited to sensitive skin. Heads up: it contains fragrance, which can irritate sensitive or reactive skin.
Summarised from our ingredient analysis — not brand marketing copy.
The evidence
Dry Skin
4/7
Oily/Acne-Prone Skin
No data
Sensitive Skin
6/4
| EWG | CIR | Ingredient Name & Cosmetic Functions | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
1
|
|
Water
(Solvent) |
|
|
1
|
B
|
Decyl Glucoside
(Cleansing, Emulsion Stabilising, Surfactant) |
|
|
|
Phytelephas Aequatorialis Seed Powder
(Not Reported) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
Methyl Gluceth-20
(Humectant, Moisturising) |
|
|
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
|
Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate
(Hair Conditioning, Sufactant, Foam Boosting, Hydrotrope, Skin Conditioning) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
1,2-Hexanediol
(Solvent) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
Lactose
(Humectant, Skin Conditioning) |
|
|
1
|
|
Mannitol
(Binding Agent, Flavoring Agent, Humectant, Binding, Masking, Moisturising, Skin Conditioning) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
Cellulose
(Absorbent, Bulking Agent, Slip Modifier, Opacifying, Viscosity Controlling) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
Ascorbyl Palmitate
(Antioxidant, Masking) |
Fungal Acne Trigger
|
|
|
|
Retinyl Palmitate
(Skin Conditioning, Skin Conditioning Miscellaneous) |
|
|
3
|
|
Tocopheryl Acetate
(Antioxidant, Skin Conditioning) |
Bad for Oily Skin
|
|
1
|
A
|
Triethyl Citrate
(Fragrance, Plasticizer, Antioxidant, Deodorant, Masking, Solvent) |
|
|
2
|
|
Mica
(Cosmetic Colorant, Opacifying) |
|
|
2
|
B
|
Acrylates/Ammonium Methacrylate Copolymer
(Antistatic Agent, Film Forming) |
|
|
1
|
|
Hydroxyacetophenone
(Antioxidant) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
Microcrystalline Cellulose
(Abrasive, Absorbent, Anticaking Agent, Bulking Agent, Emulsion Stabilising, Slip Modifier, Viscosity Increasing Agent) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose
(Adhesive, Binding Agent, Emulsion Stabilising, Film Forming, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Antistatic Agent, Binding, Surfactant, Viscosity Controlling) |
|
|
1
|
|
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
(Emulsion Stabilising, Film Forming, Viscosity Controlling) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
Xanthan Gum
(Binding Agent, Emulsion Stabilising, Skin Conditioning, Surfactant Emulsifying Agent, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Binding, Gel Forming, Viscosity Controlling) |
|
|
3
|
A
|
Aminomethyl Propanol
(Ph Adjuster, Buffering Agent) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
Disodium EDTA
(Chelating Agent, Viscosity Controlling) |
|
|
|
|
PARFUM
(Fragrance, Perfuming) |
|
|
3
|
A
|
Talc
(Abrasive, Absorbent, Anticaking Agent, Bulking Agent, Opacifying, Skin Protecting, Slip Modifier) |
|
|
2
|
|
Iron Oxides
(Colorant, Cosmetic Colorant) |
|
|
|
|
CI 77891
(Colorant) |
No personal ingredient notes yet. Save ingredients to your profile to get good/bad alerts here.
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.
From the community
Used this product? Rate it in 10 seconds
Alternatives
