SPF Scout · Product record
Flawless Effect Liquid Foundation SPF 15
Labeler: Merle Norman Cosmetics
SPF 15 as labeled
U.S. formulation · record last retrieved 23 September 2026
Quick facts
Does Flawless Effect Liquid Foundation SPF 15 list fragrance?
No fragrance, parfum or listed fragrance ingredient appears in the ingredient list currently stored for this U.S. formulation, which is recorded as complete with every name identified.
What are the active ingredients in Flawless Effect Liquid Foundation SPF 15?
The Active ingredients block printed on the label reads: Octinoxate 7.50% Oxybenzone 3.00%
Is Flawless Effect Liquid Foundation SPF 15 mineral-only?
No. The ingredient list currently stored for this U.S. formulation names Oxybenzone and Octinoxate.
Does Flawless Effect Liquid Foundation SPF 15 contain oxybenzone?
Yes. Oxybenzone is listed in the ingredient list currently stored for this U.S. formulation.
Each answer restates the ingredient list stored for this record. It does not predict whether your skin will react.
What is listed
The ingredient declaration stored for this formulation, reproduced exactly as it was recorded from the source below.
37 entries · the stored declaration is recorded as complete.
What each ingredient generally does
Each entry that matched a canonical ingredient, with the function recorded for it. These notes describe the role an ingredient plays in a formulation. They do not assess an ingredient.
Oxybenzone
UV filter (filters UV rays)Light stabilizer (protects the formula from light)Restricted in the EUOxybenzone is an organic UV filter that absorbs ultraviolet light. It also works as a light stabilizer, helping the formula hold up under sun exposure. On labels it often appears as Benzophenone-3.
An organic UV filter that absorbs ultraviolet light. It also acts as a light stabilizer, helping the formula hold up when exposed to sunlight. You'll often see it listed as Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate.
Water
Antiplaque (CosIng functional class)Skin conditioning (CosIng functional class)Solvent (dissolves other ingredients)The base liquid that most of the other ingredients dissolve or spread into. It carries the formula and helps condition the skin surface.
listed as “Water(aqua)”
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient (softens and smooths skin)Hair conditioning (CosIng functional class)Skin conditioning (CosIng functional class)Solvent (dissolves other ingredients)Restricted in the EUThis is a lightweight silicone used to condition skin and hair and to soften and smooth skin feel. It also acts as a solvent, helping the product spread and dissolve other ingredients.
Mica
Anticaking (keeps powder free-flowing)Bulking agent (adds volume)Colorant (adds color)Opacifier (makes the formula less see-through)Mica is a mineral used to add color and to make the product look opaque rather than see-through. It also keeps powders from clumping and adds bulk to the formula.
Titanium Dioxide
UV filter (filters UV rays)Colorant (adds color)Opacifier (makes the formula less see-through)Titanium Dioxide is a mineral UV filter that absorbs ultraviolet light. It also works as a white colorant and opacifier, adding whiteness and making the product less see-through. As a color additive it appears on labels as CI 77891.
Diisostearyl Malate
Emollient (softens and smooths skin)Skin conditioning (CosIng functional class)Surfactant (cleanses or mixes oil and water)An oily ingredient that softens and smooths skin feel while also helping to lift away dirt and oil. In practice it conditions the skin and can act as a cleansing agent in the mix.
Ethylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient (softens and smooths skin)Fragrance ingredient (scent)Skin conditioning (CosIng functional class)A lightweight oil that softens and smooths the skin feel. It gives the product a slip that helps it spread easily, and it also adds scent.
Glycerin
Denaturant (makes alcohol undrinkable)Fragrance ingredient (scent)Hair conditioning (CosIng functional class)Humectant (holds moisture)Oral care (CosIng functional class)Skin conditioning (CosIng functional class)Skin protecting (CosIng functional class)Solvent (dissolves other ingredients)Viscosity control (thickens or thins the formula)Glycerin draws in and holds moisture while conditioning and protecting skin. It also dissolves other ingredients, adjusts thickness, and can add scent. On labels it may appear as glycerol.
Pentylene Glycol
Humectant (holds moisture)Skin conditioning (CosIng functional class)Solvent (dissolves other ingredients)A skin-conditioning ingredient that also works as a solvent. It helps dissolve other ingredients and keeps skin feeling conditioned.
