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!

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!

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.

Murad Teams Up With Operation Progress

Murad is proud to be the exclusive skincare sponsor of the 2010 Race Across America (RAAM) and an official sponsor to RAAM Team Operation Progress. The team will be led by Kristina Ripatti, a retired Los Angeles police officer.

This grueling, 3,000-mile bike race, kicking off June 12, has been called “the world’s toughest endurance event.” It’s a huge accomplishment for any participant, but for Kristina this race has special meaning. A 10-year police veteran, she worked the gang detail in one of the roughest neighborhoods in Los Angeles until she was gunned down by a robber four years ago. Now paralyzed from the chest down, Kristina will complete the race from California to Maryland on a hand-bike, raising funds for Operation Progress along the way.

It’s a cause that’s close to Kristina’s heart. Operation Progress is an LAPD-based program that awards scholarships to young people in gang-infested neighborhoods, encouraging them to attend college and seek out better opportunities. “I know we can’t solve the gang problem,” Ripatti said. “But I can do my part. If we push ourselves, we’re setting an example. We’re saying to these kids, when you’re faced with challenges you can get through it.”

“We are proud to support Team Operation Progress and Kristina throughout the Race Across America,” said Dr. Murad. “Kristina is an inspiration, not only to our company, but to the youth of Southern California who aspire for higher education and the promise of a better future.”

In addition to sponsoring Team Operation Progress with vital materials for the team and crew, Murad is also providing Ripatti and her teammates with products to help protect their skin from the elements as they ride across the country.

Celeb Beauty Buzz

Celeb Beauty Buzz

Shape Up for…..Your Wedding!
by Talia Sandoval-Cudé

I’m getting married in a few months and I ordered my dress a size too small (I’m sure I’m not the first person to do this). I’m now realizing that it’s time to buckle-down and get into shape before the big day arrives and I end up walking down the aisle with my dream dress splitting at the seams. I know I need to change a few things so I’ve decided to go on a eight week overhaul and write it all down for your reading pleasure. There must be some accountability. And, I hate that my gut is expanding and my prized pair of skinny white jeans are moving slowly to the bottom of a pile of not-so-skinny jeans.

My plan was to do the Murad diet according to the Cellulite Solution for eight weeks and use the Firm and Tone Serum and Body Firming Cream combo as well. My knees and the backs of my legs could use some help. At least 30 minutes of some sort of exercise daily. There’s the gym here at work and I live by the beach. I usually have my coffee and bagel whilst watching the pretty people dressed in designer work out clothes go by with their little dogs or smart baby carriages. I’m going to make it out to the boardwalk (we call it The Strand) at least three times a week.

Combining supplements with exercise and a healthy diet seemed easy enough, but having a couple of co-workers doing this regimen with me helped to keep us all on our toes. The best part was after having weekly cellulite treatments on my legs. Only a few weeks in and the esthetician noticed that my legs and knees were cellulite free!

After eight full weeks of taking supplements, making healthy food choices (including two weeks of eating only green vegetables and lean proteins), and working out daily (alone and with a trainer), I can say my clothes were definitely loose and my body is firmer. When I went to try on my dress, it fit too loose! Overall, the experience was a great learning lesson for me that will become part of my lifestyle. I love that I look good and feel good and best of all, the dress looked amazing!

Murad’s Halloween Bash

Halloween is one of my most favorite holidays of the year. Don’t get me wrong. There’s nothing like celebrating our nation’s birth with a good old fashion barbeque on Independence Day. And who doesn’t like to ring in the New Year while watching the ball drop in Times Square? But there’s just something about Halloween that thrills me like no other holiday does. Maybe it’s the decorations, the orange and blacks, the cats and bats and pumpkins. Maybe it’s the candy and how I feel like a kid again. But I think we all know what it is……the costumes. For one day a year we can be someone else, live out a fantasy and just have fun with our newly created character.

To celebrate this fun-filled holiday, each year Murad throws a Halloween Bash complete with costume contest. It’s a pretty big occasion. All employees turn out for lunch, treats, laughter and of course, to take a gander at the costumes everyone’s wearing.

This year, however, was special. Our very own IT wiz Belsien Thomas went all out and performed for his fellow coworkers a scene right out of Michael Jackson’s Thriller video. As he busted a move down the aisle, everyone was clapping and cheering him on. He took first prize of course. But a congratulations is in order for the runners up: Andrea Koons, a cute cupcake, Dina Salcido, a lovely peacock, and Lola Russek and Miko, in coordinating costumes.

Stayed tuned for a special screening of Belsien’s performance on Facebook. If you’re not already a Murad Facebook fan, become one here. And while you’re there, check out more pictures from Murad’s Halloween Bash!

Signs of Fall’s Arrival

In other parts of the country, there is one tell-tale sign of fall’s arrival: autumn foliage. Here in Southern California, however, we don’t get much of that. But we do have crisp air, shorter days and fall collections at department stores—all indications that fall has arrived. And yesterday, as I walked through the office, I noticed another sign that fall is here: boots. Walking up and down the hall, standing in the break room, underneath desks, there they were: boots. Brown, black, and tan—Southern California’s version of foliage. So what better way to welcome the season of snuggly sweaters, fashionable scarves and dark nail polish than with a photo op? Goodbye summer (and summer shorts) and hello autumn!

Now that colder weather is upon us, remember to prepare with the right products to avoid the dreaded winter skin syndrome. To find out how to keep your Murad glow during the colder months, contact our Certified Skincare Specialists.