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Murad
Murad's mission is to create topical skincare products and dietary supplements that "transform lives" by helping people look and feel healthy and beautiful, combining products applied topically to the skin, internal support and emotional well-being.
Murad's promise is that when you purchase Murad, you are getting the best pharmaceutical-grade ingredients combined with the latest skincare technology. Dr Murad believes that whatever your skincare problems and whatever your age, genetic and environmental skincare conditions can be treated.
They say: "With Murad it really is possible get great skin at any age. At Murad we don't believe that just one ingredient, or even one type of ingredient, can do everything. So we have pioneered a formula called The Murad Recipe. This means that in every single Murad product there is a trio of anti-oxidants, anti-inflammatories and hydrators, as this combination of ingredients will give the best results for your skin."
We say: "We feel a little sceptical of the science behind Murad's products, although there's certainly been a whole lot of research and technology gone in to developing them. The Spa Spies found testing Murad's expensive products resulted in a mixed bag of feelings from working well to no visible difference. We suggest trying them out at a spa first. If they work for you, then great - go ahead. If not, you'll have saved yourself a chunk of cash."
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Murad RRP £87, 30ml |
Reviewed by: Single Spy Age: 50s Skin type: Mature |
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Application: This product felt more like a paste than a cream. The result was that when I smoothed it on my skin, my skin felt very smooth indeed, and quite velvety, as if Polyfilla had filled any lines. Sensitive skins take care, though, as occasionally, if I had irritated skin, I would feel my skin tingle on application. What's in it? Several oils, including grapefruit-peel and mandarin-orange-peel oil. Also contains retinol (vitamin A). Effect: My skin certainly looks smoother, more even toned, and I am relying on the retinol that the complex contains to renew my skin's dewy loveliness from the inside, as well as fight the sun damage. You are meant to apply moisturiser over the complex, so the ingredients can penetrate your skin cells and get to work. Happy to let them do so! Verdict: Smoothes, soothes and smells divine. |
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Murad RRP £64, 30ml |
Reviewed by: Sybaritic Spy Age: 50s Skin type: Dry |
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Application: The serum has a rather strange smell when first dispensed, which thankfully disappears when it is massaged into the skin. What's in it?: I counted the ingredients in the list on the side of the box and realised that there are around 50 different items in this little bottle of cream, so maybe that strange smell isn't so surprising. Effect: My skin is certainly brighter when I am using it, and looks a bit firmer, though I can't estimate how much less deep my wrinkles are. So ... good for brightening dull skin, and seems to firm the skin around my eyes a little, but it doesn't make a dramatic difference. Verdict: Brightening and firming but with a slightly unusual scent. |
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Murad £50, 50ml |
Reviewed by: Student Spy Age: Teens Skin type: Combination/oily |
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Application: This product is odd, as it feels gloopy when you put it on your face, even though in your hand it looks like water. The gel has a cinnamony, spicy sort of smell which, although strong, is quite nice. With the pump-action packaging, a lot comes out at once, so it's hard to use sparingly. What's in it? Glycolic acid, aloe vera, salicylic acid, hyaluronic acid, grape seed extract, evening primrose oil. Effect: As I put it on just before I went to sleep, I found that it left my face feeling sticky, so had to go and put water on my face to wash it off even though it didn't say anywhere on the bottle that you have to wash it off - it felt like it hadn't been absorbed into my skin. Verdict: Hard to use sparingly. We're just not quite convinced of its powers. |
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Murad RRP £179, 30ml |
Reviewed by: Single Spy Age: 50s Skin type: Mature |
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Application: The cream is light, quite liquid, easily absorbed, non-greasy, and the pump dispenser is very hygienic. What's in it?: Glycolic acid, algae extract, durian fruit extract, grapeseed extract. Effect: : The Intensive Wrinkle Reducer contains a bio-engineered ingredient and claims to improve skin smoothness "by 33% in 2 weeks". As I didn't have my skin-smoothness measurement device to hand, I can only give a personal judgement and, yes, my skin certainly did feel much smoother. But what about the wrinkles? That's what we're buying this cream for, after all. I didn't see any instant dramatic effect, but the results are cumulative, and there was a definite softening of some of my lines. As you may need to use a fair amount before you see a difference, this can work out expensive. Verdict: Pricy but proven line reducer, for when you want something that works! |
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Murad RRP £104, 30ml |
Reviewed by: Sassy Spy Age: 30s Skin type: Combination/dry |
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Application: I applied the serum every day after cleansing and toning, and before moisturising. I found two to three pumps to be substantial for covering my face, neck and chest. The off-white serum is quite gel-like, and a little goes a long way. What's in it? Resilient-C™ "a remarkable new Vitamin C technology that delivers 50x the collagen-building, skin-brightening and cell-protecting power of ordinary topical Vitamin C to your skin", apparently! Effect: I found it quite hard to deduce how or what exactly this product was doing. The box states that this product is "clinically proven to brighten and renew skin in one week by: improving natural radiance and clarity, and smoothing skin to restore youthful texture and tone." Sadly, I didn't find this to be the case. I also seemed to have a small outbreak of spots, which was disappointing after I had read other reviews describing this product was great at clearing up such gremlins. Verdict: For this sort of money, seek professional advice and try before you buy. |
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