Howard Murad's Blog, page 10
August 30, 2016
SPOTLIGHT INGREDIENT: RETINOL
This month, we want to highlight one core ingredient for skincare and that’s retinol. We sat down with Doctor Murad for a quick Q&A to learn a bit more and ask why he has selected retinol as the spotlight ingredient for August.
What exactly is retinol and what is it used for?
Retinol is a pure form of Vitamin A. Your skin uses Vitamin A naturally in its regeneration and repair cycle. It is most commonly used in skincare for two things: reducing the appearance of wrinkles and fighting acne.
This potent ingredient provides its anti-aging benefits by stimulating cellular turnover and bringing new, healthy cells to the skin’s surface for a more youthful appearance.
And now for the science: retinol plays a vital role in epidermal renewal and keratin synthesis, and contributes to the strength of collagen and elastin proteins. This means that as we age, our keratin proteins become less compact and more dehydrated; retinol helps to bring back the elasticity and compact nature of these proteins. It is because of its proven renewing power that retinol is recognized as the gold standard anti-aging ingredient.
Retinol is also a powerful ingredient when it comes to acne. Retinol helps to reduce outbreaks by preventing dead cells from clogging pores (normalizing the stratum corneum and reducing the overproduction of sebum).
Is there any new news when it comes to retinol?
Yes. New scientific studies suggest that retinol may encourage vascularization in the dermis. This means more collagen production. When it comes to aging, retinol has three clear benefits: it helps to keep your cells compact, it aids in cell renewal and potentially encourages the production of collagen. I would say that is exciting news!
Can you tell me a little bit about the technology Murad uses to deliver retinol?
Many retinol formulas rely on a single form of retinol and may take several weeks to deliver results and cause irritation. Retinol is not stable and this makes it a more difficult ingredient to work with. Our new product, Retinol Youth Renewal Serum (https://www.murad.com/product/retinol-youth-renewal-serum), overcomes these traditional drawbacks with its breakthrough Retinol Tri-Active Technology (a fast-acting Retinoid, time-released Retinol and a Retinol booster) that optimizes performance to quickly deliver visible results with minimized side effects. These results include a visible reduction in the appearance of wrinkles and dramatic improvements in texture, tone and radiance. On top of this, all of our products include anti-inflammatories, antioxidants and hydrators.
You are known for your holistic approach to beauty. Does retinol play a part of your ‘total’ care approach?
Yes. Some dietary sources of Vitamin A can provide you with an internal path to many of the benefits you can receive from topical retinol. I recommend the following water-rich fruits and vegetables:
Sweet potato, carrots & squash
Dark leafy greens
Dried apricots
Red peppers
Retinol is in several of your Murad products and you have been using it for many years. Do you have a hero product for Retinol that you would recommend to your patients
Yes. Retinol is well-known as the gold standard for anti-aging ingredients, that’s why my patients ask for it frequently. However, I saw a significant need for a new product that worked more quickly and didn’t cause irritation and dryness. After years of research and development, I’m proud to say we have finally perfected the science of retinol with this revolutionary serum. It’s called Retinol Youth Renewal Serum and what’s exciting about this revolutionary new product is that it gets to work quickly and without any of the irritation of traditional retinol formulas. It really does activate your youth!
Thank you Doctor Murad.
[image error]
Retinol Youth Renewal Serum
$88.00
Shop Now
The post SPOTLIGHT INGREDIENT: RETINOL appeared first on Murad Blog.
SPOTLIGHT INGREDIENT: RETINOL
This month, we want to highlight one core ingredient for skincare and that’s retinol. We sat down with Doctor Murad for a quick Q&A to learn a bit more and ask why he has selected retinol as the spotlight ingredient for August.
What exactly is retinol and what is it used for?
Retinol is a pure form of Vitamin A. Your skin uses Vitamin A naturally in its regeneration and repair cycle. It is most commonly used in skincare for two things: reducing the appearance of wrinkles and fighting acne.
