Howard Murad's Blog, page 20

What Does “Home” Mean to You?

We’ve all heard the saying “Home is where the heart is.” This phrase can have many meanings, of course. The most obvious meaning is a physical location: where you live. But home is so much more than a warm bed and a comfy couch. It’s love, security and connection. Home isn’t a place as much as it is a feeling. Here we explore 6 different ways to feel “at home.”

Spend time with family. Home might be a bear hug from your dad, your mom’s Thanksgiving stuffing, or the way your child smells after a bath. It’s the people we surround ourselves with that truly make or break a home. We all need a community of people to love, understand and support us.
Spend time with friends. Friends are also at the top of the list when it comes to being unconditionally loved and supported. From belly laughs to crying jags, best friends feel like home. You don’t have to be perfect, you just have to be you.
Enjoy nature. Many people say they only feel truly at home in nature. In the forest, on a beach or sleeping under the stars. We all need fresh air, sunshine and a break from technology. Find your “home” in nature and soak it all in as often as you can.
Take care of your body. Your physical body is the ultimate home. It houses everything that you are, from your cells to your thoughts. Your body is the vessel for your experiences in this life. So revere and respect your body by eating right, exercising, getting plenty of rest and managing your stress.
Help others. By offering others your assistance and kindness, you are giving them a sense of security. One of the benefits of volunteering is the positive impact it has on the community. Volunteers are often the glue that holds a community together, making it feel more like a home.
Find your safe space. If we don’t feel safe, it’s difficult to feel at home. Anyone or anything that disrupts your sense of safety will become an obstacle on your quest to feeling at home. Eliminate these obstacles by either moving on from unsettling situations or by developing healthy boundaries that help you maintain your safe space.

Home is where you feel safe, connected, understood and loved. The more present and engaged you are with both yourself and the world around you, the easier it will be to feel at home anywhere you are. So we want to know, what does “home” mean to you?

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The Importance of Balancing At-Home Facials with Professional Facials

By Jen Harmatz, Murad Director of National Retail Education

Have you ever walked out of great facial and received compliments on your glowing skin? Recently, I had one on my lunch break, and I got so many compliments on my skin! How good it looked and how I glowed. It felt as if I had brand-new, baby skin, and I was showing it off to everybody! One colleague said, “How nice that you treated yourself to a facial!” I agreed with her because I felt the same, but that word made me pause.

Treat…why do we think it’s a treat to commit to personal care? Why is it a treat to take care of my skin? When I looked up “treat” in the thesaurus, its synonyms were: extravagance, luxury and lavishness. I think we need to change how we think about the idea of a facial being a luxury, because it’s an essential step to maintaining and keeping your skin looking its finest. My cousin’s husband said to me a few months ago, “I only have one face; I better take care of it.” More on that in a bit.

Getting a facial once a month helps your skin look fresh, youthful, and it helps to clear up any congestion like clogged pores and breakouts. One reason young skin looks so vital, healthy and full of light is because there is minimal dead skin hiding the living layers of the skin. When you’re younger, skin has a shorter cell turnover rate. Cell turnover is the time – the hard, outermost barrier layer of your skin. Up until you are typically around the age of 30, cell turnover happens every 28-30 days. Young skin also has had less damage from UV rays and pollutants, so it will look brighter and suppler. As we get older, the cell turnover timeframe get longer, so there is more buildup of dead skin cells masking the living layers. Skin starts to look dull and have a rough texture, and fine lines start to creep up on you. One main purpose of an effective skin routine is to promote a faster cell turnover rate for more youthful-looking skin. You can make this even more effective by having a professional facial once a month.

Working with an expert to evaluate your skin on a monthly basis can help take your skin where you want it to go. Fluctuations in seasons, weather and hormones can cause changes in your skin, and an esthetician can make recommendations on how to switch up your routine to influence those changes. During a facial, your esthetician can offer deep exfoliation to remove dead skin cells that have piled up on your face, perform extractions safely without scarring, impart penetrating hydration, and help brighten hyperpigmentation. These treatments can help you maintain your most balanced skin.

