Works for:
based on ingredients and %- Exfoliation
- Moisturizing
- Anti-blemish
- Anti-aging
Can it cause trouble?
- Irritation risk: high
- Comedogenic risk ingredients: 1
Key actives
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Product Summary
"Murad - Clarifying Water Gel" has a good moisturizing formula. This moisturizer uses a good combo of humectants and emollients. These both types of ingredients are essentials for improving the skin hydration and keeping the skin barrier healthy. Humectants in this product (urea, betaine, glycerin, hydroxyethyl urea and inositol) help to increase the water content in the upper layer of the skin. (These ingredients do so by "capturing" water molecules from the outside air or from within the deeper layers of the skin). Dimethicone, ethylhexyl hydroxystearate, diisopropyl sebacate, caprylyl glycol and pentylene glycol in this product help decrease the water evoporation from the skin, so that it stays hydrated for longer. These ingredients also soften the skin and take away the feeling of tightness and dryness.
Irritation risk
We assess the overall irritancy of this moisturizer to be high. For a detailed overview of all potential irritants: click here
You can see the detailed formula review with the breakdown of all actives in the product and the full ingredient list with estimated concentrations in the tables below.
About the brand
According to Cruelty-Free Kitty "Murad" is cruelty free, but its parent company is not.
Price
The product retails for 75.00A$ in Australia, from 38.00£ up to 39.00£ in the United Kingdom and from 38.00$ up to 46.00$ in the United States.
For a detailed price comparison: click here.
Works for
Anti-blemish
What does the product description say?
It resets your skin and can offer relief to those experiencing discomfort as a result of breakouts.
Source: Lookfantastic
This product can help reduce breakouts and clogged pores because it contains the following ingredient: salicylic acid. This ingredient is used for treating acne and can have a noticeable effect.
Used for skin exfoliation. It has an anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial effect, helps to unclog pores, prevent blemishes and speed up healing of the existing ones. Sometimes referred to as a BHA (beta-hydroxy acid)
Could be helpful in reducing inflammation in skin, evening out the skin tone and neutralizing free radicals, but more research is needed to confirm its effectiveness
Is proven to be effective in reducing blemishes, evening out skin tone and helping to improve lines and wrinkles. It helps the skin to repair sun damage, calm down inflammation and keep maintain good levels of moisture. The concentration of about 2% is effective for supporting the skin barrier and evening out the skin tone. Concentration of 4-6% is better for helping with acne and balancing the sebum production
Exfoliation
What does the product description say?
Blended with Salicylic Acid, the moisturiser has a gentle exfoliating action buffing carefully away at the surface of your skin to leave it looking refined and smoother.
Source: Lookfantastic
This product can help exfoliate the skin. In other words, it helps break down the bonds between dead cells on the surface of the skin and speed up the skin turnover. Skin often appears softer and brighter after exfoliation, but overdoing it can result in disrupted skin barrier. The following ingredient is doing the exfoliating job in this product: hydroxyethyl urea, salicylic acid.
A derivative of urea, a compound that is naturally present in skin. Attracts water to the upper layer of the skin. Can enhance penetration of other ingredients
Used for skin exfoliation. It has an anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial effect, helps to unclog pores, prevent blemishes and speed up healing of the existing ones. Sometimes referred to as a BHA (beta-hydroxy acid)
Naturally present in skin (urea makes up about 7% of natural moisturizing factors in skin). Attracts water to the upper layer of the skin. Also has a positive effect on the skin barrier beyond the humectant action. Can enhance penetration of other ingredients. Is an exfoliating ingredient when used in high concentrations
Moisturizing
What does the product description say?
It locks essential water deeply within the surface of your complexion, leaving you with a suppler, moisturised look.
Source: Lookfantastic
This product can help improve hydration of the skin with the two types of ingredients.
The first type is called “humectants”:
these ingredients help attract water.
