See Jane Run…with Dr. Murad
by Stefani Green, Coordinator, Media Relations

If you ever watched ABC Channel 7 news in the Los Angeles area during the mornings, then I am sure you know who Jane Monreal is!!! She was a fixture on the morning news reporting on traffic, beauty, dance and lifestyle. She is a wonderful person, so real and so sweet—with such great energy. She recently started her own Production Company called enCompass Entertainment and wanted to interview Dr. Murad for her new series called See Jane Run, a travel destination show that follows Jane’s excursions all over the world. Jane thoroughly enjoyed meeting with Dr. Murad and learning all about the Science of Cellular Water—he even personally evaluated her and informed her about her intracellular water levels, her skin (flawless of course!) and shared his tips for becoming as healthy and beautiful as possible (he’s THE expert on that—trust me). Dr. Murad gave her a personal tour of all the amazing facilities here at Murad and she was so impressed, she’s coming back for a full Murad Spa Day! Check out the picture of Dr. Murad and Jane together (seriously, 2 of the nicest, most down-to-earth people on the planet!) and be sure to visit Jane’s blog—oh, and be sure to keep an eye out for Dr. Murad on See Jane Run coming soon.

Green Beauty

“Green Beauty” might not sound so attractive (sounds a little like green with envy or green eggs and ham) but there are major dollars behind it. Technology Strategy Board recently invested more than $30 million dollars into green research projects. Among the projects is the use of seaweed in beauty products.
The Body Shop and the University of Leeds have also backed such research.

Murad may be ahead of the curve…the Murad Inclusive Health Spa has been featuring a Seaweed Detoxifying Wrap for some time. And Dr. Murad has been an innovator in skincare science for 20 years. Perhaps we’ll see a Murad Green Skincare line in the near future.

WOW of the Week

We receive numerous testimonials daily from happy Murad customers which we call WOWs. Come back next Friday for a new WOW of the week!

“WOW !! I received product 3 days ago, and already am experiencing a change in my skin.

My skin lacked lustre. Murad has restored it. I have used all products from Dept. Store to drug store.

This is truly a remarkable product.

I found a home w/ Murad. THANK YOU !!!”

-Susan

Summer’s Here!!!

Summer officially started on June 21 at 1:45 AM, otherwise known as Summer Solstice. Summer Solstice is a happy time for those of us who live in sunny California. There’s a Summer of Love SOULstice Festival in Santa Monica. Del Mar celebrates the arrival of summer with a culinary twist. Tahoe hosts its own Summer Kick-Off over 4 days. And Santa Barbara knocks it out of the park with the Summer Solstice Parade.

Murad took part in the celebration with Summer Fun Shorts Day. That’s right. Murad employees were given a free pass to wear shorts to the office in observance of Summer Solstice. Some wore bermudas, some chose cargos, while others classed it up with heels. Regardless of the style or color or flip flops or tennis shoes, we all had a blast seeing our fellow coworkers walking down the hallway looking cool and casual with shorts on. Discovering who rocked shorts to work was like a fun, day-long surprise.

I would like to say a big THANKS to Murad for giving us the chance to celebrate our favorite season (well, my favorite anyway) and a big HAVE FUN THIS SUMMER to everyone out there.

Now it’s time to dust off the barbeques, put on the flip flops, and head to the beach. And of course, we always remember to wear
our sunblock!

At-Home Laser Treatment for Wrinkles?

This month witnessed the approval by the FDA of Palomar Medical Technologies’ laser device for eye-area wrinkles. We know the FDA has gotten it wrong before. We’ve all heard about the recall of Zicam this same month. So I’m wondering about this recent development. Personally, I cringe at eye-lash curlers so I couldn’t image taking a laser to my eye. If any laser is getting near my eye, a board-certified doctor better be at the other end of it! My advice, stick with eye creams. Murad has a whole selection of eye creams for your specific concern. And they work!

What are your thoughts about this new over-the-counter wrinkle treatment in laser form?

Murad Employees: Masters of Skincare……
and the English Language

I’m not sure how the conversation was started, but suddenly, 4 Murad employees (two from the catalog team and two from the eTeam) synchronized their lunches and engaged in a friendly game of Boggle. Each questioned the other as to the validity of their chosen words (totter? frit?). In the end however, Sam Shefrin, our very own SEO Guru, came out victorious (although whether he knew the definition of “covin” as he furiously jotted it down on paper is still a mystery). Do I see a company-wide Murad Boggle Tournament in the near future? That remains to be seen. In the meantime, I’ll get started on memorizing all the three letter words in the English Language.