When a skilled professional evaluates your skin monthly, he or she is in the perfect position to guide you to the products for use at home that work best for your skin. Having the right ritual of products to use morning and night is just as important as your monthly facial. Think about it like going to the dentist. You have your teeth professionally cleaned, but you wouldn’t dare think of not brushing twice a day or flossing, right? It’s the same idea; you have to do your own at-home maintenance to keep your skin in tip-top shape. Your esthetician will be able to help you choose the right cleanser, serum and moisturizer for day and night for what your skin currently needs. Think about those like your toothbrush, toothpaste and floss. They are a necessity.

Now that we know the importance of a daily routine of products, I want to impress upon you the idea of doing an at-home DIY facial to boost your skin fitness and beauty. A weekly mask or peel can help extend the benefits of the treatment room. Select the right one for how your skin is acting that week. Choose a peel for brightening dull skin or a hydrating mask to get deep-down moisture. This is your time to either replenish or refresh your complexion. Create your “me time” to take care of yourself, breathe deep and relax, leaving the stress of the day or week behind you. If nothing else, pamper yourself for at least 5 minutes–#5m4u!

Let’s talk men’s grooming and skin for a minute. Men often do very little for their skin or nothing at all. It’s just as important for men to think about their skin health; in fact, maybe even more so with the stressors of shaving every day. Razor burn and ingrown hairs can be minimized or even prevented by using the right products and ingredients that help combat those problems. Over time, taking care of your skin will help the lipid barrier remain strong, which will cause less sensitivity and burning. Regular exfoliation helps to stop ingrown hairs in their tracks and will help get you a clean, close shave.

Now back to my cousin’s husband. A year ago, after much convincing, my cousin persuaded her husband to get a facial. The experience changed how he felt and thought about his skin. He realized he spent hours washing and taking care of his car or tuning up his bike. He recognized he should take just as good of care of his skin, if not better, because, as I mentioned at the top, he only has one face for the rest of his life so he better take care of it.

I am going to commit to taking better care of my skin and get back in the habit of monthly professional facials and weekly, at-home DIY facials. I ask you to commit to your skin, and start yourself on a monthly cycle of facials, too!

For a limited time (11/7/2015- 11/15/2015) get $10 off your Murad Healthy Skin Facial at Massage Envy. Learn More.

Jen Harmatz is a seasoned makeup artist and skin specialist who has worked on the GRAMMY Awards and the Oprah Winfrey Show. She knows from experience that perfecting the “canvas” lets you put your best face forward. She has created education initiatives to empower people across multiple channels to improve their skin, life and overall well-being.

The post The Importance of Balancing At-Home Facials with Professional Facials appeared first on Face Forward.

How to Be More Present: 7 Simple Steps to Happiness

“Give yourself permission to be the real you – the toddler in you.” ~ Dr. Howard Murad

Has this ever happened to you? You get into your car to drive somewhere, arrive at your destination, and have no idea how you got there. Your mind was zoning out, thinking about who knows what, rather than being present and aware in the current moment. Or maybe you were talking with a friend but weren’t hearing a word she was saying because you were worrying about something that happened earlier (the past) or stressing about something coming up (the future). When you’re not present, you can miss out on what’s happening right in front of you. Your “monkey mind” is stealing your joy.

Children, especially toddlers, live their lives 100% in the moment. Whether they’re chasing a dog, jumping in puddles or finger painting, they are having the time of their lives right now. Dr. Murad talks about this in his most recent book “Conquering Cultural Stress.” Chapter 1 is titled, “How the Toddler in You Can Save Your Life.” When was the last time the “toddler in you” had an unbridled blast?

Being more present in your day-to-day life makes everything less stressful and more fulfilling. Being present in your everyday life doesn’t even require you to carve out any extra time. Continue your daily routine, but be mindful of your intention behind each and every activity. Here are our 7 simple steps to help you get started.