When humectants are on the surface of the skin, they “pull in” the moisture from the outside environment, or from
within deeper layers of the skin. The following ingredients in this product do the job:
betaine, glycerin.
This product also contains ingredients called “occlusives”. They help reduce the speed with which our skin loses moisture to the outside environment. These ingredients also help soften the upper layer of the skin, so it feels less tight and nicer to the touch. The following ingredients in this product do the job: dimethicone, ethylhexyl hydroxystearate.
The following ingredients in this product are especially good for supporting the skin barrier and helping with the hydration level: urea
Naturally present in skin (urea makes up about 7% of natural moisturizing factors in skin). Attracts water to the upper layer of the skin. Also has a positive effect on the skin barrier beyond the humectant action. Can enhance penetration of other ingredients. Is an exfoliating ingredient when used in high concentrations
A silicone that helps to reduce water loss from the surface of the skin. Can temporarily "fill in" lines and wrinkles, absorb oil, and create a nice product finish
Helps soften the upper layer of the skin and reduce water loss from it
One of the best moisturizing ingredients. Naturally present in skin. It attracts water to the upper layer of the skin working as a humectant
An amino-acid that helps to attract water to the upper layer of the skin. In combination with other amino-acids, might help to reduce fine lines and wrinkles
One of the best moisturizing ingredients. Attracts water into the upper layer of the skin
A sugar that attracts water to the upper layer of the skin
A derivative of urea, a compound that is naturally present in skin. Attracts water to the upper layer of the skin. Can enhance penetration of other ingredients
Helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin and improves the product texture
A fermentation product created by bacteria Lactobacillus. The fermented product has anti-bacterial properties and might be helpful in calming down inflammation, but studies are lacking. Helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin. Can be used as a preservative
Helps soften the upper layer of the skin without creatng a greasy finish
Used to create a nice product texture and help delivery of other ingredients. Might be somewhat helpful in attracting water to the upper layer of the skin
Helps preserve products and creates a nice product texture
A sugar that is used to stabilize the product formulation. Can help attract water to the upper layer of the skin
Lecithin derivative. It helps oil and water mix together and can enhance penetration of other ingredients. It helps soften the upper layer of the skin
Used to preserve products, dissolve other ingredients and create a nice product texture
A type of silicone that helps add a "soft focus" effect on the surface of the skin and create a nice product texture
A silicone that forms a light film on the skin surface helping to bind water and temporarily absorb oils creating a matt and powdery feel
Used to thicken product formulation. Can help attract water to the upper layer of the skin
Used to stabilize product formulations and help soften the upper layer of the skin
Is proven to be effective in reducing blemishes, evening out skin tone and helping to improve lines and wrinkles. It helps the skin to repair sun damage, calm down inflammation and keep maintain good levels of moisture. The concentration of about 2% is effective for supporting the skin barrier and evening out the skin tone. Concentration of 4-6% is better for helping with acne and balancing the sebum production
Anti-aging
This product contains serine. This ingredient might be able to help reduce and prevent fine lines and wrinkles, improve skin elasticity and firmness, but there is not enough evidence that it actually works.
An amino-acid that helps to attract water to the upper layer of the skin. In combination with other amino-acids, might help to reduce fine lines and wrinkles
Is proven to be effective in reducing blemishes, evening out skin tone and helping to improve lines and wrinkles. It helps the skin to repair sun damage, calm down inflammation and keep maintain good levels of moisture. The concentration of about 2% is effective for supporting the skin barrier and evening out the skin tone. Concentration of 4-6% is better for helping with acne and balancing the sebum production
How honest is this product?
| Promise | Can it deliver? |
|---|---|
| Exfoliation | |
| Moisturizing | |
| Anti-blemish |
Total Promises Fulfilled score: 100/100.
