Murad Intensive Resurfacing Peel
The Murad Intensive Resurfacing Peel is a exfoliating scrubs & peeling gel. Our analysis of its 45 ingredients (34 low-risk) rates it Excellent (90/100). Based on its ingredients, it looks well-suited to oily / acne-prone and dry skin. Heads up: it contains fragrance, which can irritate sensitive or reactive skin.
The Murad Intensive Resurfacing Peel is a exfoliating scrubs & peeling gel. Our analysis of its 45 ingredients (34 low-risk) rates it Excellent (90/100). Based on its ingredients, it looks well-suited to oily / acne-prone and 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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Cyclopentasiloxane
(Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Emollient, Solvent) |
Silicone
|
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Glycolic Acid
(Exfoliant, Ph Adjuster, Buffering Agent) |
Good for Oily Skin
Bad for Sensitive Skin
|
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Galactoarabinan
(Film Forming, Fragrance) |
|
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Butylene Glycol
(Fragrance, Skin Conditioning, Solvent, Viscositydecreasing Agent, Humectant, Masking, Viscosity Controlling) |
Good for Dry Skin
|
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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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Cetyl Alcohol
(Emulsion Stabilising, Fragrance, Opacifying, Emulsifying, Surfactant, Foam Boosting, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Emollient, Masking, Viscosity Controlling) |
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Myristyl Myristate
(Emollient, Opacifying, Skin Conditioning) |
Bad for Oily Skin
|
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Glyceryl Stearate
(Emollient, Emulsifying) |
Fungal Acne Trigger
|
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PEG-100 Stearate
(Surfactant) |
Fungal Acne Trigger
|
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Salicylic Acid
(Antiacne Agent, Antidandruff Agent, Corn/Callus/Wart Remover, Denaturant, Exfoliant, Fragrance, Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Keratolytic, Masking, Preservative) |
Good for Oily Skin
Bad for Sensitive Skin
|
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Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
(Flavoring Agent, Skin Conditioning, Humectant) |
|
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Sodium Hyaluronate
(Skin Conditioning, Humectant) |
Good for Dry Skin
|
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Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
(Antioxidant) |
|
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Durio Zibethinus Fruit Extract
(Skin Conditioning) |
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Triticum Vulgare (Wheat) Germ Extract
(Skin Bleaching Agent, Skin Conditioning) |
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Hydrolyzed Prunus Domestica
(Skin Conditioning) |
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Medicago Sativa (Alfalfa) Extract
(Fragrance, Tonic) |
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Bambusa Vulgaris Leaf/Stem Extract
(Humectant, Oral Care Agent) |
|
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Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
(Antimicrobial, Antioxidant, Astringent, Emollient, Humectant, Masking, Oral Care Agent, Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting, Tonic, Uv Absorber) |
Good for Oily Skin
|
|
|
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Tocopheryl Acetate
(Antioxidant, Skin Conditioning) |
Bad for Oily Skin
|
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Sclerotium Gum
(Emulsion Stabilising, Skin Conditioning, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Viscosity Controlling) |
|
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Myristyl Laurate
(Surfactant) |
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Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
(Emulsifying, Surfactant) |
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Steareth-2
(Emulsifying, Surfactant) |
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Hydroxylated Lecithin
(Skin Conditioning, Emulsifying, Surfactant) |
|
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Sucrose
(Flavoring Agent, Humectant, Skin Conditioning, Soothing) |
|
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Dimethicone Crosspolymer
(Emulsion Stabilising, Hair Fixing, Suspending Agent Nonsurfactant, Viscosity Increasingagent Nonaqueous, Viscosity Controlling) |
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Agar
(Binding Agent, Fragrance, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Binding, Masking, Viscosity Controlling) |
|
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Algin
(Binding Agent, Fragrance, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Binding, Masking, Viscosity Controlling) |
Bad for Sensitive Skin
Bad for Oily Skin
|
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Chitosan
(Film Forming, Hair Fixing) |
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Disodium EDTA
(Chelating Agent, Viscosity Controlling) |
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PEG-8
(Humectant, Solvent) |
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Cyclohexasiloxane
(Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Emollient, Solvent) |
|
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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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Polyphosphorylcholine Glycol Acrylate
(Film Forming) |
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Sodium Hydroxide
(Denaturant, Ph Adjuster, Buffering Agent) |
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Phenoxyethanol
(Fragrance, Preservative) |
Paraben
|
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Methylparaben
(Fragrance, Preservative) |
Paraben
|
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Propylparaben
(Fragrance, Preservative, Perfuming) |
Paraben
|
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Hexyl Cinnamal
(Fragrance, Masking) |
Allergens
|
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Limonene
(Deodorant, Perfuming, Solvent) |
Allergens
|
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Fragrance
(Deodorant, Masking, Perfuming) |
|
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Titanium/Titanium Dioxide
(Cosmetic Colorant, Opacifying) |
|
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Mica
(Cosmetic Colorant, Opacifying) |
No personal ingredient notes yet. Save ingredients to your profile to get good/bad alerts here.
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
Contains ingredients some choose to avoid or double-check while pregnant or nursing.
Low-strength topical salicylic acid (BHA) is generally considered fine. Caution is usually reserved for high-strength leave-on products and salicylic peels.
This is general information, not medical advice. Pregnancy guidance varies and depends on concentration and your individual situation — always check with your doctor, midwife or pharmacist. How we flag this.
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.
Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Salicylic acid is OTC-capped at 2%; 0.5–2% is the usual leave-on range. Much below that it acts more as a soothing agent than an exfoliant.
Salicylic Acid
OTC leave-on AHAs are usually 5–10%. The effect also depends on pH and free-acid value, not the percentage alone.
Glycolic Acid
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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