Happily Ever After

This has been an exciting year for many of our fellow Murad colleagues and friends — with a barrage of life events from babies and birthdays to engagements and travels. There is always something worth celebrating in the halls of Murad — and luckily celebrating just so happens to be one of our strong points.

Just recently I was lucky enough to attend the nuptials of our very own Casey Cochran, print and direct mail manager extraordinaire, in none other than the beautiful and exotic Antigua, Guatemala. For those of you unfamiliar with the treasures of this little Central American gem may ask ‘Why Guatemala?’ Hailing from the wilds of Sacramento, CA and the great plains of Nebraska respectively, I’d even put money on the fact that the bride and groom don’t know anyone in a two country radius. On one of their adventures they made their way to Guatemala and fell in love with this little town and felt that what better place to share their love with family and friends. Random? Perhaps. Romantic? Totally.

Upon arrival, we spent the first night dining amongst the ruins of a sixteenth century monastery. The vine covered walls illuminated by the candlelight and flashes of lightening were equally haunting and endearing, we quickly discovered this little town had much more to offer behind its concealing walls of concrete (judging, book, cover — applicable here). Under the ‘more to offer’ category we must include the Irish pub we frequented and the array good restaurants that kept us full and happy throughout our stay, and the pièce de resistance — Cerro de la Cruz, a huge cross perched in the hills overlooking the city below and framed by a dormant(?) volcano was nothing short of awe inspiring.

The grand finale of this amazing adventure concluded with none other than the ceremony (and consequent pandemonium). In a torrent of rain, thunder and lightening the bride and groom said ‘I do’ amongst the quaint group of family and friends. A fire-blessing performed by the local Shaman invoked not only oohs and aahs from the crowd but some serious claps of thunder at all the high points leaving us all to believe this guy really knew his stuff.

The following events of the night were nothing short of spectacular. The musically inclined group celebrated around the piano (and on the dance floor) with the bride serenading the groom with ‘Son of a Preacher Man’ and a wedding guest leading a rendition of ‘Piano Man’. The night concluded with a bang — or, dare a I say ‘splash’— as the bride jumped into a near by pool (wedding dress and all) followed by her loyal wedding party and friends. This high class pool party was one of the best dressed I’ve ever seen.

With just enough time to dry off we caught our flight back to US and reality. As our Murad family grows we welcome them with open arms. Congratulations to our friend and coworker Casey — to many more adventures!

Kerri Walsh’s Favorite Murad Product

Kerri Walsh, gold medalist and professional beach volleyball athlete, loves Murad’s Active Radiance® Serum. Kerri knows all about the dangers of environmental exposure. She’s exposed to ultraviolet rays and other harsh elements on a daily basis. Active Radiance Serum repairs damage while instantly brightening skin. Plus, each application gives her skin a supercharged dose of Vitamin-C to protect against environmental aggressors. And if that wasn’t enough, it’s clinically proven to improve skin firmness by up to 63% in just 15 minutes.

This product is highly recommended by Murad estheticians, was voted one of More magazine’s 10 best skincare products and is not only Kerri’s favorite product, but Murad customers just like you gave it 4.9 out of 5 stars! What are you waiting for? Get yours today!

Misty May-Treanor’s Favorite Murad Product

Misty May-Treanor, gold medalist and professional beach volleyball athlete, loves Murad’s Essential-C Eye Cream SPF 15. Why? Because it protects and repairs. Broad spectrum sunscreens protect against damaging UVA/UVB rays. Skin Repair System stimulates collagen synthesis to help renew the delicate eye area. Plus, it contains antioxidants, a must-have in the battle against free radical damage. This is the perfect combination for Misty’s competitive days on the beach.

Not sure if Essential-C Eye Cream is right for you? Check out this helpful chart to determine which Murad eye care product targets your concerns.

