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Mario Badescu Glycol… vs Murad Essential-C Cl… — Which Is Better? | Gracie

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Mario Badescu Glycolic Foaming Cleanser vs Murad Essential-C Cleanser

Murad Essential-C Cleanser scores 8.0/9.8 vs Mario Badescu Glycolic Foaming Cleanser at 6.3/9.8. Murad Essential-C Cleanser wins for hydration.

Head to head

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Mario Badescu

Glycolic Foaming Cleanser

cleanserbudget

6.3

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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 3 of 5 attributes.

Mario Badescu wins 0

Tied 2

Murad wins 3

9.0

Mario Badescu

Murad

Ingredient face-off

9% overlap

14Mario Badescu

3Shared

32Murad

Only in Mario Badescu Glycolic Foaming Cleanser

11 unique

Aqua/Water Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate Glycolic Acid Cocamide Dea Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract Achillea Millefolium Extract Salvia Officinalis (Sage) Leaf Extract Sodium Chloride Methylparaben Propylparaben+1 more

Shared ingredients

3 in common

Cocamidopropyl Betaine Glycerin Phenoxyethanol

Only in Murad Essential-C Cleanser

29 unique

Water (Aqua)Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate Butylene Glycol Aminomethyl Propanol Polysorbate 20 Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer Panthenol Phospholipids Tocopheryl Acetate Retinyl Palmitate+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 Mario Badescu Glycolic Foaming Cleanser's 2.9. 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 3.4 for Mario Badescu Glycolic Foaming Cleanser. 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 mario Badescu Glycolic Foaming Cleanser relies on Glycolic Acid, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract, and Achillea Millefolium Extract. Both approaches have merit, but the positioning and supporting ingredients make the difference.

Best for your skin type

Mario Badescu Glycolic Foaming Cleanser 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

At budget pricing with a score of 6.3, Mario Badescu Glycolic Foaming Cleanser is a decent pick. Murad Essential-C Cleanser sits at the premium level with a 8.0 score — the higher investment pays off in formulation quality.

Our verdict

✶ Our verdict

+1.7 lead

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

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6.3Mario Badescu

8.0Murad

Frequently asked questions

Which is better: Mario Badescu Glycolic Foaming Cleanser 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 Mario Badescu Glycolic Foaming Cleanser 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 Mario Badescu Glycolic Foaming Cleanser 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: Mario Badescu Glycolic Foaming Cleanser→Full analysis: Murad Essential-C Cleanser→

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