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Murad Retinol Youth Renewal Firming & Smoothing Serum with Hyaluronic Acid vs The INKEY List 360 Acne Clearing Serum with Dioic & Salicylic Acid

The INKEY List 360 Acne Clearing Serum with Dioic & Salicylic Acid scores 8.8/9.8 vs Murad Retinol Youth Renewal Firming & Smoothing Serum with Hyaluronic Acid at 8.5/9.8. The INKEY List 360 Acne Clearing Serum with Dioic & Salicylic Acid wins for hydration.

Head to head

Murad Retinol Youth Renewal Firming & Smoothing Serum with Hyaluronic Acid
Murad

Retinol Youth Renewal Firming & Smoothing Serum with Hyaluronic Acid

serumluxury
8.5
VS
The INKEY List 360 Acne Clearing Serum with Dioic & Salicylic Acid
The INKEY List

360 Acne Clearing Serum with Dioic & Salicylic Acid

serummid-range
8.8

Score comparison

The INKEY List 360 Acne Clearing Serum with Dioic & Salicylic Acid edges ahead, winning 1 of 5 attributes.

1
3
1
Murad wins 1
Tied 3
The INKEY List wins 1
8.5Murad
+0.3vs
8.8The INKEY List

Scores last verified: July 2026

Attribute battle

Hydration Efficacy

Murad WINS
9.8
7.5
Murad
The INKEY List

Irritation Risk

TIE
9.5
9.5
Murad
The INKEY List

Active Ingredient Strength

TIE
5.1
5.3
Murad
The INKEY List

Ingredient Transparency

TIE
8.5
8.5
Murad
The INKEY List

Formulation Safety

The INKEY List WINS
8.5
9.0
Murad
The INKEY List

Why The INKEY List 360 Acne Clearing Serum with Dioic & Salicylic Acid comes out ahead

Where The INKEY List 360 Acne Clearing Serum with Dioic & Salicylic Acid really shines is hydration efficacy, scoring 7.5 compared to Murad Retinol Youth Renewal Firming & Smoothing Serum with Hyaluronic Acid's 9.8. With Glycerin, Propanediol, and Panthenol in its top ingredients, The INKEY List 360 Acne Clearing Serum with Dioic & Salicylic Acid delivers stronger moisture-binding capability.

Formulation Safety is another area of separation. The INKEY List 360 Acne Clearing Serum with Dioic & Salicylic Acid scores 9.0 here versus 8.5 for Murad Retinol Youth Renewal Firming & Smoothing Serum with Hyaluronic Acid. That difference comes down to how each formula is built — the ingredient list tells the story.

The INKEY List 360 Acne Clearing Serum with Dioic & Salicylic Acid brings Salicylic Acid, Zinc Pca, and Lactic Acid as actives, while murad Retinol Youth Renewal Firming & Smoothing Serum with Hyaluronic Acid relies on Retinol, Ceramide Np, and Solanum Lycopersicum (Tomato) Fruit Extract. Both approaches have merit, but the positioning and supporting ingredients make the difference.

Best for your skin type

Murad Retinol Youth Renewal Firming & Smoothing Serum with Hyaluronic Acid is better if you have

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

The INKEY List 360 Acne Clearing Serum with Dioic & Salicylic Acid 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 luxury pricing with a score of 8.5, Murad Retinol Youth Renewal Firming & Smoothing Serum with Hyaluronic Acid is a decent pick. The INKEY List 360 Acne Clearing Serum with Dioic & Salicylic Acid sits at the mid-range level with a 8.8 score — the higher investment pays off in formulation quality.

Our verdict

✶ Our verdict
+0.3 lead

The INKEY List 360 Acne Clearing Serum with Dioic & Salicylic Acid edges ahead with a slightly stronger formulation, but Murad Retinol Youth Renewal Firming & Smoothing Serum with Hyaluronic Acid is still a solid pick.

8.5Murad
vs
8.8The INKEY List

Frequently asked questions

Which is better: Murad Retinol Youth Renewal Firming & Smoothing Serum with Hyaluronic Acid or The INKEY List 360 Acne Clearing Serum with Dioic & Salicylic Acid?

Based on ingredient analysis, The INKEY List 360 Acne Clearing Serum with Dioic & Salicylic Acid scores higher overall. See the full score breakdown above for details on each attribute.

Do Murad Retinol Youth Renewal Firming & Smoothing Serum with Hyaluronic Acid and The INKEY List 360 Acne Clearing Serum with Dioic & Salicylic Acid share ingredients?

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

What's the main difference between Murad Retinol Youth Renewal Firming & Smoothing Serum with Hyaluronic Acid and The INKEY List 360 Acne Clearing Serum with Dioic & Salicylic Acid?

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