Holiday glow

For most adults, the holidays can be an extremely stressful affair.  Just the thought of going through my gift list and going shopping with the crowd makes me feel more and more like old Father Christmas.

The traffic, the parties and all the rich dishes and booze that one imbibes during this festive time all add up and can take a major toll on our skin. It’s specifically during these times that one must be extra-rigorous with one’s skin regimen.

­ Murad is a very effective skincare brand built by Dr. Howard Murad. Widely acknowledged as one of the country’s foremost authorities on skincare, Dr. Murad has devoted his life to the science of internal and external skincare.

Dr. Murad has built a patient base of nearly 50,000 people. Having such experience has given him direct insight into what his patients want and need to care for their skin at home. Putting theory into practice, Dr. Murad developed targeted formulas to alleviate even the most frustrating skin concerns. 

I’ve personally been on a three-step skin regimen and a few months back, I gave the Murad Environmental Shield regimen a try and the results have really been noticeable. It’s pretty straightforward.

Step 1: Cleanse and tone

Wash your face with Essential-C Cleanser, an antioxidant-rich gel that purifies environmentally damaged skin by washing away impurities and restoring moisture to dehydrated skin. The repair starts here with a formula that soothes environmentally stressed skin and Vitamin C to neutralize damaging free radicals. Botanical extracts of orange, mandarin orange, basil and grapefruit leave your face with a fresh, clean scent.

After washing, spray on Essential-C Toner to balance stressed skin. The patented formula contains orange and cornflower extract to gently condition dehydrated skin. It also contains witch hazel to tighten pores without drying skin.

Step 2: Treat and repair

Apply Intensive Wrinkle Reducer by patting a small amount on your forehead, cheeks and chin then spread in a gentle circular motion. 

This is my favorite product in the regimen because it delivers dramatic results in just minutes — results that continue to improve over time. The formula significantly increases skin firmness and hydration levels while providing intense epidermal resurfacing without irritation to gently smooth away fine lines and wrinkles.

Step 3: Hydrate and protect

Use either Essential-C Day Moisture SPF 15 or Essential-C Night Moisture depending on the time of day. Apply in the same way as the wrinkle reducer. Both moisturizers help to improve hydration, clarity and elasticity while protecting skin from environmental damage caused by free radicals. The “day” version has SPF to protect you from sun exposure.

Eye care

To care for the very sensitive and delicate eye area, gently pat with your pinky finger Essential-C Eye Cream SPF 15. The cream’s patented formula stimulates collagen synthesis. Caffeine and tiger’s herb increase elasticity and firm the skin. Light diffusers soften the appearance of fine lines and dark circles for a luminous glow.

Firm and tone

Murad’s Firm and Tone Serum minimizes imperfections and reduces the visible appearance of cellulite and stretch marks. This formula refines uneven skin texture and improves skin firmness and elasticity. Apply on your body after your lotion.

Supplements

Skincare is also about internal care. This is ingrained in Murad’s holistic philosophy. 

The Firm and Tone Dietary Supplement Pack achieves new firmness and improve the appearance of stretch marks by strengthening from the inside. What I love about this product is it doesn’t contain any palpitating inducing ingredients. Its formula works to reduce and reverse dimpling by rebuilding, re-hydrating and revitalizing skin with natural vitamin distribution.  

Exfoliate

It’s essential to regularly exfoliate your skin to help rid it of dead skin cells and bring out a refreshed layer.  Murad’s Activating Body Scrub polish is a breakthrough that refines skin’s texture and improves firmness and elasticity. It contains sugar and jojoba beads to dissolve dulling, cell buildup and encourage stimulation and detoxification.

Murad skincare’s success is no accident for the results speak for themselves.

Cheers!

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E-mail me at djmontano@pacific.net.ph.