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Murad's New Treatment Room at John Lewis Kingston

Last Monday I headed over to John Lewis' Kingston branch to see the newly launched Murad Treatment Room. Murad are a brand that I've become more and more invested in this year after I visited their Kingston counter in January for a mini-facial. I wrote about my experience with Murad's on-counter (which just means that they occur at the counter in the department store, rather than in a seperate room) facial treatments on my blog (link here). Although it was a very positive experience, I was really happy to hear that Murad were launching their own private treatment room in John Lewis' Kingston branch, so that facials and other treatments could occur in a more relaxing environment.

The photos featured above are all of the Murad counter in John Lewis' Kingston branch. You can see the general area that the counter takes up and that two facial consultations can occur at once, but that there's only really space for one facial treatment. The on-counter treatments tend to only be mini-treatments that last roughly 30 minutes. However, now that Murad have their own dedicated and private treatment space they can offer 60 minute facials - along with more holistic treatments such as relaxing massages.

The treatment room is tucked away just around the corner from the rest of the beauty department and outside the treatment space there's a big, comfy armchair for waiting visitors to relax in - as modelled by Ellie from Kingston First. Opposite this prive waiting area is the treatment room itself.

Murad's new Treatment Room is an intimate space that completely transports visitors away from the hustle of a department store and into a relaxing spa-like environment. It's a perfect way to privately indulge in expert skincare treatments from Murad's knowledgeable and friendly in-house team. All of the Murad representatives that I've met have been incredibly helpful and kind, and they're exactly the sort of people that you'd want looking after you in both a retail and treatment setting. 

In the next month or so, Murad are also set to release new gift vouchers which will enable Murad customers to purchase products or treatments for not only themselves but also for their loved ones. I think that they'll be a fantastic gift option for those people in your life who already seems to have everything. If you'd like to make use of this treatment room then just pop by the Murad counter in Kingston's John Lewis and have a chat to one of the brand's assistants.

March Beauty Empties

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?

My Travel Skincare Picks

My First Murad Facial

At the beginning of the week I was very kindly invited to John Lewis Kingston to visit their Murad counter for a complimentary facial - an experience that is often made available to John Lewis customers! I was greeted at the counter by Felicity who expertly talked me through Murad's products and explained the holistic ethos of the Dr. Murad's company - the idea that skincare is only 20% of the solution and the other 80% has to come from healthy living. 

It was fascinating to have my face properly scanned and to actually see what my real skin concerns are. I was very happy to see that my eye area is much less dehydrated than it was when I had my skin scanned by Balance Me in December (regularly using eye cream makes such a difference), however, Felicity did help me identify that my real skin concern is pigmentation caused by sun damage. The only real way to battle this is to religiously apply products containing SPF, but she did also inform me that products containing high concentrations of Vitamin C can also really help minimise the appearance of dark marks and pigmentation. Murad actually has an entire Vitamin C range - I've been using their Vitamin C Cleanser since the beginning of December and it was one of my favourites from 2014 - and I'm really keen to incorporate more of these products into my daily routine!

However, my actual "facial" consisted of Felicity pampering my skin with a full skincare routine based on my scan. I was sat in an incredibly comfortable reclining chair, that despite being located in the beauty counter still felt surprisingly private and quiet. The treatment included a double cleanse using two of Murad's cleansers (Murad's AHA/BHA Exfoliating Cleanser followed by the Essential C Cleanser) followed by a facial treatment (the Blackhead & Pore Refining Duo). Felicity talked me through all the different products and made me feel incredibly comfortable with the entire process. When we'd finished my skin really did look much brighter and I felt great. I'd highly recommend the entire experience, especially as they're often available in John Lewis free of charge! It's a really great way to try out products before buying them and it's also just a wonderful treat that will leave you looking and feeling great.

I have to say a big thank you to John Lewis for arranging the entire experience for me, and to Felicity who was so friendly and knew so much about Murad. It was lovely to come across someone so passionate about the brand they work for, she knew the answer to every question I threw her way! If you have a John Lewis near you then I'd definitely stop by the Murad counter next time you visit to ask about their facials. They'll honestly be more than happy to help you.

Skincare Favourites from 2014

Refreshing Products for Morning Skincare Routines

Today's post is all about starting your day the right way. It's really easy to forget to look after your skin in the morning - all too often we're in such a rush to get out of the door that our skincare routine takes a back seat! I'm going to walk you through a quick and easy routine that will get your skin clean, nourished, primed, protected and brightened in just four simple steps. 

Reach for a gentle, refreshing cleanser

It's really important to cleanse your skin in the morning to remove the natural oils that build up on your skin overnight. I'm really enjoying using Murad's Essential-C Cleanser* in the morning. I find the pump bottle makes it incredibly east to use (even in the shower if you want to save on time) and helps me manage the amount of product I use, saving me from wasting any. It's a light, refreshing gel cleanser with a zesty citrus scent. It isn't too drying and it's a perfect way to kick off your skincare routine in the morning. I've been enjoying it so much that I'm considering trying the rest of the Murad Essential-C line.

Use a light moisturiser to keep your skin hydrated

Once my skin is cleansed and dry I like to apply a light moisturiser. It keeps my skin soft and smooth and really improves the way that make-up sits and wears on my skin. I've just discovered Amie's Morning Light Hydrating Daily Moisturiser* and it's a really lovely option. It's an affordable option that isn't a compromise on quality. 

Apply a light reflecting eye cream to brighten up your under-eyes

Once I've moisturised my face I like to focus on my eye area. I have dark circles under my eyes and I find that I look so much more awake (with or without makeup) if I reach for a brightening eye cream in the morning. I really like Vichy's Idealia Eye Contour Idealizer*, it offers light hydration along with a pinky pearlescent glow that does my skin so much good. If you're interested you can read my full review here.

Prime your skin to prepare if for your day ahead

Once my skin is hydrated, I like to use a primer. I've found that Flint+Flint's Primer* works well under make-up and also offers SPF 30 protection. I've been reaching for this most days, even when I'm not planning on wearing makeup. I think that wearing SPF really helps maintain youthful skin in the long run and I'm hoping to get into the habit of wearing SPF to minimise sun damage throughout my life.