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Dr. Althea 147 Barri… vs Murad Nutrient-Charg… — Which Is Better? | Gracie

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/Dr. Althea 147 Barrier Cream
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/Murad Nutrient-Charged Water Gel

Dr. Althea 147 Barrier Cream vs Murad Nutrient-Charged Water Gel

Murad Nutrient-Charged Water Gel scores 9.4/9.8 vs Dr. Althea 147 Barrier Cream at 8.3/9.8. Murad Nutrient-Charged Water Gel wins for active ingredients.

Head to head

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Dr. Althea

147 Barrier Cream

moisturiser

8.3

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Ingredients

Niacinamide
Retinol
Hyaluronic Acid
Salicylic Acid

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Honest skincare intel. No jargon, no gatekeeping — just the ingredients decoded.

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Murad

Nutrient-Charged Water Gel

moisturiserpremium

9.4

Score comparison

Murad Nutrient-Charged Water Gel takes this one, winning 1 of 5 attributes.

Dr. Althea wins 1

Tied 3

Murad wins 1

8.3Dr. Althea

+1.1vs

9.4Murad

Scores last verified: April 2026

Attribute battle

Hydration Efficacy

TIE

9.8

Dr. Althea

Murad

Irritation Risk

TIE

9.5

Dr. Althea

Murad

Active Ingredient Strength

Murad WINS

3.5

9.8

Dr. Althea

Murad

Ingredient Transparency

Dr. Althea WINS

8.8

8.5

Dr. Althea

Murad

Formulation Safety

TIE

9.0

Dr. Althea

Murad

Ingredient face-off

17% overlap

53Dr. Althea

10Shared

60Murad

Only in Dr. Althea 147 Barrier Cream

43 unique

Water Dipropylene Glycol Cetearyl Alcohol Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride Methyl Trimethicone Hydrogenated Polydecene Phenyl Trimethicone Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer Glyceryl Stearate Se Cetearyl Olivate+33 more

Shared ingredients

10 in common

Glycerin 2-Hexanediol Butylene Glycol Ceramide Np Ethylhexylglycerin Cholesterol Sodium Hyaluronate Maltodextrin Carbomer Phenoxyethanol

Only in Murad Nutrient-Charged Water Gel

50 unique

Water/Aqua/Eau Dimethicone Propanediol Saccharide Isomerate Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer Hydroxyethyl Urea Isononyl Isononanoate Ceramide Ap Ceramide Eop Sh-Oligopeptide-1+40 more

Why Murad Nutrient-Charged Water Gel comes out ahead

Where Murad Nutrient-Charged Water Gel really shines is active ingredient strength, scoring 9.8 compared to Dr. Althea 147 Barrier Cream's 3.5. Its formula features Ceramide Np, Ceramide Ap, and Ceramide Eop in high positions, signalling meaningful concentrations.

Ingredient Transparency is another area of separation. Dr. Althea 147 Barrier Cream scores 8.8 here versus 8.5 for Murad Nutrient-Charged Water Gel. That difference comes down to how each formula is built — the ingredient list tells the story.

Murad Nutrient-Charged Water Gel brings Ceramide Np, Ceramide Ap, and Ceramide Eop as actives, while dr. Althea 147 Barrier Cream relies on Ceramide Np, Artemisia Princeps Leaf Extract, and Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Fruit Extract. Both approaches have merit, but the positioning and supporting ingredients make the difference.

Best for your skin type

Dr. Althea 147 Barrier Cream 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

Murad Nutrient-Charged Water Gel is better if you have

Sensitive skin — the low-irritation formula keeps things gentle
Dry or dehydrated skin that craves moisture, thanks to Glycerin
Targeting specific concerns like aging or uneven tone — Ceramide Np does the heavy lifting

Value comparison

Murad Nutrient-Charged Water Gel comes in at premium pricing with a 9.4 score, which is solid value at that tier.

Our verdict

✶ Our verdict

+1.1 lead

Murad Nutrient-Charged Water Gel wins this comparison with a meaningfully stronger ingredient profile and overall score.

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8.3Dr. Althea

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9.4Murad

Frequently asked questions

Which is better: Dr. Althea 147 Barrier Cream or Murad Nutrient-Charged Water Gel?

Based on ingredient analysis, Murad Nutrient-Charged Water Gel scores higher overall. See the full score breakdown above for details on each attribute.

Do Dr. Althea 147 Barrier Cream and Murad Nutrient-Charged Water Gel share ingredients?

Yes, they share common ingredients. Check the ingredient face-off section above for a detailed comparison.

What's the main difference between Dr. Althea 147 Barrier Cream and Murad Nutrient-Charged Water Gel?

The key differences are in their active ingredients and formulation approach. Check the attribute battle above for a detailed breakdown.

Full analysis: Dr. Althea 147 Barrier Cream→Full analysis: Murad Nutrient-Charged Water Gel→

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