Howard Murad's Blog, page 40

Winter Season Skincare Must-Haves

By Miranda Rios, Murad Store Manager

As the season begins to change, I like to switch up my skin care routine and add a few additional products. It’s important not only to use your topical products every day, but also to incorporate supplements and plenty of fruits and vegetables into your daily diet. Some of my favorite products are listed here; they keep my skin perfectly hydrated during the colder months!

Renewing Cleansing Oil - I love the Sweet Almond Oil and how gentle it is on my skin.
Hydrating Toner – Great for hydration on the go!
Hydro-Dynamic Ultimate Moisturizer - I wake up with soft, smooth skin in the morning. It gives all night hydration and doesn’t clog my pores. It’s my go-to product during the winter.

Remember, even in colder months, it’s essential to use SPF every day. Murad Essential-C Day Moisture Broad Spectrum SPF 30 is an excellent choice. Also, I always look for products with hyaluronic, lactic and glycolic acids to keep my skin hydrated, firm and glowing in the winter months.

When my skin is feeling blah, I add in a burst of Vitamin C. The Intensive Radiance Peel instantly brightens my skin. The Body Firming Cream is perfect to put on every day after you shower. I apply it when my skin is still damp and it absorbs right in! And for dry hands, our new Youth Builder Rejuvenating AHA Hand Cream is great to gently exfoliate your hands and add moisture.

Besides my topical skincare, I love to follow Dr. Murad’s advice and “eat my water.” I try to eat fruit in the morning and vegetables with every meal. My favorites are clementines, kale, brussels sprouts and grapes. If I’m on the go, I’ll pick up a fresh juice. I love “Joan’s Greens” from Juice Served Here down the street from our Flagship store in Los Angeles.

Dr. Murad has some other great tips on protecting winter skin that I know our community will find helpful. And he also wrote about why he decided to open our first-ever retail store. Plus, you can read more about the grand opening earlier this month, and meet the exceptional team that was behind the launch.

Miranda has worked in the cosmetics industry since 2007 and is the manager of our Flagship Murad retail store in Los Angeles.

A Chance to Win your Holiday Wish List

This holiday season, we want you to celebrate wishes. That’s why we’re giving you the opportunity to win your holiday wish list.

Enter to win our Pin Your Murad Wish List holiday sweepstakes, and we could grant your wish…up to $1,000!

How to Enter:

1) Go to Pin Your Murad Wish List page.

2) Submit your information on the sign-up form (we’ll never share your information).

3) Pin Murad wish list products to a Pinterest board titled #CelebrateMurad.

4) Sit back, relax and cross your fingers that you are our winner!

We’ll pick one wish list as the winner – the grand prize is up to $1,000 in Murad products of your choice.

If you haven’t already, be sure to check out our holiday gifts page to find the ideal gift for every person on your list (and yourself, of course).

We’re Giving You Reasons to Celebrate This Month

Throughout the month of December, we’re giving our fans reasons to celebrate! Of course, we find things to celebrate all year round to keep us looking, living and feeling #BetterEveryDay. But with the holiday season upon us, we’re excited to share with you what inspires us this time of year.

To get started, head over to our Pinterest board for some great tips to celebrate the holidays. And be sure to check out our holiday gifts page to find the perfect gift for everyone on your list (and yourself, of course).

The dictionary defines the word “celebrate” as “doing something special or enjoyable for an important event, occasion or holiday.” So what are YOU doing to celebrate this month? We want to hear from you! Share with us on social how you celebrate the holidays with a picture using the hashtag #CelebrateMurad and you could be featured on Murad.com.

Meet Thomas Smith: Director of International Marketing

Murad opened a new regional European office in London recently, and our Director of International Marketing, Thomas Smith, played an important role. He attended an event with the region’s top customers to discuss upcoming new products and to honor their achievements. Everyone received a limited edition copy of one of Dr. Murad’s paintings to hang in their flagship location. We’re thrilled we got a chance to chat with Thomas about what it’s like spreading the Murad message all over the world.

