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cerave Moisturizing… vs Murad City Skin Age… — Which Is Better? | Gracie

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cerave Moisturizing Cream vs Murad City Skin Age Defense Broad Spectrum SPF 50

Murad City Skin Age Defense Broad Spectrum SPF 50 scores 8.4/9.8 vs cerave Moisturizing Cream at 8.1/9.8. Murad City Skin Age Defense Broad Spectrum SPF 50 wins for hydration.

Head to head

cerave

Moisturizing Cream

moisturiserbudget

8.1

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Ingredients

Niacinamide
Retinol
Hyaluronic Acid
Salicylic Acid

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Honest skincare intel. No jargon, no gatekeeping — just the ingredients decoded.

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Murad

City Skin Age Defense Broad Spectrum SPF 50

spfpremium

8.4

Score comparison

Murad City Skin Age Defense Broad Spectrum SPF 50 edges ahead, winning 1 of 5 attributes.

cerave wins 1

Tied 3

Murad wins 1

8.1cerave

+0.3vs

8.4Murad

Scores last verified: April 2026

Attribute battle

Hydration Efficacy

Murad WINS

8.1

9.8

cerave

Murad

Irritation Risk

TIE

9.5

cerave

Murad

Active Ingredient Strength

cerave WINS

5.4

4.5

cerave

Murad

Ingredient Transparency

TIE

8.5

cerave

Murad

Formulation Safety

TIE

9.0

cerave

Murad

Ingredient face-off

10% overlap

23cerave

4Shared

42Murad

Only in cerave Moisturizing Cream

19 unique

Aqua/Water Cetearyl Alcohol Cetyl Alcohol Ceteareth-20 Petrolatum Potassium Phosphate Ceramide Np Ceramide Ap Ceramide Eop Carbomer+9 more

Shared ingredients

4 in common

Glycerin Dimethicone Phenoxyethanol Ethylhexylglycerin

Only in Murad City Skin Age Defense Broad Spectrum SPF 50

38 unique

Titanium Dioxide Zinc Oxide Water (Aqua)Cyclopentasiloxane C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil Tocopheryl Acetate Polyurethane-35 Polyglyceryl-3 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone Polymethylsilsesquioxane

Why Murad City Skin Age Defense Broad Spectrum SPF 50 comes out ahead

Where Murad City Skin Age Defense Broad Spectrum SPF 50 really shines is hydration efficacy, scoring 9.8 compared to cerave Moisturizing Cream's 8.1. With Glycerin, Urea, and Trehalose in its top ingredients, Murad City Skin Age Defense Broad Spectrum SPF 50 delivers stronger moisture-binding capability.

Active Ingredient Strength is another area of separation. cerave Moisturizing Cream scores 5.4 here versus 4.5 for Murad City Skin Age Defense Broad Spectrum SPF 50. That difference comes down to how each formula is built — the ingredient list tells the story.

Murad City Skin Age Defense Broad Spectrum SPF 50 brings Tocopheryl Acetate, Avena Sativa (Oat) Kernel Extract, and Retinyl Palmitate as actives, while cerave Moisturizing Cream relies on Ceramide Np, Ceramide Ap, and Ceramide Eop. Both approaches have merit, but the positioning and supporting ingredients make the difference.

Best for your skin type

cerave Moisturizing Cream is better if you have

Sensitive skin — the low-irritation formula keeps things gentle
Dry or dehydrated skin that craves moisture, thanks to Glycerin
Anyone who prefers clean, well-vetted formulations

Murad City Skin Age Defense Broad Spectrum SPF 50 is better if you have

Sensitive skin — the low-irritation formula keeps things gentle
Dry or dehydrated skin that craves moisture, thanks to Glycerin
Anyone who prefers clean, well-vetted formulations

Value comparison

At budget pricing with a score of 8.1, cerave Moisturizing Cream is a decent pick. Murad City Skin Age Defense Broad Spectrum SPF 50 sits at the premium level with a 8.4 score — the higher investment pays off in formulation quality.

Our verdict

✶ Our verdict

+0.3 lead

Murad City Skin Age Defense Broad Spectrum SPF 50 edges ahead with a slightly stronger formulation, but cerave Moisturizing Cream is still a solid pick.

8.1cerave

✶

8.4Murad

Frequently asked questions

Which is better: cerave Moisturizing Cream or Murad City Skin Age Defense Broad Spectrum SPF 50?

Based on ingredient analysis, Murad City Skin Age Defense Broad Spectrum SPF 50 scores higher overall. See the full score breakdown above for details on each attribute.

Do cerave Moisturizing Cream and Murad City Skin Age Defense Broad Spectrum SPF 50 share ingredients?

Yes, they share common ingredients. Check the ingredient face-off section above for a detailed comparison.

What's the main difference between cerave Moisturizing Cream and Murad City Skin Age Defense Broad Spectrum SPF 50?

The key differences are in their active ingredients and formulation approach. Check the attribute battle above for a detailed breakdown.

Full analysis: cerave Moisturizing Cream→Full analysis: Murad City Skin Age Defense Broad Spectrum SPF 50→

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