Murad Superactive Moisturizer SPF 50: Mattifying Oil + Pore Control
63/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
Murad Superactive Moisturizer SPF 50 is a chemical sunscreen on an older filter system: avobenzone, homosalate, a salicylate and octocrylene. It generally feels balanced and lightweight with a low white cast and works well under makeup, though it may sting sensitive eyes more. With good protection and a score of 63.3/100, it is a reasonable moisturizing daily option.
Ingredient & SPF scores
βοΈ
UV protection
Good
61
- +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
- 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
- β5 3 declared fragrance allergens
- β7 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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Eye sting
High
29
- +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
- β6 3 declared fragrance allergens
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Heavy feel
Low
98
- +100 Starting score
- β2 Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil at #36, butter/occlusive fat
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Comedogenic
Low
99
- +100 Starting score
- β1 Persea Gratissima Oil at #27, moderate comedogenic signal
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Fungal acne
Medium
64
- +100 Starting score
- β9 1 oils/butters that feed Malassezia (Persea Gratissima Oil)
- β27 3 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (PEG-100 Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Laureth-12)
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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 #62, makeup-like collar marks (washable)
- +15 Penalties exceed the scale, floored at 0
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Moisture
Balanced
LightNourishing
- β 5 1 sebum-absorbing powders (Tapioca Starch)
- β 1 Volatile carriers flash off, leaving a dry finish
- β 4 Glycerin at #10, the anchor humectant
- β 4 4 strong humectants (Betaine, Urea, Trehalose, β¦)
- β 1 1 emollient lipids (Persea Gratissima Oil)
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Finish
Balanced
MatteDewy
- β 6 1 sebum-absorbing powders (Tapioca Starch)
- β 1 Volatile carriers flash off, leaving a dry finish
- β 1 1 emollient lipids (Persea Gratissima Oil)
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Makeup base
Good
PillsPrimer
- β 8 1 velvet elastomer fillers, blur and grip
- β 3 1 soft-focus powders in moderation
- β 0.5 Gel polymers prone to pilling under friction (Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6)
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Water resistance
Not resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant
Nothing flagged in the ingredient list.
How we rate water resistance βFull ingredient list (62)
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
-
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
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5 Water
Solvent base, the water phase
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Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light β 5 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte β 6 sebum-absorbing powder
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
10 Glycerin
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 4 β nourishing the anchor humectant
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
13 Amylopectin
Supporting ingredient
-
Volatile hydrocarbon, flashes off for a light finish
- light β 1 volatile carrier, flashes off
- matte β 1 volatile carrier, flashes off
-
Fatty alcohol, an emollient and thickener, not the drying kind
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 9 feeds malassezia
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 9 feeds malassezia
-
Supporting ingredient
-
Supporting ingredient
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
-
21 Urea
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 1 β nourishing humectant
-
Protein, peptide or amino acid, conditions and hydrates skin
-
23 Trehalose
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 1 β nourishing humectant
-
24 Inositol
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 1 β nourishing humectant
-
25 Taurine
Protein, peptide or amino acid, conditions and hydrates skin
-
26 Betaine
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 1 β nourishing humectant
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Plant oil, an emollient
- β 1 moderate comedogenic signal
- 1 β nourishing emollient lipid
- 1 β dewy emollient lipid
- β 9 feeds malassezia
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
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30 Bisabolol
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
-
31 Allantoin
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
-
32 Amylose
Supporting ingredient
-
33 Xylitol
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Chelator, binds stray metal ions to keep the formula stable
-
pH adjuster
-
Plant oil, an emollient
- β 2 butter/occlusive fat
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37 Tocopherol
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
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42 Xanthan Gum
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
43 Laureth-12
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 9 feeds malassezia
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44 Cellulose
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Chelator, binds stray metal ions to keep the formula stable
-
47 Citric Acid
pH adjuster
-
48 Glucose
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Botanical extract
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
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Plant oil, an emollient
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55 Limonene
Fragrance component, a declared allergen
-
56 Linalool
Fragrance component, a declared allergen
-
Supporting ingredient
-
Supporting ingredient
-
59 Citral
Fragrance component, a declared allergen
-
60 Pinene
Supporting ingredient
-
61 Fragrance
Fragrance
-
62 Iron Oxides
Colorant or pigment
- β 40 makeup-like collar marks (washable)
Is Murad Superactive Moisturizer SPF 50 good under makeup?
Yes, it is rated good as a makeup base. It has a balanced, lightweight finish with low white cast, so it layers well under foundation.
Will the Murad Superactive Moisturizer SPF 50: Mattifying Oil + Pore Control sting my eyes?
It is rated high for stinging, so it may bother sensitive eyes more than most. Keep it well away from the immediate eye area.
Is it good?
It is mid-tier, scoring 63.3 out of 100. Protection is good, but the older filter set and a high sting rating hold the score back.