Murad AHA/BHA Exfoliating Cleanser for oily skin
Glycolic Acid
Lactic Acid
Salicylic Acid
Jojoba Esters
Sodium Ascorbyl PhosphateSuperior
- SuperiorOily Skin Fit
- SuperiorEffectiveness
- ExcellentSafety
One of the best products for oily skin.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with oily skin: shine, enlarged pores, blackheads, and blemishes. 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
- Excellent suitability for your oily skin is provided by glycolic acid, lactic acid, and salicylic acid, which offer superb keratolytic action and desquamation regulation to target oily shine and texture.
- Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate and Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate further enhance the formula by soothing your skin and providing antioxidant benefits, ensuring a balanced and effective experience.
- The safety profile is excellent, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the presence of soothing components.
How to apply
- Use this exfoliant product as part of your PM routine once a week. Start slowly and build up frequency only if your skin tolerates it well.
- Apply the exfoliant after cleansing and toner, but right before your moisturizer.
- Gently press 2-3 drops of the exfoliant into your skin and let it absorb fully. Avoid any harsh rubbing to keep your skin calm.
- Apply the exfoliant directly onto completely dry skin to get the best balance and results. Clean, dry skin helps the product work evenly.
- Always avoid the delicate eye area when applying. Be sure to use a broad-spectrum SPF 30+ daily while using exfoliating acids.
People Say
★4.5Overall rating based on 1.5k+ reviewsBased 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
What makes Murad AHA/BHA Exfoliating Cleanser one of the best fits for oily skin?
This cleanser is an exceptionally good fit for oily skin because glycolic acid, lactic acid, and salicylic acid clear away excess shine and smooth out uneven texture. At the same time, dipotassium glycyrrhizate and sodium ascorbyl phosphate soothe the skin and provide antioxidant support.
Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for oily skin?
Glycolic acid, lactic acid, and salicylic acid make this cleanser a great fit by helping clear away dead cells and target oily shine and texture. Dipotassium glycyrrhizate and sodium ascorbyl phosphate further help soothe your skin and keep it balanced.
What does Glycolic Acid do for oily skin?
Glycolic acid helps clear away dead skin and excess oil for a smooth, clean feel. It gently removes buildup from the surface, which keeps pores clear and skin looking fresh.
Molecules, 2023Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, 2011
What does Lactic Acid do for oily skin?
Lactic acid helps manage oily skin by significantly reducing oil production and pore size while improving moisture levels. It supports a clearer and smoother look through gentle surface renewal.
Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for oily skin?
This cleanser goes in your morning and evening routine right at the start before your toner and moisturizer. It helps clear away oily shine and smooth out rough texture safely without causing irritation.
Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this cleanser with retinol, but to prevent irritation it is best to use them on alternate nights or separate times of day rather than layering them together.
How often should I use this cleanser?
Start using this cleanser once a week, and if your skin feels comfortable and shows good results, you may carefully use it more often. The blend of glycolic, lactic, and salicylic acids helps target oily shine and texture while keeping your skin calm.
Dermatologic Surgery, 2003Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021
Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily skin?
This cleanser is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts because it helps clear away dead skin and excess oil. However, it may cause mild purging as the acids speed up skin renewal, though soothing ingredients help keep irritation low.
Drug Research, 2017International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2009
Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
Twice daily application of a multitargeted dermocosmetic cream provided comparable efficacy to benzoyl peroxide 5% gel in reducing inflammatory, non-inflammatory, and total lesions in 150 Caucasian subjects with mild-to-moderate acne over 56 days, while demonstrating superior skin tolerability.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Combined ascorbyl palmitate and sodium ascorbyl phosphate treatment significantly reduced facial sebum secretions in healthy female volunteers compared to a placebo control over 90 days.
Drug Research, 2017Topical combination of 5% sodium ascorbyl phosphate and 0.2% retinol reduced inflammatory acne lesions by 29.28% at 4 weeks and 63.10% at 8 weeks, outperforming either agent alone.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2009A topical formulation containing panthenol, niacinamide, and dipotassium glycyrrhizate increased skin hydration by 74.1% and reduced transepidermal water loss by 13.5% at 28 days compared to baseline and untreated control in 35 individuals with xerosis.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2026Repeated 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, 2000Serial 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, 2017Application 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, 2004Topical 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, 1992A 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, 2020Cryotherapy 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, 2010A 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, 2020Treatment 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, 2024Topical 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, 2008Clay 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, 2012Topical 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, 2024Topical 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, 2003Ascorbic acid 2-glucoside gel significantly reduced gingival melanin pigmentation after 4 weeks compared to placebo in 73 subjects with symmetric pigmentation.
Journal of Periodontology, 2009Topical 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
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.
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Co-founder, Medical Director
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer
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Co-founder, CEO and CTO
PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
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Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
Medical Board
Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
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Medical Board
Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member
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Medical Board, Medical Advisor
Dermatology MD
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Elina Nazarenko, MD
Medical Board
Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
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Victoria Derkova, MS
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
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