SPF Scout · Product record
Merle Norman Cosmetics, Inc. Sheer Defense Tinted Moisturizer SPF 15 ML 30
SPF 15 as labeled
U.S. formulation · record last retrieved 21 September 2026
What is listed
The ingredient declaration stored for this formulation, reproduced exactly as it was recorded from the source below.
43 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.
Octinoxate
Light stabilizer (protects the formula from light)UV absorber (protects the formula from light, not a sunscreen filter)UV filter (filters UV rays)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.
Titanium Dioxide
Colorant (adds color)Opacifier (makes the formula less see-through)UV absorber (protects the formula from light, not a sunscreen filter)UV filter (filters UV rays)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.
Water
Antiplaque (CosIng functional class)otherSkin 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)”
Dimethicone
Antifoaming (stops the formula foaming)Emollient (softens and smooths skin)Skin conditioning (CosIng functional class)Skin protecting (CosIng functional class)A silicone that softens and smooths skin feel and forms a protective layer on the surface. It also cuts down foam during production, keeping the formula settled.
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.
Glyceryl Stearate Se
Surfactant (cleanses or mixes oil and water)An emulsifier that helps the oil and water parts of the product stay mixed together. This keeps the formula from separating.
Mica
Anticaking (keeps powder free-flowing)Bulking agent (adds volume)Colorant (adds color)Opacifier (makes the formula less see-through)otherMica 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.
Talc
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)Skin protecting (CosIng functional class)Slip modifier (changes how the formula spreads)Restricted in the EUTalc is a soft mineral powder that absorbs moisture and adds bulk and slip. In practice it helps the product spread, keeps powders from clumping, and can add opacity.
A colorant that gives the product its shade. On labels it can also appear as CI 77491, CI 77492, or CI 77499.
Glyceryl Dilaurate
Emollient (softens and smooths skin)Skin conditioning (CosIng functional class)Surfactant (cleanses or mixes oil and water)Glyceryl Dilaurate softens and smooths the skin feel while helping oil and water mix. That means the product spreads more evenly and holds together instead of separating.
Glyceryl Behenate
Emollient (softens and smooths skin)Skin conditioning (CosIng functional class)Surfactant (cleanses or mixes oil and water)Glyceryl Behenate softens and smooths skin feel. It also helps the oil and water parts mix and stay blended.
Ceramide 3 is a lipid that conditions skin and hair, leaving them soft and smooth. It is a retired label name for this ingredient.
Saccharide Isomerate
Humectant (holds moisture)This is a sugar-based ingredient that works as a humectant, meaning it draws in and holds moisture. That helps keep the skin from drying out.
Allantoin
otherSkin conditioning (CosIng functional class)Skin protecting (CosIng functional class)Soothing (CosIng functional class)Allantoin is a skin-conditioning and skin-protecting ingredient with a soothing role. It helps keep skin feeling smooth and comfortable and forms a protective feel on the surface.
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant (slows the formula oxidizing)otherSkin 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.
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Antioxidant (slows the formula oxidizing)otherSkin 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.
Glycine Soja Germ Extract
Skin conditioning (CosIng functional class)A soybean germ extract used to condition the skin. It helps keep skin feeling soft and smooth.
listed as “Glycine Soja (Soybean) Germ Extract”
Echinacea Purpurea Extract
Moisturizing (CosIng functional class)Skin conditioning (CosIng functional class)Tonic (CosIng functional class)This is a coneflower extract that moisturizes and conditions the skin. It works as a tonic and helps keep skin feeling refreshed and hydrated.
Foeniculum Vulgare (Fennel) Fruit Extract
Emollient (softens and smooths skin)Skin conditioning (CosIng functional class)Soothing (CosIng functional class)Tonic (CosIng functional class)A fennel fruit extract used to condition and soften the skin. It smooths skin feel and acts as a soothing, toning ingredient.
Equisetum Arvense Extract
Astringent (CosIng functional class)Emollient (softens and smooths skin)Skin conditioning (CosIng functional class)Soothing (CosIng functional class)Tonic (CosIng functional class)An extract from horsetail that works as an astringent, an emollient that softens skin, plus a soothing and toning agent. It helps skin feel tightened yet smooth and refreshed.
