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La roche-posay Effac… vs Murad City Skin Age… — Which Is Better? | Gracie

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/La roche-posay Effaclar DUO (+) SPF 30
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/Murad City Skin Age Defense Broad Spectrum SPF 50

La roche-posay Effaclar DUO (+) SPF 30 vs Murad City Skin Age Defense Broad Spectrum SPF 50

Murad City Skin Age Defense Broad Spectrum SPF 50 scores 8.4/9.8 vs La roche-posay Effaclar DUO (+) SPF 30 at 7.0/9.8. Murad City Skin Age Defense Broad Spectrum SPF 50 wins for hydration.

Head to head

La roche-posay

Effaclar DUO (+) SPF 30

spf

7.0

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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

City Skin Age Defense Broad Spectrum SPF 50

spfpremium

8.4

Score comparison

Murad City Skin Age Defense Broad Spectrum SPF 50 takes this one, winning 2 of 5 attributes.

La roche-posay wins 2

Tied 1

Murad wins 2

33La roche-posay

4Shared

42Murad

Only in La roche-posay Effaclar DUO (+) SPF 30

29 unique

Aqua Octocrylene Homosalate Ethylhexyl Salicylate Alcohol Denat Niacinamide Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane Sorbitan Stearate Isopropyl Lauroyl Sarcosinate Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer+19 more

Shared ingredients

4 in common

Glycerin Dimethicone Silica Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer

Only in Murad City Skin Age Defense Broad Spectrum SPF 50

38 unique

Titanium Dioxide Zinc Oxide Water (Aqua)Cyclopentasiloxane C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil Tocopheryl Acetate Polyurethane-35 Polyglyceryl-3 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone Polymethylsilsesquioxane

Why Murad City Skin Age Defense Broad Spectrum SPF 50 comes out ahead

Where Murad City Skin Age Defense Broad Spectrum SPF 50 really shines is hydration efficacy, scoring 9.8 compared to La roche-posay Effaclar DUO (+) SPF 30's 5.5. With Glycerin, Urea, and Trehalose in its top ingredients, Murad City Skin Age Defense Broad Spectrum SPF 50 delivers stronger moisture-binding capability.

Irritation Risk is another area of separation. Murad City Skin Age Defense Broad Spectrum SPF 50 scores 9.5 here versus 7.6 for La roche-posay Effaclar DUO (+) SPF 30. That difference comes down to how each formula is built — the ingredient list tells the story.

Murad City Skin Age Defense Broad Spectrum SPF 50 brings Tocopheryl Acetate, Avena Sativa (Oat) Kernel Extract, and Retinyl Palmitate as actives, while la roche-posay Effaclar DUO (+) SPF 30 relies on Niacinamide, Zinc Pca, and Carnosine. Both approaches have merit, but the positioning and supporting ingredients make the difference.

Best for your skin type

La roche-posay Effaclar DUO (+) SPF 30 is better if you have

Sensitive skin — the low-irritation formula keeps things gentle
Anyone who prefers clean, well-vetted formulations

Murad City Skin Age Defense Broad Spectrum SPF 50 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 City Skin Age Defense Broad Spectrum SPF 50 comes in at premium pricing with a 8.4 score, which is solid value at that tier.

Our verdict

✶ Our verdict

+1.4 lead

Murad City Skin Age Defense Broad Spectrum SPF 50 wins this comparison with a meaningfully stronger ingredient profile and overall score.

7.0La roche-posay

✶

8.4Murad

Frequently asked questions

Which is better: La roche-posay Effaclar DUO (+) SPF 30 or Murad City Skin Age Defense Broad Spectrum SPF 50?

Based on ingredient analysis, Murad City Skin Age Defense Broad Spectrum SPF 50 scores higher overall. See the full score breakdown above for details on each attribute.

Do La roche-posay Effaclar DUO (+) SPF 30 and Murad City Skin Age Defense Broad Spectrum SPF 50 share ingredients?

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

What's the main difference between La roche-posay Effaclar DUO (+) SPF 30 and Murad City Skin Age Defense Broad Spectrum SPF 50?

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

Full analysis: La roche-posay Effaclar DUO (+) SPF 30→Full analysis: Murad City Skin Age Defense Broad Spectrum SPF 50→

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