Explore Routine Login

Product Comparison

Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of Peter Thomas Roth Acne-Clear Oil-Free Matte Moisturizer versus Murad Oil and Pore Control Mattifier Broad Spectrum SPF 45 PA++++ .

Published on April 08, 2021

Overview

Cool Features

They both contain hyaluronic acid and Vitamin E

Suited For

They're both likely to be good for fighting acne, dry skin, brightening skin, sensitive skin, oily skin, reducing pores and scar healing

Free From

They both do not contain any oils, parabens or sulfates

What's Inside

They both contain fragrances and silicones

We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that need an update? Let us know.

General Moisturizer American Brand United States
Sunscreen American Brand United States

General Moisturizer

All-purpose moisturizers hydrate the top layer of skin cells.

Sunscreen

Sunscreens help absorb or reflect UV radiation and protect skin against skin damage. Sunscreens may come in the form of lotion, gel, foam, spray, or solid-stick.

Price

Shop

Buy Acne-Clear Oil-Free Matte Moisturizer

Starts at $38.00
Shop

Buy Oil and Pore Control Mattifier Broad Spectrum SPF 45 PA++++

Starts at $30.98

Ingredient Info

Click any item below to learn more and view relevant ingredients.
alcohol-free
silicon-free
fragrance-free
sulfate-free
paraben-free
oil-free
fungal-acne safe
reef-safe
eu-allergen-free
vegan
cruelty-free
alcohol-free
silicon-free
fragrance-free
sulfate-free
paraben-free
oil-free
fungal-acne safe
reef-safe
eu-allergen-free
vegan
cruelty-free
spf rating
45

At a glance

Click on any of the items below to learn more

Notable Ingredients

BHA
Vitamin E
Hyaluronic Acid

Benefits

Hydrating
Good For Oily Skin
Redness Reducing (2)
Reduces Irritation (3)
Reduces Large Pores
Scar Healing (2)
Acne Fighting
Brightening (3)

Concerns

Drying
May Worsen Oily Skin (2)
Acne Trigger
Irritating
Rosacea
Eczema

Notable Ingredients

Chemical UV Filter (4)
Retinoid
Vitamin C
Vitamin E
Hyaluronic Acid

Benefits

Hydrating (3)
Good For Oily Skin
Redness Reducing (3)
Reduces Irritation (2)
Skin Texture (3)
Reduces Large Pores
Anti-Aging (2)
Dark Spots (2)
Scar Healing (3)
Acne Fighting
Brightening (3)

Concerns

Drying
May Worsen Oily Skin
Acne Trigger
Irritating (2)
Rosacea (4)
Eczema (3)
Join our community

Build your routine, track which ingredients work for you, and much more with your free account.

Join SkinSort

Ingredients Compared

Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.

Ingredients Side-by-side

Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.

Learn more about what what Com. / Irr. ratings are

Loading ingredients...

Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

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

1
What it does: Skin Conditioning, Solvent
Community Rating: Loved

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. Talk about multi-purpose! If you see this, drink a glass of water. Stay hydrated!

Learn more about Water

Peter Thomas Roth Acne-Clear Oil-Free Matte Moisturizer contains this as ingredient number 2.

Murad Oil and Pore Control Mattifier Broad Spectrum SPF 45 PA++++ contains this as ingredient number 5.

2
What it does: Humectant, Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting, Solvent
Community Rating: Loved

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

Peter Thomas Roth Acne-Clear Oil-Free Matte Moisturizer contains this as ingredient number 6.

Murad Oil and Pore Control Mattifier Broad Spectrum SPF 45 PA++++ contains this as ingredient number 22.

3
What it does: Emollient, Emulsifying, Emulsion Stabilising
Community Rating: Very Disliked

Cetearyl 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 Alcohol

Peter Thomas Roth Acne-Clear Oil-Free Matte Moisturizer contains this as ingredient number 9.

Murad Oil and Pore Control Mattifier Broad Spectrum SPF 45 PA++++ contains this as ingredient number 12.

4
What it does:
Community Rating: Disliked

We don't have a description for Polysilicone-11.

Peter Thomas Roth Acne-Clear Oil-Free Matte Moisturizer contains this as ingredient number 11.

Murad Oil and Pore Control Mattifier Broad Spectrum SPF 45 PA++++ contains this as ingredient number 7.

5
What it does: Buffering
Community Rating: Mixed

Sodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.

In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.

Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.

"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.

Learn more about Sodium Hydroxide

Peter Thomas Roth Acne-Clear Oil-Free Matte Moisturizer contains this as ingredient number 15.

Murad Oil and Pore Control Mattifier Broad Spectrum SPF 45 PA++++ contains this as ingredient number 36.