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”
Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
Emollient (softens and smooths skin)Skin conditioning (CosIng functional class)Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, from cucumber, conditions and softens the skin. It helps skin feel smooth and supple.
listed as “Cucumis Sativus (Cucumber) Fruit Extract”
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.
Lecithin
Antistatic (reduces static)Emollient (softens and smooths skin)otherSkin 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.
Petrolatum
Antistatic (reduces static)Emollient (softens and smooths skin)Skin conditioning (CosIng functional class)Restricted in the EUA semi-solid blend of hydrocarbons that softens and smooths skin and reduces static. It keeps skin feeling supple. You may see it on labels as petroleum jelly.
Palmitic Acid
Emollient (softens and smooths skin)Skin conditioning (CosIng functional class)Surfactant (cleanses or mixes oil and water)Palmitic Acid softens and smooths the skin feel while also helping oil and water mix. That means it keeps the formula blended and contributes to how it sits on skin.
Polyglyceryl-10 Decaoleate
Skin conditioning (CosIng functional class)This is a skin-conditioning ingredient built from glycerol and oleic acid. It helps keep skin feeling soft and smooth.
Polyacrylamide
Antistatic (reduces static)Binder (holds the formula together)Film forming (leaves a thin coating)Restricted in the EUThis forms a thin film on the surface and helps hold a formula together. It also reduces static, which can smooth down flyaway hair.
PEG-12 Dimethicone
Hair conditioning (CosIng functional class)Skin conditioning (CosIng functional class)A silicone-based conditioner for skin and hair. It softens and smooths the feel of skin and hair, leaving a conditioned finish.
Octyldodecyl Stearoyl Stearate
Emollient (softens and smooths skin)Skin conditioning (CosIng functional class)Viscosity control (thickens or thins the formula)An emollient that softens and smooths skin feel, and it also adjusts the thickness of the formula. This helps give the product a richer body and smoother spread.
Steareth-20
Surfactant (cleanses or mixes oil and water)Steareth-20 is a helper that lets oil and water mix and also acts as a cleansing agent. In practice it keeps the water and oil parts blended into one smooth product and helps lift away dirt.
C13-14 Isoparaffin
Emollient (softens and smooths skin)Skin conditioning (CosIng functional class)Solvent (dissolves other ingredients)This is a light oily fluid that softens and smooths the skin's feel. It also works as a solvent, helping other ingredients dissolve and spread.
Isocetyl Alcohol
Emollient (softens and smooths skin)Skin conditioning (CosIng functional class)Viscosity control (thickens or thins the formula)This is an emollient that also adjusts thickness. It softens and smooths skin feel while helping give the product its body and texture.
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.
Laureth-7
Surfactant (cleanses or mixes oil and water)Laureth-7 is a cleansing and emulsifying agent, meaning it helps oil and water mix. In practice it keeps the formula blended and helps lift away dirt and oil.
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)otherViscosity 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.
This ingredient acts as an absorbent, soaking up excess moisture or oils in the formula. It also binds trace metals that would otherwise spoil the product.
Disodium EDTA
Chelating (binds metal ions in the formula)otherViscosity control (thickens or thins the formula)An ingredient that binds trace metals that would otherwise spoil the formula, and helps adjust its thickness. This keeps the product stable over time.
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative (inhibits microbial growth)This is a preservative that fights microbes. It helps keep the product from spoiling over time.
Tetrasodium EDTA
Chelating (binds metal ions in the formula)Tetrasodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It binds trace metals that would otherwise spoil the formula.
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”
Diazolidinyl Urea
Preservative (inhibits microbial growth)Diazolidinyl Urea is a preservative. It helps keep the product from spoiling over time.
Parfum
Fragrance ingredient (scent)This is the fragrance, a blend of scent ingredients added to give the product an odor or mask other smells. It's also listed as "aroma" on some labels.
listed as “Fragrance (Parfum)”
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=0ad4ec84-7c82-4ab3-9070-a0764af12306
- Retrieved
- 21 September 2026
- Market
- United States
- Version
- v1 of this U.S. formulation
- Source tier
- Official label document (not independently verified by us)
- Entries recorded
- 43
- Record checksum
- sha256:341ab07fb629b0dc64f66f84ded41b59b6c9fb0be965e604fcd2e09b0a940c33
Always compare this record with your current package.