“You’ve got a bit of…” as Dan goes to touch my face. ARGH! It’s that time of the year where my skin (which has been relatively good all Summer) decides to be disobedient and suddenly throw all of its toys out of the pram. Last week I saw the first signs of dry skin. Going from a disgusting underground tube to an office where wind (I mean air con) blows violently or it’s St. Tropez at 3pm, it was only a matter of time before those dull areas of skin become dehydrated and tight.
As skin is our largest visible organ, it’s not surprising that we often feel embarrassed, shy and emotional when our skin isn’t right. Be it acne, scarring or problematic concerns caused by pollution and temperature changes, I for one get very touchy and it will affect my mood. As many of you who read my blog already know, I can suffer badly with my skin and it’s with time that I’ve learned it’s not just what I put into my body and how well I hydrate, it’s also about what I smother over my face. Gone are the old fashioned £1.99 cleansers and £250 moisturisers that are fashionable just because of the brand. Now I’m 29 I know that I need to invest sensibly in products that will last the season and most of all, cut all the nonsense and waiting and actually work.
Like hundreds of women, as soon as I enter beauty halls in department stores throughout London it’s a challenge. It’s literally a military obstacle course when you try to avoid every heavily made-up person offering samples of fragrance or foundations. Murad is different. You’ll find Murad counters well lit and standing out from the hustle and bustle thanks to their clinical branding and sleek packaging. The staff are knowledgable and while being keen for you to try things, they’re more set on actually analysing your face and prescribing the best products. None of the over the top marketing and sales approach, just a simple connecting the dots.
On my dresser (and bathroom cabinets, inside six chests of drawers, inside my divan bed and in bags dotted all around my bedroom) you’ll find an abundance of creams, serums, scrubs, chemical peels, ointments, lotions, potions, bases and concentrations. In amongst on of this noise right next to my bathroom sink is the Murad Invisiblur Perfecting Shield and Hydro-Dynamic Ultimate Moisture. These are the only two products that I’ve been using twice a day everyday for the past week and wow what a difference they’ve made so far.
After cleansing, I swipe a few dots of the Invisiblur Perfecting Shield over my cheeks, forehead, nose, chin and neck. You don’t need any additional sun protection as it contains SPF 30 and there’s also no need for a primer of makeup base because it’s multi-benefit formula covers nearly all parts of your blurring, priming and moisturising routines. Even without concealer and highlighting, this shield can even skin tone and brighten skin. In my opinion it even fills in those teeny tiny fine lines and wrinkles that seem to have developed the moment I woke up on my 29th birthday. There isn’t that heavy chemical smell or feel to the shield (probably thanks to the barley, sunflower and cucumber extracts) and as it has a soft focus complex, it isn’t aggressive. Even after application my fingers feel velvety rather than wet or greasy. (Note to self – despite shoving hand in Dan’s face and crying “FEEL!”, boyfriends have no interest in it. Not at all). Now this will set you back £55 but in a week I’ve barely noticed any missing from the tube so expect it to last you well up until next February/March.
Now the shield alone would probably be enough but as I’m fussy and a little paranoid about my foundation drying out throughout the day, I use a little moisture boost from the Age Reform range. The Hydro-Dynamic Ultimate Moisture costs £64 and will again last you way into the new year. I use less than my usual amounts of moisturiser as you really don’t need it and any excess would just go to waste. This is an intensely hydrating cream which for me is the most essential thing in my Autumn/Winter regime. It can lock in moisture for eight hours (use once in the morning and once in the night for 16 hour protection). I absolutely love the smell of this especially when I’m lying in bed in the evening as it’s calming and nourishing thanks to the avocado, sunflower and olive fruit oils which are added to hold the level of hydration.
Overall after just one week of using these products I can already see a noticeable improvement and even the blemishes that I had initially are vanishing quicker than any other product that I’ve used before. Overseeing Grooming in my day job I already know the benefits and wizardry USP’s of brands in the market and this is proof that sometimes quality and simplicity is the way to go.
Have you used Murad? Are you worried about your skin this Autumn/Winter? If you’ve any questions, drop a comment below and I’ll happily pass on your questions to an expert.