Howard Murad's Blog, page 2

Do You Really Need Winter SPF?

There is often a misconception that you only need sunscreen when it’s 80 degrees or warmer outside, on a clear day, sitting by the pool or the beach. It’s not just a misconception held by individuals. Ever notice how the sunscreen displays are prevalent in the spring and summer, yet you have to look around for it during the winter?

Applying sunscreen to your entire body, and most importantly your face, is imperative in the winter months as well. You should also get in the habit of reapplying throughout the day. Your skin gets dryer in the winter due to the colder air not holding a high density of water molecules. Warm air on the other hand, holds a higher density of water molecules and thus keeps your skin more hydrated.

This is when winter weather can be introduced to an indispensable product with SPF (sun protector factor) like our Essential-C Day Moisture. This product contains protective molecules called Ectoines that bind water to their cellular membranes. These molecules help to moisturize your skin and protect it from everyday assaults from stress, pollution and sun year-round.

Clear skies are not the only forecast for lathering up and protecting your skin from harmful UV rays. Don’t let a cloudy day fool you into thinking your skin is safe from harm. According to the Skin Cancer Foundation (SCF) up to 80 percent of the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays can pass through cloud coverage. These harmful rays attribute to 90 percent of skin cancer cases, making winter SPF is anything but optional for your health.

Furthermore, if you are a winter sports enthusiast, the combination of higher altitude and UV rays reflected off the snow put you at a higher risk for sun damage to your skin. When you are on slopes, your skin is not only susceptible to the UV rays and dry air, but high winds, which will further deplete its health. In this scenario, reapplying moisturizer and taking breaks indoors away from the elements are good precautions.

Ultimately, you want keep yourself bundled up during the winter with plenty of products with SPF in them to prevent sun damage and keep your skin radiant and healthy.

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The post Do You Really Need Winter SPF? appeared first on Murad Blog.

Technology and Our Connection Crisis

The ability to quickly text a friend, check your work emails, and snap your meal all in a matter of minutes means we’re compulsively sharing more than ever. According to research from Deloitte, Americans across all age groups said they look at their phones within five minutes of waking up, and those people are checking their phones 150 times a day!

Device addictions consume more than just our time and data plans as valuable personal connections are being compromised at an alarming rate. In an era where belly laughs have taken a backseat to LOLs, heartfelt conversations have become passive-aggressive tweets, brunches gushing about a proposal have been replaced by public Facebook posts, and daily chats with that hilarious friend have been traded for meme accounts, the realization that our culture is starved for real-life human interaction should come as no surprise.

YOU, ME AND SIRI MAKE THREE

If you’re noticing a rift in your closest relationships, the elephant in the room could very well fit in your back pocket. In a 2014 study reported in Environment and Behavior, Virginia Tech psychologist Shalini Misra monitored the conversations of 100 couples and identified what has been dubbed the iPhone effect: the simple presence of a smartphone, even as an object in the background, degrades private conversations, making partners less willing to disclose deep feelings.

These findings are supported by Essex University’s Andrew Przybylski and Netra Weinstein, who reported in Journal of Social and Personal Relationships that smartphones “inhibited the development of interpersonal closeness and trust and reduced the extent to which individuals felt understanding and empathy from their partners.”

WHAT’S STRESS GOT TO DO WITH IT?

Stress is the body’s reaction to harmful situations, real or imagined. When you feel threatened, a chemical reaction occurs in your body that allows you to effectively conquer important tasks. However, our bodies are designed to only take stress in small doses. Constant and pervasive stress – like Cultural Stress, or the stress of modern living – is more than our bodies were designed to handle, putting us at risk for long-lasting and dangerous consequences.

The irony of technological advancement is that we are more digitally connected than ever before, yet less connected to one another in meaningful ways. This has profound implications for our skin, health, and ultimately happiness. – Dr. Murad

This relatively new type of stress is so ingrained in our lives that it tends to go unnoticed, but it impacts the entire body with a particularly visible effect on the skin.

