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Murad Essential-C Cleanser scores 8.0/9.8 and Paula's Choice Skin Recovery Enriched Calming Toner scores 8.1/9.8 — a near-tie where your skin type decides the winner.
These two are neck and neck — just 0.1 points apart.
Scores last verified: April 2026
23 unique
9 in common
19 unique
These two toners 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. Paula's Choice Skin Recovery Enriched Calming Toner scores 9.8 here versus 8.4 for Murad Essential-C Cleanser. That difference comes down to how each formula is built — the ingredient list tells the story.
Paula's Choice Skin Recovery Enriched Calming Toner brings Tocopheryl Acetate, Tocopherol, and Ascorbyl Palmitate 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.
Murad Essential-C Cleanser is better if you have
Paula's Choice Skin Recovery Enriched Calming Toner is better if you have
At premium pricing with a score of 8.0, Murad Essential-C Cleanser is a decent pick. Paula's Choice Skin Recovery Enriched Calming Toner sits at the mid-range level with a 8.1 score — the higher investment pays off in formulation quality.
It's a close call — both products score within 0.3 points of each other. Your choice depends on your specific skin concerns.
Based on ingredient analysis, Paula's Choice Skin Recovery Enriched Calming Toner scores higher overall. See the full score breakdown above for details on each attribute.
Yes, they share common ingredients. Check the ingredient face-off section above for a detailed comparison.
The key differences are in their active ingredients and formulation approach. Check the attribute battle above for a detailed breakdown.
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© 2026 Gracie. All rights reserved. Data sourced from Open Beauty Facts (ODbL) and EU CosIng.