Sun Savior: Murad Essential-C

We know the sun's terrible for our skin, but we still like to bathe in it. It's like knowing that a guy is SO wrong for you, yet you're instantly attracted to him. Sometimes, the worse something is for us, the more we want it.

Bad choices in men, you have therapy. Bad sunning habits, you have Murad's Essential-C line. 

There's a cleanser, a toner, eye cream with spf 15, serum (amazing!), an age spot and pigment lightening gel, a night cream and a day cream with spf 30.

The line is meant to correct age spots and sun spots, hyperpigmentation, uneven skin tone and combat lines and wrinkles.

A word (or several...) from the company:

"Everyday living is harsh on your skin. Daily exposure to sunlight,
smog, pollution and stress is the #1 cause of premature aging.
Murad's Environmental Shield® product line will help restore,
renew and protect your skin against sun damage, preventing and
reversing environmental damage through the science of cellular water™."

Vitamin C is so essential for healthy skin. It lightens, brightens and tightens. Basically, evening out the skin tone while making skin appear more radiant and tightening pores. It's most effective for sun-damaged skin. The Essential-C Day Moisture SPF 30 ($60.00) is an incredible summer moisturizer plus sun protector. It hydrates the skin while giving you daily UVA/ UVB protection (although if I'm baking in the sun - swimming or beaching, I still apply an SPF 50 to my face. I DO NOT want wrinkles!).

There's also an introductory kit for $39.95 that gives you a healthy dose of vitamin C in mini quantities. It contains all of the essentials and is a great starter...

Tis the Season... For Sunscreen

Christmas came and went, and I hope that Santa left you some amazing beauty items under the tree! While NYC is under seige by a major snow storm, I realize that many of you are on (or leaving for) vacation -- be it, sun or snow, the must-have item you need to come armed with is...

SUNSCREEN! Yes, even those frolicking in the snow are subject to sunburn (the snow actually acts as a reflector, where the sun beams off and effects your skin in a bad, bad way).

My current sunscreen of choice is Murad's Essential C Day Moisture SPF 30. I'm pretty much obsessed with the entire Murad Essential C range, the Age Spot & Pigment Lightening Gel is another favorite that exfoliates skin to lighten discoloration due to sun or environmental damage.

Anyway, the SPF 30 moisturizer is genius because it acts as an amazing skin hydrator while protecting your face from UVA and UVB rays. It's antioxidant rich and is meant to replenish environmetally stressed skin. Plus, it's made without parabens, sulfates and petrochemicals so it's actually good for your skin.

Right now, you can purchase the Murad Envirnmental Shield 30 Day Kit for $49.95. The sampler set includes a cleanser, serum and Day Moisture with SPF 30.

Protecting your skin is in... tis the season - wrinkle-free!

PRICE TAG: $60.00

New Favorite Eye Cream...

I'm a total sucker for a good eye cream.

The other day, while browsing the aisles of my favorite store (Sephora), I came across an incredible new product.

Here's my problem: I have oily skin that I often over-dry. And my eyes seem to be taking the brunt of the dryness... Even though I apply eye cream twice a day, the inner corners of my eyes never seem hydrated! Thus, concealer looks caked on and lines that aren't even wrinkles look like deep crevices in my face!

Enter Murad's Eye Treatment Complex SPF 8, "a patented formula containing glycolic acid to gently exfoliate, encouraging cell renewal and reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Provitamin B5 repairs and protects to recapture a more youthful look."

I've used the cream for about a week and I actually notice a difference - my eyes are finally hydrated, yet they don't come across as oil wells (people with oily skin know what I'm referring to!) And an added bonus - lighter dark circles!

C'est la vie!

$58.00 for .5oz.

UPDATE: This eye cream made me break out!!! Weird, I know, to break out from an eye cream but the skin under the eyes is very sensitive and this cream was just too thick to do the job without clogging my pores!!!

Murad - Acne Complex Intro Kit

People keep emailing in - what products would you recommend for acne prone skin?

Well, this is my recommendation for acne-prone skin. Murad has been known to work well for sensitive- oily prone skin. They combine AHA (Alpha Hydroxy Acids) with other natural ingredients. ALSO, check out the Murad website CLICK HERE and take 1 minute 30 seconds out of your hectic day to take a mini skincare evaluation test. It will personalize your skincare regimine! Genius!!!

Even better, Murad is offering a 30-day supply of the acne start-up kit for a very affordable $29.99!!! (via Murad)