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cerave Sérum retinol… vs Murad Essential-C Cl… — Which Is Better? | Gracie

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cerave Sérum retinol anti-marcas vs Murad Essential-C Cleanser

cerave Sérum retinol anti-marcas scores 8.4/9.8 vs Murad Essential-C Cleanser at 8.0/9.8. cerave Sérum retinol anti-marcas wins for active ingredients.

Head to head

cerave

Sérum retinol anti-marcas

moisturiser

8.4

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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

cerave Sérum retinol anti-marcas edges ahead, winning 1 of 5 attributes.

cerave wins 1

Tied 3

Murad wins 1

8.4cerave

+0.4vs

8.0Murad

Scores last verified: April 2026

Attribute battle

Hydration Efficacy

Murad WINS

7.0

8.4

cerave

Murad

Irritation Risk

TIE

9.5

cerave

Murad

Active Ingredient Strength

cerave WINS

8.3

4.4

cerave

Murad

Ingredient Transparency

TIE

8.5

cerave

Murad

Formulation Safety

TIE

8.8

9.0

cerave

Murad

Ingredient face-off

9% overlap

33cerave

3Shared

32Murad

Only in cerave Sérum retinol anti-marcas

30 unique

Aqua/Water Propanediol Dimethicone Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate Niacinamide Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate Hydrogenated Lecithin Potassium Phosphate Ceramide Np+20 more

Shared ingredients

3 in common

Phenoxyethanol Caprylyl Glycol Polysorbate 20

Only in Murad Essential-C Cleanser

29 unique

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

Why cerave Sérum retinol anti-marcas comes out ahead

Where cerave Sérum retinol anti-marcas really shines is active ingredient strength, scoring 8.3 compared to Murad Essential-C Cleanser's 4.4. Its formula features Niacinamide, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, and Ceramide Np in high positions, signalling meaningful concentrations.

Hydration Efficacy is another area of separation. Murad Essential-C Cleanser scores 8.4 here versus 7.0 for cerave Sérum retinol anti-marcas. That difference comes down to how each formula is built — the ingredient list tells the story.

cerave Sérum retinol anti-marcas brings Niacinamide, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, and Ceramide Np 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 Sérum retinol anti-marcas is better if you have

Sensitive skin — the low-irritation formula keeps things gentle
Dry or dehydrated skin that craves moisture, thanks to Hydrogenated Lecithin
Targeting specific concerns like aging or uneven tone — Niacinamide does the heavy lifting

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

Murad Essential-C Cleanser comes in at premium pricing with a 8.0 score, which is solid value at that tier.

Our verdict

✶ Our verdict

+0.4 lead

cerave Sérum retinol anti-marcas edges ahead with a slightly stronger formulation, but Murad Essential-C Cleanser is still a solid pick.

8.4cerave

8.0Murad

Frequently asked questions

Which is better: cerave Sérum retinol anti-marcas or Murad Essential-C Cleanser?

Based on ingredient analysis, cerave Sérum retinol anti-marcas scores higher overall. See the full score breakdown above for details on each attribute.

Do cerave Sérum retinol anti-marcas 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 Sérum retinol anti-marcas 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 Sérum retinol anti-marcas→Full analysis: Murad Essential-C Cleanser→

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