Murad

3 Things Beauty Lovers Do

September 13th, 2023 by Karen 9 Comments

1. They revel in getting a great deal

Yesterday I practically danced out of Ulta because I paid $5.97 for an $83 Murad Serum!

A little backstory: Ulta is in the midst of their awesome 21 Days of Beauty sale. Every day for 21 days, they feature a handful of different products on sale that are usually half off!

One of yesterday’s products was Murad Environmental Shield Rapid Dark Spot Correcting Serum, a glycolic and tranexamic acid serum for fading hyperpigmentation, which I’ve been wanting to try forever.

A 1-ounce bottle is usually $83 (!), but yesterday it was on sale for 50% off, so you could snag one for the sweet price of $41.50.

But guess what? I got an even bigger deal by cashing in $36 in Ulta points.

All in all, I ended up paying a mere $5.50 for my bottle, plus 47 cents for tax.

Heck, I’m still happy about it and dancing in my chair as I type this, LOL!

2. They find like-minded beauty lovers in the most unexpected places

So, I’ve had a couple of doctor’s appointments this week to check on some things, and you know me. I try so hard to be strong and tough on the outside, but inside, I’m an emotionally mushy meatball and end up crying at the drop of a hat.

Anyway, I was at the OB/GYN getting some tests done on Monday and started getting weepy – nervous tears, purr usual – when the doctor said, “Hey now, if you cry, you’ll mess up your beautiful makeup.”

I ended up laughing because I felt so totally seen! That morning, I purposefully wore sleek cat eyeliner and a few cool-toned shadows on my lids thinking that nice eye makeup on would help me to avoid any tears.

I mentioned this to the doctor and she started laughing, too, and she said that it sounded like something she’d do as well. It lightened the mood significantly, and we both got a good chuckle.

3. They can talk about makeup even when things get weird

Speaking of makeup bringing people together, in the same conversation, I just happened to be wearing a hospital gown and not much else. Needless to say, I felt a little vulnerable.

It got less weird though, when the doctor mentioned that she wanted to try Selena Gomez’s Rare Beauty line, and the nurse and I immediately jumped in to tell her that it was really good and what things she should buy.

Funny how talking about beauty can make even the most awkward moments a little easier to bear.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Say “Bye Bye Pores” With It Cosmetics Bye Bye Breakthroughs

May 27th, 2016 by Nicole Fraser-Herron 16 Comments

Sometimes I just want to be a poreless alien babe… A couple weeks ago I was at a drag show, and a queen named Kylie Minono was passing shots of vodka to the people seated behind me. She apologized for reaching over me and told me that vodka can sink into your pores. “But wait, do you even have any? Girl, what do you use and where can I get it?”

Well, you can get it at Ulta! It’s a $29 pressed translucent powder aptly named Bye Bye Pores (which you’ve probably heard of by now) from It Cosmetics.

_MG_2527_web — See? Exactly. You can’t because there’s nothing there. I’m wearing NARS Tinted Moisturizer in Terre Nueve as my base.

Let’s backtrack for a second.

I don’t have large pores, but they can get clogged pretty easily, so I try to let my skin breathe as much as I can. Luckily, I’m a workaholic who barely has time for breakfast, let alone fierce wings before work. I wish I did, but I also like sleep.

When I have dry patches, healing spots, or just want the smoothest finish possible, I reach for a silicone-based primer. If I’m getting ready during the day, I reach for Murad’s Invisiblur Perfecting Shield. It stands out to me because it’s a primer with SPF 30. Since I can’t step outside without sun protection, it’s a godsend. While I wear it on light makeup days too, I usually wear it all on its own. I like that it offers protection without making me look shiny. I also love products that let you know exactly how much you have left, because running out of a staple without even knowing it was close to empty is not a great way to start the day.

_MG_3164_web — Murad Invisiblur Perfecting Shield Broad Spectrum SPF 30 / PA+++ (1oz) $65

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Murad Invisiblur Perfecting Shield SPF 30 Is a Primer Triple Threat

May 10th, 2016 by Marcella Yakalis 11 Comments

Believe it or not, despite being a lifelong member of the Super Pale Club, I only recently realized how important it is to use cosmetics and moisturizers and other products with SPF in them. It wasn’t until an awful sunburn a few years ago that I even really started wearing sunscreen at the beach. (I know, so bad!)

What can I say? Bad teenage habits…

Now, though, I’m serious about it — serious about sunscreen and moisturizer with SPF.

But I’d never really thought about primers with SPF, not until I tried Murad Invisiblur Perfecting Shield Broad Spectrum SPF 30 ($65).

murad, spf, primer, — Murad Invisiblur Perfecting Shield SPF 30

This little potion/primer couples makeup priming powers with potent sun protection.

“Flawless and fabulous in just one step. This invisible skin perfecting shield blends together advanced treatment, primer, and SPF technologies to immediately blur and protect while combating the signs of aging.”

—murad.com

I’d used other Murad products before, but only briefly. Not long ago, before consulting a dermatologist for my acne, while I was trying everything under the sun in the hopes that I’d find something that would help, I’d tried the Murad Acne Starter Kit, and some of the things in the kit helped, a little, but I think I just needed something stronger.

Before giving Invisiblur Perfecting Shield a try, I wondered if it would be as good as or better than e.l.f. Poreless Face Primer, my current favorite primer, and, well, it is. As a primer under makeup, Invisiblur Perfecting Shield works like magic.

I apply it after my regular moisturizer, which also contains SPF, and for the record, when I do it, there’s no clumping, which happens sometimes when I mix products that contain SPF.

murad, primer, SPF — The smooth, clear gel makes application a breeze

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Murad Rapid Collagen Infusion for Lips: How to Make Liquid Lipstick Work…Finally!

March 15th, 2016 by Adia Goss 28 Comments

Matte liquid lipsticks have been super popular lately…because they’re great! They’re intensely pigmented and long-lasting, but my goodness, they can be drying! I’m always experimenting with different lip balms that I can wear underneath them, and I think I’ve finally found the perfect layering product.

Murad Rapid Collagen Infusion for Lips ($24) is basically like a serum for your lips. It has the most unique texture that soaks right in. Five seconds after applying it, it looks like it’s gone, but my lips feel way softer.

I thought I’d tried every lip balm under the sun (and, to be honest, they all seem really similar to me), so I didn’t expect this to be much different. But it is. It creates the perfect base for liquid lipsticks because of how thin it is while still being incredibly moisturizing.

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Must-Have Moisturizing Products

March 11th, 2016 by Adia Goss 26 Comments

I have combination skin, and I LOVE pampering it with all kinds of moisturizing serums, potions and masks. I’ve found that keeping my skin moisturized is the best way to keep it happy and avoid minor irritations and redness (my skin is also pretty sensitive, lucky me!).

Even though we don’t really experience severe winter weather in the Bay Area, thanks to indoor heating and cooler temperatures, I still load up on moisturizers, and these are my current favorites for keeping my skin moisturized and soft:

My nighttime skincare routine is sort of long, but I love it. I turn it into a mini pampering session, and I’ll double-cleanse, tone, add a serum, then a moisturizer, then a facial oil…and this is on my “low key” nights!

Lately, I’ve been using Murad Hydro-Dynamic Ultimate Moisture at night (you can check out my nighttime skincare routine here). It’s packed with avocado, sunflower and olive oils, and even though it also has shea butter, it somehow manages to feel light. I’ve only been using it for a couple of weeks, but my skin feels really soft and plump in the morning after I use it. I’ve noticed no irritation, either, so this is a definite winner. It’s available now at Sephora for $72.

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