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Murad AHA/BHA Exfoliating Cleanser for dry skin

Rated by Lovi · Unbiased, science-based skincare AI trained on real user outcomes

Murad AHA/BHA Exfoliating Cleanser

Average

  • AverageDry Skin Fit
  • AverageEffectiveness
  • HighSafety

Works for dry skin; other products fit it better.

This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with dry skin: flakiness, tightness, dehydration, fine lines, and wrinkles. For scores and recommendations based on your full skin profile, including your 12D face scan results and any goals or preferences you have, please use the Lovi app.

Page built Nov 8, 2026How the Fit score works

Lovi Assistant explains

  • Offers moderate exfoliation for your dry skin due to the presence of glycolic acid, lactic acid, and salicylic acid, which provide general cleansing benefits. However, it lacks sufficient emollient and occlusive ingredients to fully address your dryness.
  • The formula is safe for your dry skin as it does not contain prohibited or harsh ingredients that could cause irritation.
  • While the blend offers effective exfoliation for smoothing texture, it does not provide enough emollient and occlusive ingredients to fully address your dry skin concerns.

How to apply

  • Use this exfoliant as part of your PM routine once a week, increasing slowly to twice a week if your dry skin tolerates it well. Always remember to apply SPF every morning to protect your newly smoothed skin.
  • Apply the exfoliant after cleansing and toning, but always before your rich moisturizer.
  • Gently press 2-3 drops of the exfoliant into your skin and let it absorb for a minute. Avoid rubbing to prevent any irritation on flaky areas.
  • Apply the product directly to dry clean skin to ensure the best possible tolerance for your dry type. This helps address flaky patches without causing extra stress.
  • Avoid the sensitive eye area and do a quick patch test before your very first use. Do not mix this with other strong acids or retinoids on the same night.

People Say

★4.5Overall rating based on 1.5k+ reviews

Based on a very large amount of data, this cleanser is highly effective at smoothing skin texture and brightening the complexion, with many users appreciating its ability to clear congestion and provide gentle exfoliation. Some users with sensitive skin have noted that it can be drying or harsh if used too frequently, and a few find the price point to be high.

Highlights

  • Smoother skin texture Mostly Mentioned
    • “leaves my skin smooth”
    • “felt so soft”
    • “polished feel”
  • Brighter complexion Often Mentioned
    • “skin looks glowing”
    • “brighter appearance”
    • “removes dullness”
  • Clears acne/congestion Sometimes Noted
    • “reduced my breakouts”
    • “blackheads diminished”
    • “pores look smaller”
  • Gentle physical exfoliation Sometimes Noted
    • “beads are gentle”
    • “not scratchy”
    • “dissolves nicely”
  • Drying or stripping Sometimes Noted
    • “face felt tight”
    • “skin felt dry”
    • “stripped moisture”
  • Too harsh/irritating Sometimes Noted
    • “burnt my face”
    • “caused redness”
    • “not for sensitive skin”
  • Efficient product usage Rarely Noted
    • “little goes a long way”
    • “lasts a long time”
    • “good lather”
  • Expensive price point Rarely Noted
    • “pricey for a wash”
    • “expensive”
    • “cost is high”
  • Not for daily use Rarely Noted
    • “too strong for daily”
    • “use sparingly”
    • “over-exfoliated”
  • Runny consistency Rarely Noted
    • “watery texture”
    • “pours out fast”
    • “hard to control”

Sources: lovi.care, sephora.com, kohls.com, ulta.com, murad.com, lovelyskin.com, and more

Questions and answers

How well does Murad AHA/BHA Exfoliating Cleanser work for dry skin?

Murad AHA/BHA Exfoliating Cleanser offers moderate exfoliation for your dry skin with glycolic, lactic, and salicylic acids, but it lacks enough rich moisturizing and barrier-protecting ingredients to fully address dryness. A product for this skin needs plenty of hydrating and nourishing ingredients that support moisture retention and repair the skin barrier without causing irritation.

Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for dry skin?

Glycolic acid, lactic acid, and salicylic acid help smooth your dry skin by providing moderate exfoliation and general cleansing benefits. Because this cleanser lacks rich moisturizing and sealing ingredients, a product for dry skin needs extra hydrating components and skin barrier support to lock in moisture.

What does Glycolic Acid do for dry skin?

Glycolic acid helps smooth and soften dry skin by speeding up the shedding of older surface cells. Because it can also cause the skin to lose more moisture, dry skin needs extra hydrating ingredients like glycerin or hyaluronic acid alongside it to keep the skin comfortable.

Acta Dermato-venereologica, 1995

What does Lactic Acid do for dry skin?

Lactic acid helps relieve dry skin by drawing in moisture and strengthening the skin's barrier so it stays soft and smooth. This ingredient gently sheds dead cells and supports natural moisturizing factors, making it very useful for improving rough or flaky areas.

International Journal of Dermatology, 2025Skin Research and Technology, 2013

Where does it go in a skincare routine for dry skin?

This exfoliant treatment fits into an evening routine, starting at once a week and very gradually building up only if your skin tolerates it well. Because it lacks rich softening and protective ingredients, dry skin needs extra rich moisturizers and hydrating creams alongside it to lock in moisture and prevent flaking.

Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?

You can use this cleanser in your routine, but a product of this type for dry skin needs extra moisturizing ingredients to keep your face soft and smooth.

How often should I use it?