Anxiety-Proof Suncare

I have a very relaxed attitude towards most things - some would say a bit too relaxed. I make up for it with my obsession with sun protection. I will reapply 4 times on cloudy days I spend indoors. I never know when some sneaky, DNA-damaging UVA ray will slip through my window onto my exposed hand. And good luck to anyone who has to have lunch with me when the only table available is under direct sunlight. I will squirm for the duration, and because all of my attention is being paid to the damage being done to my skin cells, I probably won’t hear a word of the conversation.

I realize that most people aren’t this neurotic (I like to think of it as “attentive”) about sun protection. Most do not use sunscreen at all. Of those who do, few reapply throughout the day, so their protection only lasts for a few hours. But even for those who are as “attentive” as I am, a high SPF does not ensure complete protection. A sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or above (I’ve seen some SPF 100 products recently) only filter about 97% of UVB rays while it remains on your skin (SPF 15 will filter about 93%). However, an SPF rating gives no assurance of UVA protection – and these are the rays that cause the majority of skin aging. My sincere but naïve hope is that the FDA will finally approve a rating system for UVA protection like the one in Japan and Europe. Until that happens, look for these FDA approved UVA protectors on your sunscreen’s label – Avobenzone, Zinc, and Titanium, to ensure that you are getting some broad spectrum protection.

But even if you are as attentive as possible, some of those damaging rays are going to slip by and harm your skin cells. That is why we add a cocktail of antioxidants and repair enhancers into all of our sunscreen formulas. These will serve to repair the damage done by the rays that your sunscreen cannot protect you from. Not only does their inclusion leave your skin looking and feeling healthy, they also allow me to stop obsessing over that slippery 3% of UV rays that I know are breaking through my armor.

Night on the Red Carpet
by Stefani Green, Coordinator, Media Relations

Murad hosted a night on the red carpet to introduce and welcome our new international face of Murad, Turkish celeb Ebru Salli. It was a wonderful evening full of VIP’s and guests red-carpet-ready! Each attendee was treated to the opportunity to enjoy chair massages or hand treatments featuring Murad products and everyone left with a Murad goody bag packed with the lushest Murad products! Guests also had the honor of meeting and mingling with Dr. Murad and his lovely wife who entertained the VIP crowd (who included Selen Eryuce, Commercial Consul for the Turkish Consulate General) while all dined on delicious cuisine from Ill Fornaio paired with an array of wines. Ebru Salli is a huge superstar in Turkey (they call her the Oprah of Turkey!) where she has her own TV Show, cook book and sells the number one Pilates DVD! Not only is she stunning and a total show stopper, but she is an absolute sweetheart and one of the most down to earth people you’ll ever meet. She perfectly embodies Murad’s Inclusive Health Philosophy which makes her the ideal match for Murad. Did I mention that she photographs like a pro? Seriously, I don’t think any of her photos even need touching up. Look for her as the new face of Murad—she will be featured in various catalogs, campaigns and on our Web site!

Murad Boot Camp

I love flip flops. . . and the inability to operate within the confines of a regular shoe lead me to believe my little tootsies have a strong affinity for them as well.  Lucky for them I live in a climate and a culture that makes flip flopping not only fashionable but a way of life—especially when the warmer weather hits the southland. While you may scoff at our thin blood and our total aversion to any temperature below 60 degrees, summer is still something to get excited about.  As the weather outside becomes more and more inviting, you won’t have to wait long to catch an employee at the corporate office gazing out the window in the direction of the beach, so close, but oh yet so far away. . . As logic would follow, where there is a beach, there is a bathing suit, and where there is a bathing suit there is, well . . . let’s just say some things that shouldn’t necessarily be there.  Unfortunately, the good intentions of a New Year’s resolution were drowned in a bowl of cheese dip at a Super Bowl party—but that is either here nor there. Either way, its crunch time. . . and push up time, and basically do whatever you can do to make your beach debut in anything short of a mumu time.