WEARING STRESS ON YOUR SLEEVE

At Murad, we understand that healthy, beautiful skin is a reflection of how you live your life.

There is a powerful, yet often overlooked, connection between the mind, body and skin, and our tech dependence is rapidly taking its toll on each at an alarming rate.

Dr. Murad and the dermatology community have long recognized the neuropsychological connections between the appearance of the skin and overall health. According to The American Institute of Stress, chronic stress, like that from Cultural Stress, has been shown to weaken immunity, increase inflammation, and accelerate aging.

THE CONNECTION ANTIDOTE

True health not only means the physical body is free from cancer, disease, and illness – but that one has a passion for life, meaningful connections with friends and family, and an overall positive sense of self.

The ultimate antidote to ever-increasing Cultural Stress is the power of human connection. Real-life, face-to-face, eyes-up connection. By spending more time with loved ones, we mentally, socially, and emotionally solidify our support group, reminding ourselves that, even when there’s poor cellphone reception, we’re never truly alone. This confidence helps us to take on new challenges, explore passions, and do more of what we love. When we’re surrounded by people who support and understand us, we can put things into perspective and realize that we’re too blessed to be chronically stressed.

GOING #EYESUP

Cultural Stress is changing how we exist as humans and, without intervention, it will continue to have devastating results. While we aren’t telling you to burn your mobile devices in a 1960s-style protest, we do think there is a compelling need to hit the “off” button from time to time and experience the people we love face to face.

That’s why we are launching EyesUp, a powerful campaign designed to educate people about the danger of purely digital relationships while reinforcing the power of real-world human connection.

In the spirit of technological moderation, we invite you to join us by mindfully going #EyesUp for a few minutes or even a whole hour in order to build stronger connections in real life.

Who will you go #EyesUp for? Share your answer in the comments!

The post Technology and Our Connection Crisis appeared first on Murad Blog.

Emily Fortgang

Skincare enthusiast, Science junkie, Cat mom, Travel lover

Manager, New Product Development

How do you reconnect with loved ones over the Holidays?

My immediate family is spread out across the country so we get together in person for the holidays and it is really precious time to me. We usually go to my parent’s house in Northern New Mexico which I absolutely love; when we’re lucky there is fresh snow during our visit.

Tips & Tricks on ‘Being Present’ during the Holidays?

I abandon my phone. Anyone who knows me would tell you to expect super delayed response times when I am with my family.  I also love trying new baking recipes! It’s fun to bake and then I have something homemade to share with friends, coworkers or family.

Do you have any family traditions that you hope to pass down?

We love to get outside for winter activities. I grew up skiing every winter so that is amazing way to spend time together that my family loves. If there isn’t enough time or snow we’ll go sledding, ice skating or snowshoeing. Of course followed by New Mexican food with lots of red or green chili to warm us up!

What’s your favorite thing about the Holidays?

I love that it is guaranteed family time. We may all get together at other times of the year or we may not but we know we will see each other for the holidays. There is something about that time of year that makes me extra thankful for my loved ones and friends. Oh, and there is always good food!

What products do you love to gift?

Where do I start? Invisiblur Perfecting Shield is amazing year-round but for holidays it keeps make-up flawless and doesn’t white-out complexion for photos. Proper hydration is key for winter time too so Hydro-Dynamic Ultimate Moisture is always appreciated. I love putting little sets together for my family and friends that address their various needs but I’m a product junkie.

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Mallika Chopra’s Nighttime Meditation Sequence

Has a clouded mind ever   gotten between you and your best night’s sleep? It sounds much easier said than done, but the key to falling into a deep slumber can be as simple as embracing your inner calm with intent. Through the art of meditation, you can prepare your mind for deep relaxation while reducing anxiety, stress, and even loneliness. What’s not to love?