Thomas presents Dr. Murad’s artwork to UK Team.

What is your favorite aspect of working in International Marketing?

I am naturally curious about consumer behavior in every corner of the globe. What are the regional preferences and cultural preferences? What makes each of us the same and what makes us different? I love the excitement of meeting the challenges of each country and applying strategies that help propel the Murad philosophy forward across oceans, borders and frontiers.

What is your favorite international trip to date and why?

Each year we meet all of our international partners at the Murad Annual Marketing Meeting where we share our plans for the coming year. Every country’s representative discusses their success and best practices. This last year, we held regional meetings in Italy, Thailand and Malaysia. So, Miranda Koepke (Senior Manager, International Marketing) and I took our show on the road! For the entire month of June, we circled the globe to see and hear about Murad in every corner of the world. Getting to see all of our Murad partners in such a small amount of time was rewarding and extremely educational.

How do you embrace the Murad Inclusive Health Vision and strive to Look, Live and Feel #BetterEveryDay?

How do you LOOK BETTER?

I’m a total product junkie so having a career at Murad is perfect for me. First things first, I follow Dr. Murad’s advice and sleep! At least 8 hours if I can. As a skin cancer survivor, I have my share of sun damage and hyperpigmentation so I use our Environmental Shield products.  Advanced Active Radiance Serum is my hero. Once a week, usually during my Sunday night quiet time, I use Intensive-C Radiance Peel to keep discoloration at bay, and follow with Sensitive Skin Soothing Serum for a serious moisture boost.

How do you LIVE BETTER?

I was born in Colorado and I love the outdoors, so you will find me hiking, biking, climbing or skiing on the weekends. And I throw yoga in once a week, too. Because I spend so much time in the sun (with my sunscreen on, of course), Murad’s Pomphenol Sunguard Dietary Supplement is my best friend.  This 100% pure pomegranate extract helps to intensify skin’s natural sun protection.

Thomas poses with the Murad UK Team

How do you FEEL BETTER?

When I’m enjoying the outdoors, I put my phone on “Do Not Disturb” and I unplug.  No emails, no texts, just me and my thoughts and the beautiful scenery that California affords. I also make a lot of my own clothes, which is a great form of meditation for me.

Thanks Thomas for chatting with us. It’s always fun to find out how our employees infuse Dr. Murad’s Inclusive Health philosophy into their lives. Our International team is hard at work in many corners of the globe, and we’re excited that our fans will get to know more about them. Coming soon on the blog, we’ll be featuring team members, news and events from Murad International. Stay tuned!

Surround Yourself With Happiness

One of the factors that contributes most to cultural stress is isolation. We all have busy schedules, but taking the time to reconnect with your family or loved ones is one of the healthiest things you can do – and it can play a key role in reducing stress.

An insight that I like to share with patients who love their family members but have simply not carved out any quality time with them is, “Surround yourself with happiness.”

While it is important to make time for yourself as well, being surrounded by family or close friends in a happy setting has proven healing and stress reducing effects.

If you place yourself in a happy environment, you are much more likely to experience happiness yourself.

With the holiday season amongst us, it’s worth considering the importance of connecting with those you hold dear – and not just on holidays and special occasions.

A few other insights to consider:

“Heal yourself, reduce isolation.”
“Share your love.”
“Bear hugs keep the doctor away.”

If you’re interested in receiving more of my insights, I’ve launched a new app to help people on their Inclusive Health journeys.  It’s called “Dr. Murad’s Inspirations”. When you download the app to your phone, you are greeted everyday with a fresh insight linked to an image of one of my paintings.

Article by Howard Murad, M.D., FAAD, a world renowned skincare expert and founder of the Inclusive Health movement.

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The Benefits of Strength Training for Women

Happy #FitnessFriday everyone! If you want to reduce body fat, increase lean muscle mass and burn calories more efficiently, then you should consider strength training. Despite its reputation as a “guy” thing, strength training is a key component of overall health and fitness for everyone.

