Versus

Murad Time Release Acne Cleanser Versus The INKEY List Salicylic Acid Cleanser - Europe

Face Cleanser
Face Cleanser
American Brand United States
British Brand United Kingdom

Updated on August 20, 2024

Overview

What they are

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

Cool Features

They both contain Vitamin E

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 and dark spots

Free From

They both do not contain any parabens, silicones or sulfates

What's Inside

They both contain common allergens and fragrances

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
Humectant, Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting

Glycerin 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 Glycerin

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, Skin Conditioning

Betaine is a common humectant (a substance that promotes retention of moisture). It's known to be gentle on the skin and can help balance hydration.

This ingredient is best for improving hydration and soothing irritated skin. Studies also show it helps even out skin tone.

Fun fact: Betaine is naturally created in the skin and body. The kind found within cosmetic products can be either plant-derived or synthetic.

Learn more about Betaine
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

Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate is used to help stabilize a product.

It is a chelating agent, meaning it helps prevent metal ions from binding to other ingredients. This prevents unwanted reactions in products. Metal ions can come into a product via the water ingredient. They are found in trace amounts and are not known to be harmful.

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

12 Routines
33% use in am
67% use in pm
100% use every day
881 Routines
42% use in am
58% use in pm
89% use every day
When to use See routines that use it ->

Reviews

Here's what our community thinks

Murad Time Release Acne Cleanser 57 ingredients

Time Release Acne Cleanser hasn't been rated yet.
Rate it now

The INKEY List Salicylic Acid Cleanser 26 ingredients

3.3 /5
from 12 ratings
Works Well (3) No Scent (3) Great Value (3)
Zygglyzap's avatar

Bianca

6 months ago
Review

TL;DR: works pretty nicely, but can and will dry your skin out. This cleanser would most likely be more compatible with those with oily skin. Use moisturizers and/or toners. A lot of bang for your buck.

I have combination skin, but my T-zone (the nose area specifically) is really, really oily, and the places where my glasses are touching my skin get a lot of gunk because of it. This cleanser Show more

#great value
#drying
#no scent
#works well
Hubayobi's avatar

Hubayobi

1 year ago
Review

Good cleanser
Been using this a lot. Didn’t really do much to my skin, but it’s very cheap and a good daily cleanser for acne prone skin.

#great value
#no scent
#works well