Murad Skincare Routine: Cleansers, Moisturisers, Eye Cream & Toner Reviewed

For the last six weeks (and in the case of a couple of these products, a lot, lot longer) I've been trialling some of Murad's Skincare*, including products from their Age Reform, Environmental Shield, Resurgence and Redness Therapy ranges. Apart from my skincare oil and night cream, my daily skincare routine has been entirely comprised of the products you're going to read about in today's post.

I started using Murad's Essential-C Cleanser* back in December and really got along with it very well. But it wasn't until I had my first Murad skincare consultation that I incorporated the products into my whole routine, but I am so glad that I did! It isn't often that find a skincare regime that I really want to stick to, but I really am enjoying the one I'm using at the moment. Murad's products are designed to target a range of skin concerns and they really do produce fantastic results. Murad has quickly become a brand that I'm very, very happy to promote talk about with pretty much everyone who asks for skincare recommendations! I'm going to give a run-down of all the products that I've tried so far and I hope you find my reviews helpful.

Murad AHA/BHA Exfoliating Cleanser

Available online from Murad.co.uk - 200ml at £34.00

I received this cleanser as a magazine freebie a while back and when I started using my full Murad skincare regime I decided to finally give this exfoliating cleanser a proper try. It contains Salicylic, Lactic and Glycolic Acid which helps polish away dead skin cells and open up blocked pores. You massage a small amount into damp skin before rinsing the product away and immediately you'll notice that your skin looks fresher, smoother and more glowing. I wouldn't recommend using this too often, twice a week would probably suffice, but I absolutely love the results and the ease of the process. I think that it's a great alternative to AHA/BHA face masks as it's a lot quicker to use and it's probably a lot less messy. I'd definitely recommend it and I'd definitely repurchase it in the future.

Murad Essential C Cleanser

Available online from Murad.co.uk - 355ml at £34.00* 

I've been using this cleanser for quite a while now and it's quickly become a firm favourite. It has a thick gel consistency but it isn't as drying as many of the gel cleansers I've tried in the past. It's part of the Environmental Shield range, which specifically targets impurities and irritants that might damage of congest skin - so it's perfect for anyone like me who lives in a London, or another similar big city. I keep my cleanser in my shower as the handy pump makes it really easy to use - and it has a very refreshing mandarin, basil and grapefruit scent that's noticeable but not overpowering. I really like using this cleanser because I find that it makes my skin feel and look very clean without ever leaving it looking red or dry. It's also packed full of antioxidants, as well as vitamin c which is supposed to brighten your skin tone and help even out pigmentation. This is something I'm personally very interested in as my Murad skin consultation revealed that I have areas of pigmentation under my skin that I would very much like to improve. All in all, it's an effective and easy-to-use product that strikes the perfect balance between being scientifically "good" for me whilst also feeling great to use. I received this bottle as a review sample last year but I've already paid for a replacement for when this runs out - if that doesn't tell you I love it then I don't know what will!

Murad Hydrating Toner 

Available online from Murad.co.uk - 180ml at £23.00*

Toners are one of those products that it's easy to forget about - and I must admit that they're certainly the most commonly overlooked product in my routine. However, I've made a real effort to remember to use Murad's Hydrating Toner regularly and I have noticed the difference. This is a gorgeous, pomegranate toner that I really enjoy spritzing all over my face before gently removing the excess with a cotton pad. It's and incredibly refreshing step! The toner contains soothing ingredients such as cucumber and chamomile, as well as Vitamins C and E which are powerful antioxidants preventing free radical damage  and keeping skin looking bright. But perhaps the most important ingredient of all is witch hazel, which helps keep pores looking tight and skin looking smooth and flawless. And I can attest to the fact that when I regularly reach for this toner my pores do look less noticeable and my skin does look fresher. For me, it's been essential to find a toner that's easy to use with a natural fragrance I really like - these two factors are what keep me reaching for it, and now I've seen visible results I've got even more of a reason to keep on reaching for it. I'd definitely repurchase this toner and I've already recommended it to a couple of my friends!

Murad Insta Radiance Eye Cream

Available online from Murad.co.uk - 15ml at £49.50*

I absolutely adore the texture of this eye cream. It feels like a really light mousse and not only does it really hydrate my eye area but it also provides SPF protection and the way it sets on my skin makes it feel a but like an under-eye primer - it's a product that really does a lot in one application. In terms of hard-working ingredients, the Insta Radiance Eye Cream contains caffeine to help reduce puffiness and increasing firmness and loads of Vitamin C which brightens and helps protect the skin from free radical damage. I've really enjoyed using it - I find the application particularly nice compared to other eye creams that I've tried - and I've definitely noticed a difference in the appearance of the skin around my eyes. I personally find it hard to stomach the high cost of luxury eye creams but I do think that they're a good investment for the future, and more often than not you get what you pay for. This is certainly my experience with Murad's Insta Radiance Eye Cream anyway.

Murad Correcting Moisturiser Broad Spectrum SPF 15

Available online from Murad.co.uk - 50ml at £38.00* 

 Murad's Correcting Moisturiser does a lot for one product; it soothes sensitive skin, protects from sun damage and offers a green tint that counteracts the appearance of redness. I personally like to think of this as a moisturiser and primer in one as it certainly does the work of more than one product. It contains Goji Berry extract to protect the skin from free radical damage, peppermint leaf to immediately cool and calm sensitive skin as well as liquorice root extract which is proven to be a powerful inflammatory with redness reducing properties. Like all of Murad's products, it's a great example of scientific skincare that's working to give you the most for your money and time. The only reason I'm not head-over-heels in love is because I simply adored the formula and finish of the Essential-C Day Moisture which I tried first and now nothing can compare. The Correcting Moisturiser has a lighter feel and leaves a less noticeable finish to the skin, which is indeed better for more sensitive skin types. As it's oil-free and leaves a matte finish it's going to be a great option for those with sensitive combination skin - including myself.

Murad Essential C Day Moisture SPF 30 PA+++

Available online from Murad.co.uk - 50ml at £57.00* 

I used this moisturiser when I was on holiday in Greece last month and I really love the texture. It's much thicker than Murad's Correcting Moisturiser and leaves behind a slightly tacky sensation on the skin - which I find acts in a similar vein to makeup-primer, meaning that this moisturiser/SPF sits very well under my foundation. It also really does pack in a great deal of moisture without overloading you skin, which I found really great on my slightly difficult combination (oily/dry) skin type. It's another product from the Environmental Shield range which means that it's once again targeted for city-dwellers who need extra protection from skin irritants and pollution. The Vitamin C used in this moisturiser is also supposed to be super powered Vitamin C that Murad claims offers "50 times the collagen building, skin-brightening and skin-protecting power of ordinary Vitamin C". All I can say is that my skin looked really plump, hydrated and bright when I was using this moisturiser and I certainly believe that with consistent use this moisturiser would work wonders for my skin. I'd really like properly trial this out after I finish my Correcting Moisturiser. Basically, if you have dry, combination or dull skin and you're looking to really invest in some skincare that's going to really *do* something for your skin then I'd recommend giving this a try.

Have you tried anything from Murad before?
What skincare range(s) are you using at the moment?