This potent ingredient provides its anti-aging benefits by stimulating cellular turnover and bringing new, healthy cells to the skin’s surface for a more youthful appearance.
And now for the science: retinol plays a vital role in epidermal renewal and keratin synthesis, and contributes to the strength of collagen and elastin proteins. This means that as we age, our keratin proteins become less compact and more dehydrated; retinol helps to bring back the elasticity and compact nature of these proteins. It is because of its proven renewing power that retinol is recognized as the gold standard anti-aging ingredient.
Retinol is also a powerful ingredient when it comes to acne. Retinol helps to reduce outbreaks by preventing dead cells from clogging pores (normalizing the stratum corneum and reducing the overproduction of sebum).
Is there any new news when it comes to retinol?
Yes. New scientific studies suggest that retinol may encourage vascularization in the dermis. This means more collagen production. When it comes to aging, retinol has three clear benefits: it helps to keep your cells compact, it aids in cell renewal and potentially encourages the production of collagen. I would say that is exciting news!
Can you tell me a little bit about the technology Murad uses to deliver retinol?
Many retinol formulas rely on a single form of retinol and may take several weeks to deliver results and cause irritation. Retinol is not stable and this makes it a more difficult ingredient to work with. Our new product, Retinol Youth Renewal Serum (https://www.murad.com/product/retinol-youth-renewal-serum), overcomes these traditional drawbacks with its breakthrough Retinol Tri-Active Technology (a fast-acting Retinoid, time-released Retinol and a Retinol booster) that optimizes performance to quickly deliver visible results with minimized side effects. These results include a visible reduction in the appearance of wrinkles and dramatic improvements in texture, tone and radiance. On top of this, all of our products include anti-inflammatories, antioxidants and hydrators.
You are known for your holistic approach to beauty. Does retinol play a part of your ‘total’ care approach?
Yes. Some dietary sources of Vitamin A can provide you with an internal path to many of the benefits you can receive from topical retinol. I recommend the following water-rich fruits and vegetables:
Sweet potato, carrots & squash
Dark leafy greens
Dried apricots
Red peppers
Retinol is in several of your Murad products and you have been using it for many years. Do you have a hero product for Retinol that you would recommend to your patients
Yes. Retinol is well-known as the gold standard for anti-aging ingredients, that’s why my patients ask for it frequently. However, I saw a significant need for a new product that worked more quickly and didn’t cause irritation and dryness. After years of research and development, I’m proud to say we have finally perfected the science of retinol with this revolutionary serum. It’s called Retinol Youth Renewal Serum and what’s exciting about this revolutionary new product is that it gets to work quickly and without any of the irritation of traditional retinol formulas. It really does activate your youth!
Thank you Doctor Murad.
[image error]
Retinol Youth Renewal Serum
$88.00
Shop Now
The post SPOTLIGHT INGREDIENT: RETINOL appeared first on Murad Blog.
August 24, 2016
Spreading Happiness at Work
Happiness is a contagious and positive energy. So why not make the effort to always embrace it? Dr. Murad believes that maintaining positive energy and emotion is essential, particularly emotions that are absorbed by others around you.
We live in a time of seesawing emotions – which is why it’s so important to share positivity and joy. We spend of average, a third of our days working – so, we’ve dug into the advice of a few companies (Google for example employs a Chief Happiness Officer) that are all about spreading happiness and making everyone feel good. Actually, make that, feel great, to share some top tips.
1. Don’t be afraid to bring your personal baggage to work.
We long been told to keep your personal and private life separate, but researchers are realizing is that the separation of professional and personal is a poor model. It minimizes workers in a way that makes it more difficult for them to be happy, to feel valuable, connected, trusted and cared-for at work. Today we need to create and promote empathy in the workplace. Why not start by asking someone how was their evening or weekend.
Takeaway: Getting personal at the office increases co-worker trust and compassion.
2. It’s not a competition – it’s a team sport.
While many of us judge our own success by how far we get ahead of other colleagues, studies suggest that this competition is making us sadder – we call this a contributing factor to Cultural Stress. Why not try breaking down departmental silos and helping each other. Create a culture of happiness, cooperation and an open idea sharing environment. You may just find that you still get the promotion but can actually feel really great about how you achieved it.
