Murad Essential-C Cleanser Versus Murad AHA/BHA Exfoliating Cleanser
Updated on August 20, 2024
Overview
What they are
These products are both cruelty-free face cleansers. They have a total of 6 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
Murad Essential-C Cleanser 35 ingredients
Murad AHA/BHA Exfoliating Cleanser 21 ingredients
About this product
About this product
At a glance
Click on any of the items below to learn more
Murad Essential-C Cleanser 35 ingredients
Murad AHA/BHA Exfoliating Cleanser 21 ingredients
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate
CleansingGlycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Aminomethyl Propanol
BufferingPolysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Phospholipids
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Retinyl Palmitate
Skin Conditioning
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Chitosan
Rice Amino Acids
Skin ConditioningZinc Aspartate
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Sodium PCA
HumectantLactose
HumectantCellulose
AbsorbentHydroxypropyl Methylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingPropyl Gallate
Antioxidant
Disodium EDTA
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Caprylyl Glycol
EmollientChlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Limonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Orange Roughy Oil
Skin Conditioning
Orbignya Oleifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Citrus Grandis Peel Oil
Masking
Ferula Galbaniflua Resin Oil
Antimicrobial
Parfum
Masking
CI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Aminomethyl Propanol, Polysorbate 20, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Panthenol, Phospholipids, Tocopheryl Acetate, Retinyl Palmitate, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Ascorbic Acid, Chitosan, Rice Amino Acids, Zinc Aspartate, Allantoin, Sodium PCA, Lactose, Cellulose, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Propyl Gallate, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Chlorphenesin, Limonene, Linalool, Orange Roughy Oil, Orbignya Oleifera Seed Oil, Citrus Grandis Peel Oil, Ferula Galbaniflua Resin Oil, Parfum, CI 77492
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Laureth Sulfate
Cleansing
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Jojoba Esters
Emollient
Acrylates Copolymer
Glycol Stearate
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Sodium PCA
HumectantDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Glycolic Acid
Buffering
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Polyquaternium-4
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Chloride
Masking
Citric Acid
Buffering
Disodium EDTA
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Methylparaben
Preservative
Propylparaben
Preservative
Water, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Jojoba Esters, Acrylates Copolymer, Glycol Stearate, Butylene Glycol, Sodium PCA, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Glycolic Acid, Lactic Acid, Salicylic Acid, Polyquaternium-4, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Chloride, Citric Acid, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, Methylparaben, Propylparaben
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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 WaterCocamidopropyl 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 BetaineButylene 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.
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 PCADisodium 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 EDTAPhenoxyethanol 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.
Ingredient Ratings
Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these products.
When to use
Murad Essential-C Cleanser 35 ingredients
Murad AHA/BHA Exfoliating Cleanser 21 ingredients
Reviews
Here's what our community thinks
Murad Essential-C Cleanser 35 ingredients
This product thoroughly cleansed my skin, but it left me feeling very dry. It was to the point that I had to immediately put on the rest of my skincare routine right after use or else I’d feel like a vacuum-sealed raisin.
