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cerave PM Facial Moi… vs Murad Essential-C Cl… — Which Is Better? | Gracie

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cerave PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion vs Murad Essential-C Cleanser

cerave PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion scores 8.2/9.8 and Murad Essential-C Cleanser scores 8.0/9.8 — a near-tie where your skin type decides the winner.

Head to head

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cerave

PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion

moisturiserbudget

8.2

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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.

Murad

Essential-C Cleanser

cleanserpremium

8.0

Score comparison

These two are neck and neck — just 0.2 points apart.

cerave wins 1

Tied 3

Murad wins 1

8.2cerave

8.0Murad

Scores last verified: April 2026

Attribute battle

Hydration Efficacy

Murad WINS

7.5

8.4

cerave

Murad

Irritation Risk

TIE

9.5

cerave

Murad

Active Ingredient Strength

cerave WINS

6.4

4.4

cerave

Murad

Ingredient Transparency

TIE

8.5

cerave

Murad

Formulation Safety

TIE

9.0

cerave

Murad

Ingredient face-off

9% overlap

23cerave

3Shared

32Murad

Only in cerave PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion

20 unique

Aqua/Water Cetearyl Alcohol Ceteareth-20 Cetyl Alcohol Dimethicone Niacinamide Potassium Phosphate Ceramide Np Ceramide Ap Ceramide Eop+10 more

Shared ingredients

3 in common

Glycerin Phenoxyethanol Disodium Edta

Only in Murad Essential-C Cleanser

29 unique

Water (Aqua)Cocamidopropyl Betaine Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate Butylene Glycol Aminomethyl Propanol Polysorbate 20 Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer Panthenol Phospholipids Tocopheryl Acetate+19 more

Why these two are neck and neck

These two moisturisers take different paths to a similar destination. Both formulas include solid hydrating ingredients, and the overall scores reflect that — the gap here is genuinely slim.

Hydration Efficacy is another area of separation. Murad Essential-C Cleanser scores 8.4 here versus 7.5 for cerave PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion. That difference comes down to how each formula is built — the ingredient list tells the story.

cerave PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion brings Niacinamide, Ceramide Np, and Ceramide Ap as actives, while murad Essential-C Cleanser relies on Tocopheryl Acetate, Retinyl Palmitate, and Ascorbyl Palmitate. Both approaches have merit, but the positioning and supporting ingredients make the difference.

Best for your skin type

cerave PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion 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 Essential-C Cleanser 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 8.2, cerave PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion delivers strong value. Murad Essential-C Cleanser sits at the premium level with a 8.0 score — the extra cost doesn't translate to better scores here.

Our verdict

✶ Our verdict

It's a close call — both products score within 0.3 points of each other. Your choice depends on your specific skin concerns.

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8.2cerave

8.0Murad

Frequently asked questions

Which is better: cerave PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion or Murad Essential-C Cleanser?

Based on ingredient analysis, cerave PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion scores higher overall. See the full score breakdown above for details on each attribute.

Do cerave PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion and Murad Essential-C Cleanser 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 PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion and Murad Essential-C Cleanser?

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

Full analysis: cerave PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion→Full analysis: Murad Essential-C Cleanser→

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