Murad Essential-C Cleanser vs Clinique Acne Solutions™ Cleansing Gel

Murad

Essential-C Cleanser

Clinique

Acne Solutions™ Cleansing Gel

A face cleanser built around Panthenol and Vitamin E, for pollution defence and hydration.

A face cleanser built around Hyaluronic acid, for hydration and pollution defence.

Face cleanser

36 ingredients

20 ingredients

Brand price

USD 38.00 · checked 8 Oct 2026 · brand's site

Brand price

USD 29.00 · checked 8 Oct 2026 · brand's site

No retailer listed yet

At a Glance

They come out differently on Fragrance-free, EU-allergen-free, Sulfate-free, Pore-clogger-free and Cruelty-free; those rows are shaded. Tap any answer to see why.

Key Ingredients

Vitamin E1
Tocopherols — fat-soluble antioxidants.
Tocopheryl Acetate
Vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid)1
L-ascorbic acid, the unesterified form of vitamin C.
Ascorbic Acid
Vitamin C derivative (stable)1
Stable derivatives of ascorbic acid.
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Panthenol (provitamin B5)1
Provitamin B5 — a humectant and soother.
Panthenol

Hyaluronic acid1
Hyaluronic acid and its salts; a humectant that binds water to the skin.
Sodium Hyaluronate

Benefits

Hydrating5
Boosts hydration and relieves dry, tight skin.
Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Lactose, Panthenol, Sodium PCA
Barrier Repair4
Strengthens and restores the skin's natural barrier.
Allantoin, Caprylyl Glycol, Glycerin, Panthenol
Reduces Irritation2
Eases discomfort and supports skin resilience.
Allantoin, Panthenol
Redness Reducing1
Soothes visible redness and calms irritation.
Allantoin

Hydrating5
Boosts hydration and relieves dry, tight skin.
Acetyl Glucosamine, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sucrose
Barrier Repair2
Strengthens and restores the skin's natural barrier.
Glycerin, Laminaria Saccharina Extract
Reduces Irritation1
Eases discomfort and supports skin resilience.
Sucrose
Redness Reducing1
Soothes visible redness and calms irritation.
Sucrose

Concerns

May Trigger Acne2
Can clog pores or trigger breakouts.
Ascorbyl Palmitate, Retinyl Palmitate
May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis7
May feed the yeast involved in seborrheic dermatitis.
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate, Phospholipids, Polysorbate 20, Retinyl Palmitate
May Worsen Keratosis Pilaris2
May clog follicles or strip skin prone to keratosis pilaris.
Ascorbyl Palmitate, Retinyl Palmitate
May Worsen Irritation9
May cause stinging, redness or sensitivity.
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Oil, Citrus Grandis Peel Oil, Citrus Nobilis Peel Oil, Ferula Galbaniflua Resin Oil, Fragrance, Limonene, Linalool, Ocimum Basilicum Oil, Retinyl Palmitate

May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis4
May feed the yeast involved in seborrheic dermatitis.
Acetyl Glucosamine, Lauramidopropyl Betaine, PEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate, Sodium Laureth Sulfate
May Worsen Keratosis Pilaris1
May clog follicles or strip skin prone to keratosis pilaris.
Sodium Laureth Sulfate
May Worsen Eczema1
May worsen itching or irritation for eczema-prone skin.
Sodium Laureth Sulfate
May Worsen Dryness1
Can strip moisture and worsen dryness.
Sodium Laureth Sulfate

Ingredients Side-by-side

Show highlights for:

Water
Skin Conditioning
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
- Fatty esters (glyceryl stearate, PEG-100 stearate)
- May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis
Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate
Cleansing
- Fatty alcohols (Malassezia)
- May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis
Glycerin (in both products)
Humectant
0 / 0
- Possibly animal-derived
- Hydrating
Butylene Glycol (in both products)
Humectant
1 / 0
- Hydrating
Aminomethyl Propanol
Buffering
0 / 0
Polysorbate 20
Cleansing
0 / 0
- Fatty esters (glyceryl stearate, PEG-100 stearate)
- Polysorbates (Tween emulsifiers)
- May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion Stabilising
- Fatty esters (glyceryl stearate, PEG-100 stearate)
- May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
0 / 0
- Panthenol (provitamin B5)
- Barrier Repair
- Hydrating
- Reduces Irritation
Phospholipids
Skin Conditioning
- Fatty esters (glyceryl stearate, PEG-100 stearate)
- May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis

Aqua
Solvent
0 / —
Glycerin (in both products)
Humectant
0 / 0
- Possibly animal-derived
- Hydrating
Sodium Laureth Sulfate
Cleansing
- Fatty alcohols (Malassezia)
- Sulfate surfactants (SLS/SLES)
- May Worsen Dryness
- May Worsen Eczema
- May Worsen Keratosis Pilaris
- May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis
Sodium Chloride
Fragrance
0-1 / —
Lauramidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
- Fatty esters (glyceryl stearate, PEG-100 stearate)
- May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis
Butylene Glycol (in both products)
Humectant
1 / 0
- Hydrating
Sucrose
Humectant
0-1 / —
Gentiana Lutea Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Laminaria Saccharina Extract
Skin Protecting
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
- Under-Eye Care

Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

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

Glycerin
Denaturant, Fragrance, Hair Conditioning, Humectant, Oral Care, Perfuming, Humectant, Skin Protecting, Solvent, Viscosity Controlling
Glycerin may be plant, synthetic or animal depending on the supplier.
Learn more about Glycerin →
Butylene Glycol
Fragrance, Humectant, Skin Conditioning, Solvent, Viscosity Controlling
Butane-1,3-diol (CAS No. 107-88-0/ EC No. 203-529-7) (R)-(-)-butane-1,3-diol” (CAS No. 6290-03-5/ EC No. 228-532-0)
Learn more about Butylene Glycol →
Disodium EDTA
Chelating, Viscosity Controlling
Disodium dihydrogen ethylenediaminetetraacetate
Learn more about Disodium EDTA →
Phenoxyethanol
Antimicrobial, Preservative
Phenoxyethanol is the aromatic ether alcohol that conforms to the formula:
Learn more about Phenoxyethanol →