Begin this nighttime relaxation ritual by first massaging City Skin® Overnight Detox Moisturizer gently into the skin, which helps to banish pollutants as you drift to sleep. Then follow intent expert Mallika Chopra through this 10-minute guided meditation to release those busy thoughts from your mind and allow peaceful rest enter.

https://www.murad.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Murad-Chopra-VO-FINAL.mp3
Free Download: MalLika Chopra’s Nighttime Meditation Sequence

ABOUT MALLIKA CHOPRA

Mallika Chopra is a mom, media entrepreneur, published author, and a notable voice in the fields of parenting, meditation and the power of intention. Her most recent book is “Living With Intent – My Somewhat Messy Journey to Purpose, Peace and Joy” and her previous books, “100 Promises To My Baby” and “100 Questions From My Child“, have been translated and sold in dozens of countries worldwide.

Mallika is the founder of Intent.com – an online destination for turning your intentions into tangible actions, and inspiring others to do the same.  Her intent is to harness the power of social media to connect people from around the world to improve their own lives, their communities and the planet.

Her varied background includes launching the Heal The World Foundation in the 1990’s with Michael Jackson, being part of the initial team to re-launch MTV in India, and starting The Chopra Well, a premiere YouTube channel with her brother, Gotham Chopra, and father, Deepak Chopra.

Mallika enjoys speaking to audiences around the world, and has shared her passion about Intent at TedXBerkeley, the 2016 Milken Institute Global Conference, the Robb Report Health and Wellness Summit, Ideacity, Business Innovation Factory, the Green Festivals, LOHAS, The California Women’s Conference, The Prevention R3 Conference, and many more. Mallika has an BA from Brown University, and MBA from Kellogg Business School.

Visit www.intent.com to read Mallika’s blogs, share your own intents, connect with others, and download the free Intent App to incorporate intention into your daily life.

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Portrait by Kwaku Alston

The post Mallika Chopra’s Nighttime Meditation Sequence appeared first on Murad Blog.

Take A Deep Breath To Hydrate Your Brain

Cultural Stress – the stress that you experience from your daily life – is directly linked to cellular dehydration. Stress releases cortisol, a hormone that damages cellular membrane and compromises the cell’s ability to hold water. Combat the effects on your mind, body and skin with mindful breathing to stay calm, hydrated and glowing.

Watch this video for an easy breathing exercise by Arielle McFadden, yoga and fitness expert and Murad Brand Ambassador, to help you relax and manage stress anytime and anywhere.

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The post Take A Deep Breath To Hydrate Your Brain appeared first on Murad Blog.

Seeing Blue: This is How Your Smartphone is Aging You

When most people think about the health and aging of their skin, the obvious and avoidable aggressors – like spending too much time in the sun, putting pressure on your face while sleeping, using tanning beds, sleeping in your makeup, or smoking cigarettes – usually come to mind. While these all are very important contributing factors to the aging process, they only tell part of the story.

Every day, your skin is damaged by sneaky environmental aggressors, including pollution and blue light from electronic devices. As it turns out, the hours we spend scrolling on Instagram are standing between us and that “#NoFilter I woke up like this” caption.

What is Blue Light?

Blue light is all around us, from the sun’s rays to man-made devices like our laptops, flat-screen TVs, tablets, cell phones, and even fluorescent and LED lighting. The sun emits significantly more blue light than our favorite technology, but the amount of time we spend in close range to electronic devices is taking this exposure (and its associated risks) to new heights.

Why is it harmful?

At 380-500 nm, blue light is one of the shortest and highest-energy wavelengths. Visible Light penetrates skin more deeply than UVA and UVB, and has been shown to generate more ROS (reactive oxygen species) than UVB and UVA combined. This increases the production of free radicals which, as you’ve probably heard, are bad for your skin and your health.

Here’s a fun fact: spending four 8-hour workdays in front of a computer exposes you to the same amount of energy as 20 minutes in the mid-day sun. Putting this in perspective, 7 minutes of sun exposure at 1pm is powerful enough to induce immediate tanning!