Stop worrying. You can’t fully appreciate today if you’re worrying about tomorrow. Realize that tomorrow is going to happen whether you worry about it or not.
Write a gratitude list. Recognizing how lucky you are to have family, friends, good health, a job, and a roof over your head helps bring you back to the present moment. Sometimes it helps to make a list of all the things you’re grateful for.
Breathe. If you’re feeling stressed or overwhelmed, stop what you’re doing and take a few deep breaths. Focus on the sensation of your breath entering and exiting your body. Something this simple will calm you down instantly and help you reconnect with the present moment.
Shower like you mean it. Most people rush through their showers so they can get out the door as quickly as possible, but it’s actually a perfect opportunity to enjoy a calming, rejuvenating experience. Pay attention to how the hot water feels, completely shut off your mind, and breathe in the steam and the scent of the soap.
Unplug. We are part of a society that is now tethered to our mobile devices 24/7. By stepping away from this habit whenever possible, we can instantly become more present. For example, go for a walk and leave your phone at home, shut your devices off one hour before bedtime, and never bring your cell phone to the dinner table.
Play like a toddler. Toddlers are spontaneous and carefree. They don’t calculate the risks before leaping forward into an unfamiliar adventure. As Dr. Murad says, “Toddlers are daring, creative and inquisitive. They don’t doubt or worry. They take things as they come and try something new every day.”
Spread the love. Do something nice for someone every day. Smile at strangers. Hold the door open for people. Buy someone coffee. Give to the needy. Call a loved one or pay a compliment.

These ideas may sound pretty simple, but try them and see how you feel. What have you got to lose? Dwelling on the past or stressing about the future chips away at your health and happiness. We hope our 7 tips will help you embrace the present moment so you can look, live and feel #BetterEveryDay.

The post How to Be More Present: 7 Simple Steps to Happiness appeared first on Face Forward.

Meet Dr. Murad at Our Flagship Store

If you’ll be in the Los Angeles area on December 10, 2015, please join us at the Murad Flagship Store for a special evening with Dr. Murad himself! He will share his favorite tips for how to look, live and feel your best. Space is limited, so be sure to RSVP early to reserve your spot.

This complimentary event will also include:

20% off all skincare products
50% off all Youth Builder® bodycare products
Express services and YouthCam consultations (available before event)
Drinks and hors d’oeuvres
Gift bags
Complimentary valet parking

To RSVP, call: 323.413.2350 or email: MuradW3rdSt@murad.com

Location: Murad Flagship Store

8207 W. 3rd Street

Los Angeles, CA 90048

Date: December 10, 2015

Time: 6 – 8 p.m.

The post Meet Dr. Murad at Our Flagship Store appeared first on Face Forward.

Things to do in Los Angeles

When you think about Los Angeles, what comes to mind? Sunny beaches? Movie stars? Palm trees for miles?

Los Angeles is a top tourist destination, with more than 40 million people on average visiting every year. The guidebooks send visitors to places like Hollywood Boulevard, Disneyland, Rodeo Drive and the Venice Beach boardwalk. But off the beaten path, there are gems just waiting to be discovered. Hipster hangouts, flea markets, hiking trails, taco trucks and the best sushi dives ever.

The greater Los Angeles area is home to Murad headquarters (#MuradHQ), so we asked members of our team to share their favorite things to do and places to go.

Marc Kravets, Direct

My absolute favorite LA workout is the Pier to Pier run early in the morning from Santa Monica Pier to Venice Pier and back; it’s about 7 miles round trip. It’s still cool, there’s no one around, and it’s drop dead beautiful that time of day. Nothing better.

Lily Lopez, e-Commerce

I highly recommend Moonshadows in Malibu. They have a pretty amazing dining area/lounge overlooking the ocean. During the day, the ocean waves look beautiful, and during the night, the sky is just flooded with beaming stars. The food and drinks are also fantastic!