PEG-30 Dipolyhydroxystearate
Surfactant (cleanses or mixes oil and water)An emulsifier. It keeps the oil and water parts blended together so the formula stays even.
Iron Oxides
Colorant (adds color)A colorant that gives the product its shade. On labels it can also appear as CI 77491, CI 77492, or CI 77499.
Propylene Glycol
Fragrance ingredient (scent)Humectant (holds moisture)Skin conditioning (CosIng functional class)Solvent (dissolves other ingredients)Viscosity control (thickens or thins the formula)A multi-tasker that draws in and holds moisture, dissolves other ingredients as a solvent, and adjusts thickness. It also plays a role in fragrance and general skin conditioning. In practice it helps keep the product from drying out and keeps the texture consistent.
Cyclohexasiloxane
Emollient (softens and smooths skin)Hair conditioning (CosIng functional class)Skin conditioning (CosIng functional class)Solvent (dissolves other ingredients)Restricted in the EUThis is a lightweight silicone that softens and smooths skin feel and also conditions hair. It works as a solvent too, helping other ingredients dissolve and the product spread easily.
Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate
Absorbent (takes up oil or water)Anticaking (keeps powder free-flowing)Viscosity control (thickens or thins the formula)A starch-based powder that soaks up excess oil and moisture, keeps the formula from clumping, and adjusts its thickness. In practice it gives the product a smoother, less greasy feel.
Disteardimonium Hectorite
Light stabilizer (protects the formula from light)Viscosity control (thickens or thins the formula)A thickener that adjusts how thick or thin the product is. It also works as a light stabilizer, helping the formula hold up against light exposure.
Hdi/Ppg/Polycaprolactone Crosspolymer
Anticaking (keeps powder free-flowing)A polymer that works as an anticaking agent, keeping powdery parts of the formula from clumping. That helps the product stay loose and spread evenly.
Glyceryl Oleate
Emollient (softens and smooths skin)Fragrance ingredient (scent)Skin conditioning (CosIng functional class)Surfactant (cleanses or mixes oil and water)Glyceryl Oleate is an emollient that softens and smooths skin feel, and it helps oil and water mix. It also adds fragrance to the product.
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient (softens and smooths skin)Skin conditioning (CosIng functional class)Surfactant (cleanses or mixes oil and water)Glyceryl Stearate is an emollient that softens and smooths skin feel. It also acts as an emulsifier, keeping the oil and water parts blended together.
Myristyl Myristate
Emollient (softens and smooths skin)Opacifier (makes the formula less see-through)Skin conditioning (CosIng functional class)An emollient that softens and smooths skin feel. It also makes the product more opaque, so a clear formula turns creamy or milky in look.
Polyglyceryl-3 Beeswax
Surfactant (cleanses or mixes oil and water)Polyglyceryl-3 Beeswax is an emulsifier that helps oil and water mix. This keeps the water and oil parts of the product blended into one smooth formula.
Lecithin
Antistatic (reduces static)Emollient (softens and smooths skin)Skin conditioning (CosIng functional class)Surfactant (cleanses or mixes oil and water)Lecithin helps oil and water mix and softens skin feel. That keeps the water and oil parts blended and smooths the skin, and it also reduces static. It shows up on labels simply as Lecithin.
Disodium Stearoyl Glutamate
Hair conditioning (CosIng functional class)Skin conditioning (CosIng functional class)Surfactant (cleanses or mixes oil and water)A cleansing agent that helps oil and water mix and lifts away dirt. It also conditions skin and hair, leaving a softer feel.
Butylene Glycol
Fragrance ingredient (scent)Humectant (holds moisture)Skin conditioning (CosIng functional class)Solvent (dissolves other ingredients)Viscosity control (thickens or thins the formula)A multitasking liquid that acts as a humectant, solvent, and thickness adjuster, and carries a scent role. It draws in and holds moisture, dissolves other ingredients, and helps set the product's texture.
A moisture-grabbing ingredient that draws in and holds water. That keeps skin conditioned and helps it feel supple. It's the salt form of hyaluronic acid.
