Rediscover your best skin with the Murad Retinol Youth Renewal Collection!

Looking for an ingredient that is most likely to make a major visible improvement in your skin? Look no further then retinol!

What makes retinol great? It's a powerhouse form of vitamin A that encourages collagen production so skin looks firmer and smoother; it's clinically proven to speed cell turnover which enhances brightness, tone, texture and youthfulness; all while intensely hydrating skin!

Enter the Murad Retinol Youth Renewal collection - featuring tri-active technology containing a fast-acting retinoid, time-released retinol and a retinol booster to help fight lines/deep wrinkles - that is great for all ages and skin-types - even sensitive!

Murad Retinol Youth Renewal Serum - 30ml - $115 ($89 USD) -  with a super-light formula that delivers an instant dose of retinol and a dose of retinol over time to minimize irritation and prolong benefits to improve the look of lines and wrinkles in as little as two weeks; helping to increase skin's resilience and improve the look of youthful contours is swertia flower extract; along with hyaluronic acid to visibly plump and minimize dryness.

Murad Retinol Youth Renewal Eye Serum - 15ml - $111 ($82 USD) - with a restorative formula offering 360° application to quickly and dramatically improve the look of lines and deep wrinkles all around eyes, including the lids; as well as visibly lifting and firming for more youthful-looking yes with marine kelp complex and delivering up to 24 hours of hydration with cotton wool grass extract.

Both the face and eye serums have a super light texture so you don't need to give up your favourite moisturizer - go ahead and layer it on top - just make sure it doesn't have any active ingredients that might react badly with the retinol. The other important thing is to make sure you apply your  sunscreen when going out - while using, retinol can make the skin especially sensitive to the sun!

Murad Retinol Youth Renewal Night Cream - 30ml - $107 ($82 USD) - with a nurturing formula, gentle enough for nightly use that rapidly helps minimize the signs of aging you can see, and the ones you can’t see yet - all while supporting the skin’s natural protective barrier with niacinamide and picolinamide - so you wake up with firmer, more supple skin with radiance and glow.

Available in Canada at Sephora and sephora.ca and in the US at Sephora, Ulta and other select retailers as well as online at murad.com and sephora.com.

- Lisamarie -

Dull skin is banished with the Murad White Brilliance Collection!

Murad introduces a new collection of products for facial radiance - White Brilliance - it targets dull skin tone for a luminous, brightened and glowing complexion. 

Available in the collection:

Cleansing Cream - 135ml - $43 - a rich, gentle and creamy cleanser featuring Omega 6 Essential Lipid Blend - to help keep skin hydrated; and Jojoba Esters - to give the skin a silky, youthfully smooth texture and enhance moisture retention for a translucent and luminous complexion. 

Luminous Essence - 50ml - $70 - a light-enhancing essence that exfoliates and hydrates to restore youthful texture while also targeting overall brightness and clarity, with Red Algae and Indian Fig Extracts - that work together to exfoliate and enhance smoothness; and Kunai Root Extract - to speed up rehydration. 

Porcelain Serum - 30ml - $115 - a silky serum that is layered over Luminous Essence to increase radiance and luminosity, but it’s also its own powerhouse lightening solution. It features Green Tea Extract - preserve and help promote skin's brightness and firmness; along with Hexylresorcinol and Hexapeptide-2, two powerful brightening agents to enhance radiance and enhance translucency for a brightened, smoothed complexion.

The formulas also all feature Porcelain Flower Extract - to help even skin tone and illuminate skin. I'm a fan of the light textures that can easily be combined with your regular moisturizer if you don't want to give it up  and how soft, smooth and luminous my skin looks even after only using for a short time - just be sure to use a sunscreen every day or you will lose out on the cumulative effects!

Available now at Sephora, sephora.ca and muradcanada.com.

- Lisamarie -

Achieve radiant skin with the help of a serum from Shiseido and Murad!

