Essential-C Firming Radiance Day Cream
The Murad Essential-C Firming Radiance Day Cream is a moisturizer. Our analysis of its 58 ingredients (42 low-risk) rates it Excellent (91/100). Based on its ingredients, it looks well-suited to dry skin. Heads up: it contains fragrance, which can irritate sensitive or reactive skin.
The Murad Essential-C Firming Radiance Day Cream is a moisturizer. Our analysis of its 58 ingredients (42 low-risk) rates it Excellent (91/100). Based on its ingredients, it looks well-suited to dry skin. Heads up: it contains fragrance, which can irritate sensitive or reactive skin.
Summarised from our ingredient analysis — not brand marketing copy.
The evidence
| EWG | CIR | Ingredient Name & Cosmetic Functions | Notes |
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Water
(Solvent) |
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Glycerin
(Denaturant, Fragrance, Hair Conditioning, Humectant, Oral Care Agent, Oral Health Care Drug, Skin Protecting, Viscosity Decreasing Agent, Perfuming, Solvent) |
Good for Dry Skin
Fungal Acne Trigger
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Ethylhexyl Olivate
(Skin Conditioning) |
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Polyglyceryl-6 Distearate
(Skin Conditioning, Emollient, Emulsifying, Surfactant) |
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Butylene Glycol
(Fragrance, Skin Conditioning, Solvent, Viscositydecreasing Agent, Humectant, Masking, Viscosity Controlling) |
Good for Dry Skin
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Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
(Skin Conditioning, Viscosity Controlling) |
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VITIS VINIFERA SEED OIL
(Skin Conditioning, Skin Conditioning Emollient) |
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Niacinamide
(Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Smoothing) |
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Propanediol
(Solvent, Viscosity Decreasing Agent, Viscosity Controlling) |
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Dipentaerythrityl Hexa C5-9 Acid Esters
(Hair Conditioning, Plasticizer, Skin Conditioning) |
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Ananas Sativus Fruit Extract
(Skin Conditioning) |
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Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
(Antioxidant, Skin Conditioning) |
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ASCORBIC ACID
(Antioxidant, Buffering, Fragrance, Skin Conditioning) |
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Urea
(Buffering Agent, Humectant, Antistatic Agent, Skin Conditioning) |
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Yeast Amino Acids
(Humectant) |
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Trehalose
(Flavoring Agent, Humectant, Moisturising) |
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Inositol
(Antistatic Agent, Hair Conditioning, Humectant) |
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Taurine
(Fragrance, Buffering Agent) |
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Betaine
(Hair Conditioning, Humectant, Antistatic Agent, Skin Conditioning, Viscosity Controlling) |
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Bacillus Ferment
(Skin Conditioning) |
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Biosaccharide Gum-4
(Skin Conditioning) |
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Glutathione
(Fragrance, Reducing) |
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Jojoba Esters
(Emollient, Moisturising, Skin Conditioning, Soothing) |
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TOCOPHEROL
(Antioxidant, Fragrance, Skin Conditioning) |
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Ethylhexylglycerin
(Deodorant, Skin Conditioning) |
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Bis-Behenyl/Isostearyl/Phytosteryl Dimer Dilinoleyl Dimer Dilinoleate
(Emollient, Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Viscosity Controlling) |
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Squalane
(Emollient, Hair Conditioning, Refatting, Skin Conditioning) |
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Sorbitol
(Flavoring Agent, Fragrance, Humectant, Plasticizer, Skin Conditioning) |
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Arachidyl Alcohol
(Emulsion Stabilising, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Emollient, Viscosity Controlling) |
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Cetearyl Alcohol
(Emulsion Stabilising, Opacifying, Foam Boosting, Viscosity Increasingagent Aqueous, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Emollient, Emulsifying, Viscosity Controlling) |
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Behenyl Alcohol
(Binding Agent, Emulsion Stabilising, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Binding, Emollient, Viscosity Controlling) |
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Coco-glucoside
(Cleansing, Foaming, Surfactant) |
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Arachidyl Glucoside
(Emulsifying, Surfactant) |
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Cetyl Alcohol
(Emulsion Stabilising, Fragrance, Opacifying, Emulsifying, Surfactant, Foam Boosting, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Emollient, Masking, Viscosity Controlling) |
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Polyglyceryl-3 Beeswax
(Emulsifying, Surfactant) |
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Cyclodextrin
(Absorbent, Chelating Agent) |
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Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
(Emulsion Stabilising, Film Forming, Viscosity Controlling) |
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Xanthan Gum
(Binding Agent, Emulsion Stabilising, Skin Conditioning, Surfactant Emulsifying Agent, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Binding, Gel Forming, Viscosity Controlling) |
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Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
(Antidandruff Agent, Antimicrobial) |
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Glucose
(Flavoring Agent, Humectant, Skin Conditioning Agent Miscellaneous) |
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Gold
(Cosmetic Colorant) |
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Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
(Chelating Agent) |
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Sodium Hydroxide
(Denaturant, Ph Adjuster, Buffering Agent) |
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Sodium Benzoate
(Fragrance, Preservative, Anticorrosive, Masking) |
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Chlorphenesin
(Cosmetic Biocide, Antimicrobial, Preservative) |
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1,2-Hexanediol
(Solvent) |
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Caprylyl Glycol
(Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Emollient, Humectant) |
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Benzyl Salicylate
(Fragrance, Uv Absorber, Masking) |
Allergens
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Limonene
(Deodorant, Perfuming, Solvent) |
Allergens
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Linalool
(Fragrance, Deodorant, Masking) |
Allergens
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PARFUM
(Fragrance, Perfuming) |
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TEA-Sulfate
(Buffering Agent) |
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Soy Protein Phthalate
(Binding, Emollient, Emulsion Stabilising, Hair Fixing, Humectant, Skin Conditioning, Viscosity Controlling) |
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Glutaral
(Cosmetic Biocide, Fragrance, Preservative) |
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PARAFFINUM LIQUIDUM
(Antistatic, Skin Conditioning Emollient, Skin Protecting, Solvent) |
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Formaldehyde
(Cosmetic Biocide, Denaturant, Preservative) |
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Benzophenone-3
(Uv Absorber, Uv Filter) |
Bad for Oily Skin
Bad for Sensitive Skin
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Petrolatum
(Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning Agent Occlusive, Skin Protecting, Emollient, Moisturising, Uv Absorber) |
Bad for Oily Skin
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EWG flags hazard, not real-world risk — ratings don't account for how much of an ingredient a product contains. Treat these as things to research, not verdicts. How we score →
How to use
General guidance from this product's category and active ingredients — always follow the directions on the package.
Trust & honesty
The concentrations these actives are typically effective at in research — not a measurement of this product.
L-ascorbic acid is usually used at 5–20% (around 10–15% is common). Above ~20% adds little and tends to irritate more; it also needs a low pH to work.
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, ASCORBIC ACID
Most research uses 2–5%; some formulas go to 10%. Very high levels can cause flushing in sensitive skin.
Niacinamide
INCI lists don't disclose amounts, and we don't claim to know this product's levels — these are the ranges these ingredients are usually effective at, so you can tell a real formula from "fairy-dusting" a marketed active. How we estimate this.
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