Sometimes, it can be very frustrating to be in your late 20’s or early 30’s. You want to start fighting aging, but you still have some issues with blemishes (especially at that time of the month) and it can be very hard to chose products that will fight both.
Murad is taking the guess work out of it with their Acne & Aging line. They recently sent me a starter kit, and while I can’t find the exact kit I used on-line, I did get to try out 4 of the most useful products in that line.
Read on to find out more about them.
Time Release Acne Cleanser
This isn’t just a typical cleanser. What makes it (very) different is that it contains a specially encapsulated Salicylic Acid which doesn’t rinse off. Instead, it sticks around on your skin, slowly being released. This enables it to keep working throughout the day slowly. This also helps to decrease any irritation for those that are easily irritated by hydroxy acids.
The cleanser is ivory and mostly opaque, with little beads in it (they dissolve, don’t really do any physical exfoliation). There is a light lather with use and it easily removes all makeup. It rinsed off very easily with just a few splashes, I had no afterwash tightness or irritation. While the product leaves behind the Salicylic Acid, I couldn’t feel it on my skin.
Active Acne Ingredient: Encapsulated Salicylic Acid
Acne Spot Treatment
I think the name of this product speaks for itself. A little spot treatment for problem areas. I’d apply this product first, directly after cleansing, before moving on to the other treatments. Rather than relying on the Salicylic Acid in a few of the other products, the spot treatment contains sulfur to help kill bacteria. It has a faint medicinal smell, is an ivory color and it absorbs quickly and easily into the skin. I couldn’t tell I had applied it once it sank fully into my skin (which takes very little time). I had no stinging and no redness or irritation from this spot treatment.
Active Acne Ingredient: Sulfur, there is a small amount of Salicylic Acid (it is listed in the ingredients), though it isn’t listed with the active ingredients.
Acne & Wrinkle Reducer
This treatment lotion is meant to be used twice a day immediately after cleansing and before you apply your cleanser. It feels like a light lotion and sinks in almost immediately, leaving behind no residue. I had no problems applying makeup over it.
The product contains something called Kombucha Collagen Defense, which is a Murad exclusive ingredient. What is that? Basically, it’s a tea based ingredient, which acts as an anti-oxidant, helping to defend your collagen against any ROS damage. The encapsulated Salicylic Acid makes another appearance here to help fight acne. Silver is also present (yes, I mean Silver the metal), as it helps to kill bacteria. You’ll find more anti-oxidant action with Willow Bark and Kelp.
Active Acne Ingredient: Encapsulated Salicylic Acid
Anti-Aging Moisturizer SPF 20
Rather than having targeted treatment at acne in this moisturizer (as there is no listed “active” anti-acne ingredient), Murad has opted to create a light moisturizer with broad spectrum UV coverage (love!) that has hydroxy acids, anti-oxidants and retinoids to help fight aging but won’t clog your pores and make acne worse.
This is a light moisturizer with a faint sunscreen smell. I can’t smell anything once the moisturizer sinks in, which takes a minute or two. There is almost no residue on my skin afterwards, though I think maybe (maybe?) I can feel a little something. I’m not sure if I’m imagining it, and it really seems to only be there if I apply a little too much moisturizer. Regardless, it doesn’t seem to interfere with my makeup or make my face look too shiny. The hydration is perfect for my combination skin in the late summer, which was my testing period for these products. I’m not certain it would be enough for me in the winter, I would likely need to add another product to my cheeks.
I’m a doctor, a mommy and a bit of a beauty addict. If you let me, I can take 2 hours to get ready in the morning. Really. I'm on a quest for faster beauty that works!
For the combo of anti acne and anti aging goals I'm a big fan of glycolic acid in strong professional strengths. Product compatibility and synergy is important which makes a kit approach always a good idea. Interesting ingredient combo here, thanks for putting it on my radar!
Personally I think sulfur is the best product I've used for my acne. It's the only thing that dries up my pimples even though it smells like rotten eggs.
Jaime
Drug of Choice Beauty