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HONEST Refresh Shamp… vs Murad Essential-C Cl… — Which Is Better? | Gracie

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/HONEST Refresh Shampoo + Body Wash Citrus Vanilla
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/Murad Essential-C Cleanser

HONEST Refresh Shampoo + Body Wash Citrus Vanilla vs Murad Essential-C Cleanser

Murad Essential-C Cleanser scores 8.0/9.8 vs HONEST Refresh Shampoo + Body Wash Citrus Vanilla at 7.0/9.8. Murad Essential-C Cleanser wins for hydration.

Head to head

HONEST

Refresh Shampoo + Body Wash Citrus Vanilla

cleanser

7.0

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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.

HONEST wins 0

Tied 3

Murad wins 2

7.0HONEST

+1.0vs

8.0Murad

Scores last verified: April 2026

Attribute battle

Hydration Efficacy

Murad WINS

5.5

8.4

HONEST

Murad

Irritation Risk

TIE

9.5

HONEST

Murad

Active Ingredient Strength

Murad WINS

2.7

4.4

HONEST

Murad

Ingredient Transparency

TIE

8.5

HONEST

Murad

Formulation Safety

TIE

9.0

HONEST

Murad

Ingredient face-off

16% overlap

28HONEST

5Shared

32Murad

Only in HONEST Refresh Shampoo + Body Wash Citrus Vanilla

23 unique

Water (Aqua/Eau)Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine Sodium Laurylglucosides Hydroxypropylsulfonate Disodium Cocoyl Glutamate Sodium Chloride Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria)Flower Extract Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract+13 more

Shared ingredients

5 in common

Glycerin Caprylyl Glycol Panthenol Sodium Pca Limonene

Only in Murad Essential-C Cleanser

27 unique

Water (Aqua)Cocamidopropyl Betaine Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate Butylene Glycol Aminomethyl Propanol Polysorbate 20 Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer Phospholipids Tocopheryl Acetate Retinyl Palmitate+17 more

Why Murad Essential-C Cleanser comes out ahead

Where Murad Essential-C Cleanser really shines is hydration efficacy, scoring 8.4 compared to HONEST Refresh Shampoo + Body Wash Citrus Vanilla's 5.5. 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 2.7 for HONEST Refresh Shampoo + Body Wash Citrus Vanilla. 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 hONEST Refresh Shampoo + Body Wash Citrus Vanilla relies on Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria), Flower Extract, and Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract. Both approaches have merit, but the positioning and supporting ingredients make the difference.

Best for your skin type

HONEST Refresh Shampoo + Body Wash Citrus Vanilla 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

+1.0 lead

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

7.0HONEST

8.0Murad

Frequently asked questions

Which is better: HONEST Refresh Shampoo + Body Wash Citrus Vanilla 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 HONEST Refresh Shampoo + Body Wash Citrus Vanilla 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 HONEST Refresh Shampoo + Body Wash Citrus Vanilla 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: HONEST Refresh Shampoo + Body Wash Citrus Vanilla→Full analysis: Murad Essential-C Cleanser→

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