Murad Clarifying Cleanser for dry skin
Salicylic Acid
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Camellia Oleifera Leaf Extract
Menthol
Silver Citrate
Warning
- WarningDry Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- RiskySafety
A poor match for dry skin; the cleansers alongside 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 salicylic acid and urea, which help shed dead skin cells and provide hydration. However, the presence of sodium c14-16 olefin sulfonate can strip natural oils, counteracting the need for humectant and emollient actions essential for dry skin.
- While the formula contains soothing ingredients like trehalose, the cleansing agents may still lead to dryness and irritation for your skin type.
How to apply
- Use this cleanser AM and PM every day to keep your skin clean. Start using it daily right away since your skin is not sensitive.
- Apply this cleanser as the very first step in your morning routine and right after your pre-cleanser in the evening. Follow with your toner and moisturizer afterwards.
- Gently massage a small amount of cleanser onto your face using soft circular motions. Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water and pat dry with a clean towel.
- Apply this cleanser on slightly damp skin for a comfortable and refreshing wash. This helps maintain your skin's natural moisture while cleansing away dirt.
- Avoid getting the cleanser directly into your eyes to prevent any irritation. Do a simple patch test before your first use to ensure your skin likes it.
People Say
★4.2Overall rating based on 5.0k+ reviewsThis gel cleanser is widely praised by users with oily and acne-prone skin for its ability to significantly reduce breakouts and control excess oil using encapsulated salicylic acid. While effective for deep cleaning, it is potent and frequently cited as drying or stripping, making it less suitable for sensitive or dry skin types without careful hydration. The summary is based on a very large amount of data and should be definitely taken into account.
Highlights
Clears acne effectively Mostly Mentioned
- “significantly decreased my breakouts”
- “bumps and acne are smoothing out”
- “kills all bacteria on face”
- “cleared up my chin acne”
Controls oil and shine Often Mentioned
- “dissolves excess oil”
- “skin doesn't feel as oily”
- “keeps my face matte”
- “controls shine for hours”
Deep clean feeling Often Mentioned
- “pores feel like they are breathing”
- “feels squeaky clean”
- “removes all grime”
- “leaves skin fresh”
Drying and stripping Often Mentioned
- “dried me out like a prune”
- “skin feeling tight and dry”
- “left face flaky and red”
- “stripped my moisture barrier”
Cooling sensation Sometimes Noted
- “tingly cooling sensation”
- “cools your face”
- “feels refreshing and minty”
- “nice cooling effect”
Lathers well Sometimes Noted
- “little goes a long way”
- “lathers up really well”
- “rich foam”
- “only need a pea size”
Causes purging/breakouts Sometimes Noted
- “caused breakouts and cystic acne”
- “purging phase never stopped”
- “made things worse at first”
- “gave me huge pimples”
High price point Sometimes Noted
- “expensive for a face wash”
- “waste of money”
- “price is steep”
- “not worth the cost”
Medicinal scent Rarely Noted
- “smells like pine-sol”
- “strong chemical smell”
- “medicinal scent”
- “scent is overpowering”
Packaging issues Rarely Noted
- “paint coming off tube”
- “leaks in the shower”
- “hard to get product out”
- “packaging peels off”
Sources: lovi.care, sephora.com, ulta.com, amazon.com, dermstore.com, murad.com, and more
Questions and answers
Why does Lovi advise against Murad Clarifying Cleanser for dry skin?
This cleanser is a poor match because its strong cleansing agents strip natural oils from dry skin, which can lead to dryness and irritation. A cleanser for this skin needs ceramides, hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, and other gentle, barrier-repairing ingredients to maintain moisture and protect skin health.
Which ingredients make this cleanser a poor fit for dry skin?
Salicylic acid, urea, and sodium C14-16 olefin sulfonate make this cleanser a poor match because they tend to strip natural oils and dry out dry skin. A cleanser for dry skin needs ceramides and sodium hyaluronate or niacinamide to keep the skin barrier strong and protected.
What does Salicylic Acid do for dry skin?
Salicylic acid is generally not a good fit for dry skin, as it is meant to clear out pores and remove dead skin rather than hydrate. Because dry skin needs soothing and moisture rather than exfoliation, a product for dry skin needs nourishing ingredients like urea to lock in moisture and keep the skin soft.
What does Cocamidopropyl Betaine do for dry skin?
