Murad vs Obagi: Which Brand Is BEST for You?

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If you’re looking for a comparison of Murad vs Obagi, you probably don’t find it easy to choose between them. If that’s the case, then you’re not alone.

As humans, we all like to take good care of our skin, even if we weren’t directly taught in childhood. Sometimes, appearance alone can affect other people’s perspectives of us.

Though there are a lot of brands out there, not many are worth looking at. And those that are worth considering, a few of them are very similar.

To make it easy for you and others, I’ve been writing these comparisons for a while and a lot of people like them.

In this article, I’m going to be comparing Murad and Obagi. I’m going to choose some of their products and go in-depth into what makes each product so you can easily make a choice.

In the following paragraphs, you’ll learn more about each brand, their products and how effective they are. Finally, you’ll learn some tips that’ll help you make the most of your purchase.

Murad vs Obagi: Which Is Better?

About Murad Skin Care

Murad vs Obagi

Murad was founded by Dr. Howard Murad and it’s the first clinical skincare product brand in the industry. Established in 1989, the aim of Murad has been to focus on scientifically proven formulas and technology.

This isn’t surprising, given that the founder is a Doctor himself.

The product line includes moisturizers, masks & peels, supplements, exfoliators, cleansers & toners, serums & treatments, regimens & kits. Murad is in the league of bigger companies like Neutrogena, L’Oreal, Doucce, etc.

Though started small, the company is now owned by Unilever Companies and as such, has most of its products in close proximity to the US populace.

If you’re in America and looking for a clinical skincare line, you can look at some of their products. You can get them from the official website or through other online retailers like Amazon.

Murad Rapid Relief Acne Spot Treatment

Murad vs Obagi
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This Acne Spot Treatment is one of Murad’s trending products for those with acne-prone skin. It’s affordable and has been used by dozens of users for treating skin blemishes.

The formula is inspired by Pine and Thyme Extract which helps reduces skin irritants. It also contains Salicylic Acid, which clears the pores for smooth, beautiful skin.

You can apply it once and up to three times daily, depending on how serious your acne is. According to the manufacturer, you should start seeing results in as little as 4 hours.

This is a big claim and you’d have to try it out but I wouldn’t expect results in that little of a time.

Key Ingredients

  • Salicylic Acid: This agent is used in a lot of skincare products. Although it’s extremely effective for healthy skin, it’s also used for hair, scalp, and for treating psoriasis. It can help in removing the dirt and grime that has accumulated on the skin’s surface. This exfoliation and purification of the skin improve not only its health but also its appearance.
  • Pine and Thyme Extract: This garden herb is considered safe by the Food and Drug Administration. It’s known to have antifungal and antibacterial properties that can help fight irritants without disrupting the skin’s healthy balance.

Who Is Murad Acne Treatment for?

Murad Rapid Relief Skin is designed for people experiencing a range of skin conditions such as whiteheads, redness, acne, and cystic acne.

It can be used safely if you have acne-prone skin or combination skin.

One of the pluses of using this product is that it’s free from chemical substances like sulfate, gluten, and paraben. It’s also cruelty-free and vegan, which I think a lot of people are going to appreciate.

Is It Expensive?

No, the Murad Rapid Relief Acne Spot Treatment isn’t expensive. In fact, it costs a fraction of some of the Obagi acne treatment solutions. It’s less than thirty dollars and according to some users, very effective against skin blemishes.

How to Use

This product is very easy to use. You just apply a thin layer on the affected part. Depending on how serious the condition is and how fast you’re looking to get results, you can use it up to three times a day.

You can’t go overboard. Sticking with this should give you the optimal result you’re looking for since that’s what the manufacturer recommended.

You can use it at night (and before moisturizing) or in the morning, whichever is convenient for you.

How Effective Is It?

If you have severe acne, it might take time for the results to manifest. Also, it’s important to get the old/original solution as that’s what works for most people.

If you can, get the product directly from the official website. Also, if you’ve tried benzoyl peroxide (which many claims works well for acne) and it doesn’t work for you, you can try this.


About Obagi Skin Care

Murad vs Obagi

Obagi Skin Care offers a line that’s been around for decades. The brand was introduced shortly after Murad and is also dedicated to promoting overall healthy skin.

Although it started as a small skincare line with a single flagship product, Obagi can now boast more than 60 products and thousands of loyal fans.

