The return of the hot weather means I am frantically looking through my stash for products that will not only protect my skin but also cleanse, hydrate and protect it in the heat. That means no thick heavy creams that I had stashed away for the colder months. To help with my endeavour, the fabulous people over at Murad sent me a selection of their Summer Skincare Saviours.
The first item out of this beautiful bright neon pink pouch is the Essential C Cleanser (£10/60ml). Described as being a refreshing skin-brightening cleanser, its role is to neutralise the impact of the environment and its pollutants on skin by removing impurities, restoring radiance and optimal skin health. I personally absolutely love the scent of this cleanser, the freshness and almost tart citrusy scent of Mandarin Orange and Grapefruit with a hint of Basil is more than enough to awaken the senses.
It also includes Vitamins A, C and E all of which are powerful antioxidants which help to defend the skin from free radical damage. This cleanser also uses Sodium PCA which help bind moisture to the skin which in turn keeps it looking supple and soft. Allantoin is also used as a soothing and moisturising ingredient to help rejuvenate the skin.
So gentle on the skin that you can use it twice a day, the Essential C Cleanser is one that you squeeze into the palm of your and then create a rich creamy lather with a drop of water, then massage all over the face, neck and chest. This cleanser isn't drying on the skin, I don't feel that it strips my skin either, all of which is a huge plus point.
The second product in this bag is the Oil and Pore Control Mattifier SPF45 (50ml/£35). During the hotter months, I always want a moisturising cream which isn't at all heavy, I save those for winter when my skin really hates the cold. From Murad comes a product which is described as being a product great for oily skin to instantly mattify and deliver 10 hours of oil and shine control whilst visibly tightening pores after just 1 minute on the skin.
I have combination skin which gives me an oily t-zone, so this product was music to my ears. Come 2-3pm my t-zone becomes very shiny and almost oil slick like, more so in the Summer than the Winter, so I am usually reaching for the blotting paper and powder to tone down the oil. So lightweight on the skin, this product uses what are referred to as 'Oil-trapping microspheres' which mattify, smooth and blur imperfections. It uses both Avocado and African yellow wood bark extracts to help visibly reduce pore size and excess oil over time as hydrators prevent dryness.
For a long time, I have wanted a product like this, one that does the job it says it will do. I used this on some of the hottest days we have had and the difference was quite something. You can use it on top of your primer before makeup or you can use it on its own. What I love about this is just how lightweight it is, there is no silicone feeling on the skin which I've found with other products, it literally sucks up all that excess sebum and holds on to it, so that mid-afternoon oil slick is nowhere to be seen!
The third product is the Nutrient Charged Water Gel (£50/50ml) and this has been one of my favourite Murad products to date, a full review of which you can find on my blog here. Ideal for dehydrated skin, this thirst-quenching gel is packed full of peptides, vitamins and minerals which hydrate, moisturise and soothe the skin.
Using Hydration-Release technology this gel instantly locks in moisture to plump and smooth the skin. On my skin, I love how instantly soothing this gel feels and I find it literally glides onto the skin and absorbs within a few seconds, but if my skin is feeling particularly parched, it almost drinks it immediately on contact. As it sinks in, there is an immediate change in how my skin feels, the nourished and moisturised feeling is left behind without being tacky or greasy to the touch.
Eye creams are a must within my skincare routine and I was delighted to find one within this package. The Essential C Eye Cream SPF15 (15ml/£60) is a product I hadn't used before and it is one I am slowly getting to know. Described as being an anti-ageing eye cream featuring UV protection that brightens, renews and protects the delicate stressed eye area. I like eye creams to be lightweight and where possible feel like a serum than a thick cream, this product fits somewhere in the middle of all that.
Using Vitamin C and other essential nutrients which work to reverse environmental damage and defend skin from free radical damage. Then we have caffeine which works to reduce puffiness and increase skin firmness, while light diffusers help to minimise the appearance of dark circles and crow’s feet. This eye cream also contains powerful broad-spectrum sun protection and Shea Butter which helps to intensely hydrate without leaving the skin feeling greasy.
The final product I have is the award-winning Invisiblur Perfecting Shield SPF30 (30ml/£65). Described as being an anti-ageing treatment that also blurs, primes, moisturises and protects the skin with an invisible sunscreen to reveal a smooth, blurred, flawless complexion in just one step.
A clear gel with a lightweight texture, this unique formula uses Shitake Mushroom and Mucor miehei Peptides which work to help stimulate collagen production while helping to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Then we have the Soft Focus Complex that blurs, softens and primes skin for a flawless complexion and perfect makeup base. It also contains Barley, Sunflower and Cucumber extracts to mimic the skin’s membrane structure, enhancing its ability to attract and retain moisture. You can wear it on its own or under makeup and what I have found is that it really does help create that perfect base, much better than a few high-end primers I have used! Once on the skin, it becomes instantly invisible, in so much that you apply, blend it onto the skin and it has vanished, almost like magic. I have been using it alongside a liquid foundation, BB and CC creams and it doesn't alter how they look, but it stops the products from clinging to dry areas and looking cracked.
If you have never tried any products from Dr Murad before, then hopefully this has been quite the insight as to some of the Summer Skincare Saviours, I am really impressed with what I have tried and as you read this, I have all five of these products with me in the South of France where I have escaped for some R&R! For other products from Dr Murad, you can look at this Murad skincare review by Pierre Michel Beauty.
*this post contains PR samples and/or Affiliate Links unless indicated otherwise - you can learn more on my Disclaimer page.