Cocamidopropyl betaine is a cleansing ingredient that is unlikely to cause major issues when used in rinse-off products, though it may occasionally cause mild irritation or skin sensitivity for some people. Dry skin needs gentle cleansers formulated with surfactants that have diminished interactions with skin proteins and lipids, combined with a neutral or acidic pH and moisturizing agents to reduce barrier damage and improve hydration.
Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for dry skin?
This cleanser goes in the morning and evening routine for dry skin, but it is a poor match because its strong cleansing agents may strip natural oils and cause irritation. Dry skin needs a cleanser with gentle hydrating and smoothing ingredients that protect natural oils instead of harsh cleansing agents.
Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?
This cleanser is a poor match for dry skin because its strong cleansing agents may strip natural oils and cause irritation when paired with retinol. To care for dry skin properly, a cleanser of this type needs added moisturizing ingredients that protect the skin barrier and prevent dryness.
How often should I use this cleanser?
It is best not to use this cleanser on dry skin because its strong cleansing agents may strip natural oils and cause irritation. Dry skin needs a mild cleanser paired with a moisturizer to help keep it soft and smooth.
Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for dry skin?
Murad Clarifying Cleanser may cause dryness and irritation for dry skin because its strong cleansing agents strip natural oils, even though it contains soothing ingredients and salicylic acid. A cleanser for dry skin needs gentle, hydrating ingredients and nourishing oils that clean without removing the skin's natural moisture.
Can I use this cleanser around the eyes or on my body?
This cleanser is a poor match for your dry skin because harsh cleansing agents may strip natural oils and cause irritation. To care for dry skin, a cleanser needs hydrating ingredients like glycerin, ceramides, and gentle, non-stripping cleansing agents that keep the skin soft and comfortable.
Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (limonene and parfum).
What the research says
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, 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, 2024The cytotoxic effect of sodium lauryl sulphate on normal human keratinocytes was significantly decreased when combined with cocamidopropyl betaine, Tween 20, and Tween 80 at concentrations well below the critical micelle concentration.
Skin Pharmacology and Applied Skin Physiology, 2003Topical green tea extract significantly improved clinical symptoms, tear breakup times, and meibomian gland health compared to standard treatment in patients with dry eye and Meibomian Gland Dysfunction.
Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research, 2017Topical low-dose green tea extract reduces UVB-induced p53 expression and apoptosis in human skin keratinocytes compared to placebo.
Experimental Dermatology, 2009An anti-acne hydrogel containing Aloe barbadensis, Garcinia mangostana, and Camellia sinensis extracts showed superior antiacne and antiblotch activities compared to 1% clindamycin gel in sixty subjects with mild-moderate acne.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2019Coadministration of 40% topical L-menthol with 10% trans-cinnamaldehyde reduced spontaneous pain intensity, neurogenic inflammation, primary and secondary mechanical hyperalgesia, and heat hyperalgesia, but not cold hyperalgesia, in 14 healthy volunteers.
The Journal of Pain, 2016Topical application of menthol-based cooling gel decreased intramuscular temperature by 1.9 °C and increased cutaneous blood flow by 0.3 ml/min in healthy males compared to placebo gel.
International Journal of Sports Physical Therapy, 2018Cooling skin temperature or applying topical menthol reduced histamine-induced itch intensity and flare diameters in healthy male volunteers.
Neuroscience Letters, 1995
Ingredients
Water, Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Urea, Yeast Amino Acids, Trehalose, Inositol, Taurine, Betaine, Methyl Gluceth-20, Ppg-26-Buteth-26, Peg-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Butylene Glycol, Cimicifuga Racemosa Root Extract, Camellia Oleifera Leaf Extract, Silver Citrate, Peg-150 Distearate, Menthol, Zea Mays Starch, Hydrolyzed Corn Starch, Hydrolyzed Corn Octenylsuccinate Starch, Glyceryl Stearate, Cocamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Polysorbate 80, Citric Acid, Disodium Edta, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Chlorphenesin, Limonene, Citrus Reticulata Oil Leaf Tangerine Oil Leaf, Citronella Oil, Lemon Peel Oil, Citrus Aurantifolia Oil, Lavandula Hybrida Oil, Citrus Nobilis Peel Oil Mandarin Orange Peel Oil, Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil Apricot Kernel Oil, Parfum, Salicylic Acid
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
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Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
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Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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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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