Takeaway: Teamwork is dream work.
3. BreathE and THINK.
We often forget to stop at work. Take a few deep breaths and a moment before you hit reply all. Engaging in mindful habits, like breathing deeply before meetings or on break or whenever you can fit it in, can reduce the toxic rumination and racing thoughts that often lead to stress and anxiety. You may just see that person who really gets under your skin, in a new light.
Takeaway: Stop, think and breathe in the heat of the moment.
4. Thank you goes a really long way.
Gratitude has been proven to present a huge opportunity for increasing happiness and there are lots of opportunities to say thank you on a daily basis. It could be as simple as taking a few seconds to pop your head into someone’s office/ desk and just recognize their efforts.
Takeaway: A thank you a day – keeps the doctor away.
5. Play nice.
We were all told this growing up but sometimes we forget this in the workplace. Studies suggest that the number one reason people are unhappy at work is due to personal relationships with other employees. Company cultures of incivility (unkind, competitive, snarky and hostility) are on the rise – so really keep this one in mind.
Takeaway: Be kind, and lay off the snark.
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August 22, 2016
Connected Yoga
Dr. Murad was recently on holiday in Hawaii when he sent the office the picture you see in this post above with the title, Connected Yoga. His message was simple and clear – “This is human interaction at its best. I can see (and feel) the energy passing between everyone in the circle and their experience has been significantly enriched through the power of touch– they are truly connected”.
Dr. Murad furthered his explanation by saying “In this new stress, which I call Cultural Stress, the single most deleterious aspect is social isolation. We tend to spend 10 hours or more sitting or standing alone with our cell phone or computer. Beyond that we tend to spend time alone watching media in its many forms while receiving packages of food, clothing and other essentials without leaving our home. The need for physical contact in its many forms whether it is a yoga class , massage or facial, spending time with friends or even just leaving your home to attend a meeting has become possibly the best medicine to alleviate the constant and pervasive stress of modern living.”
Based on this, we went in search of what was happening in the picture. While many people turn to yoga as a way to switch off from the world outside and reduce stress, an increasing number turn to yoga in search of a greater sense of connection—with themselves and with each other. What is it that we are searching for and why is yoga giving back even more than we originally thought? According to research, yoga may increase the feelings of social connection in a number of ways.
Synchronized movement. Studies suggest that, as a yoga group of yoga students breathes and moves together, a mental synchronization is taking place as well. Positive Psychology researcher Barbara Fredrickson, author of Love 2.0, states, “What we’ve learned is that when people move together as one orchestrated unit, they later report that they experienced an embodied sense of rapport with each other—they say they felt alive, connected, with a mutual sense of warmth and trust as they converse. Other studies concur. When synchrony is surreptitiously produced in experimental studies—by having people walk, tap, sing, sway, or rock together in time—it breeds liking, cooperation, and compassion as well as success in joint action.” It is this sense of union which increases our connection to one another.
Presence increases connection. Being fully present in the now (or moment) has a tremendous impact on social bonding. When we’re fully present with another person, we increase the likelihood of experiencing a sense of connection. Without presence, those benefits are watered down. Brain-imaging studies show that when a person is talking, the listener’s brain begins to synch with the speaker’s brain. Gradually, their brains begin to connect simultaneously. This only happens through mindful attention. Barbara Fredrickson writes, “Far from being isolated to one or two brain areas, really ‘clicking’ with someone else appears to be a whole brain dance in a fully mirrored room.” From a yoga perspective, this is why breathing practice focuses on the insula, a part of the brain related to conscious feeling states. By being present, we can build strong, lasting connections
Vagal tone. There’s a growing body of research showing that yoga improves vagal tone, a key nerve in stress resilience. People with low vagal tone tend to have trouble recovering from stressful events, while people with high vagal tone tend to recover with greater ease. In addition, vagal tone is also correlated with feelings of social connection. The greater your vagal tone, the greater your perceived sense of connection. Goodwill meditation (in which you actively send good wishes to yourself and others) has been shown to improve both vagal tone and feelings of social connection. Bottom line? From a physiological perspective, yoga may increase feelings of bonding because it improves vagal tone.