We’re not talking about lifting tons of weight and getting bulky. We’re talking strong and sexy. Tight and toned. And strength training has other benefits besides what you see in the mirror. You’ve got to use it or lose it ladies, because muscle mass naturally diminishes with age.

Strength training helps you:

Develop strong bones. By stressing your bones, strength training increases bone density and reduces the risk of osteoporosis.
Control your weight. As you gain muscle, your body begins to burn calories more efficiently. The more toned your muscles, the easier it is to control your weight.
Boost your stamina. As you get stronger, you won’t fatigue as easily. Building muscle also contributes to better balance, which can help you maintain independence as you age.
Manage chronic conditions. Strength training can reduce the symptoms of many chronic conditions, including back pain, arthritis, obesity, heart disease and diabetes.
Sharpen your focus. Some research suggests that regular strength training helps improve attention in older adults.

Strength training can be done at home or in the gym. You can use:

Your own body weight. You can do many exercises with little or no equipment. Try pushups, pullups, abdominal crunches and leg squats.
Resistance tubing. Resistance tubing is inexpensive, lightweight tubing that provides resistance when stretched. You can choose from many levels of resistance tubes at most sporting goods stores.
Free weights. Barbells and dumbbells are classic strength training tools.
Weight machines. Most fitness centers offer a variety of weight machines. You can also invest in weight machines for use at home.

When you have your doctor’s OK to begin a strength training program, choose a weight or resistance level heavy enough to tire your muscles after about 12 repetitions. When you can easily do more repetitions of a certain exercise, gradually increase the weight or resistance.

To give your muscles time to recover, rest one full day between exercising each specific muscle group. And listen to your body. Although mild muscle soreness is normal, sharp pain and sore or swollen joints are signs that you’ve overdone it.

You don’t need to spend hours a day lifting weights to benefit from strength training. Two or three solid strength training sessions a week lasting just 20 to 30 minutes is all you need. And if you’re dedicated, the results can be quick! Expect to enjoy noticeable improvements in your strength and stamina in just a few weeks. Your clothes will fit better, your skin will glow and you’ll sleep better.

Counting Our Blessings This Thanksgiving

At Murad, we are especially thankful for all the ways in which this has been a truly exceptional year. We celebrated our 25th anniversary, moved into our new state-of-the-art corporate global headquarters and opened our Flagship Store. But what are we MOST grateful for?

YOU.

You are part of the amazing community of people who make their lives Better Every Day by reaching for our products. We strive, thrive and evolve because of the love and support we receive every day from that community, and for that, we are deeply grateful.

The dictionary defines Thanksgiving as “the expression of gratitude.” Every year, millions of American families come together for Thanksgiving to give thanks and to celebrate family, friends and connection. Most of us don’t need any encouragement to gather and celebrate, but here’s one more reason to honor the Thanksgiving tradition—being grateful is actually good for you.

According to a growing body of research, gratitude has the strongest link with mental well-being of any character trait. So it really is good for your health to cultivate “an attitude of gratitude.” In addition to elevating our level of happiness, there are many other health benefits including:

Increased self-esteem
Improved sleep
Increased energy levels
Protection against stress, depression and anxiety
A stronger, healthier heart and immune system
Increased focus and productivity

“Happiness means finding beauty every day.” ~ Dr. Howard Murad

We encourage you, in honor of the Thanksgiving holiday, to find beauty in gratitude. Here are some tips to help get you started.

5 Ways to Boost Your Gratitude

Say thank you more often. Let everyone around you, from the people who serve you in restaurants to those who share your life, know that you appreciate the big and small ways that they make life better.
Be present in the moment. Take the time to really focus on the person you are with, or the event that is happening in the moment. Stop to appreciate the sun on your face, the meal you are enjoying or the person sitting next to you.
Schedule gratitude moments. Book your moments in the morning to start your day on a grateful note or in the evening before bed to add peace to your sleep. Some people even schedule gratitude time like an appointment; or set an alarm on their smartphone as a reminder.
Avoid complaining or passing judgment for an entire day. When we judge and criticize others (and even ourselves) we cannot truly experience gratitude. Take control of your thoughts and notice how life gets better for you and those around you.
Start a gratitude journal. This is an oldie but a goodie. Write out at least 5 things each day that you appreciate. Your list doesn’t need to be life changing. It could be as simple as a roof over your head and food in your fridge—really gratitude acknowledges that nothing good should be taken for granted.

