How to Do a Home Acne Facial in Three Steps

If you have acne-prone skin or use an acne treatment regimen, then using an acne face mask or home acne facial is most likely part of your skin care routine. However, if you’re not using a face mask or home facial to help control your acne breakouts, you’re missing out. While a home acne facial isn’t a daily or sometimes even a weekly treatment, enhancing your anti-acne regimen with a facial or face mask can help to unclog pores, draw impurities from the skin and even improve skin’s overall health. A daily, three-step acne regimen is the best solution for consistently clear skin—and when combined with occasional acne facials can leave you with healthy, glowing blemish-free skin. Here’s how to do a home facial for acne-prone skin.

Step One: Prepare Your Skin (and Your Environment)
While you can do a facial while multitasking, your home facial is a great time to relax and de-stress. Cultural Stress™, the constant and pervasive stress of being connected 24/7, weakens every cell in your body, making it more difficult for it to repair and regenerate—and that has a direct effect on your skin. Use your facial as a time to relax and let go of the daily stresses of life. Find a quiet space, put on some relaxing music and make yourself a cup of green tea (which is rich in antioxidants that support skin health). Prep your skin by using a gentle skin cleanser to remove surface dirt and makeup residue. You may also want to heat up some water and steam your face to open your pores, which will help your face mask or skin care serum to work more effectively.

Step Two: Apply Your Acne Face Mask
The second step of any acne home facial is to apply your acne face mask. Murad Clarifying Mask for acne-prone skin contains the rare earth clays Kaolin and Bentonite to deep clean and draw out impurities. Sulfur dries and heals acne while Zinc and Licorice Extract comfort and calm irritated skin. Simply apply the mask evenly across your face and then sit back and relax for ten minutes while the soothing and healing ingredients do their job. At the end of the ten minutes, rinse the mask off with warm water and pat your skin dry.

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Tips for Great-Looking Summer Vacation Photos

Summer is here, and with it comes vacations. Whether you’re planning a wholesome family vacation or a Sex and the City–style girls’ getaway, you’re sure to return with dozens (if not hundreds) of vacation photos. Making smart skin care decisions, choosing your makeup wisely and practicing your poses in the mirror will help ensure that you look your best in all of your pictures.

Vacation Photo Makeup Tip: Be Wary of Matte Foundations
Matte or flat makeup foundations are designed to reduce oil production and minimize shine. But they can actually control oil too well and end up making your face look flat, pale and overly bright in photos—particularly if you’re using a flash or taking pictures in low light. Instead, use a skin care product with an oil mattifier followed by makeup that highlights your skin’s natural glow. While nobody wants their skin to look shiny in photos, having it look unnaturally flat is just as unflattering. If you’re unsure if your matte makeup foundation has this effect, try it out in a sample photo before your vacation.

Recommended Product: Murad Oil-Control Mattifier SPF 15
Looking for a product that eliminates shine for up to eight hours while also hydrating skin for a healthy appearance? That’s what Murad Oil-Control Mattifier SPF 15 delivers!

Customer Review: Murad Oil-Control Mattifier SPF 15
“I have EXTREMELY oily skin and this product has helped dramatically reduce oil throughout the day. I can tell a total difference if I miss a day of wearing this. This is by far the best product on the market for oily skin.” AZ2AK, Alaska

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Viva Las Vegas! Skin Care Tips for Trips to Sin City

It’s summer vacation time, and the number one vacation destination in America is Las Vegas. Perhaps your travel plans for the year don’t include a trip to “Sin City,” but if you’re among the millions who will hit the casinos, pools, spas and shows of Vegas, here are some skin care tips to keep in mind while you’re there. While we’ve all heard that what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, that’s not true for skin damage. Here are some tips for a winning Vegas skin care regimen.

Vegas Is Dry, but Your Skin Doesn’t Have to Be
People who have never been to Vegas before are often surprised at how much the dry weather affects their skin. Remember, Las Vegas is a desert. And most buildings in Vegas are heavily air conditioned, which can also dry out your skin. Whether you’re going for a weekend or a week, here are two steps you can take to help avoid drying your skin out while you’re in Vegas. First, “eat your water” each day in the form of fruits and vegetables. Staying hydrated from the inside out will help keep your skin looking its best. (And if you drink alcohol, you need extra hydration to replace the water that drinking depletes.)

Second, be sure to use a topical moisturizer. And if you’re spending time in the sun while in Vegas, be sure that your moisturizer contains sunscreen. Murad Correcting Moisturizer SPF 15 delivers oil-free, soothing moisture to your skin and contains a color-correcting tint to decrease redness.

