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Murad Clarifying Cleanser for acne-prone skin

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

Murad Clarifying Cleanser

Average

  • AverageCombination Skin Fit
  • AverageEffectiveness
  • HighSafety

Works for acne-prone skin; other cleansers fit it better.

This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with acne-prone skin: breakouts, blackheads, and post-acne marks. 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 combination skin, as sodium C14-16 olefin sulfonate and salicylic acid work to clear pores and support acne-prone concerns. Urea provides humectant action, though additional emollients would better address drier areas.
  • The formulation includes betaine and trehalose, which offer soothing benefits and help maintain skin hydration.
  • The safety profile is favorable, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the presence of calming components.

How to apply

  • Could be used as part of your AM and PM routine. Start using it 3 times a week and build up to daily use if your skin tolerates it.
  • This cleanser is the first step in your morning routine and the second step after your pre-cleanser in the evening. Always follow up with a toner and moisturizer .
  • Gently massage a small amount of the cleanser onto your face in circular motions. Avoid harsh rubbing to keep your skin calm.
  • Apply the cleanser on slightly damp skin to help it work effectively against breakouts. Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water .
  • Avoid the immediate eye area and do a patch test before your first use to check for any sensitivity.

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 acne-prone skin?

Murad Clarifying Cleanser works for acne-prone skin by using salicylic acid to clear pores, though other products fit this skin better. To better suit acne-prone skin, a cleanser needs ingredients like niacinamide, ceramides, or multiple forms of hyaluronic acid to balance oil and hydrate dry areas.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2023

Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for acne-prone skin?

Salicylic acid clears pores and supports acne-prone concerns, while betaine and trehalose help maintain skin hydration and provide soothing benefits. A cleanser for this skin also needs ingredients like niacinamide, ceramides, and multiple forms of hyaluronic acid to balance oily and dry areas and support the skin barrier.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2023

What does Salicylic Acid do for acne-prone skin?

Salicylic acid helps clear acne-prone skin by reducing pimples and calming redness without causing many side effects. It works by dipping deep into pores to clear out blockages and control oil, making it a reliable choice for keeping skin smooth and clear.

BioMed Research International, 2020Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024

What does Cocamidopropyl Betaine do for acne-prone skin?

Cocamidopropyl Betaine helps gently clean acne-prone skin by removing dirt and oil without leaving it feeling stripped or dry. When formulated thoughtfully in a cleanser, it helps maintain skin comfort while supporting your daily routine.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2004

Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for acne-prone skin?

This cleanser fits into your morning routine and evening routine. To better suit acne-prone skin, a cleanser of this type needs additional moisturizing ingredients to keep drier areas comfortable while clearing pores.

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

You can use this cleanser with retinol by applying the cleanser first and following it with your retinol treatment. A cleanser of this type for acne-prone skin needs soothing hydrators and gentle softening ingredients to keep skin calm and smooth while using strong treatments.

How often should I use this cleanser?

You can use this cleanser twice a day in your morning and evening routines. To best care for acne-prone skin, this type of cleanser also needs softening ingredients that add moisture to drier areas.

Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for acne-prone skin?

This cleanser may cause purging or breakouts for some users while it works to clear pores with salicylic acid. A product for this skin type also needs extra softening ingredients to properly protect drier areas.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2023

Can I use this cleanser around the eyes or on my body?

This cleanser may be too harsh for the very thin skin around the eyes, though it can generally be used on the body where skin is thicker. To care for delicate areas and drier skin, cleansers of this type need extra hydrating ingredients and gentle soothing components.

Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy, 2002

Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?

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

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, 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

  • A combination of Aloe barbadensis leaf extract and trimethylglycine in a 1:1 mass ratio synergistically increased aquaporin 3 expression by up to 380% in keratinocytes and safely improved skin hydration in healthy volunteers.

    Molecules, 2024

  • Sodium trehalose sulfate decreased transepidermal water loss and increased stratum corneum water content in participants with low stratum corneum water content when applied for 4 weeks compared to placebo.

    Skin Research and Technology, 2024

  • Cooling skin temperature or applying topical menthol reduced histamine-induced itch intensity and flare diameters in healthy male volunteers.

    Neuroscience Letters, 1995

  • 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

  • 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

  • Topical L-menthol and trans-cinnamaldehyde administered individually and in combination on the volar forearm of healthy volunteers induced distinct somatosensory and vasomotor effects, where L-menthol reduced the axon-reflex-flare and altered the mechanical hyperalgesia caused by trans-cinnamaldehyde.

    European Journal of Pain, 2014

Why other cleansers fit acne-prone skin better

  • Cosmetic formulations containing 5% Centella asiatica extract showed the best efficacy in improving skin moisture and decreasing transepidermal water loss, while also exhibiting antiinflammatory properties in 25 volunteers compared to baseline measurements.

    Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2016

  • A panthenol-enriched mask improved skin hydration, regulated sebum, and reduced redness and TEWL across dry sensitive, oily sensitive, and oily acne skin subgroups with excellent tolerance and no adverse reactions.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024

  • Glycerol accelerates barrier repair and improves stratum corneum hydration compared to untreated and base-treated sites.

    Acta Dermato-venereologica, 1999

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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How does it fit your skin?

Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.

QR code: get the Lovi app
Download on theApp Store Get it onGoogle Play