The word Yoga itself means union. Next time you take a class, think about the impact of others around you (and your impact on them) because, yoga is possibly doing more than you realize.
The post Connected Yoga appeared first on Murad Blog.
August 1, 2016
Build Connections
Since day one, Dr. Murad’s goal has been to change how the world sees skincare (“skincare is health care”) through his pioneering skincare research and a Connected Beauty philosophy. One of the elements of his Connected Beauty philosophy is that to live a healthier and happier life, we need to have meaningful relationships with others. The result: A more connected community (and world!) and you can start building towards that now. Here’s how to improve your receptiveness in your daily life and how to build stronger connections.
Knowing yourself: Having a deep self-understanding helps provide accurate perceptions of how you are coming across to others. To increase your self-awareness, make an effort to reflect on your strengths, values and triggers. A great way to do this is by starting a journal as a way to reflect daily.
Staying open to feedback + criticism: Those who are emotionally intelligent are receptive to hearing and considering others’ feedback. You may not always agree with others’ points of view, but weighing their feedback can help you recognize if your behaviors are having the affects you are intending.
Practicing mindfulness: Try to practice mindfulness in all areas of your life. Observe your thoughts and feelings without judgment. You’ll notice an increase in awareness with clarity and objectivity, rather than allowing negative emotions to cloud your judgment.
Empathizing: Emotionally intelligent people are able to put themselves in others’ shoes. To do this, consider situations from others’ perspectives to better understand. This lets you connect with them more effectively, and may even teach you something about yourself in the process.
Active-listening in conflicts: Do you come on strong in arguments? Or do you shut down? A positive way to tackle conflict is with a head-on approach in a respectful manner. Listen empathetically to the other person and you’ll create the space for taking your own thoughts and feelings in account.
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July 14, 2016
Take A Break
We get it: Sometimes it’s not easy to squeeze in a lunch break during a crazy day. Research shows that only 1 in 5 five people actually take a break for a midday meal. Most workers just eat at their desks, but it’s so important for your health, sanity and work/life balance. Here are four things to do on your lunch break that will maximize your productivity. Bye-bye, mid-day slump. Hello, effectiveness!
Research shows that only 1 in 5 five people actually take a break for a midday meal.
EAT RIGHT. This may seem like an obvious one, but it’s important to eat a healthy and nutritious meal away from your desk and computer. Reaching for quick junk food that’s packed with sodium and simple carbs will only make you feel like a zombie the rest of the day. Brain-powering food (like fish, nuts, avocado, and whole grains) will propel your productivity. Salmon rice bowl, anyone?
TAKE A WALK. Oh, the wonders of Vitamin D and actually taking a break! Just going outside and taking a walk around the block is restorative. Even if it’s just 15 to 20 minutes, taking a break is a proven to sustain concentration and energy levels throughout the day. Plus, a walk refreshes your attention spans so you return to work with renewed focus.
AVOID SOCIAL MEDIA. You’d be surprised to learn what scrolling though Instagram or Twitter does to your concentration. Not only is it a time suck of your lunch break, but checking your news feed can make you even more tire. Plus, just a few minutes can turn into 30 minutes. Instead, use your break to rest your eyes – even sitting quietly and focusing on your lunch. Think of it as a small act of mindfulness.
TAKE A QUICK NAP. This one requires a later lunch break, but our body clocks have a natural dip in energy in the afternoon at around 2pm every day. Which means the perfect time for a 20 minute cat nap (20 minutes or less avoids the grogginess known as sleep inertia). Post nap you’ll have more room in your working memory for new information and ready to take on your next to-dos.
