Recently I’ve been diving into new skincare staples in just about every category to change up my routine. First up – Cleansers! I want to compare a couple cleansers that focus on the same concerns. I’ve been putting the Murad Clarifying Cleanser and the Kate Somerville EradiKate Daily Cleanser to the test! Both of these are designed for acne-prone skin and claim to help reduce the appearance of pores. I’ve personally been struggling with more texture and acne than usual which made me reach for these two. Keep reading for a little background about each and my thoughts!
The 411
Let’s start with the Murad Clarifying Cleanser. This one is a gel cleanser boasting 1.5% salicylic acid. Everyone – even at the drugstore!- is calling out salicylic acid in their products. It’s so hot right now and for good reason! It helps to really unclog your pores and exfoliate skin, keeping bacteria and hopefully acne at bay. Most over the counter products go up to about 2%, so 1.5% seems like a really nice amount. If you’re struggling with hormonal or cystic acne this might not be the solution you’re looking for as the acid can irritate skin that’s already inflamed.
While the Kate Somerville Cleanser claims to have the same effect, what sets it apart is the use of 3% sulfur to fight acne. I’ve been looking to add sulfer to my routine because it can help acne, rosacea, and is supposed to lead to more glowing, radiant skin. It can also help balance oily skin and reduce pores, just like salicylic acid.
Both of these products can be very drying, so if you have dry skin you might want to look more at incorporating a spot treatment. I personally have normal to dry skin and haven’t experienced any peeling or excessive dryness from using these cleansers a few times a week.
My Thoughts
There’s pros and cons to each, but for me the winner is the EradiKate Foaming cleanser! My skin feels so soft after use and I notice a difference in the texture I get on my forehead too. I also have had an increase in hormonal acne, which sulfer can be more effective in treating than salycilic acid. Though it’s not as important, I personally enjoy the texture of the foaming cleanser over the gel cleanser and I think it works well with a facial device, like the Clarisonic.
Obviously, these two cleansers can be used for different concerns if you’ve determined the cause of your acne. I still plan on using the Murad cleanser once a week to help unclog pores, but I think it’s better suited for someone with more oily skin than me. I think the biggest pro for the Murad cleanser is the size. There’s a whopping 6.75 oz. for only $30! I think this would be the right move for someone looking for a gentle cleanser and start incorprating salycilic acid. If you’re only looking to use this a couple times a week, it would definitely last a very long time. However, if you have dry skin or this isn’t your primary concern, opt for a more concentrated salycilic treatment over this.
What are some of your favorite cleansers? Do you struggle with acne at all? I’ve also been trying cleansers from La Mer and Glow Recipe, plus I want to explore the Kate Somerville line more. Let me know if you’d like me to review those guys once I’ve used them a bit more! For more skincare posts click here!
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