Murad Essential C Day Moisturizer SPF 30

Pricing/Packaging:

60$ for 50ml (1.7fl.oz). This product comes in a tube, which is a great form of packaging that keeps formulation safe. However, I am a little concerned about sheerness of the plastic. It may let through more UV light that is "healthy" for antioxidants inside. So be sure to keep this moisturizer out of the sun at all times.

Ingredients:

Active: Avobenzone 3%, Homosalate 6.5%, Octinoxate 7.5%, Octisalate 5%, Oxybenzone 2%;

Other: Water, Butylene Glycol, Stearic Acid, Diisopropyl Sebacate, Cocoglycerides, Lauryl Lactate, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Isodecyl Neopentanoate, Dimethicone, Cetyl Alcohol, Cetyl Phosphate, Urea, Yeast Amino Acids, Trehalose, Inositol, Taurine, Betaine, Phospholipids, Retinyl Palmitate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Pelvetia Canaliculata Extract, Ectoin, Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract, Grape Seed Extract, Passiflora Incarnata Extract, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Sodium PCA, Panthenol, Tripleurospermum Maritimum Extract, Zinc Gluconate, Ethyl Linoleate, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Xanthan Gum, Aminomethyl Propanol, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Chlorphenesin, Limonene, Linalool, Fragrance, Yellow 6 (CI 15985), Red 33 (CI 17200). 

Excellent (very beneficial ingredients, proven research)

Good (moderately beneficial ingredients, not extensive research available or just not quite outstanding properties)

OK (mostly thickeners, emulsifiers, mild preservatives, pH adjusters, all that is necessary formulation wise, but not a skincare per se) 

Bad (anything that shouldn't be in a skincare product, irritants and fragrance)

Ingredients Discussion:

This day cream provides a broad spectrum sun protection with "chemical" sunscreen ingredients. Besides that it offers a number of great antioxidants (zinc gluconate, vitamins A, C and E, grape seed, ginkgo biloba leaf, passiflora and algae extracts) and skin identical/water binding ingredients (panthenol, phospholipids, inocitol, trehalose, taurine, dimethicone, amino acids, ectoin and sodium PCA) to ensure that skin looks and feels great. Unfortunately there is a bit of a fragrance present in here, but it is not in such a concentration to be a bother (except for a very sensitive skin).

Consumer Thoughts:

This product has a very light lotion texture which absorbs into the skin easily, but leaves it soft and moisturized. It is not a matte finish product. The scent is a very faint sweet citrusy "popsicle" like fragrance. Overall I did enjoy using this product quite a lot.

Verdict:

A good sunscreen with enough of anti-aging/skin care ingredients. Except for the fragrance I would consider this a very good product in its price range (even though Murad as a brand does not impress me usually). Another point, keep it away from sunlight (possibly in its original box, to avoid degrading of antioxidants by UV exposure through relatively sheer plastic packaging). Overall I can recommend this moisturizer.

4 out of 5.