Excessive blue light accelerates the oxidation process, stimulates the keratinocytes, and acts on melatonin. Its oxidative effects also elicit inflammation and cause damage to our natural barrier, making your skin less capable of holding onto cellular water and more susceptible to the dangers of environmental aggressors. The result? Skin that shows visible signs of aging, including hyperpigmentation, dullness, and fine lines and wrinkles.

What’s the Solution?

With Murad’s efficacious and technologically advanced formulas, you can now care for your skin around the clock with the complete City Skin® collection that protects and repairs skin day and night.

Shield skin during the day with City Skin® Age Defense Broad Spectrum SPF 50 PA++++. This ultra-lightweight formula goes beyond UVA/UVB protection to shield skin from blue light, pollution, and infrared radiation. Lutein and Iron Oxides enhance broad spectrum protection, adding defense against blue light, and infrared radiation while a polymer matrix acts like a “second skin” and blocks the adhesion and penetration of toxic environmental aggressors. A peach tint helps color correct and immediately boost radiance, and the formula works on all skin tones, absorbing quickly with no ashy residue.

Revitalize skin overnight for a radiant glow by morning with City Skin® Overnight Detox Moisturizer. This breakthrough formula, with super-charged antioxidants from Marrubium Plant Stem Cells, neutralizes pollutants and strengthens skin’s barrier while you sleep. Next Generation Vitamin C helps brighten and even tone, while nourishing botanicals plump skin to help visibly reduce fine lines and wrinkles.

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The post Seeing Blue: This is How Your Smartphone is Aging You appeared first on Murad Blog.

Detoxifying Yoga Poses

Has a long hot summer left you in a state of overindulgence and in need of a refresh? When most people think of detoxing, their minds go straight to changing up their diet or sipping on cleansing drinks (like this Lemon, Ginger and Turmeric tea). But did you know that your body can release toxins through movement? If you have overdone it a little over the summer or just want to give your body a nudge in the right direction, this yoga sequence is a must-try! Grab your mat and join Katie from Love, Sweat & Fitness as she walks us through her favorite detox poses.

Forward Fold

THE MOVE: Stand with legs widely apart. Draw your belly button in and bend over from the waist. Hold pose and breathe deeply.

WHY IT WORKS: awakens the body by improving circulation

Seated Twist

THE MOVE: Sit on the floor and put your right leg over your left knee. Place your left arm on the right side of your folded leg and twist to the right side. Hold pose and breathe deeply, then switch sides.

WHY IT WORKS: applies pressure to detoxify organs

Plow Pose

THE MOVE: Lay on your back with your legs up in the air. Gently lift your hips off the floor and support your lower back with the palms of your hands, taking care not to put pressure on your head or neck. Let your feet lower all the way to the ground, if you can.

WHY IT WORKS: increases metabolism

Crescent Lunge Twist

THE MOVE: Bring your right foot forward and step your left foot back, ensuring your right knee is stacked over the ankle and your hips are square. Bring your left arm over your front leg and twist to the right. Hold pose and breathe deeply, then switch sides.

WHY IT WORKS: releases toxins stored in fat

Pigeon Pose

THE MOVE: Starting in a plank position, move your right knee to your right wrist, setting the foot down and walking your hips back. Lift your chest and try to square off your front leg so it is parallel to your body and flex into your right foot. To increase intensity, slowly lower your body forward to the floor. Hold pose and breathe deeply, then switch sides.

WHY IT WORKS: releases toxins and tension from the hips

To give your detox a boost from the outside in, follow your yoga session with our new City Skin Overnight Detox Moisturizer. This breakthrough formula uses powerful antioxidants from Marrubium Plant Stem Cells to strengthen your skin’s protective barrier and counteract harmful pollutants while you sleep.

SHOP THE STORY

City Skin Overnight Detox Moisturizer

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City Skin Age Defense Broad Spectrum SPF 50 PA++++

$65.00

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The post Detoxifying Yoga Poses appeared first on Murad Blog.

