Peter Thomas Roth Acne Clearing Wash Versus Murad Clarifying Cleanser

See how these products line up with your preferences

Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of Peter Thomas Roth Acne Clearing Wash versus Murad Clarifying Cleanser .

Published on April 08, 2021

Overview

What they are

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

Free From

They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, parabens or silicones

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 need an update? Let us know.

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Peter Thomas Roth Acne Clearing Wash

Murad Clarifying Cleanser

Face Cleanser American Brand United States

Face Cleanser

Face cleansers are used to remove makeup, dead skin cells, pollutants, oil, dirt, and/or clean out pores on the skin. Face cleansers may specialize in having one function (exa. just removing makeup) or may have multiple functions (exa. Removing makeup and cleaning pores).

Face Cleanser

Price

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Buy Acne Clearing Wash

Starts at $39.00

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Buy Clarifying Cleanser

Starts at $36.00

Ingredient Info

Click any item below to learn more and view relevant ingredients.

Peter Thomas Roth Acne Clearing Wash 30 ingredients

Murad Clarifying Cleanser 31 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

At a glance

Click on any of the items below to learn more

Peter Thomas Roth Acne Clearing Wash 30 ingredients

Murad Clarifying Cleanser 31 ingredients

Notable Ingredients

AHA

Vitamin E

Benefits

Redness Reducing

Reduces Irritation (2)

Skin Texture

Reduces Large Pores

Scar Healing (2)

Brightening (2)

Concerns

Drying

Acne Trigger

Irritating (4)

Rosacea (5)

Eczema (3)

Notable Ingredients

Exfoliators

Concerns

May Worsen Oily Skin

Irritating (3)

Rosacea (2)

Eczema (3)

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Ingredients Compared

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

Peter Thomas Roth Acne Clearing Wash 30 ingredients

Murad Clarifying Cleanser 31 ingredients

Allantoin • BHA • Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane • Butylphenyl Methylpropional • Citric Acid • Cocamidopropyl Betaine • Disodium EDTA • Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate • Ethylhexyl Salicylate • Parfum • Lauryl Glucoside • Limonene • Linalool • Panthenol • Peg-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate • Peg-150 Pentaerythrityl Tetrastearate • Peg-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil • Peg-6 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides • Phenoxyethanol • Potassium Sorbate • Ppg-26-Buteth-26 • Propylene Glycol • Sodium Benzoate • Sodium Benzotriazolyl Butylphenol Sulfonate • Sodium Chloride • Sodium Citrate • Sodium Hydroxide • Sodium Laureth Sulfate • Tocopherol • Water

Ingredients Side-by-side

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

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

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Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

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

Citric Acid

What it does: Buffering, Masking

Community Rating: Disliked

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

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.

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 look more even.

Read more about some other popular AHA's here:

Learn more about Citric Acid

Peter Thomas Roth Acne Clearing Wash contains this as ingredient number 5.

Murad Clarifying Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 19.

Cocamidopropyl Betaine

What it does: Cleansing

Community Rating: Disliked

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

Cocamidopropyl Betaine 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

Peter Thomas Roth Acne Clearing Wash contains this as ingredient number 6.

Murad Clarifying Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 2.

Parfum

What it does: Masking, Perfuming

Community Rating: Very Disliked

Parfum is a catch-all term for an ingredient or more that is used to give aroma to products. Parfum, or fragrance, can be a blend of hundreds of chemicals or plant oils. This means every product with "fragrance" or "Parfum" in the ingredients list is a different mixture.

In the US, the alternative name for parfum is 'fragrance'. The term 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term.

For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance. One example is Calendula flower extract. Essential oil ingredients still impart a scent or 'fragrance'.

Depending on the blend, it can cause allergies and sensitivities on the skin. Some ingredients that are known EU allergens include linalool and citronellol.

Products use parfum often to give products a scent or cover up smells of different ingredients.

The bottom line is: not all fragrances/parfum/ingredients are created equally. If you are worried about fragrances, we recommend taking a closer look at an ingredient. And of course, we always recommend speaking with a professional.

Learn more about Parfum

Peter Thomas Roth Acne Clearing Wash contains this as ingredient number 10.

Murad Clarifying Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 31.

Limonene

What it does: Perfuming, Solvent

Community Rating: Very Disliked

Limonene is a fragrance that adds scent and taste to a formulation.

It's found in the peel oil of citrus fruits and other plants such as lavender and eucalyptus. The scent of limonene is generally described as "sweet citrus".

Limonene acts as an antioxidant, meaning it helps neutralize free radicals.

When exposed to air, oxidized limonene may sensitize the skin. Because of this, limonene is often avoided by people with sensitive skin.

The term 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term. For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance.

Learn more about Limonene

Peter Thomas Roth Acne Clearing Wash contains this as ingredient number 12.

Murad Clarifying Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 23.

Peg-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil

What it does: Emulsifying

Community Rating: Very Disliked

Peg-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil is derived from castor oil and polyethylene glycol (PEG). It is used as a emollient and emulsifier.

As an emulsifier, it helps prevent ingredients from separating. It also helps make the other ingredients more soluble; it is often used to solubilize fragrances. This increases spreadability and elongates shelf life in a product.

Emollients help soothe and soften the skin. They do this by creating a protective film on your skin. This barrier helps trap moisture and keeps your skin hydrated. Emollients may be effective at treating dry or itchy skin.

This ingredient may or may not be vegan, depending on the source.

Peg-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil may not be fungal-acne safe. We recommend speaking with a professional if you have any questions or concerns.

Learn more about Peg-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil

Peter Thomas Roth Acne Clearing Wash contains this as ingredient number 17.

Murad Clarifying Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 6.

Ppg-26-Buteth-26

What it does: Skin Conditioning

Community Rating: Disliked

We don't have a description for Ppg-26-Buteth-26.

Peter Thomas Roth Acne Clearing Wash contains this as ingredient number 21.

Murad Clarifying Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 5.

Water

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 Clearing Wash contains this as ingredient number 30.

Murad Clarifying Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 1.

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