Skin looking a little dull and lackluster? Then a serum might be just what you need to perk it up and give it the glow that it's missing! Here are a couple of great choices to get your skin's radiance back:

Shiseido Future Solution LX Superior Radiance Serum - 30ml - $260 - with a unique smooth texture that replenishes essential moisture and makes it last all day long while fundamentally improving skin's quality and resistance to visible concerns such as wrinkles, uneven skin tone, dullness, discoloration, pores, age spots, redness and acne marks. It features Shiseido's exclusive Lustrous Dual-Action Technology, each drop contains the combined power of the revolutionary brightening ingredient Pearl Hybrid Complex, and Skingenecell 1P, to reveal glowing skin with renewed clarity, reminiscent of Japan's most precious Hanadama pearls that also counteracts the appearance of future aging along with effective natural ingredients including premium Uji green tea, super yeast extract and star fruit extract.

Available at Shiseido counters across Canada.

Murad Advanced Active Radiance Serum - 30ml - $89 - with a fast-acting formula with double the brighteners too boost radiance and verse visible signs of environmental damage that features Resilient-C Complex which delivers highly stable vitamin C - with 50 times the potency of prior generations - to improve skin radiance, support natural collagen production, and protect against free radical damage; along with Hexapeptide-2 and Indian fig to boost skin clarity and support natural cell renewal while helping to prevent future pigment formation; and ectoin and green tea extract to jump-start the cellular defense system by helping to resist drastic environmental stressors including UV exposure and chemical aggressors.

Available at Sephora and sephora.ca.

- Lisamarie -

Experience the wonders of retinol with Miracle 10, Murad, RoC and Neutrogena!

If you're all about fast acting skincare then retinol is one of the best ingredients you can use to see quick results! Of course there is always a downside and in the case of retinol, it can be irritating so when using it's not unusual to experience  redness, peeling, breakouts and sun sensitivity - in other words, expect your skin to look a bit worse before it looks a lot better! Some great retinol choices include:


Miracle 10 Retinol Treatment 30 - 30ml - $82 - combines the power of Vitamin-A for refining, firming, and rejuvenating the skin with a unique blend of botanical emollients. the anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant and skin strengthening properties allow for clearer, smoother, more radiant-looking skin while a patented encapsulation system ensures 100% efficacy of the product's active ingredients. Contains: retinol - for gentle yet effective exfoliation; seed oil and botanical extracts - provide anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties; and vitamins E, A, C, E & B - to help soothe, hydrate and strengthen the look of the skin. The results include: appearance of fine lines, wrinkles and acne are diminished, skin appears firmer and clearer while inflammation and redness are reduced.

Available at Miracle 10 retail locations and online at Miracle10.com and The Shopping Channel - www.theshoppingchannel.com.

Murad Age Reform Time Release Retinol Concentrate for Deep Wrinkles - 15ml - $68 - clinically proven to visibly reduce the appearance of deep wrinkles. Allows you to spot treat wrinkles thanks to a unique precision tip that concentrates power on deep wrinkles in targeted areas while sustained-release retinol reduces the look of deep wrinkles, and supports natural cell turnover and resilience. This highly focused formula softens and smooths on contact, leaving skin nice and refreshed. Hyaluronic acid and ceramide-3 attract and maintain essential moisture.  restore a smoother, more youthful appearance

Available at Sephora, sephora.ca and www.muradcanada.com.

RoC Retin-Ox Correxion Intensive Anti-Wrinkle Serum - 30ml - $50 - an ultra-concentrated serum that smoothes the look of deep wrinkles to reactivate the youth of your face with a fast acting formula that contains: retinol - to speed up cell growth and quicken the pace of rejuvenation in the upper layers of the epidermis, all while increasing skin density and minimizing the appearance of inelasticity; hyaluronic acid - to plump and smooth the look of wrinkles by binding water to the skin for extra moisture; and biopeptides - help boost the functioning of the retinol. In 4 weeks even deep wrinkles are visibly reduced and skin looks regenerated.

