Superactive Moisturiser SPF 40
The Murad Superactive Moisturiser SPF 40 is a moisturizer. Our analysis of its 62 ingredients (48 low-risk) rates it Excellent (95/100). Based on its ingredients, it looks well-suited to dry skin. Heads up: it contains fragrance, which can irritate sensitive or reactive skin.
The Murad Superactive Moisturiser SPF 40 is a moisturizer. Our analysis of its 62 ingredients (48 low-risk) rates it Excellent (95/100). Based on its ingredients, it looks well-suited to dry skin. Heads up: it contains fragrance, which can irritate sensitive or reactive skin.
Summarised from our ingredient analysis — not brand marketing copy.
The evidence
| EWG | CIR | Ingredient Name & Cosmetic Functions | Notes |
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Water
(Solvent) |
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Tapioca Starch
(Viscosity Increasing Agent) |
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Octocrylene
(Sunscreen Agent, Uv Absorber, Uv Filter) |
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Homosalate
(Fragrance, Sunscreen Agent, Uv Absorber, Skin Conditioning, Uv Filter) |
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Ethylhexyl Salicylate
(Uv Absorber, Uv Filter) |
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Polysilicone-11
(Film Forming) |
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Propanediol
(Solvent, Viscosity Decreasing Agent, Viscosity Controlling) |
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Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
(Uv Absorber, Uv Filter) |
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Butyloctyl Salicylate
(Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, 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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Pentylene Glycol
(Skin Conditioning, Solvent) |
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Propanediol Dicaprylate
(Emollient, Solvent) |
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Amylopectin
(Binding Agent, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Binding, Viscosity Controlling) |
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Coconut Alkanes
(Emollient, Solvent) |
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Cetearyl Alcohol
(Emulsion Stabilising, Opacifying, Foam Boosting, Viscosity Increasingagent Aqueous, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Emollient, Emulsifying, Viscosity Controlling) |
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PEG-100 Stearate
(Surfactant) |
Fungal Acne Trigger
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Glyceryl Stearate
(Emollient, Emulsifying) |
Fungal Acne Trigger
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Butyl Avocadate
(Skin Conditioning) |
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Capryloyl Salicylic Acid
(Skin Conditioning) |
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Coco-glucoside
(Cleansing, Foaming, Surfactant) |
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Urea
(Buffering Agent, Humectant, Antistatic Agent, Skin Conditioning) |
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Yeast Amino Acids
(Humectant) |
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Trehalose
(Flavoring Agent, Humectant, Moisturising) |
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Inositol
(Antistatic Agent, Hair Conditioning, Humectant) |
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Taurine
(Fragrance, Buffering Agent) |
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Betaine
(Hair Conditioning, Humectant, Antistatic Agent, Skin Conditioning, Viscosity Controlling) |
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PERSEA GRATISSIMA OIL
(Skin Conditioning) |
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Xylitylglucoside
(Humectant, Skin Conditioning) |
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Anhydroxylitol
(Humectant, Skin Conditioning) |
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Bisabolol
(Fragrance, Skin Conditioning, Soothing) |
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Allantoin
(Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting, Soothing) |
Good for Oily Skin
Good for Sensitive Skin
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Amylose
(Humectant) |
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Xylitol
(Flavoring Agent, Humectant, Skin Conditioning) |
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Zinc Gluconate
(Cosmetic Biocide, Skin Conditioning, Deodorant) |
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Aminomethyl Propanol
(Ph Adjuster, Buffering Agent) |
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Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil
(Viscosity Increasing Agent, Emollient, Skin Conditioning) |
Bad for Oily Skin
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TOCOPHEROL
(Antioxidant, Fragrance, Skin Conditioning) |
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Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
(Emulsion Stabilising, Viscosity Controlling) |
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Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
(Emollient, Skin Conditioning) |
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Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
(Emollient, Masking, Perfuming, Skin Conditioning, Solvent) |
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Ethylhexylglycerin
(Deodorant, Skin Conditioning) |
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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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Laureth-12
(Emulsifying, Surfactant) |
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Cellulose
(Absorbent, Bulking Agent, Slip Modifier, Opacifying, Viscosity Controlling) |
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Cellulose Gum
(Binding Agent, Emulsion Stabilising, Film Forming, Fragrance, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Binding, Masking, Viscosity Controlling) |
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Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
(Chelating Agent) |
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Citric Acid
(Chelating Agent, Fragrance, Ph Adjuster, Buffering Agent, Masking) |
Bad for Sensitive Skin
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Glucose
(Flavoring Agent, Humectant, Skin Conditioning Agent Miscellaneous) |
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Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
(Antidandruff Agent, Antimicrobial) |
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Phenoxyethanol
(Fragrance, Preservative) |
Paraben
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Chlorphenesin
(Cosmetic Biocide, Antimicrobial, Preservative) |
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Sodium Benzoate
(Fragrance, Preservative, Anticorrosive, Masking) |
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Potassium Sorbate
(Fragrance, Preservative) |
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Citrus Aurantium Amara Peel Oil
(Skin Conditioning) |
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Limonene
(Deodorant, Perfuming, Solvent) |
Allergens
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Linalool
(Fragrance, Deodorant, Masking) |
Allergens
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Dimethyl Phenylethyl Carbinyl Acetate
(Perfuming) |
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Linalyl Acetate
(Fragrance, Masking) |
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Citral
(Flavoring Agent, Fragrance, Masking) |
Allergens
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Pinene
(Antifoaming, Fragrance) |
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PARFUM
(Fragrance, Perfuming) |
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CI 77492
(Colorant, Cosmetic Colorant) |
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.
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.
The concentrations these actives are typically effective at in research — not a measurement of this product.
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
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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