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Potential irritants
Comedogenic ingredients
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| Product | Similarity | Price | Irritancy |
|---|---|---|---|
 Murad Clarifying Water Gel | Current | $38.00 | |
 CeraVe Psoriasis Moisturizing Cream | 80% | $-1.00 | |
 Paula's choice Invisible Finish Moisture Gel | 79% | $44.00 | |
Bioderma Hydrabio Gel-Creme | 79% | $15.99 | |
Skin proud Daily AHA BHA Detox Tonic with Glycolic, Lactic and Salicylic Acid | 78% | $30.00 | |
 Mesoestetic Melan Tran Daily Depigmenting Gel Cream | 77% | $83.99 |
Key Actives
Potential irritants
Comedogenic ingredients
All ingredients
Ingredient list view
Water, Hamamelis virginiana water, Glycerin, Hydroxyethyl urea, Hydroxyethyl acrylate/sodium acryloyldimethyl taurate copolymer, Propanediol, Polymethylsilsesquioxane/silica crosspolymer, Dimethicone, Tapioca starch, Diisopropyl sebacate, Salicylic acid, Urea, Yeast amino acids, Trehalose, Inositol, Taurine, Betaine, Zingiber officinale root extract, Bisabolol, Sodium hyaluronate, Lysolecithin, Sclerotium gum, Polyisobutene, Polysilicone-11, Polydextrose, Dextrin, Ethylhexyl hydroxystearate, Pullulan, Caprylhydroxamic acid, Xanthan gum, Amylopectin, Niacinamide, Disodium edta, Pentylene glycol, Serine, Butylene glycol, Peg-7 trimethylolpropane coconut ether, Hydroxypropyl cyclodextrin, Glyceryl polyacrylate, Algin, Disodium phosphate, Silica, Dipropylene glycol, Pinus densiflora leaf extract, Decyl glucoside, Potassium phosphate, Lactobacillus ferment, Caprylyl glycol, 1,2-hexanediol, Sodium hydroxide, Citric acid, Limonene, Hydroxycitronellal, Parfum, Ci 42090, Ci 17200
- Glycerol and the skin: holistic approach to its origin and functions
- Safety Assessment of Hydroxyethyl Urea As Used in Cosmetics
- Safety Assessment of Polysilsesquioxanes as Used in Cosmetics
- Dimethicone as a protective ingredient in topical medications
- Final Report on the Safety Assessment of Dimethicone Copolyol
- Salicylic acid as a peeling agent: a comprehensive review
- Beta Hydroxy Acids
- A review of toxicity from topical salicylic acid preparations
- Glycolic Acid Peels Versus Salicylic–Mandelic Acid Peels in Active Acne Vulgaris and Post‐Acne Scarring and Hyperpigmentation: A Comparative Study
- Topical urea in skincare: A review
- Cosmeceuttical Critigue: Taurine
- Some phytochemical, pharmacological and toxicological properties of ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe): A review of recent research
- α-(-)-Bisabolol Reduces Pro-Inflammatory Cytokine Production and Ameliorates Skin Inflammation
- Hyaluronic acid: A key molecule in skin aging
- Hyaluronan (Hyaluronic Acid): a natural moisturizer for skin care
- Final report of the cosmetic ingredient review expert panel on the safety assessment of Polyisobutene and Hydrogenated Polyisobutene as used in cosmetics
- Amended Safety Assessment of Alkyl Esters as Used in Cosmetics
- Niacinamide - mechanisms of action and its topical use in dermatology
- Gehring, W. (2004). Nicotinic acid/niacinamide and the skin. Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 3(2), 88–93. doi:10.1111/j.1473-2130.2004.00115.x
- Topical palmitoyl pentapeptide provides improvement in photoaged human facial skin
- Ecofriendly surfactant is allergen of the year
- The effect of probiotics on immune regulation, acne, and photoaging
- Comparison of clinical and histological effects between lactobacillus-fermented Chamaecyparis obtusa and tea tree oil for the treatment of acne: an eight-week double-blind randomized controlled split-face study
- Use of Probiotics for Dermal Applications
- The influence of alkane chain length on the skin irritation potential of 1,2-alkanediols