Available now at drug stores across Canada.

All of the retinol products are best used at night but keep in mind the sun sensitivity that I mentioned earlier and expect that they are going to make your skin sensitive to sunlight the next day so it's extra important that you remember to apply a sunscreen and of course the easiest way to do that is with a daily moisturizer that already has one in there like:

Neutrogena Moisture Oil-Free SPF 30 Facial Moisturizer - 73ml - $17.99 - with a lightweight, non-greasy formula that absorbs quickly and provides effective UVA/UVB protection, as well as long-lasting moisturization for softer, smoother, younger-looking skin.

Available at drug and mass retailers across Canada.

- Lisamarie -

Light lotions with light protection from Murad, Artistry and Simple!

Murad Sheer Lustre Day Moisture SPF 15 - 50ml - $70 - instantly hydrates and protects hormonally aging skin. A blend of essential fatty acids and starflower oil provides and locks in intense hydration to combat dry, lackluster skin as luminescent minerals give skin a youthful glow; phytoestrogens and retinol improve elasticity and help smooth skin.

It also contains a couple of interesting ingredients: RepleniCell, Murad’s patent-pending, proprietary technology - helps skin act younger in three ways: it helps skin attract water; it binds water to the skin; and it helps skin retain water; and Murasol -  provides an advanced level of sun damage defense that preserves a glowing, youthful complexion. It protects skin against both broad-spectrum UV rays and free radicals by penetrating skin’s top layers and creating a protective barrier of encapsulated free radical neutralizers.

Available at Sephora and sephora.ca.

Artistry Youth Xtend Protecting Lotion SPF 15 - 50ml - $100 - addresses the first visible signs of aging including fine lines and wrinkles, crow's feet and loss of skin clarity and radiance caused by UV exposure, free radical damage and lifestyle to help repair the appearance of past damage as well as protect it against future damage. Contains African baobab fruit extract, plus black currant, green acerola cherry, powerful antioxidants and other botanicals to help protect from environmental stressors and add all-day moisture for more radiant-looking skin.

Available through an Amway Independent Business Owner or at Amway.ca/Artistry

Simple Protecting Light Moisturizer SPF 15 - 124ml - $16.99 - an oil free blend of skin-loving ingredients and added vitamins, moisturizes with a light, non-greasy feel and helps protect your skin from UVA and UVB rays that's perfect even for sensitive skin because there's no artificial perfume, dyes or harsh irritants that can upset your skin.

Available at drug and mass retailers across Canada.

- Lisamarie -

30 Days of BCA - Day 11 - Murad Hydrate for Hope

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month when all our favourite brands will be coming out with special edition products that in some way, will benefit charities associated with the disease.

A great thing all on its own - add in that many of the products will be pink and you've got something well worth talking about!

Be sure to come back everyday at 11:30am when we will be featuring a new BCA product!

Murad Hydrate for Hope - 50ml - $59.40 - includes a specially priced limited-edition of Hydro-Dynamic Ultimate Moisture, Murad’s richest, clinically proven anti-aging moisturizer that relieves dry, dehydrated skin and restores youthful resilience and tone - packed into a hot pink cosmetic bag

Murad will donate 10% of the proceeds from the sale of the set to Sephora to fund their City of Hope’s breast and women’s cancers research, treatment, and education.

Available at Sephora and sephora.ca.

