Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare DRx Blemish Solutions Clarifying Mask Versus Murad Rapid Relief Acne Sulfur Mask
Updated on August 20, 2024
Overview
What they are
These products are both cruelty-free wash off masks. They have a total of 11 ingredients in common
Cool Features
They both contain exfoliants
Suited For
They're both likely to be good for fighting acne, dry skin, brightening skin, sensitive skin, oily skin, reducing pores, scar healing, dark spots and better texture
Free From
They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, parabens, silicones or sulfates
What's Inside
They both contain common allergens, fragrances and oils
We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that needs an update? Let us know.
Ingredient Info
Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare DRx Blemish Solutions Clarifying Mask 28 ingredients
Murad Rapid Relief Acne Sulfur Mask 35 ingredients
About this product
About this product
At a glance
Click on any of the items below to learn more
Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare DRx Blemish Solutions Clarifying Mask 28 ingredients
Murad Rapid Relief Acne Sulfur Mask 35 ingredients
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Sulfur 5%
Antiseborrhoeic
Water
Skin ConditioningKaolin
Abrasive
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Acacia Senegal Gum
MaskingZinc Oxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Bentonite
AbsorbentCarthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
Masking
Farnesol
Perfuming
Opuntia Tuna Flower/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningSalix Alba Bark Extract
Astringent
Bisabolol
Masking
Retinol
Skin Conditioning
Phenylethyl Resorcinol
Antioxidant
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Glycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Sodium PCA
HumectantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sulfur 5%, Water, Kaolin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Polysorbate 20, Butylene Glycol, Acacia Senegal Gum, Zinc Oxide, Bentonite, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Farnesol, Opuntia Tuna Flower/Stem Extract, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Bisabolol, Retinol, Phenylethyl Resorcinol, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Tocopheryl Acetate, Glycine Soja Oil, Sodium PCA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Allantoin, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate
Sulfur 5%
Antiseborrhoeic
Water
Skin ConditioningKaolin
Abrasive
Isopentyldiol
HumectantBentonite
AbsorbentPeat Extract
Skin ConditioningZinc Oxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Propanediol
SolventGlycerin
Humectant
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cetyl Ricinoleate
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate Se
Emulsifying
Urea
Buffering
Yeast Amino Acids
HumectantTrehalose
HumectantInositol
HumectantTaurine
BufferingBetaine
Humectant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Zingiber Officinale Root Extract
MaskingBisabolol
Masking
Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil
Perfuming
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCoco-Glucoside
CleansingAcacia Senegal Gum
MaskingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Citric Acid
Buffering
Dehydroacetic Acid
Preservative
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Sulfur 5%, Water, Kaolin, Isopentyldiol, Bentonite, Peat Extract, Zinc Oxide, Propanediol, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol, Cetyl Ricinoleate, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Urea, Yeast Amino Acids, Trehalose, Inositol, Taurine, Betaine, Allantoin, Salicylic Acid, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Bisabolol, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil, Hydroxyacetophenone, Ethylhexylglycerin, Coco-Glucoside, Acacia Senegal Gum, Xanthan Gum, Carbomer, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Citric Acid, Dehydroacetic Acid, Chlorphenesin
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Sulfur is a commonly occurring element on Earth (and our universe!). In cosmetics, it helps kill bacteria, reduces sebum, and provides exfoliation. This makes it an effective ingredient to reduce breakouts and fight acne.
As a ketayolytic agent, it breaks down the top layer of skin. This is a form of exfoliation and may help decrease acne and hyperpigmentation.
Studies show sulfur has antibacterial and antifungal properties. Sulfur can be drying if used excessively or at higher concentrations. We recommend speaking with a medical professional if you have any concerns.
Ancient Greece, India, China, and Egypt have used sulfur in both traditional medicines and for household use.
Learn more about SulfurWater. It's the most common cosmetic ingredient of all. You'll usually see it at the top of ingredient lists, meaning that it makes up the largest part of the product.
So why is it so popular? Water most often acts as a solvent - this means that it helps dissolve other ingredients into the formulation.
You'll also recognize water as that liquid we all need to stay alive. If you see this, drink a glass of water. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about WaterKaolin is a clay. It is used for oil control and to help minimize pores. Like other clays, kaolin has the ability to absorb excess sebum or oil. This can help clean out pores and mattify the skin.
Some types of kaolin may have exfoliating properties. When water is added to kaolin, it becomes a paste with small abrasive particles.
Most kaolin is a white color, but may be pink/orange/red depending on where it comes from.
The name 'kaolin' comes from a Chinese village named 'Gaoling'. Kaolin clay comes from rocks rich in kaolinite. Kaolinite, the mineral, has a silicate layered structure. Kaolinite is formed from chemical weathering of aluminum siilicate minerals.
Besides skincare, kaolin is commonly used to make glossy paper, in ceramics, toothpaste, and as medicine to soothe stomach issues.
Learn more about KaolinCetearyl alcohol is a mixture of two fatty alcohols: cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. It is mainly used as an emulsifier. Emulsifiers help prevent the separation of oils and products. Due to its composition, it can also be used to thicken a product or help create foam.