Straight from the Esthetician: Summer Skin Saver Tip

Aurora Sanchez has been a Murad esthetician for 6 years. Her recommendation to clients? When outside, be sure to protect your face by wearing a hat and use sunscreen, like Essential-C Day Moisture SPF 30.

“My favorite summer skin saver product is Active Radiance® Serum. I love the way my skin feels after applying. It helps reduce fine lines, gives my skin a smooth texture and a great glow!”

Remember: Eat your water this summer (and all year long for that matter) to keep yourself hydrated.

Getting Inclusive!
By Gengy Gonzalez, Public Relations Assistant

Practicing Our Emotional Self-Care on a Hike with Dr. Murad

Last Friday, our team at Murad had a great opportunity to go on an adventurous hike with Dr. Murad through Solstice Canyon in Malibu. As part of Dr. Murad’s Inclusive Health philosophy, taking care of your emotional well being is important in maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

Before we started the hike, Dr. Murad encouraged us to eat our water by grabbing some fresh fruits and vegetables. I had an orange and half a cucumber and it kept me hydrated throughout the hike. The 2.5 mile hike was a great experience in which everyone was able to explore the various sites the trail had to offer. We even saw a natural waterfall! Keeping up with Dr. Murad was not an easy task, he is an avid hiker and maintains an intense pace that most certainly kept my heart rate up! Everyone had an amazing time and we were lucky to be able to enjoy this day with Dr. Murad.

By taking a day to get Inclusive, we are practicing the 3rd prong of Dr. Murad’s Inclusive Health philosophy — Emotional Self-care. By taking care of ourselves emotionally which can relieve a lot of the stress we experience as part of everyday living, and did you know that stress compromises the health of your cells and therefore the health of your skin too?  So get Inclusive — take some time for yourself and go on an adventure! Explore the mountains, beach or whatever your heart desires — just get out and live!  You’re cells (and your skin) will thank you!

Is it acne or an acne imitator?

From rosacea to folliculitis, many skin conditions appear as red, irritated bumps mistaken for acne. Understanding the cause of your skin’s inflammation can help you fix the problem faster. Whether you face acne or an acne imitator, Murad has solutions to help you get clear and stay clear.

Is it acne or …
… Rosacea?

Symptoms: Persistent flushing and redness across the cheeks, nose and/or forehead caused by the dilation of blood vessels on the face.  As the condition progresses, other symptoms can develop including red-domed papules (small bumps) and pustules.

Rosacea affects over 45 million people worldwide and is most common in fair-skinned women over the age of 30.

Murad recommends: Redness Therapy Regimen to help cool and calm flushed, red skin.

Straight from the Esthetician: Summer Skin Saver Tip

Lori Cahitas, Inclusive Health Practitioner and Esthetician, has been with Murad for more than 10 years. Her favorite summer skin saver product is Waterproof Sunblock SPF 30. A word of advice: proper application and reapplication of sunscreen during long days at the beach is a MUST. Remember: 1 teaspoon for the face and 2 ounces for the body applied 30 minutes prior to sun exposure and reapplication if in direct sunlight every 90 minutes.

Did you know? Eating lots of fresh summer fruits can help you care for your skin.

Share Your Gold Medal Moment

Whenever I watch the Olympics, I’m in awe of the athletes. To have honed their bodies and their skills to perfection for a single sport, and oftentimes all for just a few minutes of their entire lives, well, it blows me away. And when the medal winners are standing on the podiums, tears rush to my eyes. It makes me happy to see them win after years of hard work.

Olympic athletes may be the best of the best, but you don’t have to be a famous athlete to earn a gold medal in the sport of life. So we’re holding a Facebook giveaway to celebrate the champion in all of us.

To enter, just go to our Facebook fan page, click on the Promotions tab and tell us your gold medal moment.

At the end of the contest, we’ll draw one name out of all the entries received. The lucky winner will receive a volleyball signed by gold medalists Kerri Walsh and Misty May-Treanor.

Tell us your gold medal moment for your chance to win!

