Murad Oil-Control Mattifier SPF 15 Pa++
75/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
Murad Oil-Control Mattifier is an SPF 15 face product that pairs an older-generation chemical filter, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, with mineral Zinc Oxide and Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid. It is designed to control shine with a balanced finish, stays lightweight, and keeps white cast low. It does not commonly sting the eyes and is generally low for pore-clogging concerns. With only good (not high) protection at SPF 15 and a score of 75.0/100, it is best suited as a mattifying daily layer rather than a primary sun defense.
Ingredient & SPF scores
βοΈ
UV protection
Good
62
- +18 Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate at #1, UV filter
- +41 Zinc Oxide at #2, UV filter (UVA1 +18)
- +14 Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid at #3, UV filter
- β11 UVB coverage saturated
β’οΈ
Health safety
Medium
57
- +100 Starting score
- β36 Octinoxate at #1 (regulatory/evidence concern)
- β7 Retinyl Palmitate at #15, disputed vitamin-A sunlight signal, under review
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White cast
Low
92
- +100 Starting score
- β6 Zinc Oxide, 3% declared
- β2 Titanium Dioxide as pigment (CI 77891) at #53
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Eye sting
Low
77
- +100 Starting score
- β16 Octinoxate at #1, migrates into eyes with sweat
- β7 Ensulizole at #3, migrates into eyes with sweat
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Heavy feel
Low
94
- +100 Starting score
- β8 Zinc Oxide, 3% declared
- +2 Volatile silicone at #5, flashes off
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Fungal acne
Low
91
- +100 Starting score
- β9 1 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (Polyglyceryl-2 Dipolyhydroxystearate)
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Fabric stains
Low
85
- +100 Starting score
- β15 Zinc Oxide at #2, white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
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Moisture
Balanced
LightNourishing
- β 3 2 sebum-absorbing powders (Aluminium Starch Octenylsuccinate, Corn Starch Modified)
- β 5 Volatile carriers flash off, leaving a dry finish
- β 5 Zinc Oxide at #2, mild sebum absorbent
- β 8 5 strong humectants (Panthenol, Betaine, Urea, β¦)
β¨
Finish
Balanced
MatteDewy
- β 2 2 sebum-absorbing powders (Aluminium Starch Octenylsuccinate, Corn Starch Modified)
- β 4 Volatile carriers flash off, leaving a dry finish
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Makeup base
Okay
PillsPrimer
- β 5 Primer-style base, volatile silicones and dimethicone slip
- β 8 1 velvet elastomer fillers, blur and grip
- β 0.5 Gel polymers prone to pilling under friction (Acrylates Crosspolymer)
- β 15 High mineral load at #2 greys under foundation
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Water resistance
Not resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant
- +3 1 film-forming polymers that lock the formula on for water resistance
Skincare extras
Beneficial actives this formula contains. Informational only, not part of the rating: their effect depends on a concentration the label does not disclose.
- β¨ Vitamin E
Full ingredient list (53)
What each ingredient does and how it moves each rating: green helps, red hurts, β / β give the direction, and β / β shift a slider toward its ends (finish, moisture, makeup base). Auto-derived from our scoring rules and the ingredient's position.
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Legacy UV filter (Octinoxate), high in the list, a primary filter
- β 18 UV protection
- β 16 migrates into eyes with sweat
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Mineral UV filter (Zinc Oxide), high in the list, a primary filter
- β 41 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- β 6 3% declared
- β 8 3% declared
- β 15 white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
- light β 5 mild sebum absorbent
- pills β 15 High mineral load greys under foundation
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Legacy UV filter (Ensulizole), high in the list, a primary filter
- β 14 UV protection
- β 7 migrates into eyes with sweat
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4 Water
Solvent base, the water phase
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Volatile silicone, flashes off for a light finish
- light β 5 volatile carrier, flashes off
- matte β 4 volatile carrier, flashes off
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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8 Urea
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 2 β nourishing humectant
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Protein, peptide or amino acid, conditions and hydrates skin
-
10 Trehalose
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 2 β nourishing humectant
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11 Inositol
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 2 β nourishing humectant
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12 Taurine
Protein, peptide or amino acid, conditions and hydrates skin
-
13 Betaine
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 1 β nourishing humectant
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- β 7 disputed vitamin-A sunlight signal, under review
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Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Supporting ingredient
-
Supporting ingredient
-
Botanical extract
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Botanical extract
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Botanical extract
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Botanical extract
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Protein, peptide or amino acid, conditions and hydrates skin
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27 Sarcosine
Protein, peptide or amino acid, conditions and hydrates skin
-
Botanical extract
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Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light β 1.5 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte β 1 sebum-absorbing powder
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Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
- β 3 film former
-
Supporting ingredient
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32 Tea Tree Oil
Plant oil, an emollient
-
Supporting ingredient
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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35 Niacinamide
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
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Botanical extract
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Botanical extract
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Botanical extract
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Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light β 1.5 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte β 1 sebum-absorbing powder
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Soothing, skin-conditioning active
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41 Panthenol
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
- 1 β nourishing humectant
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Chelator, binds stray metal ions to keep the formula stable
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43 Caffeine
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
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44 Xanthan Gum
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
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Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 9 feeds malassezia
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47 Biotin
Supporting ingredient
-
Botanical extract
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pH adjuster
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
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Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
Colorant or pigment
Is Murad Oil-Control Mattifier good for oily skin?
Yes, it is designed for shine control. It has a balanced, mattifying finish, stays lightweight, and rates low for pore-clogging, so it is generally well suited to oily skin.
What SPF does it offer?
It is SPF 15, which we rate as good rather than high protection. It is best used as a mattifying daily layer, with a higher-SPF sunscreen for longer sun exposure.
Is the Murad Oil-Control Mattifier SPF 15 Pa++ mineral or chemical?
It is a mix. It pairs an older-generation chemical filter, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, with mineral Zinc Oxide and Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid.