The Best Murad Skincare Products [2023]

What are the best Murad products? Dr Murad’s philosophy is simple: skincare is healthcare. His brand is all about bringing you actives that really work, so you can slow down premature aging, fight acne, and achieve all your skin goals.

Does it deliver? For the most part, yes. But, like every skincare brand, Murad has its duds. Just because it’s made by a doctor, doesn’t mean everything it makes is the best first for your skin. I still have to come across a skincare brand that only makes Holy Grails.

So, what’s worth the splurge? I’ve rounded up the best Murad products below so you can invest in the best and leave the rest on the shelf:

About The Brand: Murad

Dr Howard Murad has a very impressive curriculum. On top of being the founder of Murad skincare, he’s also a board-certified dermatologist, a trained pharmacis, an Associate Clinical Professor of Medicine at the Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA, and the author of multiple skincare books, including “Cellulite Solution,” and “Wrinkle Free Forever.” In 1989, he was the first physician to release a branded skincare line. He also launched the first medical spa and a pioneer of the use of exfoliating acids in skincare.

Dr Murad is known as “The Father of Internal Skincare” due to his belief that healthy skin starts from within, with a nutritious diet. He’s also a believer that reducing stress and enjoying your life more is a key factor in younger-looking skin. When it comes to skincare, the workhorses are the serums, which contains concentrated concentrations of active ingredients that can fight acne, wrinkles, and dark spots.

Don’t know which skincare products you can mix and match together and which ones deactivate each other? Download your FREE “How To Layer Actives Like A Pro” cheat sheet to get the most out of your skincare products:

What Are The Best Murad Products?

Best For Brightening: Murad Vita-C Glycolic Brightening Serum ($88.00)

The quickest way to brighten dull skin? Murad Vita-C Glycolic Brightening Serum has a dual action that does the job instantly. Glycolic acid exfoliates skin, removing darker, damaged cells that roughen up your complexion and make it look lifeless. Vitamin C (this serum contains two forms of it!) is a powerful antioxidant that fights wrinkles, fades away dark spots, and gives your complexion a subtle glow. The result? Softer, smoother, and brighter skin that looks alive.

Available at: Cult Beauty, Murad, Sephora, SpaceNK, and Ulta

Best For Acne: Murad Clarifying Mask ($42.00)

Got stubborn acne that won’t go away? Try sulfur. Not only it has antibacterial properties that kill P.Acnes, the bacteria that’s making your life hell. But it also dries out blemishes, helps exfoliates dead skin cells, and reduce oiliness – in another words it addresses most of the causes of acne. The catch? Sulphur is drying and irritating (hey, it’s a killer, after all). Murad says you can use this mask all over your face. But be careful of that! I prefer to use it as a spot treatment to make the nasty buggers shrink within hours and disappear within a couple of days.

Available at: Look Fantastic and Murad

Best For Dark Spots: Murad Rapid Dark Spot Correcting Serum ($83.00)

This dark spot treatment fights dark spots in two ways. Glycolic acid exfoliates skin, so that the darker, most damaged cells on the surface give way to the brighter, more-even toned cells underneath. Plus, Tranexemic Acid and Resorcinol inhibit the production of melanin, the pigment that gives your skin its beautiful natural hue. When its production goes into overdrive, you get dark spots. When you inhibit its production, your skin slowly goes back to its original colour. The texture glides on smoothly and sinks in quickly, without leaving a tacky residue behind.

Available at: Cult Beauty, Dermstore, Look Fantastic, Murad, Sephora, and SpaceNK

Best Cleanser: Murad Prebiotic 4-In-1 MultiCleanser ($39.00)

I don’t know about you, but I’m tired of double cleansing. I want a cleanser that takes everything off in one go – without drying out my skin. Murad Prebiotic 4-In-1 MultiCleanser fits the bill. Murad says it has a gel-to-oil texture. Well, it doesn’t feel like an oil to me… but it certainly performs like a cleansing oil. It removes dirt, impurities and stubborn makeup while leaving skin softer and smoother. The best part? It’s suitable for all skin types.

Available at: Cult Beauty, Murad, Sephora, and SpaceNK

Related: Do You Really Need To Double Cleanse?