Camellia Oleifera Leaf Extract
Astringent (CosIng functional class)Skin conditioning (CosIng functional class)A leaf extract that acts as an astringent, giving a tightening feel, and as a skin conditioner. Together these keep skin feeling smooth and taut.
Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract
Skin conditioning (CosIng functional class)This is a leaf extract used as a skin-conditioning ingredient. It helps the product leave skin feeling soft and smooth.
Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Fragrance ingredient (scent)Skin conditioning (CosIng functional class)An extract of chamomile flowerheads that conditions skin and adds fragrance. It helps skin feel soft and smooth while contributing to the product's scent.
listed as “chamomilla recutita (matricaria) flower extract”
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Antioxidant (slows the formula oxidizing)Skin conditioning (CosIng functional class)This is an antioxidant and skin-conditioning ingredient, a form of vitamin C. As an antioxidant it helps keep the formula from going off, and it softens the skin feel.
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant (slows the formula oxidizing)Skin conditioning (CosIng functional class)Tocopheryl Acetate is a form of vitamin E that acts as an antioxidant, helping keep the formula from going off. It also conditions the skin, softening its feel.
Aluminum Hydroxide
Emollient (softens and smooths skin)Humectant (holds moisture)Opacifier (makes the formula less see-through)Skin conditioning (CosIng functional class)Skin protecting (CosIng functional class)Viscosity control (thickens or thins the formula)A mineral ingredient that draws in and holds moisture, softens skin feel, and adjusts the product's thickness. It also adds opacity and forms a protective layer on the skin's surface.
listed as “aluminum hydroxide (Cl 77002)”
Silica
Abrasive (physically scrubs)Absorbent (takes up oil or water)Anticaking (keeps powder free-flowing)Bulking agent (adds volume)Opacifier (makes the formula less see-through)Viscosity control (thickens or thins the formula)Silica is a fine mineral powder that soaks up excess moisture and oil, and adjusts how thick the product feels. It keeps powders from clumping, adds bulk, and can make a formula look more opaque. Its chemical name is silicon dioxide.
Alcohol Denat.
Antifoaming (stops the formula foaming)Astringent (CosIng functional class)Fragrance ingredient (scent)Preservative (inhibits microbial growth)Solvent (dissolves other ingredients)Viscosity control (thickens or thins the formula)Alcohol Denat. is ethyl alcohol with additives that make it undrinkable, used as a solvent to dissolve ingredients and thin the formula. It also cuts foam, tightens skin as an astringent, and adjusts thickness. Denat. simply means it has been denatured.
listed as “alcohol denat”
Butylated Hydroxytoluene
Antioxidant (slows the formula oxidizing)Fragrance ingredient (scent)Restricted in the EUAn antioxidant that also adds a scent note. It helps keep the oils in the formula from going off, so the product stays stable longer. Often shortened to BHT on labels.
listed as “BHT”
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative (inhibits microbial growth)This is a preservative that fights microbes. It helps keep the product from spoiling over time.
This is a preservative that also adds fragrance. It keeps the product from spoiling and contributes to its scent. It belongs to the paraben family of preservatives.
Propylparaben
Fragrance ingredient (scent)Preservative (inhibits microbial growth)Restricted in the EUA preservative that keeps the product from spoiling, and it also plays a role in the scent. In practice it helps the formula stay stable over time.
Checking this against your own list
SPF Scout's Personal Ingredient Check runs in the app, on your device. This page cannot see a personal avoidance list. Your selections are stored on your phone and are never sent to this website. There is nowhere on our side for them to go.
In the app you choose the ingredients you already avoid, and every entry in this declaration that matches one of them is shown to you with the alias path that produced the match.
This comparison does not predict whether your skin will react.
Source quality
- Source
- DailyMed drug label
- Source record
- https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=05615352-186b-4610-a719-16fc36e09bb3
- Retrieved
- 23 September 2026
- Market
- United States
- Version
- v1 of this U.S. formulation
- Source tier
- Official label document (not independently verified by us)
- Entries recorded
- 37
- Record checksum
- sha256:a6266cd10cb7a0eb3a23e1e59af052cb9839db4c21150f8bdcd55d20c32d1aa1
Always compare this record with your current package.