Cetearyl alcohol is an emollient. Emollients help soothe and hydrate the skin by trapping moisture.
Studies show Cetearyl alcohol is non-toxic and non-irritating. The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
This ingredient is usually derived from plant oils such as palm, vegetable, or coconut oils. There is debate on whether this ingredient will cause acne.
Due to the fatty acid base, this ingredient may not be Malassezia folliculitis safe.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholGlycerin is already naturally found in your skin. It helps moisturize and protect your skin.
A study from 2016 found glycerin to be more effective as a humectant than AHAs and hyaluronic acid.
As a humectant, it helps the skin stay hydrated by pulling moisture to your skin. The low molecular weight of glycerin allows it to pull moisture into the deeper layers of your skin.
Hydrated skin improves your skin barrier; Your skin barrier helps protect against irritants and bacteria.
Glycerin has also been found to have antimicrobial and antiviral properties. Due to these properties, glycerin is often used in wound and burn treatments.
In cosmetics, glycerin is usually derived from plants such as soybean or palm. However, it can also be sourced from animals, such as tallow or animal fat.
This ingredient is organic, colorless, odorless, and non-toxic.
Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
Learn more about GlycerinAcacia Senegal Gum has skin soothing, thickening, and formulation stabilizing properties. It comes from the Acacia tree that is native to sub-Saharan Africa.
Zinc Oxide is a mineral broad-spectrum UV filter; it is the broadest UVA and UVB reflector approved by the FDA. While it is most commonly man-made for cosmetics, it can naturally occur in zincite, a rare mineral.
Today, traditional and nano-sized zinc oxide can be found in beauty products. Nano-sized zinc oxide can enhance a product's UV protection. While it is not believed to have a negative effect on skin, nano-zinc oxide may be harmful to coral reefs - though the verdict is not entirely out on this one.
Zinc Oxide also has antibacterial and calming properties. It is not water soluble.
Zinc has been used throughout history as an ingredient in paint and medicine. An Indian text from 500BC is believed to list zinc oxide as a salve for open wound. The Ancient Greek physician Dioscorides has also mentioned the use of zinc as an ointment in 1AD.
Learn more about Zinc OxideBentonite is an aluminium phyllosilicate clay with great absorbent properties. The name 'bentonite' comes from the area where the largest source is found: Fort Benton, Wyoming.
As a clay, bentonite is often used to absorb excess oil and provide exfoliation. It has also been shown to have some antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. Studies show bentonite was effective at calming dermatitis from poison ivy and in diaper dermatitis of infants. Bentonite has also been shown to act as a barrier against toxic compounds on your skin.
Sunscreens containing bentonite display higher water resistance and stay on the skin for much longer. The sunscreens containing bentonite also show higher potency and UV light absorbtion.
Bentonite is naturally created from volcanic ash and several natural weathering/hydrothermal processes.
A common usage of bentonite is removing excess protein from white wines. Bentonite contains a property of being able to absorb large amounts of protein from aqueous solutions.
Phyllosilicate clay has a structure formed by sheets.
Learn more about BentoniteBisabolol is famous for its skin soothing properties. It does this by blocking inflammatory signals, helping to reduce your body's reaction to irritation.
This ingredient also interferes with the process of hyperpigmentation. This can help with reducing dark spots and uneven tone.
Bisabolol is an antioxidant. Antioxidants help fight free-radicals. Free-radicals are molecules that may damage your skin cells. By fighting these free-radicals, Bisabolol may slow down signs of aging.
Studies have shown Bisabolol to have antimicrobial properties and may be a fungicide. These properties help preserve a product's shelf life.
All these properties makes bisabolol a great skin barrier helper ingredient.
Bisabolol also helps the absorption of other ingredients.
Note: Synthetic Bisabolol has been shown to be less effective.
Learn more about BisabololEthylhexylglycerin (we can't pronounce this either) is commonly used as a preservative and skin softener. It is derived from glyceryl.
You might see Ethylhexylglycerin often paired with other preservatives such as phenoxyethanol. Ethylhexylglycerin has been found to increase the effectiveness of these other preservatives.
Allantoin plays a role in soothing and moisturizing the skin. Because of this, it is often added to products with strong active ingredients.
Some studies have shown this ingredient can promote wound healing with higher concentrations.
Allantoin is derived from the comfrey plant but produced synthetically for cosmetic products to ensure purity.
Learn more about AllantoinIngredient Ratings
Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these products.
When to use
Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare DRx Blemish Solutions Clarifying Mask 28 ingredients
Murad Rapid Relief Acne Sulfur Mask 35 ingredients
Reviews
Here's what our community thinks
Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare DRx Blemish Solutions Clarifying Mask 28 ingredients
Murad Rapid Relief Acne Sulfur Mask 35 ingredients
Lovely face mask, doesn't irritate my sensitive skin, I notice smaller pores and less black heads with only 3 uses. When I used another brand of sulfur mask I developed some sort of irritation, but this one is very soothing and leaves my skin baby soft.