Best For Combination Skin: Murad Resurgence Replenishing Multi-Acid Peel ($79.00)

Confused by all the exfoliating acids out there? As a rule, AHAs, like glycolic and lactic, are for dry skin. They have hydrating properties that exfoliate skin without drying it out (unless you use them too often!). Salicylic and Malic acids are for oiler skin. They exfoliate both the surface of your skin and the pores, getting rid of blackheads, pimples, and dullness.

But what if you have combination skin or dry skin that gets the occasional pimple every now and then? Grab a bottle of Murad Resurgence Replenishing Multi-Acid Peel. It has all of these acids to exfoliate your skin – plus a lot of other goodies: tranexamic acid to lighten discolorations, hyaluronic acid to plump up skin, and antioxidants to fight premature wrinkles. Just keep the bottle away from sunlight (it degrades antioxidants!)

Available at: Cult Beauty, Dermstore, Murad, Sephora, and Ulta

Related: How To Choose The Right Exfoliator For Your Skin Type

Best For Oily Skin: Murad Deep Relief Blemish Treatment ($45.00)

If you’re dealing with acne, blackheads, and/or whiteheads, you need salicylic acid in your skincare routine. This powerful exfoliant removes dead cells from the surface of your skin, so they don’t fall into your pores and cause breakouts. But its superpower is its ability to penetrate deep into your pores and unclog them from within. It’s the only active in skincare that can really get rid of blackheads, including the tail that’s deep into your pores. Plus, it’s infused with hydrating ingredients that counteract any dryness exfoliation may cause to your skin. Used regularly, this treatment treats acne and prevents it from coming back.

Available at: Cult Beauty, Murad, Sephora, SpaceNK, and Ulta

Best For Very Dry Skin: Murad Multi-Vitamin Infusion Oil ($74.00)

Does your skin feels tight and dry no matter what you do? Grab yourself a bottle of this oil. It’s loaded with natural oils, including coconut and jojoba, rich in fatty acids. Fatty acids are the building blocks of your skin. They fill in any holes in your barrier, so moisture stays in, germs, stay out, and your skin goes back to its natural soft and supple self. Dr Murad also added a sprinkle of antioxidants to fight premature aging. Because, it doesn’t matter how dry your skin is, you also want to fight wrinkles, right? The texture is thick and oily (obvs!) and takes a minute to absorb, but it will kick your skin back into top shape.

Available at: Murad

Best For Sun Protection For Dry Skin: Murad City Skin Age Defense Broad Spectrum SPF 50 Mineral Sunscreen ($69.00)

Are you avoiding mineral sunscreens like the plague cos they always turn your skin into a greasy, white mess? Murad City Age Defense Broad Spectrum SPF 50 Mineral Sunscreen will make you change your mind. It spreads easily on the skin without clogging pores or feeling too heavy on. Plus, it has a peachy tint that counteracts the white cast – and prevents the matte finish from making your skin look dull. The icing on the cake? It has its fair share of antioxidants to protect you from premature wrinkles, pollution, and blue light. It’s best suitable for combination or dry skin, but anyone can use it.

Available at: Cult Beauty, Look Fantastic, Murad, and Ulta

Related: 5 Myths About Mineral Sunscreen You Need To Stop Believing Right Now

Best For Anti-Aging: Murad Retinol Youth Renewal Serum ($92.00)

Murad Retinol Youth Renewal Serum is gentle enough for sensitive skin. How is that possible? It uses micro encapsulation, a technology that delivers retinol into your skin over a period of several hours, instead than all at once. That minimises the dryness and irritation you can experience with other retinol products. But why should you use retinol in the first place? It boosts collagen, fights wrinkles, improves the texture of you skin and even helps you fight acne. Plus, it has ceramides, urea, and Hyaluronic Acid to hydrate skin and antioxidants to slow down premature aging. I could do without the fragrance (THAT could irritate sensitive skin), but hey, you can’t always have everything.