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Sleep and Your Skin: Get Healthy Skin While You Dream

It’s no secret that sleep is important for your health. And since your skin is a reflection of your overall health, getting enough sleep will also help your skin look its best. Unfortunately, most Americans don’t sleep as much as they should. According to the 2011 Sleep in America® poll, 43% of respondents said that they rarely or never get enough sleep during the week. In addition to having a huge impact on your health, getting too little sleep can counteract the benefits of your daily skin care routine. But the good news is you can leverage your nighttime slumber to improve your skin health!

Not Getting Enough Sleep Can Cause Acne Breakouts and Premature Aging
If you have acne-prone skin, not getting enough sleep can trigger a response from your adrenal gland that causes an overproduction of hormones. That leads to the overproduction of skin cells and sebum (oil), clogging pores and causing blemishes. The response is similar to the way in which stress can cause acne. But there’s another way in which a lack of sleep can cause acne breakouts. When you don’t get enough sleep, you feel tired. And when you feel tired, you probably rely on caffeine to pick you up. But just as with a lack of sleep, too much caffeine can trigger an adrenal response that leads to clogged pores and acne breakouts. No matter how effective your acne treatment products are, not sleeping enough will counteract your efforts to get healthy and clear skin.

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Pomegranate and Your Skin: Beauty Through Nature

If you’ve never explored Murad’s Vitalic^® line of skin care products, then you probably haven’t discovered how the power of pomegranate can benefit your skin. You may be asking yourself, “Why is pomegranate so good for my skin?” The answer is that pomegranate, both topically and as a part of a healthy skin diet, is an antioxidant “super food.” And when you combine an antioxidant-rich diet with antioxidant-infused skin care products, the result is glowing, healthy skin.

Why Are Antioxidants So Important?
Every day, environmental factors and the stress of daily life affect the health of your body and skin. Part of this process is the release of free radicals into your system. Free radicals are oxygen molecules that are missing an electron, so they attack other molecules within the body looking to replace that electron. Typically, the molecules that they attack are lipids and proteins that support healthy skin. Antioxidants counteract free radicals, preventing skin damage.

Why Pomegranate?
For a powerful source of antioxidants, you don’t need to look much further than the luscious pomegranate. In fact, a study conducted at UCLA ranked ten beverages according to their antioxidant-fighting power. Pomegranate juice came in first. Pomegranate outranked blueberry juice, an antioxidant staple, and blew “super food” acai juice out of the water. That’s how full of health-building, skin-saving antioxidants pomegranates are.

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Get to Know Murad’s Latest Skin Care Innovation: Intensive-C® Radiance Peel

Last month, Murad introduced its newest spa-inspired face mask and home facial product. Intensive-C Radiance Peel is a Vitamin C facial that provides instant radiance by combating the signs of Environmental Aging.

What’s Environmental Aging?
As we age, the natural process of the body slowing down results in the depletion of skin-firming collagen and the weakening of skin-smoothing elastin. This biological form of aging is called Genetic Aging. For women, the drop-off in hormone production after menopause, which is known as Hormonal Aging, also results in collagen depletion. In addition, environmental factors also make skin look older and less radiant. Environmental Aging is caused by exposure to toxins, pollutants and UV rays. As a result of exposure to these elements, free radicals form in the body and attack collagen, elastin and melanin in the skin, causing it to look older. Environmental Aging increases premature wrinkles, age spots and sun spots and makes skin look duller. Taking preventive actions against Environmental Aging, such as using sunscreen and reducing exposure to toxins, can reduce the amount of damage to your skin. But we’re all exposed to environmental pollutants and UV rays throughout the course of our lives. That exposure adds up. Fortunately, it’s possible to reverse and prevent many of the signs of Environmental Aging.

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Skin Care Tips for Busy Moms

May is the month for mothers. While moms should be honored every day, it’s always nice to dedicate a special day (or an entire month) to celebrating the women who give so much to their families. If you’re a mom that’s always busy taking care of everybody but yourself, you might feel like you don’t have time for a great skin care regimen that will give you healthy, glowing skin. That’s absolutely not true! Not only is it possible for moms to fit great skin care into their busy daily schedules, but it’s important that mothers do things just for themselves. One of the three prongs of Inclusive Health®, Dr. Murad’s breakthrough approach to health and aging, is taking care of your sense of self. Taking care of yourself in meaningful ways leads to a healthier and happier you, which leads to a healthier and happier family. Still not convinced that your busy mom schedule leaves time to care for your skin? Here are some tips on how to make it work!

