Murad Superactive Moisturizer SPF 50: Brightening
63/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
Murad Superactive Moisturizer SPF 50 Brightening is a chemical sunscreen on an older-generation filter set, combining homosalate, octocrylene and butyl methoxydibenzoylmethane with titanium dioxide. It keeps white cast low with a balanced, lightweight finish and is generally low in pore-clogging risk, though it may sting somewhat near the eyes and is only an okay makeup base. With good protection and a score of 63.4/100, it is a moderate daily moisturizer with sun protection built in.
Ingredient & SPF scores
βοΈ
UV protection
Good
66
- +30 Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane at #1, UV filter (UVA1 +16)
- +12 Homosalate at #2, UV filter
- +8 Ethylhexyl Salicylate at #3, UV filter
- +15.2 Octocrylene at #4, UV filter
- +9.9 Titanium Dioxide at #40, UV filter (UVA1 +1.5)
- β4.2 UVB coverage saturated
- Γ0.9 Limited long-UVA1 coverage
- +2 Label claims (SPF 50)
β’οΈ
Health safety
Medium
46
- +100 Starting score
- β40 Homosalate at #2 (regulatory/evidence concern)
- β10.5 Octocrylene at #4, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- β3.5 Avobenzone at #1, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
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Allergens
Medium
59
- +100 Starting score
- β18 Fragrance
- β1 1 declared fragrance allergens
- β11 Opaque "Fragrance", hidden allergens that can't be checked from the label
- β2 Essential oils (Citrus Sinensis Oil)
- β3 Photoallergen-tail UV filters (Octocrylene)
- β6 Sensitizers from 3 different categories
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White cast
Low
97
- +100 Starting score
- β6 Titanium Dioxide at #40
- +3 Iron-oxide undertone, partial masking
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Eye sting
Medium
33
- +100 Starting score
- β24 Avobenzone at #1, migrates into eyes with sweat
- β15 Octocrylene at #4, migrates into eyes with sweat
- β9 Homosalate at #2, migrates into eyes with sweat
- β9 Octisalate at #3, migrates into eyes with sweat
- β8 Fragrance
- β2 1 declared fragrance allergens
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Heavy feel
Low
96
- +100 Starting score
- β2 Titanium Dioxide at #40
- β2 Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil at #26, butter/occlusive fat
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Comedogenic
Low
93
- +100 Starting score
- β1 Persea Gratissima Oil at #25, moderate comedogenic signal
- β1 Myristic Acid at #41, moderate comedogenic signal
- β1 Lauric Acid at #42, moderate comedogenic signal
- β4 Palmitic Acid at #11, moderate comedogenic signal
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Fungal acne
Medium
42
- +100 Starting score
- β24 2 free fatty acids that feed Malassezia (Lauric Acid, Myristic Acid)
- β9 1 oils/butters that feed Malassezia (Persea Gratissima Oil)
- β14 1 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (Glyceryl Stearate)
- β11 4 ubiquitous fatty ingredients (Stearic Acid, Palmitic Acid, Arachidic Acid), weak Malassezia signal
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Fabric stains
High
0
- +100 Starting score
- β50 Avobenzone at #1, reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
- β15 Octocrylene at #4, co-stains alongside avobenzone
- β10 Avobenzone + Octocrylene, the classic staining pair
- β40 Iron-oxide pigments at #49, makeup-like collar marks (washable)
- β2 Titanium Dioxide at #40, white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
- +17 Penalties exceed the scale, floored at 0
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Moisture
Hydrating
LightNourishing
- β 6 6 strong humectants (Panthenol, Betaine, Sodium PCA, β¦)
- β 1 Humectant polyols
- β 1 1 emollient lipids (Persea Gratissima Oil)
- β 0.5 1 fatty-alcohol emollients (Cetearyl Alcohol)
β¨
Finish
Balanced
MatteDewy
- β 1 1 emollient lipids (Persea Gratissima Oil)
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Makeup base
Okay
PillsPrimer
Nothing flagged in the ingredient list.
How we rate makeup base β
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Water resistance
Not resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant
Nothing flagged in the ingredient list.
How we rate water resistance βSkincare 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 C
Full ingredient list (49)
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 (Avobenzone), high in the list, a primary filter
- β 30 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- β 3.5 stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- β 24 migrates into eyes with sweat
- β 50 reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
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Legacy UV filter (Homosalate), high in the list, a primary filter
- β 12 UV protection
- β 9 migrates into eyes with sweat
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Legacy UV filter (Octisalate), high in the list, a primary filter
- β 8 UV protection
- β 9 migrates into eyes with sweat
-
Legacy UV filter (Octocrylene)
- β 15.2 UV protection
- β 10.5 stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- β 15 migrates into eyes with sweat
- β 15 co-stains alongside avobenzone
-
5 Water
Solvent base, the water phase
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 1 β nourishing humectant polyol
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 14 feeds malassezia
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- β 4 moderate comedogenic signal
- β 5 minor malassezia feeder
-
Fatty alcohol, an emollient and thickener, not the drying kind
- 0.5 β nourishing fatty-alcohol emollient
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 2 minor malassezia feeder
-
14 Stearic Acid
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- β 2 minor malassezia feeder
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
-
16 Urea
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 1 β nourishing humectant
-
Protein, peptide or amino acid, conditions and hydrates skin
-
18 Trehalose
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 1 β nourishing humectant
-
19 Inositol
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 1 β nourishing humectant
-
20 Taurine
Protein, peptide or amino acid, conditions and hydrates skin
-
21 Betaine
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 1 β nourishing humectant
-
22 Panthenol
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
- 1 β nourishing humectant
-
23 Sodium PCA
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 1 β nourishing humectant
-
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Plant oil, an emollient
- β 1 moderate comedogenic signal
- 1 β nourishing emollient lipid
- 1 β dewy emollient lipid
- β 9 feeds malassezia
-
Plant oil, an emollient
- β 2 butter/occlusive fat
-
27 Tocopherol
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
28 Xanthan Gum
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
30 Cellulose
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Chelator, binds stray metal ions to keep the formula stable
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Chelator, binds stray metal ions to keep the formula stable
-
pH adjuster
-
pH adjuster
-
38 Citric Acid
pH adjuster
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- β 2 minor malassezia feeder
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Mineral UV filter (Titanium Dioxide), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- β 9.9 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- β 2 white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- β 1 moderate comedogenic signal
- β 12 feeds malassezia
-
42 Lauric Acid
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- β 1 moderate comedogenic signal
- β 12 feeds malassezia
-
Botanical extract
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
46 Limonene
Fragrance component, a declared allergen
-
Plant oil, an emollient
-
48 Fragrance
Fragrance
-
49 Iron Oxides
Colorant or pigment
- β 40 makeup-like collar marks (washable)
Does Murad Superactive Moisturizer leave a white cast?
No, it keeps white cast low with a balanced, lightweight finish. It is mostly chemical with a touch of titanium dioxide.
Is the Murad Superactive Moisturizer SPF 50: Brightening mineral or chemical sunscreen?
It is primarily chemical, using homosalate, octocrylene and butyl methoxydibenzoylmethane, with titanium dioxide added. The filters are older-generation.
Is this Murad SPF 50 moisturizer good?
It scores 63.4/100 with good protection, a moderate result. It is generally low in pore-clogging risk but only an okay base under makeup and may sting somewhat near the eyes.