6
What it does: Emulsion Stabilising
Community Rating: Disliked

Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6 is a texture enhancer and pH adjuster.

It is be used to thicken water-based products and create a gel-texture with a velvet feel.

One manufacturer claims this ingredient to have a pH range of 2-8 and to be biodegradable.

Learn more about Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6

Peter Thomas Roth Acne-Clear Oil-Free Matte Moisturizer contains this as ingredient number 17.

Murad Oil and Pore Control Mattifier Broad Spectrum SPF 45 PA++++ contains this as ingredient number 35.

7
What it does: Antioxidant, Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Liked

Tocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.

One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.

Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.

Learn more about Tocopheryl Acetate

Peter Thomas Roth Acne-Clear Oil-Free Matte Moisturizer contains this as ingredient number 20.

Murad Oil and Pore Control Mattifier Broad Spectrum SPF 45 PA++++ contains this as ingredient number 17.

8
What it does: Emulsifying, Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Liked

Hydrogenated Lecithin is created from the hydrogenation of lecithin. Hydrogenation is a chemical reaction between molecule hydrogen and another element.

Hydrogenated Lecithin is an emollient and emulsifier. As an emollient, it helps soften skin by trapping moisture within.

The phospholipids in Hydrogenated Lecithin can produce liposomes. Liposomes help other ingredients get through the skin barrier to be better absorbed.

As an emulsifier, it prevents oil and water ingredients from separating.

Learn more about Hydrogenated Lecithin

Peter Thomas Roth Acne-Clear Oil-Free Matte Moisturizer contains this as ingredient number 21.

Murad Oil and Pore Control Mattifier Broad Spectrum SPF 45 PA++++ contains this as ingredient number 31.

9
What it does: Humectant, Masking, Skin Conditioning, Solvent
Community Rating: Mixed

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.

Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient. It is unlikely to irritate skin, and works well with pretty much all other ingredients.

Peter Thomas Roth Acne-Clear Oil-Free Matte Moisturizer contains this as ingredient number 23.

Murad Oil and Pore Control Mattifier Broad Spectrum SPF 45 PA++++ contains this as ingredient number 10.

10
What it does: Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting, Soothing
Community Rating: Loved

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 Allantoin

Peter Thomas Roth Acne-Clear Oil-Free Matte Moisturizer contains this as ingredient number 24.

Murad Oil and Pore Control Mattifier Broad Spectrum SPF 45 PA++++ contains this as ingredient number 20.

11
What it does:
Community Rating: Disliked

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

Peter Thomas Roth Acne-Clear Oil-Free Matte Moisturizer contains this as ingredient number 25.

Murad Oil and Pore Control Mattifier Broad Spectrum SPF 45 PA++++ contains this as ingredient number 37.

12
What it does: Humectant, Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Loved

Sodium Hyaluronate is hyaluronic acid's salt form. It is commonly derived from the sodium salt of hyaluronic acid.

Like hyaluronic acid, it is great at holding water and acts as a humectant. This makes it a great skin hydrating ingredient.

Sodium Hyaluronate is naturally occurring in our bodies and is mostly found in eye fluid and joints.

These are some other common types of Hyaluronic Acid:

Learn more about Sodium Hyaluronate

Peter Thomas Roth Acne-Clear Oil-Free Matte Moisturizer contains this as ingredient number 26.

Murad Oil and Pore Control Mattifier Broad Spectrum SPF 45 PA++++ contains this as ingredient number 19.

13
What it does: Preservative
Community Rating: Very Disliked

Phenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent germ and 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.

Peter Thomas Roth Acne-Clear Oil-Free Matte Moisturizer contains this as ingredient number 29.

Murad Oil and Pore Control Mattifier Broad Spectrum SPF 45 PA++++ contains this as ingredient number 39.

14
What it does: Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Mixed

Ethylhexylglycerin (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.

Peter Thomas Roth Acne-Clear Oil-Free Matte Moisturizer contains this as ingredient number 39.

Murad Oil and Pore Control Mattifier Broad Spectrum SPF 45 PA++++ contains this as ingredient number 38.

Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these two products.

29% are loved or liked
15% have mixed ratings
41% are disliked or very disliked
15% have no rating yet
26% are loved or liked
12% have mixed ratings
44% are disliked or very disliked
19% have no rating yet

Usage

Here's some more info on how this product is used by our community.

When to use

Loading routine usage...
Loading routine usage...

Alternatives

Our Dupe Finder has found 50 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to Peter Thomas Roth Acne-Clear Oil-Free Matte Moisturizer.

See 50 alternatives

Our Dupe Finder has found 20 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to Murad Oil and Pore Control Mattifier Broad Spectrum SPF 45 PA++++.

See 20 alternatives
Loading similar comparisons...