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July 13, 2016
Connect The Dots
Sure, LinkedIn is nice for networking from your laptop, but face-to-face interactions are so much better. Here at Murad, we see networking (or rather connecting) as a great way to build strong relationships and combat our increasing social isolation. Plus, there’s nothing like a community of like-minded women to get you excited and energized! Read on for three conferences that are jam-packed with inspiration and advice. Don’t forget your business cards!
we see networking (or rather connecting) as a great way to build strong relationships and combat our increasing social isolation.
CREATE + CULTIVATE: This conference is focused on female entrepreneurs in the modern digital world. They gather the next generation of curious creatives to spark conversation around the topics they are passionate about. Past keynote speakers include Chelsea Lately, Jessica Alba, Rachel Zoe and much more. This one is particularly great for those in the creative industry.
HUSTLE SUMMIT: This annual networking event and conference is hosted by FindSpark. Formerly called NY Creative Interns, FindSpark is designed to help young professionals pursue their passions and provide resources during the first steps into their careers. FindSpark hosts a variety of events and workshops throughout the year, but Hustle Summit is the biggest event of its kind.
BOSSED UP: If you’re feeling burnt out, this one’s perfect for you. Bossed Up helps business women create trailblazing career paths and maintain a work/life balance. Topics include how to navigate gender biases that exist in the workspace and guides them toward personal and professional success. With a holistic focus, these events include everything from workout classes to professional headshot sessions. We have a feeling this one would be Sheryl Sandberg approved.
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THE BRIGHT SIDE
Q: Dr. Murad, you often talk about the importance of spending time outside in order to combat social isolation. How do you balance this with sun protection?
A: Social isolation is a growing concern with the society we live in today. I believe that it important to step away from the office, to turn off your devices and to spend more time on being outside. I promote living a very active lifestyle and I do not turn the sun into an enemy, but rather, learn to manage the dangers and embrace the benefits. By simply being careful and prepared, you can enjoy being outside.
Q: Do you really need sunscreen when it’s overcast or when you are inside/at work?
A: When I think of your philosophy, I always remember ‘eat your water’. Could you talk about how this and your nutritional approach to skincare applies to sun protection?
People often only think of sun protection as only a topical application – It isn’t. I believe in whole body care and protection. I want to split this into two key areas – eating your water and vitamin D.
If we start with eating your water. The sun obviously increases dehydration and it is important to stay hydrated and eat water-rich fruits and vegetables when you are spending time in the sun. It is also important to build the strongest cells you can to help your skin from the inside out. Alongside a balanced water-rich diet, you can also give your skin a boost with Pomphenol Sunguard Dietary Supplement. This unique supplement provides powerful antioxidant protection against free radical damage, and helps fight signs of premature aging. To learn more about eating your sunscreen and how the food we consume can protect our skin from the sun’s harmful rays click here.
Secondly, one the key benefits we can take from the sun is Vitamin D. The most natural way to get vitamin D is by exposing your bare skin to sunlight in protected doses. Vitamin D is linked it to numerous health benefits and studies now suggest may go beyond its known role in bone health and reduce the risk of cancer, heart disease, stroke, diabetes, autoimmune diseases, and more. Despite the ability to get vitamin D from food and the sun, an estimated 45%-75% of people are deficient. Again, I promote the use of supplements here to aid the use of vitamin D. Ultimately, I prefer using appropriate sun protection to reduce the aging process and skin cancer risk and advise getting the optimal dose of vitamin D from supplement support.
Q: What is the difference between UVA & UBV?
A: Sunlight made up of two types of harmful rays: long wave ultraviolet A (UVA) and short wave ultraviolet B (UVB). I call UVA rays the ‘aging rays’ as they penetrate deep into the dermis, the skin’s thickest layer. I call UVB rays the ‘burning rays’ as they usually burn the superficial layers of your skin. UBV rays plays a key role in the development of skin cancer. The intensity of UVB rays vary by season, location and time of day, with 10AM to 4PMbeing the peak hours. I believe that is vital to protect against both types of rays.
Q: What does SPF stand for?
A: SPF stands for Sun Protection Factor and refers to the ‘theoretical’ amount of time you can stay in the sun without getting sunburned after application. For example, an SPF of 15 would allow you to stay in the sun 15 times longer than you could without protection.
