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Murad Essential-C Cl… vs Thrive face wash — Which Is Better? | Gracie

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Murad Essential-C Cleanser vs Thrive face wash

Murad Essential-C Cleanser scores 8.0/9.8 vs Thrive face wash at 6.2/9.8. Murad Essential-C Cleanser wins for hydration.

Head to head

Murad

Essential-C Cleanser

cleanserpremium

8.0

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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.

Thrive

face wash

cleanser

6.2

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Score comparison

Murad Essential-C Cleanser takes this one, winning 3 of 5 attributes.

Murad wins 3

Tied 2

Thrive wins 0

9.0

Murad

Thrive

Ingredient face-off

3% overlap

32Murad

1Shared

14Thrive

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

Shared ingredients

1 in common

Glycerin

Only in Thrive face wash

13 unique

Aqua/Water Coco-Glucoside Xanthan Gum Arrabidaea Chica Extract Polyglyceryl-4 Laurate/Sebacate Polyglyceryl-6 Caprate/Caprylate Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil Hamelia Patens Extract Lippa Alba Oil

Why Murad Essential-C Cleanser comes out ahead

Where Murad Essential-C Cleanser really shines is hydration efficacy, scoring 8.4 compared to Thrive face wash's 3.8. 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 Thrive 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 thrive face wash relies on Arrabidaea Chica Extract and Hamelia Patens Extract. Both approaches have merit, but the positioning and supporting ingredients make the difference.

Best for your skin type

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

Thrive face wash is better if you have

Sensitive skin — the low-irritation formula keeps things gentle
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

+1.8 lead

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

8.0Murad

6.2Thrive

Frequently asked questions

Which is better: Murad Essential-C Cleanser or Thrive face wash?

Based on ingredient analysis, Murad Essential-C Cleanser scores higher overall. See the full score breakdown above for details on each attribute.

Do Murad Essential-C Cleanser and Thrive face wash share ingredients?

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

What's the main difference between Murad Essential-C Cleanser and Thrive face wash?

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

Full analysis: Murad Essential-C Cleanser→Full analysis: Thrive face wash→

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Natural Fragrance (Of Orange, Grapefruit, Lemon, Anise, Guaiacwood, Cedarwood, Peppermint, Davana, Patchouli, Vetiver, Clove Oil)

+3 more