So pass the gratitude; it’s not just a recipe for a Happy Thanksgiving, it’s a recipe for life — to look, live and feel #BetterEveryDay. Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

MEET: Actress and Author Robin Givens

We’re excited to introduce you to one of Murad’s most celebrated celebrity fans. Actress, author and mom Robin Givens is a big fan of our products and embraces Dr. Murad’s Inclusive Health philosophy. We had a great chat with her about motherhood, her writing career, and what her secrets are to looking, living and feeling #BetterEveryDay.

How did you meet Dr. Murad?

First, I saw him on TV. He has a nice calm about him. I was aware of the product, and wanted to hear what he said about it. I met him in person in the office and he was radiant! There was an energy that lit him up from the inside. I saw his artwork and he was so warm. He cared about not only how women looked, but felt about themselves. I always knew he was knowledgeable, but I really got the feeling that he cared about women and understood that beauty came from feeling good.

What are your favorite Murad products?

I love the Resurgence Renewing Eye Cream and I love the cleansers, both AHA/BHA Exfoliating Cleanser and the Essential-C Cleanser. I don’t go anywhere without the cleansers! And the Rapid Collagen Infusion is amazing.

How do you embrace the Murad Inclusive Health® vision and strive to Look, Live and Feel Better Every Day?

How do you LOOK BETTER?

When I feel good, I look good. Exercise is a great part of looking good. I like to sweat. It makes me feel emotionally really good. Those endorphins! I like to move my body. A body in motion stays in motion. The older you get, you actually have to move more. If you take a few days off, it’s harder to get started again. I walk everywhere when I’m in New York City. I also do spinning, yoga and pilates. I even get on my son’s skateboard! Whatever you find you respond to and works for you. The key thing is to mix it up because your body gets used to the same thing over and over again.

How do you LIVE BETTER?

Nutrition goes along with working out. I’ve become so much more sensitive as I age. If I eat Chinese food, I’m going to feel it; too much sodium. So proper nutrition is key; it really affects everything.

How do you FEEL BETTER?

You have to have a sense of gratitude—when you look around and you’re just grateful for everything. My son says “I don’t know where I’m going, but I’m on my way.” Just being appreciative of being here and doing the best you can every day.

What inspires you?

Life. I love people, being close to nature, spending time with my kids, learning something new every day and being the best person I can be every day.

What’s your personal mantra?

Be gentle with myself. Just be gentle. Whatever you can do, if you do the best you can do at that moment, that’s success. As women, we are kind of hard on ourselves.

Describe a typical day in your life.

Wake up at 5am. I love it when it’s quiet and dark outside. At 6am I do pilates, then pick up bagels for my son. I drop him at school, return phone calls, do some writing, take him to tennis practice. Then I make a healthy dinner and do some more writing. As women, we keep a lot of balls in the air.

What’s your favorite thing about being a mom?

You get to see the world all over again through these brand new eyes that are so gung-ho about life. Your parents start raising you and your children finish the job. My children teach me patience and compassion. They really know how to work that love muscle. Nothing’s made me happier in my life than being a mom.

If you weren’t an actress, what would you be?

Maybe a doctor or an ice skater or a tennis player. Or a political journalist.

You’re an author, tell us about your book.

My book is Grace Will Lead Me Home, and I’m working on another one. It will be a major investigation of Robin. I’m starting with my grandmother, then my mother, then myself. Basically, what made me me. Also, I recently wrote a piece for Time Magazine and I wrote my first feature film, which we’re shooting next spring. I write everything out with a yellow legal pad and a pen!