Another place I recommend is Paradise Cove in Malibu. This place allows you to picnic at the beach and enjoy refreshing cocktails. They also have a restaurant/shack where you can eat and purchase beverages.

Kristen Robinson, New Product Development

I love the chicken pho from Number Nine in Hermosa Beach. It’s convenient, fast, fresh and so, so yummy. It’s a huge portion that always leaves leftovers for lunch. Hot, steamy chicken broth base and chunks of white meat chicken breast served over a giant, webbed portion of thin, long rice noodles. Top it with fresh lime, jalapeño, basil, hot chilies and beansprouts. It’s so clean and fulfilling!

Manhattan Beach is my favorite beach. It has miles of wide-open, clean sand, volleyball nets and great waves for surfing. The beautiful Strand has gorgeous homes packed side by side and is great for walking, biking and exploring along the way to the pier.

HIP Studio (AKA high-intensity Pilates) in Hermosa Beach is my favorite Pilates studio, with workouts that challenge every shred of muscle fiber and never get boring, repetitive or easy. I’m obsessed with Pilates; mat, classical, reformer, proformer, etc. I love them all and have never found a more satisfying workout to lengthen and strengthen my body. I also love Club Pilates in Manhattan Beach and YogaWorks in Manhattan Beach, of course!

Rachel Tydings, Global Marketing

My favorite restaurant in LA is Osteria La Buca. Order the Cacio e Pepe Pasta. My favorite places to workout are Pilates Platinum and SoulCycle. My favorite beach is Point Dume in Malibu. It’s small, not too crowded and beautiful!

Hayden Ozawa, Global Retail Marketing

Here are some of my favorite restaurants in downtown Manhattan Beach: MB Post – Must book reservations far in advance; BrewCo.—It’s casual dining with a relaxed atmosphere; Fish Bar—In the El Porto area in North Manhattan Beach; Four Daughters, The Local Yolk and The Kettle—All are good for breakfast; Le Pain Quotidien and Lemonade—Both in the Metlox Center; Becker’s Bakery & Deli—Open since 1942! Their sweet treats are delicious, and their sandwiches are huge – good for sharing; Simmzy’s—They have sangria Thursday–Sunday. You must try the haystack fries. It gets crowded fast; Old Venice—They have great food and the best tiramisu I’ve tried in the South Bay; Nektar, Pressed Juicery and Kreation Organic are great juice places.

These are some of my favorite activities to do in Manhattan Beach: Roundhouse Aquarium at the end of the pier, and boutique shopping at The Beehive, Michael Stars, Trina Turk, Wright’s and LF. For those people who love to use Instagram, there are photo ops EVERYWHERE!

These are just a few of the hot “insider tips” from our Murad team. Plus, we want to hear from you. Local Angelinos, what do you suggest?

The post Things to do in Los Angeles appeared first on Face Forward.

Workout in Cycles for a Stronger, More Resilient Body and Mind

By Darren Becket, Health and Fitness Expert, Personally Tailored Fitness

Understanding how the body grows is a lot like understanding how a garden bears fruit year after year. At certain times of the year, plants receive continuous sunlight while at other times they don’t. At the end of the harvest season, most plants shed their leaves to prepare for another year of growth. My point is that just as plants follow a natural cycle to grow, be strong, and produce fruit year after year, the same can be said for our bodies.

When we begin a workout regimen, we often forget that we need to work in cycles to maintain our progress. Sometimes we need to push ourselves to the limit, and sometimes we need to rest and recover. In Taoist philosophy, this balance is referred to as yin and yang, stillness and action. Each action phase is followed by a rest phase so that harmony can be maintained. When our bodies are in harmony, we feel more relaxed, heal quicker, live longer and have more strength.

Listed below are some exercise activities that represent the ACTION phase and the REST phase. Listen to your body, alternating phases when you feel that a change is needed.

