Versus

Murad AHA/BHA Exfoliating Cleanser Versus Murad Time Release Acne Cleanser

Face Cleanser
Face Cleanser
American Brand United States
American Brand United States

Updated on August 20, 2024

Overview

What they are

These products are both cruelty-free face cleansers. They have a total of 7 ingredients in common

Cool Features

They both contain Vitamin C

Suited For

They're both likely to be good for fighting acne, anti aging, 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 or silicones

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

Click any item below to learn more and see relevant ingredients

About this product

About this product

At a glance

Click on any of the items below to learn more

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

found in both products
Time Release Acne Cleanser

Water

Skin Conditioning

Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate

Cleansing

Glycerin

Humectant
0 / 0 Helps hydrate Dry Skin IconHelps brighten skin Icon

Cetyl Alcohol

Emollient
2 / 2 Fatty Alcohol Icon

Cocamidopropyl Betaine

Cleansing
May worsen Eczema IconMay worsen Rosacea Icon

Cetearyl Alcohol

Emollient
2 / 1 Fatty Alcohol IconMay worsen Oily Skin IconBad for Acne Prone Skin IconNot safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate

Cleansing

PEG-100 Stearate

0 / 0 Not safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Glyceryl Stearate

Emollient
1 / 0 Not safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Butylene Glycol

Humectant
1 / 0 Helps hydrate Dry Skin Icon

Sodium Hyaluronate

Humectant
0 / 0 Hyaluronic Acid Icon

Tocopheryl Acetate

Antioxidant
0 / 0 Vitamin E IconAntioxidant Icon

Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride

Masking

Retinol

Skin Conditioning
Retinoid IconGood for Oily Skin IconGood for Skin Texture IconGood for Minimizing Pores IconHelps with Anti-Aging IconGood for Dark Spots IconGood for Scar Healing IconHelps fight Acne IconHelps brighten skin IconMay worsen Rosacea Icon

Salix Alba Bark Extract

Astringent
Good for Oily Skin Icon

Ascorbic Acid

Antioxidant
Vitamin C IconAntioxidant IconHelps reduce Skin Redness IconGood for Skin Texture IconGood for Minimizing Pores IconHelps with Anti-Aging IconGood for Dark Spots IconGood for Scar Healing IconHelps brighten skin Icon

Chitosan

Silver Citrate

Antimicrobial

Sodium PCA

Humectant
0 / 0

Betaine

Humectant
Helps hydrate Dry Skin IconHelps reduce irritation IconGood for Dark Spots Icon

Sorbitol

Humectant
0 / 0 Helps hydrate Dry Skin Icon

Glycine

Buffering
Helps hydrate Dry Skin Icon

Alanine

Masking

Proline

Skin Conditioning

Serine

Masking

Threonine

Arginine

Masking
Good for Scar Healing IconNot safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Lysine

Skin Conditioning

Glutamic Acid

Humectant

Zinc Gluconate

Skin Conditioning
Helps fight Acne Icon

Argania Spinosa Kernel Extract

Skin Conditioning

Serenoa Serrulata Fruit Extract

Skin Conditioning

Sesamum Indicum Seed Extract

Skin Conditioning

Cimicifuga Racemosa Root Extract

Antimicrobial
Antioxidant Icon

Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil

Antioxidant
Antioxidant IconFragrance IconOil IconGood for Oily Skin IconMay worsen Eczema Icon

Cocamidopropyl Dimethylamine

Emulsifying

Zea Mays Starch

Absorbent

Hydrolyzed Corn Starch

Humectant

Hydrolyzed Corn Starch Octenylsuccinate

Absorbent

Citric Acid

Buffering
AHA IconGood for Oily Skin IconGood for Skin Texture IconGood for Minimizing Pores IconGood for Scar Healing IconHelps brighten skin IconMay worsen Rosacea Icon

Disodium EDTA

Propyl Gallate

Antioxidant
Antioxidant IconFragrance Icon

Polysorbate 80

Emulsifying
0 / 0 May worsen Oily Skin IconNot safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Menthol

Masking
May cause irritation IconEU Allergen IconMay worsen Eczema IconMay worsen Rosacea Icon

Cetearyl Glucoside

Emulsifying

Glycol Distearate

Emollient
Not safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Steareth-4

Emulsifying

PEG-150 Distearate

Emulsifying
2 / 0 Not safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Hydroxyethylcellulose

Emulsion Stabilising

Polyacrylate-13

Polyisobutene

Polysorbate 20

Emulsifying
0 / 0 Not safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate

Phenoxyethanol

Preservative
Preservative Icon

Caprylyl Glycol

Emollient

Chlorphenesin

Antimicrobial
Preservative Icon

Parfum

Masking
Fragrance IconMay worsen Eczema IconMay worsen Rosacea Icon

Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.

Skin Conditioning, Solvent

Water. 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 Water

Cocamidopropyl Betaine is a fatty acid created by mixing similar compounds in coconut oil and dimethylaminopropylamine, a compound with two amino groups.

This ingredient is a surfactant and cleanser. It helps gather the dirt, pollutants, and other impurities in your skin to be washed away. It also helps thicken a product and make the texture more creamy.

Being created from coconut oil means Cocamidopropyl Betaine is hydrating for the skin.

While Cocamidopropyl Betaine was believed to be an allergen, a study from 2012 disproved this. It found two compounds in unpure Cocamidopropyl Betaine to be the irritants: aminoamide and 3-dimethylaminopropylamine. High-grade and pure Cocamidopropyl Betaine did not induce allergic reactions during this study.

Learn more about Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Humectant, Masking, Skin Conditioning

Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:

  • It is a solvent, meaning that it helps to dissolve other ingredients. This also enhances the absorption of the product into one's skin.
  • It is a humectant, which means that it helps attract moisture into the skin.
  • It helps improve product application.
  • It has mild preservative properties.

Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.

Humectant, Skin Conditioning

Sodium PCA is the sodium salt of pyroglutamic acid. It is naturally occurring in our skin's natural moisturizing factors where it works to maintain hydration.

The PCA stands for pyrrolidone carboxylic acid, a natural amino acid derivative.

This ingredient has skin conditioning, anti-inflammatory, and humectant properties. Humectants help hydrate your skin by drawing moisture from the air. This helps keep your skin moisturized.

Learn more about Sodium PCA
Buffering, Masking

Citric Acid is an AHA derived from citrus fruits (think oranges, lemons, and limes!).

As an AHA, Citric Acid removes the top layer of skin cells from the newer layer of skin underneath. This helps skin to remove dark spots and even out skin tone.

If you spot Citric Acid near the end of an ingredient list, it's likely there as a pH adjuster rather than an active ingredient.

Read more about some other popular AHA's here:

Learn more about Citric Acid

Disodium EDTA plays a role in making products more stable by aiding other preservatives.

It is a chelating agent, meaning it neutralizes metal ions that may be found in a product.

Disodium EDTA is a salt of edetic acid and is found to be safe in cosmetic ingredients.

Learn more about Disodium EDTA
Preservative

Phenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.

It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.

When to use

92 Routines
34% use in am
66% use in pm
61% use every day
When to use See routines that use it ->
12 Routines
33% use in am
67% use in pm
100% use every day

Reviews

Here's what our community thinks

Murad AHA/BHA Exfoliating Cleanser 21 ingredients

2.0 /5
from 1 rating

Murad Time Release Acne Cleanser 57 ingredients

Time Release Acne Cleanser hasn't been rated yet.
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