Differin Gentle Cleanser vs Murad Essential-C Cleanser
Murad Essential-C Cleanser scores 8.0/9.8 vs Differin Gentle Cleanser at 6.0/9.8. Murad Essential-C Cleanser wins for hydration.
Head to head
Gentle Cleanser
cleanserbudget
6.0
VS
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Murad Essential-C Cleanser scores 8.0/9.8 vs Differin Gentle Cleanser at 6.0/9.8. Murad Essential-C Cleanser wins for hydration.
Murad Essential-C Cleanser takes this one, winning 4 of 5 attributes.
Scores last verified: April 2026
8 unique
0 in common
32 unique
Where Murad Essential-C Cleanser really shines is hydration efficacy, scoring 8.4 compared to Differin Gentle Cleanser's 4.2. 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 Differin Gentle 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.
Differin Gentle Cleanser is better if you have
Murad Essential-C Cleanser is better if you have
At budget pricing with a score of 6.0, Differin Gentle Cleanser is a decent pick. Murad Essential-C Cleanser sits at the premium level with a 8.0 score — the higher investment pays off in formulation quality.
Murad Essential-C Cleanser wins this comparison with a meaningfully stronger ingredient profile and overall score.
Based on ingredient analysis, Murad Essential-C Cleanser scores higher overall. See the full score breakdown above for details on each attribute.
Yes, they share common ingredients. Check the ingredient face-off section above for a detailed comparison.
The key differences are in their active ingredients and formulation approach. Check the attribute battle above for a detailed breakdown.
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© 2026 Gracie. All rights reserved. Data sourced from Open Beauty Facts (ODbL) and EU CosIng.