The retinyl palmitate is the retinoid.
Active vs inactive is misleading, it makes it sound like the “inactive” just sits there and does nothing, which isn’t the case. In the US when certain ingredients are being used in a product (but only for a certain purpose or at a specific amount), they get listed as “active”, because they’re considered a topical drug and are regulated by the FDA as such. The sunscreen ingredients in most products are there for SPF and are at a high enough concentration that they then become a drug, and therefore per labelling rules must be placed under active. But those ingredients under “inactive” aren’t magically inert. They still work and are there for a reason. Including the retinoid. So yes, it’s there and I screened it out. The label doesn’t matter because the inactive vs active is a stupid naming decision someone made decades ago in the FDA and it confuses a LOT of people, but the labelling doesn’t affect safety at all.

I don’t know why Murad would market a product with a retinoid to pregnant woman, but a lot of products are like that (such as Bio-Oil). This discussion will help with some of the confusion: Why does X Brand say this product is safe but you don’t think it is safe? (or Vice Versa)

Can you provide a more detailed explanation on why the City Defense sunscreen is deemed unsafe? Is the retinyl palmitate the retinoid here? Is the risk affected by it not being an active ingredient? I’m especially curious because Murad sells this sunscreen as part of their kit specifically marketed to pregnant women. Thank you!

Safe for pregnancy and nursing

Murad Soothing Oat and Peptide Cleanser

Water/Aqua/Eau, Glycerin, Propanediol, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Squalane, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Sorbitan Oleate Decylglucoside Crosspolymer, Betaine, Avena Sativa (Oat) Kernel Extract, Saccharide Isomerate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Polyisobutene, Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside, Sodium Surfactin, Sorbitan Isostearate, Sorbitan Oleate, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Citric Acid, Chlorphenesin, Sodium Benzoate

Formulated Without: Parabens, sulfates, phthalates, gluten, fragrance, formaldehyde, alcohol, mineral oil, petrolatum, oxybenzone, dimethicone, oil, silicones, dyes, animal-derived ingredients

Safe for pregnancy and nursing

Water/Aqua/Eau, Caffeine, Glycerin, Isopentyldiol, Propanediol, Octyldodecanol, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Pyrus Malus (Apple) Fruit Extract, Pfaffia Paniculata Root Extract, Ptychopetalum Olacoides Bark/Root Extract, Lilium Candidum Flower Extract, Acmella Oleracea Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Tetrapeptide-1, Urea, Yeast Amino Acids, Trehalose, Inositol, Taurine, Betaine, Hydroxyacetophenone, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside, PVM/MA Decadiene Crosspolymer, Silica, Sodium Hydroxide, Citric Acid, Chlorphenesin, Sodium Benzoate, Caprylyl Glycol, Benzyl Alcohol, Xylitol, Caprylic Acid, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Tocopherol, Tin Oxide, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891)

Ok for nursing but not pregnancy due to glycolic acid, salicylic acid
It’s in the list already above.

Hi
Is the vita c- triple exfoliating facial pregnancy safe?
It is a 10 minutes mask.
Ingredients:
Glycerin, Silica, Water/Aqua/Eau, Glycolic Acid, Propanediol, Sodium Hydroxide, Pentylene Glycol, Polyglyceryl-10 Tristearate, Lactic Acid, Titanium Dioxide (CI77891), Synthetic Beeswax, Pyrus Malus (Apple) Fruit Extract, Salicylic Acid, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Ascorbic Acid, Glutathione, Urea, Yeast Amino Acids, Trehalose, Inositol, Taurine, Betaine, Hydrolyzed Opuntia Ficus-Indica Flower Extract, Maltodextrin, Phospholipids, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Cellulose Acetate, Boron Nitride, Propylene Glycol Stearate, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Acrylates/Ammonium Methacrylate Copolymer, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Sorbitol, Xanthan Gum, Protease, Lipase, Gold, Phenoxyethanol, Limonene, Fragrance (Parfum), Orange 4 (CI 15510), Yellow 5 (Cl 19140), Tocopherol

Thank you

This is already in the list under not safe for pregnancy or nursing.

https://www.murad.com/product/essential-c-day-moisture-spf-30/

“Essential-C Day Moisture Broad Spectrum SPF 30 | PA+++”

List of Ingredients
Active ingredients: Avobenzone 3.0%, Homosalate 6.5%, Octinoxate 7.5%, Octisalate 5.0%, Oxybenzone 2.0%

Inactive ingredients: Water (Aqua), 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, Vitis Vinifera (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 (Parfum), Yellow 6 (CI 15985), Red 33 (CI 17200)

Formulated Without: Parabens, Sulfates, Phthalates, Gluten, Mineral Oil, Formaldehyde, Petrolatum/Petroleum