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Duke Cannon Hydratin… vs Murad Essential-C Cl… — Which Is Better? | Gracie

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Duke Cannon Hydrating Face Wash vs Murad Essential-C Cleanser

Murad Essential-C Cleanser scores 8.0/9.8 vs Duke Cannon Hydrating Face Wash at 6.7/9.8. Murad Essential-C Cleanser wins for hydration.

Head to head

Duke Cannon

Hydrating Face Wash

cleanser

6.7

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Niacinamide
Retinol
Hyaluronic Acid
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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.

Duke Cannon wins 0

Tied 3

Murad wins 2

6.7Duke Cannon

+1.3vs

8.0Murad

Scores last verified: April 2026

Attribute battle

Hydration Efficacy

Murad WINS

3.4

8.4

Duke Cannon

Murad

Irritation Risk

TIE

9.5

Duke Cannon

Murad

Active Ingredient Strength

Murad WINS

4.0

4.4

Duke Cannon

Murad

Ingredient Transparency

TIE

8.5

Duke Cannon

Murad

Formulation Safety

TIE

9.0

Duke Cannon

Murad

Ingredient face-off

9% overlap

23Duke Cannon

3Shared

32Murad

Only in Duke Cannon Hydrating Face Wash

20 unique

Water (Aqua/Eau)Sodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate Methyl Gluceth-10 Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside Coco-Glucoside Sodium Methyl Oleoyl Taurate Magnesium Sulfate Albe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Niacinamide (Vitamin B3)Sodium Hyaluronate (Hyaluronic Acid)+10 more

Shared ingredients

3 in common

Cocamidopropyl Betaine Phenoxyethanol Caprylyl Glycol

Only in Murad Essential-C Cleanser

29 unique

Water (Aqua)Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate Glycerin 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 Duke Cannon Hydrating Face Wash's 3.4. 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 4.0 for Duke Cannon Hydrating 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 duke Cannon Hydrating Face Wash relies on Albe Barbadensis Leaf Juice and Lactic Acid. Both approaches have merit, but the positioning and supporting ingredients make the difference.

Best for your skin type

Duke Cannon Hydrating 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

+1.3 lead

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

6.7Duke Cannon

8.0Murad

Frequently asked questions

Which is better: Duke Cannon Hydrating 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 Duke Cannon Hydrating 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 Duke Cannon Hydrating 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: Duke Cannon Hydrating Face Wash→Full analysis: Murad Essential-C Cleanser→

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