Q: Is it true that you put sunscreen in all of your Murad day moisturizers?
A: Yes. All of our Murad day moisturizers contain a sunscreen. A personal favorite of mine is Essential C Day Moisture. https://www.murad.com/product/essential-c-day-moisture. I believe that sun damage is a daily concern and therefore, at Murad, we make products with a duel benefit. They hydrate and protect your skin on a daily basis (as well as addressing your individual need, acne, anti-aging etc.).
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July 10, 2016
Float Away
Salus per Aquam — that’s the Latin translation for health through water. Heat is used to quiet and soothe the body, while cold is used to stimulate and invigorate. Makes sense, right? The Murad philosophy on the anti-aging comes down to the fact that that as you age, your skin cells are literally dehydrating (thus the appearance of fine lines). Our solution to keeping your cells hydrated: A healthy diet, eating plenty of water-rich vegetables, reducing stress levels and our effective skin care regime.
Our solution to keeping your cells hydrated: A healthy diet, eating plenty of water-rich vegetables, reducing stress levels and our effective skin care regime.
It doesn’t stop there. There are so many ways to hydrate (and indulge!) your skin with innovative spa treatments. We’ve explored the best of the best, and exactly where they’re offered. Rethink what you know about H20, these are not your run-of-the-mill spa experiences.
NORDIK SPA-NATURE, OTTAWA, CANADA
As the largest outdoor spa in North America, this is the spa equivalent of glamping. Nestled in a forested hill, the open-air water wonderland features lagoon-like hot tubs, cedar-burning fire pits, steam-room huts, and hydrotherapy treatments like the Källa treatment. Källa is an underground saltwater pool that’s dug deep into stone. You’ll float around as if you were in the Dead Sea, while the water purifies your body, improves circulation and much more. Sign. Us. Up.
AMANGIRI, CANYON POINT, UTAH
Surrounded by canyons, this desert oasis is wonderfully luxurious and remote (a.k.a. the perfect way to unplug and unwind). The spa treatments include flotation therapy, in-water shiatsu massages, chakra-balancing, and pink-clay facials. Plus, you know if Brad and Angelina make the trek here, then it’s very worth it.
KOHLER WATER SPA, KOHLER, WISCONSIN
Yes, it’s owned by the plumbing company and it’s truly a five-star spa in the Midwest. There’s an 8-foot waterfall that sits above a 30-foot-long pool and a menu of hydrotherapy treatments that use hot and cold water to stimulate and/or relax the body. Our top pick: A bathtub that transforms music into underwater vibrations.
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A Healthy City
Who doesn’t love an article of best places to live? Or really any list – there’s a part of you that’s looking purely to see if the city that you live in (or frequent) has made the cut. Dr. Murad recently came across an article 2016’s Best & Worst Cities for Your Skin and prompted him to think about the healthiest cities in the world.
So what truly is a healthy city? It’s a metropolitan that makes it easy for its residents to have a healthy lifestyle and that includes quality health care, preventive medicine and reducing air pollution. Here are three cities that have worked to create laws and policies where locals can easily access parks, healthy food and public transportation. Prepare to pick up a tip or two.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK
NYC might not be what first comes to mind, but the city’s initiative to ban smoking has made a significance difference in quality of life for New Yorkers. There’s been a smoking ban since 2012 and it shows: A survey by the city’s health department found that from 2002 to 2012, the number of adult residents who reported smoking declined by 28%.
SINGAPORE, MALAYSIA
Ranked as one of the most efficient systems on the planet, the city-state’s public health-care program is used by 80% of residents. Their secret to high quality healthcare for less? The government requires all citizens to participate in a health savings program and resides receive subsidies based on income level.
NAPA, CALIFORNIA
This city goes way beyond creating delicious wine – it inspires healthy living via community outreach. The city has a small town feel and a community that knows the importance of social events like cooking classes to hula-hooping groups. Definitely a place that knows the importance of fun.
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