Ugly Betty Trip

I LA!

If there is one thing I love about living in Los Angeles, it’s the celebrity sightings. Eating dinner, there’s Keanu Reeves. Shopping on Montana, is that Goldie Hawn? Quick stop in the restroom, hello Nick Lachey (he was going in the men’s room, come on people!). So, imagine my excitement (and near aneurism) when we got invited to the set of Ugly Betty! Turns out the make-up team over there are HUGE Murad fans (especially of our acne products). Seeing a great opportunity to show our appreciation and hoping to see (and, dare I hope, meet) a few great celebs, we packed up some gift bags and headed to Hollywood.

Our first stop was the make-up trailer. As we are talking to the head make-up artist, in walks Eric Mabius, who strikes up a conversation with us, and I get a little flushed. Rounding the set, I make eye contact with Christopher Gorham, and the blood starts to drain from my head. So many celebs in such a short time! Next, we are toured around by the Set Decoration and Consistency Manager (seriously, his job is to ensure that between takes and set changes, everything in the scene remains exactly the same), and are introduced to Becki Newton. I am officially having a celebrity meeting! Seeing the opportunity to make a personal connection, I introduce myself with my full name (see, we both have the same last name) and it turns out her mother’s first name is the same as mine. I’VE CELEBRITY BONDED! It’s too good to be true! As we walk out of the set we lament that we didn’t get to see the big celeb, America Ferrera…But wait, who is that over in the parking lot on her cell phone? It’s her! Just another perfect day in LA.

Gray is the New Black

This season’s hot new look? Classic white paired with the sophistication of a chic gray silhouette—oh yeah, and thousands of tiny gray dots. Wait, what? Inevitably, the runways of Paris and Milan won’t be taking fashion cues from our blog, but we thought we’d celebrate our first birthday in style with a sleek new look. The fashionably modern Skin Deep Blog is packed with everything Murad, including events at our headquarters in LA, skincare tips from the pros and the latest trends and innovations in skincare to keep you looking your best.

Because beautiful skin is always in.

A Close Shave

I’d like to take this opportunity to extol the joys of the pre-shave exfoliating mask. It’s an experience that I believe is little known and hence thoroughly under-utilized. Yes, I realize that masking (or at least admitting to it) is somewhat taboo amongst non-metro straight men. But masks need no longer be linked to the potentially disconcerting image of yourself in a bubble bath with cucumbers over your eyes.

Back in the day, when real men wore fedoras, they would often start their days with a trip to the local barber shop where they would receive an expert shave with a manly, no-frills straight-razor. The barber would prepare the customers’ skin by wrapping it in a piping hot towel for several minutes before applying shave lather with a thick bristled brush. The heat opened up the pores while the massaging of the brush’s badger hair served to loosen up the dead skin covering the hair shafts.

Nowadays the elegance and function of that pre-shave ritual can be experienced in the comfort of your own bathroom (or if you are in a rush, in the kitchen while you make coffee…) with a simple mask. (My personal favorites are Exfoliating Fruit Enzyme Mask and Intensive Resurfacing Peel). In fact, high quality masks are a great improvement on the towel and brush method. While they also prepare the skin for an excellent shave, good masks have a variety of additional benefits. Many will provide an antibacterial effect to prevent folliculitis, and infuse your skin with intense hydration, soothing ingredients and healthy antioxidants. In addition to supporting a smooth shave, a mask can therefore have the added benefits of evening skin tone, moisturizing, clearing pores and reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

I realize some of you may be harboring some reluctance to the experience, but for all of you uninitiated out there, trust me. Try it out. You’ll be glad you did.

The Bu-leg

The Bu-Leg (pronounced buh-leg). You know, the part of your butt that, when you’re not Madonna or Gisele, droops down to mold with your leg, becoming the Bu-Leg…Can I just stop here and say that for my first post I can’t believe I’m going to talk about my cellulite and droopy bottom, but I digress…With bathing suit season upon us, I thought that cellulite might be on the mind of some of you ladies (and men), as it is on mine. So, let’s talk about it - cottage cheese thighs, orange peel skin, call it what you will, it’s not attractive bursting out of a swim suit! Thank goodness the good people and Murad and Lululemon are thinking along the same lines and offered a Firm and Tone Cellulite Treatment community class at the Lululemon in El Segundo, Calif. After attending the lecture, I was inspired to experience this “miraculous” treatment myself.

So, I headed down to the Murad Medical Spa to see if I could actually get some reprieve from the lumps and bumps I’ve been hiding all witner. As I lay under my sheet in fear, the massage therapist began examinging my skin and explaining the 4 different stages of cellulite. She said my condition was a 2 1/2, and soon I learned that I’m not alone; nearly all of us gals have some level of cellulite. My treatment began with a dry brush and scrub exfoliation; then a mask of Vitamin C was massaged into my skin. My massage therapist explained that the treatment was boosting circulation, breaking up connective tissue and moving lymphatic fluid. After removing with warm towels, she applied the Firm & Tone Serum and ended with a lymphatic massage using the Body Firming Cream. As I entered the locker room, I ran to the mirror and looked down at my thighs…THE DIMPLES WERE REALLY GONE! My massage therapist recommended a series of eight treatments and using the serum and supplements at home for the best results. To maintain, follow-up treatments every four to six weeks are advised. I’m now signed up for the next eight weeks..Look out beach, here I come! Now, if only it could get rid of the Bu-leg..

TIP: Don’t shave your legs right before the treatment. The Vitamin C and Cayenne Pepper in some of the products can make your legs tingle a bit.