Meet Team Operation Progress

Kristina Ripatti, 38, Redondo Beach, California

Retired LAPD officer Kristina Ripatti heads up Team Operation Progress. A T2 paraplegic athlete and hand-cyclist, she was injured in the line of duty in 2006. Since then, she’s completed three marathons on her hand-bike, one in Los Angeles and two in Boston, as well as the 2009 CAF “Tour de Cove” Triathlon (swim and hand-bike).

The mother of two, who lives by the simple motto “train for life,” says, “I am riding to show that anything is possible with hard work and dedication.”

Nancy Guth, 60, Stafford, Virginia
Nancy is a very active grandmother of four and mother of three. She and her husband, John, have cycled extensively for the past ten years, racing together in Paris–Brest–Paris (2X), Last Chance Randonnée (2X), Gold Rush and many 24-hour and 12-hour competitions.

Nancy works full time in education and has taught and supervised educational programs in Sao Paulo, Brazil; New Mexico; Michigan; and, for the past 22 years, Virginia. She has coauthored two books on literacy education, and has been an adjunct professor at George Mason University and the University of Mary Washington.

Nancy says, “Life is much like a bike race; one succeeds by planning and hard work. I am riding to help those who want to help plan and work for a better life.”

Franziska Williams, 43, Bakersfield, California
A native of Germany, Franziska is a road and criterium racer who works as a coffee broker. When she found out about the opportunity to ride with Team Operation Progress, she couldn’t pass it up. Her motivation for doing RAAM is simple: to make others’ dreams come true by living her own dream.

“Racing for Team Operation Progress is a great privilege,” she says. “Knowing our efforts are helping these kids get to better places makes me want to train harder.”

Mark Burson, 55, Westlake Village, California
Mark describes himself as “a PR guy and a ‘wanna-be’ endurance cyclist.” And it looks like he’s off to a good start. This husband and father of three won the 2008 California Triple Crown and was a finalist in the 2009 Race Across the West.

But the road to RAAM hasn’t been smooth. After he fell and broke his hip during the Solvang Century in 2007, Mark underwent a total hip replacement surgery. Not one to be deterred, Mark set his sights on RAAM, using it as motivation to get through rehab following his injury.

His other motivation? Helping kids. “Cycling across America is nothing compared to what these kids of Operation Progress go though every day — just to survive,” Mark says. “I am racing to honor them.”

Kristina’s Story

As a former police officer working on the gang unit in South Central Los Angeles, Kristina Ripatti spent her career fighting inner-city violence, a cause that nearly took her life. Four years ago, this retired Los Angeles officer was on the job when she gunned down while in pursuit of a robber. Thanks to the heroic efforts of fellow officers, paramedics and surgeons, Kristina survived. But when she awoke from her ordeal, she was faced with the devastating news that she was a T2 paraplegic, paralyzed from the chest down.

During her rehabilitation, Kristina drew strength from the support of her family and friends. Always a dedicated athlete, she took refuge in daily workouts of weight training and swimming, never letting anything stand in her way. Her story caught the attention of the producers of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, and in late 2006, Kristina and her family were featured on the show.

Kristina still has the same philosophy today that she did four years ago: “train for life.” She continues to set goals for herself, pursuing them with the same energy and drive that she did before her injury. With the help of the Challenged Athletes Foundation, Kristina began training with a hand-cycle, and in 2009 she completed the Boston and Los Angeles Marathons.

Now Kristina is getting ready to head a team of cyclists in the Race Across America (RAAM), a 3,000-mile transcontinental bike race from Oceanside, California, to Annapolis, Maryland, beginning June 12. Along the way, Kristina and her team will be raising money for Operation Progress, an LAPD-sponsored, non-profit program that provides college scholarships for kids who live in the dangerous and impoverished neighborhoods that she once patrolled.

Kristina is also preparing to attend law school, with plans to advocate for the rights of the disabled. To learn more about Kristina, visit her website.