Maybe it’s this string of logic that prompted some forward-thinking employees to sign up for a boot camp hosted at headquarters.  Not only did the rigorous program test your physical strength and endurance, the nutrition and diet element proved to be a worthy challenge even for the most dedicated. But, as they say, there is strength in numbers—and thank goodness for that. Turning down a scrumptious piece of birthday cake and opting for an amorphous blob of sugar-free lime Jell-O is not something you can do without a support system (that just so happens to double as the Gestapo when it comes to smuggling in treats on the ‘unacceptable’ list. Which reminds me, this blog wouldn’t be complete without anything short of an ‘ode’ dedicated to the kid-friendly gelatin substance that was our one saving grace through the two-week period, but I’ll spare you all just this once).

As with any program, this one is still a work in progress, but not only is everyone in a healthier frame of mind, the halls are now filled with well-conditioned bodies ready to hit the beach. Plus, the success of the downsizing is prevalent in the floor plan as well, as we’re successfully fitting more desks into smaller places too.

Employee Profile: Casey Cochran, Manager, Print and Retention

(We’re bringing back the employee profile! Now’s your chance to get to know the people who keep Murad’s wheels a-turning. First off: Casey Cochran, the mastermind behind your favorite Murad catalog. Check back often to meet more Murad employees!)

How long have you worked for Murad?
I can’t believe it – It has been 3 ½ years! The last 2 years I’ve managed Murad’s Catalog and Direct Mail Business. Before that I worked in Spa Marketing.

What Murad products can you not live without?
Intensive Wrinkle Reducer for eyes is amazing! I swear it erases lines. I tell all my bride-to-be friends to use it. I’m also in love with Sheer Lustre Day Moisture SPF 15. I’ve never experienced a product like it. It literally melts into your skin, providing deep hydration with a lightweight finish. Even better, the subtle light reflecting minerals in the product make your skin glow with radiance.

What is your favorite thing about Los Angeles?
All the creative people. I came here thinking everyone was going to be made of silicone and discovered that’s not the case. Yes, we do have a higher percentage of ‘enhanced’ people, but, as the entertainment capital of the world we also have the most creative, imaginative people in the universe.

What is your favorite restaurant?
It’s not really a restaurant, it’s a market in Santa Barbara wine country called Los Olivos Grocery and Deli. The Chumash Chicken Sandwich is to die for (grilled chicken breast, peppercinis, avocado, lettuce, tomato… I’m getting hungry just thinking about it!). Whenever we make it up to the Santa Barbara area, Tim (my boyfriend) and I make a ritual out of buying a sandwich and driving to a nearby winery for a picnic lunch.

What is your most marked characteristic?
At Murad people know me for my hair. It’s always been long, but I change up the style regularly. In college my boss called me Madonna because she swore my hair changed as often as Madonna changed outfits. Around here people seem to prefer the 50’s inspired twists.

Who is your biggest celebrity crush?
Jack Black (don’t tell Tim!). Looks come and go but a sense of humor is with you forever.

What is your worst fashion faux pas?
Where do I begin? It was a bad scene all through middle school, continuing into high school. My worst outfit was this patriotic disaster I concocted. I had these giant flag earrings, a red & white striped T-Shirt, and blue shorts with stars on them. My eyeshadow was blue (with stars!) and – this is the worst part – I actually painted my fingernails like flags. It got so bad that my mom hid my blue nail polish from me.

What is the last movie you saw or the last book you read?
Revenge of the Nerds – it’s pure brilliance.

What is your favorite day of the week?
Saturday, of course.

What do you enjoy doing the most?
Singing, wine tasting, seeing the outdoors…and brainstorming the next catalog issue (it’s true).

What is your idea of a dream vacation?
Last year, Tim and I went to Ireland. From standing on the Cliffs of Mohr to hiking the Gap of Dunloe it was an amazing experience. My favorite place was a little bar in Killarney called O’Connors Pub. A local Irish folk band named Paddy’s Arrivals plays there every night. We had the time of our lives playing and singing with them. Some people want to go someplace tropical, but I’d give anything to spend another week in that old Irish pub, drinking Guinness and singing folk songs.

Pick a color that describes you best.
Green.

Quick—What makes you happy? (Don’t think about it—Just answer!)
Karaoke!

What do you want to come back as in your next life?
A Sham-Wow. I’d be indestructible and able to do anything!

What would your best friend say is your motto?
Life isn’t black and white – it’s usually somewhere in the gray.

It’s Tuesday. 10 am. You’re boss says, “Take the rest of the day off.” What would you do?
Work until 11 – then bike along the ocean, through Santa Monica, up to Malibu and back.