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Murad Clarifying Cleanser for oily skin

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

Murad Clarifying Cleanser

Average

  • HighOily Skin Fit
  • AverageEffectiveness
  • HighSafety

Works for oily skin; other cleansers fit it better.

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

  • Offers moderate cleansing for your oily skin, as sodium c14-16 olefin sulfonate and salicylic acid help to clear pores and exfoliate, while betaine and trehalose provide soothing benefits.
  • Yeast amino acids offer humectant action, supporting hydration for oily skin.
  • The product is safe for your skin, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the presence of soothing components.

How to apply

  • Use your cleanser AM and PM every day to keep your skin fresh. Always make sure to follow with a good SPF in the morning.
  • Apply your cleanser as the first step in the morning or the second step in the evening before your toner.
  • Gently massage a small amount onto your face using circular motions, then rinse well with water .
  • You can apply this cleanser safely on damp skin for a refreshing and easy wash.
  • Avoid getting the product directly into your eyes and stop use if irritation occurs.

People Say

★4.2Overall rating based on 5.0k+ reviews

This 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

How well does Murad Clarifying Cleanser work for oily skin?

Murad Clarifying Cleanser works moderately well for oily skin by clearing pores and exfoliating while keeping the skin calm. Oily skin needs a cleanser that manages shine and supports skin health with ingredients like niacinamide, ceramides, glycerin, and probiotics without causing excess dryness or irritation.

Skin Research and Technology, 2003BioMed Research International, 2020

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

Salicylic acid and sodium C14-16 olefin sulfonate help clear pores and exfoliate your oily skin, while betaine and trehalose soothe it. Oily skin needs cleansers with niacinamide, ceramides, and glycerin to manage shine and maintain moisture balance without irritation.

Skin Research and Technology, 2003BioMed Research International, 2020

What does Salicylic Acid do for oily skin?

Salicylic acid helps oily skin by reducing excess oil and keeping pores clear. It may also improve overall skin hydration while managing breakouts.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025Experimental Dermatology, 2019

What does Cocamidopropyl Betaine do for oily skin?

Cocamidopropyl betaine is a cleansing ingredient that helps wash away excess oil and dirt from oily skin. While it is generally safe for use in wash-off products, it is unlikely to change oil production and may cause mild skin irritation in some people.

Toxicological Research, 2024

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

This cleanser fits into both your morning and evening routines as the cleansing step. To best care for oily skin, a cleanser of this type needs ingredients like salicylic acid to clear pores and soothing components to keep the skin calm without causing irritation.

BioMed Research International, 2020Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024

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

You can use this cleanser with retinol by applying the cleanser first on your oily skin and following with your retinol treatment afterwards. Oily skin works best with cleansers containing salicylic acid to clear pores alongside gentle barrier-supporting ingredients to keep skin calm.

How often should I use it?

You can use this cleanser as part of your daily morning and evening routine. Oily skin typically needs a gentle cleanser that clears pores with salicylic acid while keeping skin calm and comfortable.

BioMed Research International, 2020Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024

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

This cleanser may cause purging or breakouts for oily skin, and reviewers frequently complain that it leaves skin feeling dry and stripped. To work well for oily skin without causing these issues, a cleanser of this type needs ingredients like salicylic acid to clear pores alongside soothing and hydrating components that protect against dryness.

BioMed Research International, 2020Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024

Can I use it around the eyes or on my body?

This cleanser is generally safe to use on the body, but it is best to avoid the thin skin around the eyes because ingredients like salicylic acid and menthol may cause irritation in that delicate area. Oily skin types need a body wash that provides gentle yet effective cleansing to clear pores without stripping away essential moisture.

Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy, 2002BioMed Research International, 2020

Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?

It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (limonene and parfum).

What the research says

  • 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

  • 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, 2024

  • The use of a salicylic acid-based dermocosmetic significantly reduces the needed quantity of benzoyl peroxide without impacting efficacy in mild to moderate acne, and as maintenance post-benzoyl peroxide allows a significant reduction of acne relapse compared to vehicle.

    Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2023

  • Topical moisturizers improved skin barrier function and surface moisture, while a postbiotic moisturizer with yeast extract uniquely supported microbiome balance and modulated biomarkers of skin barrier, structure, and inflammation in participants and ex vivo explants exposed to environmental aggressors.

    Journal of Clinical Medicine, 2023

  • Soaps containing betaine caused the least skin irritation compared to other tested soaps in twenty-eight healthy subjects, though irritation did not decrease with increasing concentrations of betaine.

    Skin Research and Technology, 2003

  • 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

  • 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 5% benzoyl peroxide plus salicylic acid achieved the greatest lesion reduction at early 2 to 4 week time points compared to benzoyl peroxide, clindamycin, and combination benzoyl peroxide/clindamycin, while 5% benzoyl peroxide plus salicylic acid and combination benzoyl peroxide/clindamycin showed similar efficacy at 10 to 12 weeks in acne patients.

    Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 2010

  • The 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, 2003

  • Topical 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, 2017

  • Topical low-dose green tea extract reduces UVB-induced p53 expression and apoptosis in human skin keratinocytes compared to placebo.

    Experimental Dermatology, 2009

  • An 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, 2019

  • Coadministration 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, 2016

  • Topical 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, 2018

  • Cooling 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.

  • 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 5 Nov 2026

How does it fit your skin?

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QR code: get the Lovi app
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