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INDIE LEE Purifying… vs Murad Essential-C Cl… — Which Is Better? | Gracie

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INDIE LEE Purifying Face Wash vs Murad Essential-C Cleanser

Murad Essential-C Cleanser scores 8.0/9.8 vs INDIE LEE Purifying Face Wash at 6.6/9.8. Murad Essential-C Cleanser wins for hydration.

Head to head

INDIE LEE

Purifying Face Wash

cleanser

6.6

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Niacinamide
Retinol
Hyaluronic Acid
Salicylic 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.

INDIE LEE wins 0

Tied 3

Murad wins 2

6.6INDIE LEE

+1.4vs

8.0Murad

Scores last verified: April 2026

Attribute battle

Hydration Efficacy

Murad WINS

4.5

8.4

INDIE LEE

Murad

Irritation Risk

TIE

9.5

INDIE LEE

Murad

Active Ingredient Strength

Murad WINS

2.0

4.4

INDIE LEE

Murad

Ingredient Transparency

TIE

8.5

INDIE LEE

Murad

Formulation Safety

TIE

9.0

INDIE LEE

Murad

Ingredient face-off

3% overlap

28INDIE LEE

1Shared

32Murad

Only in INDIE LEE Purifying Face Wash

27 unique

Water (Aqua/Eau)Capryloyl/Caproyl Methyl Glucamide Lauroyl/Myristoyl Methyl Glucamide Coco-Glucoside Sucrose Cocoate Spondias Mombin Pulp Extract Mangifera Indica (Mango) Pulp Extract Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Peel Extract Citrus Nobilis (Mandarin Orange) Fruit Extract+17 more

Shared ingredients

1 in common

Glycerin

Only in Murad Essential-C Cleanser

31 unique

Water (Aqua)Cocamidopropyl Betaine Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate Butylene Glycol Aminomethyl Propanol Polysorbate 20 Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer Panthenol Phospholipids Tocopheryl Acetate+21 more

Why Murad Essential-C Cleanser comes out ahead

Where Murad Essential-C Cleanser really shines is hydration efficacy, scoring 8.4 compared to INDIE LEE Purifying Face Wash's 4.5. 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 2.0 for INDIE LEE Purifying 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 iNDIE LEE Purifying Face Wash relies on Spondias Mombin Pulp Extract, Mangifera Indica (Mango) Pulp Extract, and Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Peel Extract. Both approaches have merit, but the positioning and supporting ingredients make the difference.

Best for your skin type

INDIE LEE Purifying 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

+1.4 lead

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

6.6INDIE LEE

8.0Murad

Frequently asked questions

Which is better: INDIE LEE Purifying 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 INDIE LEE Purifying 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 INDIE LEE Purifying 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: INDIE LEE Purifying Face Wash→Full analysis: Murad Essential-C Cleanser→

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