Product Review: Murad Clarifying Cleanser

I'm constantly on the look-out for amazing beauty products. Whenever I have a few extra minutes, I'm scouring Pinterest or beauty blogs to see what people are using and talking about. Recently, a blogger who I read constantly posted about her positive experiences with Murad Skincare. She, too, has acne prone skin that variates between oily and dry. When she started using Murad, after 2 weeks, her skin improved enough to where she was able to go without foundation in her everyday beauty routine. Seeing as I would love to not have to wear foundation each day, I decided to fork over the $30 (not including shipping...) for this cleanser. 

My Skin "History":

Before I jump into the meat of the review, I'll give you some context about my skin. I began to struggle with acne at the age of 12. Throughout middle school and high school, caring for my skin was a guessing game. Which cleanser will work wonders? Does chocolate make me break out? Maybe if I put toothpaste on it, it will go away! You get the idea... 

So, I started keeping a food journal to track which foods seemed to make my skin worse. I soon learned what to avoid and how to care for my skin externally. When I reached my senior year, my skin problems started to improve. Now, I go through bouts of bad skin. I will have perfectly clear skin for several months, and then suddenly I will have a few weeks of bad skin. Additionally, I've noticed that when my skin is exceedingly dry for an extended period of time, I always break out. Based on my personal research, dry skin causes your body to over-produce oil to compensate. This, naturally, causes breakouts, and I have found this to be true for me. 

While I believe that all skin issues begin internally (stress, poor diet, etc), I also believe that skincare products can help alleviate acne, dryness/oil, and many other issues. This is what I expected Murad's Clarifying Cleanser would do for me. 

Review:

I gave Murad's Clarifying Cleanser two weeks before I judged the effects of the product on my skin. Typically, it is believed that if something isn't working for you after that amount of time, it's not going to change. I didn't use any skincare product that was not by Murad, so I wasn't mixing skincare lines or chemicals.

During use, the cleanser gives off a cooling sensation and does not rinse off easily. I had to keep rinsing to make sure that I was getting the "soap" off of my skin. 

After the two weeks, my breakouts had actually increased. The cleanser is so chemical intense that it started to burn sensitive areas of my skin, leaving dark pigmentation around my chin. The area that I struggle most with- my T zone- became red and flaky from dryness. 

I decided to stop using the cleanser because it was clearly doing nothing positive for my skin. I was very disappointed because a) the product cost more than I'd like to pay for a facial cleanser and b) the product actually has decent reviews so I had high expectations.

All in all, I would probably not recommend this product to anyone. It's certainly not worth the money, and it had negative effects on my skin. However, feel free to read the reviews on their product's page.

My Current Skincare Routine:

After my frustration with Murad, I went back to my tried-and-true routine. It consists of Dr. Bronner's Magic Soap in Lavender (packaging is removed in photo below), Burt's Bees Garden Tomato Toner, and Mary Kay's Acne Treatment Gel.

Dr. Bronner's soaps cost under $5 and have minimal ingredients, most of which are essential oils and natural extracts. I like that it allows my skin to act as it naturally would. Burt's Bees Garden Tomato Toner has to be my favorite skincare product ever. Not only does it smell like a fresh salad, but it works so well on my skin. It also fades acne scars! Finally, Mary Kay's Acne Treatment Gel works wonders with spot treatment. It doesn't dry out my skin and works to keep new pimples away. 

So, what are some of your favorite products? I'd love recommendations! 

*This is not a sponsored post. I received no compensation from any of the companies mentioned above. All opinions and views herein are my own.

Fall Beauty Essentials: Skincare

I love Karlie Kloss! Photo credit: Elle

We all know what time of year it is: the weather's grown chilly, Pumpkin Spiced Lattes are being drunk in droves, and the leaves are starting to show brilliant reds, oranges, and yellows. I love it! Mostly because that means that Christmas is closer... but that's neither here nor there.

As the weather changes, so does our skincare, or at least I believe it should be. In my personal experience (which is all I have to go on) I have noticed that fall skincare is all about one thing: moisturizing.

As it gets colder, the air looses a good deal of its moisture. Fall and winter are dry season, which usually means that your skin gets less moisture from the air as it would in the summer humidity and heat. Have no fear, dear readers. I'm going to share some tricks that have worked well for me. Shall, we?


Moisturizers

Anyone who knows me also knows how much I love this moisturizer; "love" is an understatement, actually. As someone with naturally oily skin, I spent many years on the hunt for a cream that didn't make me break out, wasn't goopy, and lasted all day. I use this moisturizer year round. It keeps the flaking and dryness at bay. I definitely recommend this.

If you don't have oily skin, look for moisturizers that are oil-based, rather than water-based, as the oil will retain more moisture than a cream or lotion. Hint: Many lotions labeled as "night creams" are oil-based. But be careful with which oil you choose. I've often heard that shea butter (or oil) clogs the skin and is more affective on your elbows and feet than on your face. Instead, lighter oils such as almond, primrose, and mineral oils are said to be best.

If all else fails, milk and honey are amazing natural moisturizers. Taking vitamin E tablets also help add moisture to your skin.

Facial Scrubs

Facial scrubs are a tricky thing to master; the more sensitive your skin, the harder it is to master. It's necessary to use a scrub on your face at least once a week. Scrubs work in such a way that your facial cleansers can't- get dig deep to get out dirt and dead skin. In my experience, I've discovered that the less grainy, the better. Too much abrasion can end up doing the exact opposite of what you want it to do.

Pangea Organics makes a natural facial scrub with adzuki bean, cranberry seeds, and primrose oil. I've used this for a few months, twice a week, and I have seen great results. Scrubs serve to keep your skin from looking dull, which can happen very easily in the dry winter air. Pangea's scrub helps keep me as fresh-faced as I can be. (I feel like I should start singing a jingle here...)

I got Vasanti's Brighten Up! Enzymatic Face Rejuvenator in my September Birchbox and I'm already loving it! The granules are tiny and won't burn your skin with to much abrasion. I think Birchbox's description best sums it up. "To fully appreciate this dermatologist-quality scrub, a mini skincare lesson is in order. Let’s start with enzymes: these potent ingredients actually dissolve the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. Microderm crystals, on the other hand, are ultra fine minerals that buff away tired skin." I am definitely adding this to my regimen. 


My last tip is to eat more fish! I can already see the grimace on your face. But seriously. Fish, especially salmon, are jam-packed with natural fatty acids like omega-3 that add natural fatty oils to your skin. I know that the words "fatty," "oil," and "skin" almost never sound right together in a sentence, but the fats found in salmon are the good kind, the kind your body needs in the cold months ahead. 

I'll leave you to let this all soak in. Feel free to share your fall/winter tips with me, or drop a question below! 


Disclaimer: I am in no way affiliated with any of the products or companies mentioned in this post. I speak only on opinion and experience. I am not sponsored or financially connected with them in any way.