Available at: Cult Beauty, Murad, Sephora, SpaceNK and Ulta

Related: 8 Proven Tricks To Make The Most Of Retinol (Even If You Have Sensitive Skin)

Best Sun Protection For Oily Skin: Murad Oil and Pore Control Mattifier Broad Spectrum SPF 45 | PA++++ ($49.00)

A lightweight chemical sunscreen for oily skin. It provides excellent broad spectrum protection even on hot summer days without clogging pores and leaving a greasy mess all over your skin. Not only it’s oil-fee, but it also helps absorb the excess oil your skin loves to pump out, keeping it matte for hours. Murad also added a sprinkle of antioxidants, including Vitamin C, to supercharge the effectiveness of the sunscreen and keep wrinkles off your face for longer.

Available at: Look Fantastic, Murad, SpaceNK, and Ulta

What Are The Best Murad Products For Wrinkles?

• Murad Vita-C Glycolic Brightening Serum ($88.00): This brightening serum uses exfoliating Glycolic acid and antioxidant Vitamin C to give skin a radiant glow and fade away dark spots. Available at Cult Beauty, Murad, Sephora, SpaceNK, and Ulta.
• Murad Retinol Youth Renewal Serum ($92.00): A retinol serum that delivers this active into your skin over a period of several hours to reduce its irritating potential. It boosts collagen and fight wrinkles. Available at Cult Beauty, Murad, Sephora, SpaceNK and Ulta.

What Are The Best Murad Products For Acne?

• Murad Clarifying Mask ($42.00): A spot treatment with sulfur to quickly shrink pimples in a matter of days. Available at Look Fantastic and Murad.
• Murad Deep Relief Blemish Treatment ($45.00): A salicylic acid exfoliant to get rid of whiteheads, blackheads, and pimples. It also jeeps them from coming back. Available at Cult Beauty, Murad, Sephora, SpaceNK, and Ulta.

What Are The Best Dr Murad Products For Dark Spots?

• Murad Rapid Dark Spot Correcting Serum ($83.00): Glycolic acid exfoliates dark spots away while Tranexemic acid and resorcinol inhibit melanin production to even out your skin tone. Available at Cult Beauty, Dermstore, Look Fantastic, Murad, Sephora, and SpaceNK.
• Murad Resurgence Replenishing Multi-Acid Peel ($79.00): This exfoliant contains all the acids to fade away dark spots (and treat acne to boot!). Available at Cult Beauty, Dermstore, Murad, Sephora, and Ulta.

What Are The Best Murad Products For Sensitive Skin?

• Murad Multi-Vitamin Infusion Oil ($74.00): A mix of nourishing natural oils that deeply moisturise skin and repair a broken protective barrier. It has fragrance, but if your skin is ok with that, this works wonders. Available at Murad.
• Murad City Skin Age Defense Broad Spectrum SPF 50 Mineral Sunscreen ($69.00): A fragrance-free mineral sunscreen that provides broad spectrum protection without being greasy or white. Available at Cult Beauty, Look Fantastic, Murad, and Ulta.

Is Murad Cruelty-Free?

Yes, Murad is cruelty-free. The brand doesn’t test on animals (not even through a third party) and doesn’t sell in countries where animal testing is still sadly required by law.

What Are The Pros Of Murad Skincare?

Murad skincare relies heavily on exfoliating acids to brighten skin, fight wrinkles, and treat acne. Not surprisingly, considering Murad was one of the first to pioneer the use of these acids in skincare (thank you, Dr Murad!). But they’re not the only actives you’ll find in these products. The line is loaded with retinol, Vitamin C, and all the best, scientifically-proven-to-work ingredients to really deliver the results you’re looking for.

What Are The Cons Of Murad Skincare?

Like every other brand, Murad also sometimes uses peptides, collagen, and other ingredients that aren’t the miracle workers marketing makes them out to be. Some of their products also contain fragrance to cover up the natural scent of the ingredients, but that can be irritating for some skin types. As always, look carefully at the labels to make sure you’re getting the most bang for your buck.

The Verdict

Murad has some wonderful acids-infused products to treat wrinkles, dark spots, and acne. Just be careful to avoid anything with too much fragrance or hyped-up ingredients (every brand has its duds, after all).

About Gio

Hi, I'm Gio. I'm a no-nonsense, tell-it-like-it-is skin coach and writer on a mission to help you achieve your best skin day ever - every day. I bust skincare myths and debunk marketing jargon to help you figure out what's worth the splurge and what's best left on the shelf - using science, not hype. I also offer skincare consultations to help you create the best skincare routine for your unique needs.