And be sure to check out the other days:

Day 1 - Bobbi Brown French Pink Set 
Day 2 - Sephora Purposely Pink Lip Duo
Day 3 - Avon Love Ribbon Breast Cancer Awareness Necklace 
Day 4 - Aveda Hand Relief 
Day 5 - Mixed Chicks Leave-In Condtioner
Day 6 - Origins Drink Up Hydrating Lip Balm in Pink Guava 
Day 7 - Sephora Makeup Made Simple BCA Palette 
Day 8 - Aerie Bridget Push-Up Bra 
Day 9 - Estée Lauder Evelyn Lauder and Elizabeth Hurley Dream Lip Collection
Day 10 - Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion

Estée Lauder Evelyn Lauder and Elizabeth Hurley Dream Lip Collection - See more at: http://www.beautycrazed.ca/#sthash.JSpV0lnm.dpuf

- Lisamarie -

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month when all our favourite brands will be coming out with special edition products that in some way, will benefit charities associated with the disease.

A great thing all on its own - add in that many of the products will be pink and you've got something well worth talking about!

Be sure to come back everyday at 11:30am when we will be featuring a new BCA product! - See more at: http://www.beautycrazed.ca/2013/10/30-days-of-bca-day-10-new-and-improved.html#sthash.AfuXpacN.dpuf

Combat hormonal aging with Murad Age-Diffusing Serum!

Hormonal aging happens to every woman— it starts as early as the late 20s and continues through the remainder of a woman’s life. As a woman ages, estrogen production begins to decline. It is this lower estrogen level that affects skin's texture, tone, elasticity, hydration and clarity. Skin becomes fragile and thinner; there is an increase in facial hair, breakouts, and ultimately reduced water content in the cells, which leads to sagging skin and wrinkles. 

Thankfully topical products can help such as:

Murad Age-Diffusing Serum - 30ml - $90 - helps improve elasticity, inhibit degeneration of collagen and deliver essential moisture to plump and reduce sagging, restoring skin’s youthful glow thanks to phytoestrogens (plant-based estrogens) and other plant-based ingredients, like Soy, Wild Yam and Clover Flower Extracts - proven to combat the visible effects of Hormonal Aging skin aging and will result in a notable difference almost immediately; AHAs and Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7 - work together to reduce the appearance of medium to deep wrinkles; Phytoestrogens naturally improve elasticity and deliver essential moisture; and Glycosaminoglycans strengthen skin’s barrier to protect from aging damage.


Along with a topical cream you should also remember to drink lots of water as well adding more fresh fruits and vegetables to your diet which will help infuse your cells with water and build stronger cell membranes to lock in hydration and ward of disease. And take care of your emotional well-being - healthy mind, healthy body, healthy skin!

Available at Sephora, sephora.ca, nailpolishcanada.com and murad.com.

- Lisamarie -

Peel and reveal brighter skin with Philosophy, Murad and Lierac!

One of the best things you can do for your skin is a weekly peel - not only do they make your skin look and feel smoother and brighter, everything else you put on your skin after will absorb and work better!

You'll love the results so much you will be tempted to want to peel more often but don't, especially if your skin is at all sensitive - I can tell you from experience that using a weekly peel more often can turn your skin red, flaky and itchy!

Here are two weekly and one daily peel I like:

Philosophy The Micro Exfoliating Triple-Acid Brightening Peel - 12 pads - $88 - features 12 individually-wrapped, pre-saturated chemical peel pads designed for weekly use to deliver advanced skin-brightening and anti-aging benefits. With a formula that contains mandelic, phytic and azelaic acids that dissolve and sweep away dead skin cells to help improve skin tone, reduce the appearance of fine lines and enhance skin clarity as well as skin-brightening technology that visibly reduces the appearance of dark spots and discolouration.

Available at Sephora and select The Bay and Shoppers Drug Mart stores across Canada.

Murad Intensive Resurfacing Peel - 4 x 5ml - $49 - combines the benefits of a peel with gentle microdermabrasion to smooth away fine lines and wrinkles. With dried plum extract and vitamin C - to brighten skin for a youthful glow, durian cell reform - to enhance the penetration of active ingredients while loosening the bonds holding debris and dead cells to skin's surface, and bamboo beads - to provide mechanical micro-exfoliation to buff away build up further reducing the appearance of wrinkles.