Robin, we love how honest, real and refreshing you are. And you look gorgeous! We can’t wait to read your new book. We look forward to getting more tips from Robin on staying fit, eating right, and being a strong, confident woman.

Listen to Robin’s story about hormonal aging in the video below:

Dr. Murad’s Thanksgiving Favorite: Pumpkin Pie Baked Oatmeal Recipe

As we near Thanksgiving, one of the most widely loved flavors of the season, pumpkin, finds its way into just about every kind of food and beverage you can imagine from beer to bagels. A pumpkin pie inspired oatmeal bake is a good, healthy way to enjoy the seasonal flavor in a unique way.

Pumpkin is a terrific food for preserving skin and overall health. Pumpkin helps aging skin because it contains large amounts of beta-carotene, a pro-vitamin that converts to Vitamin A. Additionally, pumpkin is packed with fruit enzymes and alpha hydroxy acids (AHA’s), which increase cell turnover. Pumpkin also contains Vitamin C to help protect the skin and boost collagen production.

“Pumpkin Pie” Baked Oatmeal

Ingredients:

2/3 cup old-fashioned oats
1/8 teaspoon salt
2/3 cup pumpkin puree
2 egg whites
1/3 cup ripe banana, mashed (from one medium-sized banana)
1/3 cup milk (unsweetened, vanilla almond milk works well)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 350F.

In a bowl, combine oats, pumpkin pie spice, baking powder and salt. In a separate bowl, whisk together pumpkin puree, egg whites, mashed banana, milk and vanilla extract. Pour wet ingredients into dry ingredients and stir together until everything is incorporated. Divide batter between 2, 16-ounce ramekins. Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until center is set and not jiggly. Eat immediately or make ahead of time and store in the fridge for up to 5 days.

Incorporate this recipe, or your own variation of it, into your selection of seasonal treats.

Do you have a favorite Thanksgiving recipe to share?

Article by Howard Murad, M.D., FAAD, a world-renowned skincare expert and founder of the Inclusive Health movement.

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Joan Lunden — Skin Care Products She’s Thankful For

TV personality Joan Lunden has been a longtime supporter of our products. She says thanks to Murad’s anti-aging Resurgence line, her skin looks better now than it did ten years ago. As she battles breast cancer and goes through chemotherapy, Joan says looking her best helps keep her spirits up. So which Resurgence product is her favorite? Here’s what she told us:

“I use the entire Resurgence line religiously. Interestingly, a friend who used to be an assistant of mine at Good Morning America – told me that she has seen the toll chemo can take on women’s skin, and when she saw me on the People magazine cover and on the Today show, she wondered how my skin was looking so gorgeous and flawless while undergoing treatment. I said ‘It’s my Resurgence!’ It’s hard for me to pick a favorite, although I really, really love the Age-Balancing Night Cream. Would never dream of going to bed without it!”

Studies show skin loses up to 30 percent of its firming collagen in the first five years after menopause. As estrogen levels drop, the body’s ability to produce collagen decreases. This type of hormonal aging can leave you with loose skin and wrinkles. Our Resurgence products are specifically developed, using the Science of Cellular Water, to combat the impact of hormonal aging. Murad Resurgence products, as part of an Inclusive Health lifestyle, can give you firmer, more youthful skin, even as collagen production decreases.

Some of Joan’s favorite Resurgence products include:

Resurgence Renewing Cleansing Cream
Resurgence Intensive Age-Defusing Serum
Resurgence Age-Balancing Night Cream (mentioned above)
Resurgence Renewing Eye Cream

Joan tells us, Resurgence really is her best anti-aging secret, especially as she battles cancer. “As women, we all want to feel pretty. That’s hard without hair, but easier with healthy, glowing skin. That’s something I’m thankful for this Thanksgiving.”

Joan’s brave battle and positive energy during her breast cancer journey sends an inspiring message, and we’re grateful to her for sharing her story with us. To reveal firmer, more radiant skin, check out our entire line of Resurgence products.

To learn more about Joan’s breast cancer Journey click here or Joan at JoanLuden.com.