ACTION:

Weight training
Running and sprinting
Power walking
Power yoga
High-intensity interval training
Kickboxing
Karate
Fast dancing

REST:

Restorative yoga
Tai Chi
Qi Gong
Slow walking/hiking (especially in nature)
Stretching
Pilates
Corrective/mobility exercises
Foam rolling
Slow dancing

Darren Becket is a health and fitness expert who loves helping people step into their potential for greatness. He works closely with clients to create unique programs to meet each individual’s needs.  Personally Tailored Fitness includes personal training, massage therapy, stress management and nutritional services.

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Murad Makeup Mixology: Youth-Building Highlighter

Our bestselling Rapid Collagen Infusion is a fast-acting treatment that fights wrinkles while plumping your skin. But did you know you can also use this youth-building formula to create your own custom highlighter? It’s a quick and easy way to boost your beautiful glow!

Follow these simple steps to mix up a dewy highlight that will brighten up any complexion.

Step 1: Mix one pump of Rapid Collagen Infusion with a sprinkle of your favorite translucent, shimmery pigment, using your fingertips on the back of your hand.

Step 2: Dab the mixture onto the top of your cheekbones, the center of your nose, underneath the arch of your brow and on the bow of your mouth.

Our beauty team put together this handy Murad Makeup Mixology infographic for you. Pin it to your Pinterest profile to save for future reference.

 

Not only will this makeup mixology tip give you a naturally gorgeous glow, but it will also boost your skin’s resilience, and plump and smooth dehydrated skin to reduce the appearance of wrinkle depth.

Rapid Collagen Infusion

$84.00

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The post Murad Makeup Mixology: Youth-Building Highlighter appeared first on Face Forward.

5 Ways to Embrace Change

Fall is a season for transition. Choose products to help repair summer sun damage and hydrate your skin for the cold months ahead. Fall is also the perfect time to adopt good habits for healthy, beautiful skin. Are you using a good cleanser, treatment and moisturizer day and night? Are you exfoliating or using a mask weekly?

Focus on your happiness by allowing yourself to embrace change and let go of stress in your life. Remember, healthy skin is a reflection of overall wellness—and that includes your mental and emotional wellness. Here are my top five ways to learn to embrace change:

Welcome Positivity. It’s easy to get caught in the rut of always seeking out the negative aspects of situations. Make a conscious decision to identify when negative thoughts enter and replace them with positive thoughts or observations instead.
Sweat it Out. Whenever you’re faced with a daunting change or another stressful event, challenge your body with a great workout. When we work out, our bodies release endorphins that help reduce stress and anxiety.
Live in the Moment. Panic and worry can erupt when we focus on everything that can go wrong. Most of those “worst case scenarios” will never come to fruition. Do yourself a favor—relax and enjoy each moment of your life.
Be Appreciative. Studies suggest that grateful people tend to feel happier and more optimistic, which helps them cope with change. Every night, before you go to bed, write down three things for which you are grateful.
Try Something New. Whether it’s a new activity or a new at-home facial mask, make it a goal to try something new every week. Not only will this help you become comfortable with adapting to change; you’ll also develop more confidence and build new talents.

Article by Howard Murad, M.D., FAAD, a world renowned skincare expert and founder of the Inclusive Health movement. Click here to learn more about Dr. Murad.

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Strength from the Inside Out

Happy #FitnessFriday, everyone! When it comes to staying strong and fit – from the inside out – strength is key. We’re not only talking about building muscle strength, but also about strengthening your cells, your mind, and your spirit. Inner strength. We’ve rounded up 6 of our favorite blog posts that speak to the theme of strength.

The Benefits of Strength Training for Women. In this post, you will learn that strength training doesn’t mean lifting tons of weight and bulking up. If done properly, strength training reduces body fat, increases lean muscle mass and helps you burn calories more efficiently. And you may be surprised to find out that you can see serious results when you put in as little as an hour a week of work!

