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Arm & Hammer Essenti… vs Murad Essential-C Cl… — Which Is Better? | Gracie

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Arm & Hammer Essentials Moisturizing Shower Gel vs Murad Essential-C Cleanser

Murad Essential-C Cleanser scores 8.0/9.8 vs Arm & Hammer Essentials Moisturizing Shower Gel at 5.2/9.8. Murad Essential-C Cleanser wins for hydration.

Head to head

Arm & Hammer

Essentials Moisturizing Shower Gel

cleanser

5.2

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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

Murad Essential-C Cleanser takes this one, winning 5 of 5 attributes.

Arm & Hammer wins 0

Murad wins 5

5.2Arm & Hammer

+2.8vs

8.0Murad

Scores last verified: April 2026

Attribute battle

Hydration Efficacy

Murad WINS

2.0

8.4

Arm & Hammer

Murad

Irritation Risk

Murad WINS

7.4

9.5

Arm & Hammer

Murad

Active Ingredient Strength

Murad WINS

2.0

4.4

Arm & Hammer

Murad

Ingredient Transparency

Murad WINS

7.8

8.5

Arm & Hammer

Murad

Formulation Safety

Murad WINS

8.0

9.0

Arm & Hammer

Murad

Ingredient face-off

6% overlap

16Arm & Hammer

2Shared

32Murad

Only in Arm & Hammer Essentials Moisturizing Shower Gel

14 unique

Water Sodium Laureth Sulfate Sodium Chloride Lauryl Glucoside Cocamide Mea Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Extract Fragrance Polyquaternium-7 Sodium Bicarbonate Citric Acid+4 more

Shared ingredients

2 in common

Cocamidopropyl Betaine Disodium Edta

Only in Murad Essential-C Cleanser

30 unique

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

Why Murad Essential-C Cleanser comes out ahead

Where Murad Essential-C Cleanser really shines is hydration efficacy, scoring 8.4 compared to Arm & Hammer Essentials Moisturizing Shower Gel's 2.0. With Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, and Panthenol in its top ingredients, Murad Essential-C Cleanser delivers stronger moisture-binding capability.

Active Ingredient Strength is another area of separation. Murad Essential-C Cleanser scores 4.4 here versus 2.0 for Arm & Hammer Essentials Moisturizing Shower Gel. That difference comes down to how each formula is built — the ingredient list tells the story.

Murad Essential-C Cleanser brings Tocopheryl Acetate, Retinyl Palmitate, and Ascorbyl Palmitate as actives, while arm & Hammer Essentials Moisturizing Shower Gel relies on Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Extract. Both approaches have merit, but the positioning and supporting ingredients make the difference.

Best for your skin type

Arm & Hammer Essentials Moisturizing Shower Gel is better if you have

Sensitive skin — the low-irritation formula keeps things gentle
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

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

+2.8 lead

Murad Essential-C Cleanser wins this comparison with a meaningfully stronger ingredient profile and overall score.

5.2Arm & Hammer

8.0Murad

Frequently asked questions

Which is better: Arm & Hammer Essentials Moisturizing Shower Gel or Murad Essential-C Cleanser?

Based on ingredient analysis, Murad Essential-C Cleanser scores higher overall. See the full score breakdown above for details on each attribute.

Do Arm & Hammer Essentials Moisturizing Shower Gel 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 Arm & Hammer Essentials Moisturizing Shower Gel 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: Arm & Hammer Essentials Moisturizing Shower Gel→Full analysis: Murad Essential-C Cleanser→

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