It relies on science and innovation and has a similar product line to Murad. This includes toners, cleansers, treatments, serums, moisturizers, masks, body, and eye care.

Obagi is one of the few companies that offer a lot of information on their website that helps you make the right decision. Most importantly, the company spelled out unauthorized outlets to avoid when getting your product.

Obagi CLENZIderm M.D. Pore Therapy

Murad vs Obagi
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Just like Murad’s acne treatment formula, the Obagi CLENZIderm is aimed at controlling excess oil production and promoting skin clarity.

It’s also backed by Salicylic acid that helps kills acne-causing bacteria while also helping to heal breakouts. Unlike Murad, it comes with Glycerin which helps reduce inflammation of the skin.

With regular use of this product, you can begin to see some improvement in your skin complexion. This product is designed for not only combination or acne-prone skin like Murad, but also for oily skin. It’s free from paraben, sulfate, and phthalate.

How to Use

Using this product involves a little more action than that Murad. To use this product, you’ll need cotton with which you apply the gel onto your face.

Wait a few minutes for it to dry and carry on with your activity. Note that this might cause dryness on your face so you might want to use it only once or every other day.

Price

The price of Obagi, compared to Murad, is a little on the high side. However, I’ve found that there are many more who are satisfied with Obagi’s product, unlike Murad which is fraught with many negative reviews.

This isn’t necessarily a justification for the price. However, I’ll go with the company that offers what many people are happy with.

Murad vs Obagi Acne Treatment

Murad vs Obagi

Since most of this article is focused on acne treatment, let’s make a comparison of both brands based on that. I’m going to compare them in terms of ingredients, prices, availability, and whether they’re cruelty-free or not.

Ingredients

The first thing to look at is the ingredients of both products. Both Murad and Obagi contains Salicylic Acid. In addition to that, Murad has Pine and Thyme Extract, which is absent in Obagi.

While Obagi contains alcohol, Murad doesn’t (or at least isn’t listed. I wouldn’t even consider a product that contains alcohol.

I also like that Murad is a vegan and cruelty-free product, the same as Obagi, which means they can both be used by vegans and vegetarians.

Price

Murad is relatively cheaper than Obagi. To give you a perspective, you could buy two of the Murad acne treatment gel with the amount it will take to buy only one Obagi product.

Therefore, if you’re looking for a budget-friendly option, Murad is a better choice here.

Availability

Both products are manufactured in the United States. They’re also similar in that both founders are Doctors and have both focused on treating skin damage and restoration.

Therefore, if you’re in the USA and want a good product, Murad and Obagi can serve you.

Are they Cruelty-Free?

Whether you’re looking to get Obagi or Murad, you’ll not go wrong here. Because both brands don’t test on animals, they’re cruelty-free and both safe for vegans and vegetarians.

Where Can I Get Murad or Obagi

You can get each on the official websites of the company. Amazon is also an authorized retailer for Murad and Obagi products and you can find a lot of varieties there too.

There are many online retailers, though some of them are non-authorized. You’ll want to be careful where you order so you don’t end up with a fake product.

How to Choose the Right Skin Care Product

If you browse through some of the previous articles I’ve written, you’ll find that I always try to mention a thing about choosing the right product.

A lot of people often get buyer’s remorse after buying a set of skincare treatments. Some of these people were either misled or didn’t have adequate information before ordering.

As with any other product, there are certain things you need to keep in mind when buying. Here are some of these things:

1. Ensure you read user reviews.

Choosing the right product doesn’t always have to depend on this factor. However, a lot of times you can avoid some bad products by just reading reviews of others.

Aside from that, you also get some insights you might not otherwise come across if you go straight to buying the product.

Sometimes you may learn there is a better version of the product. And other times, you may discover a place where you can get the original product for a cheaper or discounted price.

2. Higher prices don’t always translate to quality.

You’ve probably come across this phrase a couple of times. That’s because of how important it is. You don’t want to end up spending a lot of money on a product hoping for a miracle only to be disappointed.

The best thing to do is to learn a little about the product, what it can do, and what other options are available. Then compare the prices and see what you get.

3. Get the product from the official source.

There are a lot of advantages to doing this. First, you increase your chances of choosing the original product the company advertises.

There are a lot of fake products out there and if you’re not careful, you might fall into the hands of unscrupulous sellers.

Second, you can easily return the product if it’s not what you’re looking for. It may not be as simple as that, but you have the opportunity of communicating directly with the brand instead of going through loopholes (or middlemen).

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