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Clarins Hydrating Ge… vs Murad Essential-C Cl… — Which Is Better? | Gracie

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Clarins Hydrating Gentle Foaming Cleanser vs Murad Essential-C Cleanser

Murad Essential-C Cleanser scores 8.0/9.8 vs Clarins Hydrating Gentle Foaming Cleanser at 6.7/9.8. Murad Essential-C Cleanser wins for hydration.

Head to head

Clarins

Hydrating Gentle Foaming Cleanser

cleanser

6.7

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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 2 of 5 attributes.

Clarins wins 0

Tied 3

Murad wins 2

6.7Clarins

+1.3vs

8.0Murad

Scores last verified: April 2026

Attribute battle

Hydration Efficacy

Murad WINS

4.8

8.4

Clarins

Murad

Irritation Risk

TIE

9.5

Clarins

Murad

Active Ingredient Strength

Murad WINS

2.0

4.4

Clarins

Murad

Ingredient Transparency

TIE

8.5

Clarins

Murad

Formulation Safety

TIE

9.0

Clarins

Murad

Ingredient face-off

9% overlap

28Clarins

3Shared

32Murad

Only in Clarins Hydrating Gentle Foaming Cleanser

25 unique

Aqua/Water/Eau Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate Squalane Propanediol. Glycol Distearate Coconut Acid.Glyceryl Behenate C14-22 Alcohols Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6 Sodium Isethionate+15 more

Shared ingredients

3 in common

Glycerin Chlorphenesin Disodium Edta

Only in Murad Essential-C Cleanser

29 unique

Water (Aqua)Cocamidopropyl Betaine Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate Butylene Glycol Aminomethyl Propanol Polysorbate 20 Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer Panthenol Phospholipids Tocopheryl Acetate+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 Clarins Hydrating Gentle Foaming Cleanser's 4.8. 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 Clarins Hydrating Gentle Foaming 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, while clarins Hydrating Gentle Foaming Cleanser relies on Oleifera Seed Extract, Melissa Officinalis Leaf Extract, and Saponaria Officinalis Leaf Extract. Both approaches have merit, but the positioning and supporting ingredients make the difference.

Best for your skin type

Clarins Hydrating Gentle Foaming 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

+1.3 lead

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

6.7Clarins

8.0Murad

Frequently asked questions

Which is better: Clarins Hydrating Gentle Foaming 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 Clarins Hydrating Gentle Foaming 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 Clarins Hydrating Gentle Foaming 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: Clarins Hydrating Gentle Foaming Cleanser→Full analysis: Murad Essential-C Cleanser→

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