5 Foods that Help Strengthen the Cells in Your Body. Dr. Murad says that nourishing our bodies at the cellular level will help us look, live and feel better every day. Stress in our daily lives can lead to the breakdown of our bodies’ cells. In this blog post, you will find out about Dr. Murad’s top 5 cell-strengthening foods that anyone can easily add to their diets.

Celebrate Strength with Joan Lunden. We’ve been following TV personality and health advocate Joan Lunden’s cancer journey here on the blog. She is now cancer-free and has made it her mission to help other women battling cancer. In this post, you will be inspired as you read about Joan’s extraordinary strength in the face of a life-threatening disease.

4 Tips to Strengthen Your Body & Transform Your Life. This post by Mary Beth LaRue, yoga instructor and co-founder of Rock Your Bliss, offers 4 simple tips that will help you feel stronger, more radiant, and confident. Her suggestions include visualization, spending time outside of your comfort zone, and creating healthy eating habits.

3 Quick Workouts to Recharge and Reboot. In this post by health and fitness expert Darren Becket, you will discover the amazing benefits of doing short bursts of exercise. Darren’s 3 mini workouts, including his 90-second pick-me-up (who doesn’t have 90 seconds?), require no equipment and can be done indoors or outdoors. These workouts will help you reduce stress, boost alertness, and shed fat.

Meet Breast Cancer Survivor Melina Fregoso. Just like in Joan Lunden’s inspirational story, Melina shares what happened when she found out she had breast cancer at the age of 29 and how she fought – and won – her cancer battle. It’s a story of hope, courage and strength.

The post Strength from the Inside Out appeared first on Face Forward.

Skincare Cocktailing Hacks

By Jen Harmatz, Murad Director of National Retail Education

Sometimes the best kind of cocktail is one that will make your skin look its absolute best—not the one that makes you look like you’ve been burning the midnight oil. You know, that dull, lackluster, I-only-slept-3-hours skin? And maybe your skin is extremely dehydrated, too oily or both? We have a surefire way to fix those problems and others to give your skin that extra helping hand. It’s called skincare cocktailing, and it’s a beauty hack in which you mix 2 or more skincare products together to achieve a desired result.

Your skin will have instant results and long-term benefits from skincare cocktailing. Think of it as pumping up your skincare. By cocktailing, you’re maximizing your skincare to get concentrated benefits. It can also be a huge timesaver for those days when you’ve got to get up, get out and get moving.

Here are some of our favorite cocktail mixes to help your skin look fantastic.

The Dewy

Mix 1 part Invisiblur™ Perfecting Shield with 1 part Hydro-Dynamic® Ultimate Moisture.
Press gently into the face and neck.

Invisiblur Perfecting Shield

$65.00

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Hydro-Dynamic Ultimate Moisture

$72.00

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The Plump

Mix 1 part Sensitive Skin Soothing Serum with 1 part Rapid Collagen Infusion.
Press gently into the face and neck.

Sensitive Skin Soothing Serum

$54.00

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Rapid Collagen Infusion

$84.00

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The Radiant

Mix 1 part Advanced Active Radiance® Serum with 1 part Hydro-Dynamic Ultimate Moisture.
Press gently into the face and neck.

Advanced Active Radiance Serum

$90.00

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Hydro-Dynamic Ultimate Moisture

$72.00

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The Max Matte

Mix 1 part Invisiblur Perfecting Shield with 1 part Oil-Control Mattifier SPF 15.
Press gently into the face and neck.

Invisiblur Perfecting Shield

$65.00

Shop Now

Oil-Control Mattifier SPF 15

$39.50

Shop Now

 

Jen Harmatz is a seasoned makeup artist and skin specialist who has worked on the GRAMMY Awards and the Oprah Winfrey Show. She knows from experience that perfecting the “canvas” lets you put your best face forward. She has created education initiatives to empower people across multiple channels to improve their skin, life and overall well-being.

The post Skincare Cocktailing Hacks appeared first on Face Forward.