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Aveeno Positively Ra… vs Murad Essential-C Cl… — Which Is Better? | Gracie

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/Murad Essential-C Cleanser

Aveeno Positively Radiant Brightening Facial Cleanser vs Murad Essential-C Cleanser

Murad Essential-C Cleanser scores 8.0/9.8 vs Aveeno Positively Radiant Brightening Facial Cleanser at 5.9/9.8. Murad Essential-C Cleanser wins for hydration.

Head to head

Aveeno

Positively Radiant Brightening Facial Cleanser

cleanser

5.9

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Niacinamide
Retinol
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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 4 of 5 attributes.

Aveeno wins 1

Murad wins 4

5.9Aveeno

+2.1vs

8.0Murad

Scores last verified: April 2026

Attribute battle

Hydration Efficacy

Murad WINS

4.0

8.4

Aveeno

Murad

Irritation Risk

Murad WINS

7.4

9.5

Aveeno

Murad

Active Ingredient Strength

Murad WINS

2.0

4.4

Aveeno

Murad

Ingredient Transparency

Aveeno WINS

8.8

8.5

Aveeno

Murad

Formulation Safety

Murad WINS

8.0

9.0

Aveeno

Murad

Ingredient face-off

9% overlap

24Aveeno

3Shared

32Murad

Only in Aveeno Positively Radiant Brightening Facial Cleanser

21 unique

Water Sodium Laureth Sulfate Acrylates Copolymer Peg-80 Sorbitan Laurate Coco-Glucoside Di-Ppg-2 Myreth-10 Adipate Glyceryl Oleate Fragrance Dmdm Hydantoin Soyamidopropyl Betaine+11 more

Shared ingredients

3 in common

Cocamidopropyl Betaine Glycerin Butylene Glycol

Only in Murad Essential-C Cleanser

29 unique

Water (Aqua)Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate Aminomethyl Propanol Polysorbate 20 Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer Panthenol Phospholipids Tocopheryl Acetate Retinyl Palmitate Ascorbyl Palmitate+19 more

Why Murad Essential-C Cleanser comes out ahead

Where Murad Essential-C Cleanser really shines is hydration efficacy, scoring 8.4 compared to Aveeno Positively Radiant Brightening Facial Cleanser's 4.0. 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 Aveeno Positively Radiant Brightening Facial Cleanser. 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, giving it an edge in targeted skincare benefits.

Best for your skin type

Aveeno Positively Radiant Brightening Facial Cleanser 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

+2.1 lead

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

5.9Aveeno

8.0Murad

Frequently asked questions

Which is better: Aveeno Positively Radiant Brightening Facial Cleanser 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 Aveeno Positively Radiant Brightening Facial Cleanser 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 Aveeno Positively Radiant Brightening Facial Cleanser 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: Aveeno Positively Radiant Brightening Facial Cleanser→Full analysis: Murad Essential-C Cleanser→

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