Breakfast Time Is Facial Time
While some mothers are dressed and ready to go out the door while they’re preparing breakfast for the kids, many are still bathrobe-clad with their hair in a ponytail while they manage the morning circus. There’s no reason why you can’t leverage the 15 minutes of pouring cereal and reminding children to drink their milk to treat your skin with a home facial or face mask. You’re not made up yet, so apply your face mask, get breakfast on the table and then remove it as you’re getting yourself ready to head out the door. Breakfast time becomes multitasking time, and you start the day with fresh, radiant skin.

Recommended Product: Murad Intensive-C^® Radiance Peel
This refreshing mask dramatically reverses environmental aging caused by sun, smog and stress and leaves your skin bright and youthful-looking.

Customer Review: Murad Intensive-C Radiance Peel
“This product starts working within seconds—you can feel the tingly sensation warm up your face and you know it’s working! Afterwards [my skin] felt refreshed, clean, extra-soft and had a little glow.” Tara9, Redondo Beach, CA

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Top Five Skin Care Gifts for Mother’s Day

Mother’s Day is Sunday, May 13. While all that your mom really wants from you this year is your smiling face at her dinner table, we all know that good children give their mothers presents for Mother’s Day. All women love receiving skin care and beauty gifts, and with a skin care gift from Murad you’re not only giving your mother beautiful skin, you’re giving her a present that shows that you really care. Not sure what to get the leading moms in your life? Here are the top five Mother’s Day skin care gifts from Murad.

For the Stressed-Out Mother: Murad Intensive-C^® Radiance Peel
If the mother in your life is stressed out and overwhelmed, help her to find a moment of peace and quiet with this newest innovation from Murad. Intensive-C Radiance Peel is a home facial that’s based on the Vitamin C facials given at the Murad Inclusive Health Spa in Los Angeles. Not only will Mom get some much-needed time to herself, but the Vitamin C infusion from this facial will leave her feeling refreshed and energetic. And, of course, her skin will glow for days afterwards.

Customer Review: Murad Intensive-C Radiance Peel
“I picked up this product because I love going to the spa to get a facial but can’t afford to go as much as I’d like to. This is a great alternative! It has a wonderful orange scent, and I love how it tingles when it’s on the face, so it feels like it’s deep cleaning. The name is a little misleading; it’s not really a peel, but more of a cream mask that you wash off. It left my skin feeling fresh and soft. Overall, really good product!” FranksGirl, Los Angeles

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Results You’ll See, Products He’ll Use

7 Products to Share with the Man in Your Life

Stock your bathroom with these Murad problem solvers that will not only help your skin, but your man’s as well!

1. Cleansing Shave
This patented, antioxidant-rich cleansing formula features Murad’s exclusive Beard Softening Complex^® and Mushroom Enzyme exfoliants to uncover stubborn facial hairs and prepare skin for a superior shave. The great news is that it also delivers a smooth shave for women’s legs, underarms and bikini area. So keep it in the shower for a good shave for everyone!

2. Soothing Skin, Lip and Cuticle Care
Not only is this healing salve great for your pout, it’s also a miracle cure for dry knees, elbows and hands—common problems for guys who do yard work, household repairs and generally work with their hands. Bringing immediate relief to dry, chapped lips and minor skin irritations by sealing in lasting moisture as it gently smoothes and exfoliates, Soothing Skin, Lip and Cuticle Care contains Vitamin E to condition and help relieve chapping and cracking, Lanolin to protect against environmental dehydration and BHAs to gently exfoliate and smooth away dry patches.

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Combat Rosacea Symptoms with Murad for Rosacea Awareness Month

Millions of Americans suffer from rosacea, a chronic skin condition characterized by redness of the cheeks, nose, chin, forehead or eyelids, as well as dryness and tightness of the skin. There is no known cure for rosacea, but there are many ways to identify possible triggers and ways to avoid flare-ups. Symptoms vary from person to person, but people who suffer from rosacea can learn about the condition and look for patterns in their own skin health to help treat the problem.

Dr. Murad recommends the following tips to help you identify rosacea. Fortunately, people who suffer from the disease can manage and treat the condition, which helps boost their self-esteem.

What is rosacea?

• Rosacea is a chronic, inflammatory skin condition characterized by flare-ups of enlarged blood vessels in the face, resulting in a flushed appearance. Symptoms include facial redness, bumps and pimples, skin thickening and eye irritation.

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