Start by using it once a week, and if your dry skin tolerates it well and shows good results, you may carefully use it more often. To properly care for dry skin, this type of product needs to be paired with rich moisturizing ingredients that soften and lock in moisture.

Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for dry skin?

This cleanser is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts on dry skin since it contains salicylic acid to help keep pores clear, but you may experience some initial purging when you first start using exfoliating acids. It has a safe overall makeup for your skin type without harsh or prohibited ingredients that typically cause irritation. However, because it lacks rich moisturizing ingredients, a product of this type needs added nourishing oils or butters and protective sealants to properly care for dry skin.

Is it fragrance-free and alcohol-free?

Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.

What the research says

  • Repeated short-contact 70% glycolic acid peels provided superior results in atrophic acne scars compared to daily low-strength glycolic acid cream or placebo in 58 women over 24 weeks.

    International Journal of Dermatology, 2000

  • Serial glycolic acid peels combined with a modified Kligman formula significantly reduced facial PIH severity in Indian patients compared to the modified Kligman formula alone.

    Dermatologic Surgery, 2017

  • Application of a cream containing lactic acid 12% and pramoxine HCl 1% significantly improved skin dryness, hydration, and itch compared with a nontreated control in 24 women with a history of dry itchy skin.

    Cutis, 2004

  • Topical 12% ammonium lactate produced a significant sparing of epidermal and dermal atrophy induced by clobetasol propionate in human volunteers, without influencing the corticosteroid's bioavailability or antiinflammatory properties.

    Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 1992

  • A lactic acid/ceramide lotion significantly improved skin moisturization and desquamation compared to no treatment in women with dry, rough skin on the anterior shins.

    The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, 2020

  • Cryotherapy with liquid nitrogen achieved a higher cure rate (39%) than salicylic acid (24%) and a wait-and-see approach (16%) for cutaneous warts at 13 weeks in primary care patients.

    CMAJ, 2010

  • A moisturizer containing licochalcone A, 1,2-decanediol, L-carnitine, and salicylic acid significantly reduced noninflammatory, inflammatory, and total acne lesion counts compared to a vehicle control in Thai patients during a 12-week maintenance phase.

    BioMed Research International, 2020

  • Treatment with 2% supramolecular salicylic acid hydrogel resulted in a regression and markedly improvement rate of 51.01% compared to 43.10% for Adapaline gel in patients with mild to moderate facial acne vulgaris, showing no significant difference in efficacy.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024

  • Topical formulations containing 3.75% glycerol and 1.25% hydrolyzed jojoba esters produced significantly lower evaporative TEWL values compared to glycerol alone at 8 and 24 hours posttreatment in human subjects.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2008

  • Clay jojoba oil facial masks reduced total skin lesions by a mean of 54% after 6 weeks in 133 participants with acne-prone, lesioned skin and mild acne compared to baseline.

    Forschende Komplementarmedizin, 2012

  • Topical application of jojoba wax reduced LPS-induced secretion of IL-6, IL-8, and TNFα by approximately 30% and increased the synthesis of pro-collagen III and hyaluronic acid compared to untreated skin in an ex-vivo human skin organ culture model.

    Frontiers in Pharmacology, 2024

  • Topical application of 5% vitamin C cream significantly improved global clinical scores, increased skin microrelief density, and induced elastic tissue repair in photoaged skin compared to excipient control in healthy female volunteers.

    Experimental Dermatology, 2003

  • Ascorbic acid 2-glucoside gel significantly reduced gingival melanin pigmentation after 4 weeks compared to placebo in 73 subjects with symmetric pigmentation.

    Journal of Periodontology, 2009

  • Topical application of VC-IP cream twice daily for 8 weeks reduces periorbital wrinkles in female subjects compared to a placebo cream.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2022

Why other products fit dry skin better

Ingredients

Water, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Jojoba Esters, Acrylates Copolymer, Glycol Stearate, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Pca, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Glycolic Acid, Lactic Acid, Salicylic Acid, Polyquaternium-4, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Chloride, Citric Acid, Disodium Edta, Phenoxyethanol, Methylparaben, Propylparaben

Behind this fit score

Lovi calculates every fit score from the full ingredient list with brand-independent rules our dermatologists and cosmetic chemists build and review, and personalizes every pick with AI trained on the real results of millions of users. Lovi trains its fit score models on a proprietary dataset built from more than 10,000 expert-labeled products and more than 100,000 simulated examples, following an internally consistent methodology presented at Cosmoprof, AMWC, and Skin of Color Update.

  • Nadia Kapleva, MS

    Nadia Kapleva, MS

    Co-founder, Medical Director

    Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer

  • Alexey Shagraev, PhD

    Alexey Shagraev, PhD

    Co-founder, CEO and CTO

    PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex

  • Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc

    Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc

    Medical Board

    Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine

  • Aishani Shah, MD

    Aishani Shah, MD

    Medical Board

    Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD

  • Asya Zubkova, MS

    Asya Zubkova, MS

    Medical Board

    Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member

  • Hanna Kurets, MD

    Hanna Kurets, MD

    Medical Board, Medical Advisor

    Dermatology MD

  • Elina Nazarenko, MD

    Elina Nazarenko, MD

    Medical Board

    Dermatology and diagnostic consultant

  • Victoria Derkova, MS

    Victoria Derkova, MS

    Medical Board

    Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist

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Prices checked 3 Nov 2026

The Lovi Fit is the same in every country; only the stores and prices differ, and the ones here are for Canada.

How does it fit your skin?

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