Desk Duty: Staying Fit at Work

The benefits of exercise are nearly limitless; from being more creative to living a longer and more fulfilling life, it’s not too hard to find a great reason to get moving. But finding the time each day to sneak in a sweat session? That’s a little less easy to figure out. Fortunately, the 8 hours many of us spend at the office are teeming with opportunities to get your fitness on.

The American Cancer Society recommends adults get at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity activity each week, so grab a co-worker and counteract the hazards of sitting all day!

Have a walking meeting during the times when you don’t need to share a computer screen or white board sketches. Fresh air and exercise aren’t the only benefits to taking your chat around the block: walking meetings have been proven to encourage productivity, creativity and, according to Harvard Business Review, “more honest exchanges with employees.”
Volunteer to make a coffee run before your team’s next big meeting. Not only will you clock in more valuable time moving your body, but your mid-morning caffeine jolt might even inspire your company’s next great idea. What’s not to love?
Downsize your water bottle! No, we don’t want you to drink less water (quite the opposite!), but periodic refills are a great excuse to get up and moving. Grab an 8 ounce reusable bottle and challenge yourself to drink 6 of them throughout the workday! 
Move during conference calls by standing up and pacing, or stay seated and do leg lifts, knee lifts and toe curls. Or dial in a few minutes early and crank out some standing push-ups or torch some extra calories with jump squats while waiting for others to join.
Put in some face time with a colleague by walking over to her desk instead of writing a quick email. Developing in-person relationships has been proven to reduce Cultural Stress, or the stress of modern living, making this simple encounter great for your body and soul.
Set a timer on your computer or smartphone reminding you to take an activity break. Then get up and move!
Squeeze in a lunchtime fitness class if you have a gym nearby, or catch up with a colleague over a brisk walk around the block. Mid-day sweat sessions are a great way to fight the 2 pm slump, plus working out earlier frees up more time to read that extra chapter in your book or catch up with loved ones after work.
Park on an upper level and take the stairs, or grab a spot a little further than usual. You’d be surprised by how much these small changes can add up to reaching your daily steps goal!
Start a fitness challenge with colleagues to see how many laps you can make around the building each week. Making healthy decisions throughout the day is much easier when you’re surrounded by people with the same goals, and it’s a great way to connect about something other than spreadsheets.

Nervous about getting a little too “dewy” with your newfound #fitfam lifestyle? Touch-ups between meetings are a cinch with these skin fixes that work from 9 to overtime.

MattEffect Blotting Perfector ($39): You don’t have time for mid-day shine. A few pats from this on-the-go blotting compact—yes, right over makeup!—instantly mattifies, refreshes and sets.

Hydrating Toner ($30): No time to freshen up? This lightweight, refreshing and re-hydrating toner restores this skin’s natural pH balance and neutralizes surface impurities.

Rapid Relief Acne Spot Treatment ($22) : Zit happens, especially when you work out without washing up! Fortunately, this maximum strength invisible gel spot treatment reduces blemish size and redness within 4 hours. Bye bye, blemish!

What are your favorite tips for staying fit at work? Share them in the comments!

The post Desk Duty: Staying Fit at Work appeared first on Murad Blog.

Summer Skin Rehab

With the days getting cooler and the nights growing longer, now’s the prime time to recover from your days in the sun. Yes, fall is officially here – and after months of abuse from the harsh summer heat, our skin couldn’t be happier.

Here are five of our must-haves to give your skin a fresh start for the new season!

SKIN SMOOTHING POLISH

Did a lively summer leave your complexion looking dull? Too much unprotected sun exposure wreaks havoc on the skin, causing its cells to dry out and pile up on the surface. Reverse the impact of this buildup with Skin Smoothing Polish, a rich exfoliating scrub that sloughs away impurities without stripping away your body’s natural moisture. The result? A softer, more luminous complexion and a down-to-the-pore clean feeling.

