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Clinique Clinique Fo… vs Murad Essential-C Cl… — Which Is Better? | Gracie

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/Clinique Clinique For Men Charcoal Face Wash
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/Murad Essential-C Cleanser

Clinique Clinique For Men Charcoal Face Wash vs Murad Essential-C Cleanser

Murad Essential-C Cleanser scores 8.0/9.8 vs Clinique Clinique For Men Charcoal Face Wash at 6.4/9.8. Murad Essential-C Cleanser wins for hydration.

Head to head

Clinique

Clinique For Men Charcoal Face Wash

cleanser

6.4

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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 2 of 5 attributes.

Clinique wins 0

Tied 3

Murad wins 2

6.4Clinique

+1.6vs

8.0Murad

Scores last verified: April 2026

Attribute battle

Hydration Efficacy

Murad WINS

3.7

8.4

Clinique

Murad

Irritation Risk

TIE

9.5

Clinique

Murad

Active Ingredient Strength

Murad WINS

2.0

4.4

Clinique

Murad

Ingredient Transparency

TIE

8.5

Clinique

Murad

Formulation Safety

TIE

9.0

Clinique

Murad

Ingredient face-off

13% overlap

22Clinique

4Shared

32Murad

Only in Clinique Clinique For Men Charcoal Face Wash

18 unique

Water / Aqua / Eau Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine Coco-Betaine Sodium Lauroyl Oat Amino Acids Decyl Glucoside Sodium Cocoyl Sarcosinate Acrylates Copolymer Sodium Chloride Disodium Cocoyl Glutamate Caffeine+8 more

Shared ingredients

4 in common

Glycerin Butylene Glycol Disodium Edta Phenoxyethanol

Only in Murad Essential-C Cleanser

28 unique

Water (Aqua)Cocamidopropyl Betaine Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate Aminomethyl Propanol Polysorbate 20 Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer Panthenol Phospholipids Tocopheryl Acetate Retinyl Palmitate+18 more

Why Murad Essential-C Cleanser comes out ahead

Where Murad Essential-C Cleanser really shines is hydration efficacy, scoring 8.4 compared to Clinique Clinique For Men Charcoal Face Wash's 3.7. 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 Clinique Clinique For Men Charcoal Face Wash. 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 clinique Clinique For Men Charcoal Face Wash relies on Caffeine and Charcoal Powder. Both approaches have merit, but the positioning and supporting ingredients make the difference.

Best for your skin type

Clinique Clinique For Men Charcoal Face Wash 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

+1.6 lead

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

6.4Clinique

8.0Murad

Frequently asked questions

Which is better: Clinique Clinique For Men Charcoal Face Wash 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 Clinique Clinique For Men Charcoal Face Wash 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 Clinique Clinique For Men Charcoal Face Wash 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: Clinique Clinique For Men Charcoal Face Wash→Full analysis: Murad Essential-C Cleanser→

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