Shop: Skin Smoothing Polish, $32

RAPID AGE SPOT AND PIGMENT LIGHTENING SERUM

If you’ve caught a few too many zzz’s on the beach this summer, chances are the sun has kicked your skin’s melanin production into overdrive. To level the playing field against dark spots, age spots and freckles, Dr. Murad developed Rapid Age Spot and Pigment Lightening Serum: a patented formula that combines a targeted skin-brightening blend to correct unwanted discoloration and protect against future damage. 85% of users in a Murad-sponsored study saw spots lighten in just 1 week!

Shop: Rapid Age Spot and Pigment Lightening Serum, $65

RETINOL YOUTH RENEWAL EYE SERUM

Retinol tends to get a bad rap for not being sun-friendly, but the good news is that our Retinol Tri-Active Technology was designed to deliver this powerful ingredient in doses that are easy on the skin. Undo days spent squinting in the sun with our Retinol Youth Renewal Eye Cream, a potent wrinkle-reducing treatment, which minimizes the look of wrinkles and crow’s feet while lifting, firming and visibly brightening dark circles.

Shop: Retinol Youth Renewal Eye Serum, $85

HYDRO-DYNAMIC ULTIMATE MOISTURE

As the weather cools and the air gets dryer, amp up your skin’s hydration with Hydro-Dynamic Ultimate Moisturizer: a luxurious, yet lightweight cream that delivers a healthy dose of hydration to restore suppleness and visibly reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Results from a Murad-sponsored study have shown this miracle-worker to lock in optimal moisture levels for 24 hours!

Shop: Hydro-Dynamic Ultimate Moisture, $75

City Skin Age Defense

The days might be getting shorter – but that doesn’t mean that it’s time to put your SPF on the shelf! To transition your skin from summer into autumn, we’re all about nourishing our skin from the prior season while protecting it from the aggressors that lay ahead. We recommend City Skin Age Defense Broad Spectrum SPF 50, a revolutionary formula that offers UVA/UVB protection while shielding skin from 96% of pollution, 89% of blue light from devices and 52% of Infrared Radiation. Try it layered over your favorite moisturizer for an ultra-lush protective finish!

Shop: City Skin Age Defense Broad Spectrum SPF 50, $65

The post Summer Skin Rehab appeared first on Murad Blog.

Sleeping Beauty: Q&A with Doctor Murad

In our always-on world, getting enough sleep is one of the biggest challenges we face. To help us catch the Zzz’s we all so desperately need, Dr. Murad has formulated our revolutionary Beauty RESTore Sleep Oral Spray, a formula that delivers key neuro-nutrients for better sleep. GABA and L-Theanine help you de-stress and relax while Melatonin regulates your body’s circadian rhythm, promoting deep, restful sleep.

To celebrate our next chapter in Internal Skincare solutions, we’ve asked Doctor Murad if you can really tell if someone has had enough sleep and what damage is it doing to your skin.

can you spot sleep deprived skin?

Sleep deprived skin is easy to spot and it is something which I have seen increase significantly over the last decade in my patient’s skin. The most noticeable signs are bags under the eyes (dark circles) but, you will also see dryness, acne breakouts, fine lines and thinner skin.

What really happens to your skin when you are sleeping?

Damage done to your skin during the day is repaired at night. Your body is an amazing factory and when you go to sleep; the factory cleans up, repairs itself and files everything away. It is critical that you allow your body to process each day and the only way to do this is by getting enough sleep. The recommended amount of daily sleep is between 7-9 hours.  I personally believe that everyone needs to find their optimal sleep requirement.  One easy way to see how much you need is to look at when you wake up without an alarm clock.  Your body will never oversleep!   Since every cell in your body is connected, your skin responds to the amount of sleep you are receiving and reflects how much you are receiving on the surface.

Which techniques to help you drift off?

Yes! In addition to using our new Beauty RESTore Sleep Oral Spray, I have been reading Arianna Huffington’s book on sleep and I really like her approach to creating a nighttime routine.  For many of my patients, this routine includes breathing exercises or a gentle facial massage while applying their favorite overnight moisturizer.

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Beauty RESTore Sleep Oral Spray

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Retinol Youth Renewal Night Cream

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