There are four single use vials in the pack but unless you have a giant James Van Der Beek pumpkin head, you'll only need half the vial for each application which makes this peel a much better buy as it will last you 8 weeks instead of four!

Available at www.muradcanada.com

I understand that you'll love the results so much that you'll want to peel every day so here's one for daily use:

Lierac Paris High Peel Renewing Concentrate Intensive Peel - 30ml - $62 - helps boost cell renewal, improves skin texture and diminishes photo-aging with 10% of new-generation hydroxy-acids - 1% salicylic acid for exfoliation of the upper skin layers and 9% glycolic acid to help stimulate cell renewal as well as 5% urea to reinforce moisturization and tolerance. After the first application skin appears renewed - ideally moisturzed, smooth and soft and over time the appearance of wrinkles are diminished, the skin's texture is refined, the complexion looks evened out, the skin is moisturized and the face glows with youthful radiance.

Available at Rexall or go here to find locations to purchase nearest you.

- Lisamarie -

Protect with an SPF 30 from Murad, Mary Kay, Aveeno and Biotherm!

Murad Oil-Free Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 30 - 50ml - $31 - with a patented antioxidant-rich formula including pomegranate extract that prevents signs of premature aging caused by environmental exposure by delivering powerful UVA/UVB protection, panthenol and sodium PCA to lock in moisture and keep skin soft and supple and micro-minerals to provide an oil-free matte finish.

I like the smell of this one, it has a slight fruitiness and don't be scared off by how white it seems to be when you put it on, it quickly absorbs and the whiteness disappears!

Available at murad.com and Sephora.

Mary Kay SPF 30 Sunscreen - 118ml - $20 - along with the UVA/UVB protection, this lightweight, oil-free sunscreen offers waterproof and sweat-resistant wear that won't block your pores and leave your skin feeling soft and moisturized.

I don't love the smell, I can't put a finger on what it reminds me of - I'm almost going to say cucumber but that's not exactly right - but it absorbs so quickly and the smell goes away when it does so I'm not going to hold that against it!

Available through your Mary Kay Beauty Consultant - if you don't have one, get yourself one at 1-866-455-5454 or online at www.marykay.ca

Aveeno Sensitive Skin Mineral Sunscreen SPF 30 - 88ml - $15.99 - a gentle formula with 100% natural-sourced sunscreen ingredients to provide protection against UVA/UVB rays and moisturizing oat extract - waterproof, fragrance and oil free, hypoallergenic and non-comedogenic.

If you have super-sensitive skin you might want to avoid anything with fragrance as it can be irritating and this one pretty much does smell like nothing - I also find it quite moisturizing which is nice to counteract how dry your skin can get when you are out in the sun!

Biotherm SPF 30 High Protection Lait Solaire - 200ml - $35 - this paraben sunscreen continues to be one of my summer faves - it's got the UVA/UVB protection and lovely light texture that's so important but what I love most of all is the scent - citrus - and you know how I loves me some citrus!

- Lisamarie -

Firm up with Biotherm, Murad, Boots No7 and Olay!

Biotherm Firm Corrector Refirming Body Concentrate - 200ml - $55 - a recompacting, re-firming cream for firmer, suppler, more toned skin - contains a formula with natural properties of a micro-alga extract from the sea called Laminaria Ochroleuca - a micro-alga capable of transforming itself into a firm rigid state within seconds - after washing, crushing , concentrating and filtering the alga, Biotherm biologists obtained the optimal extract capable of recreating firmness within the skin and helping to preserve the integrity of the dermis.

You can look forward to skin that looks more toned and firmer with greater elasticity in just 10 days - and even though it is a cream, it smells so fresh,
feels so light and cool and absorbs so easily that it has a gel-like feel to it. I could totally see putting this in the fridge on hot days!

Available now in drug and departments stores as well as www.biotherm.ca.

Murad Bodycare Firm and Tone Serum for Cellulite and Stretch Mark Management - 200ml - $77 - with Cayenne Pepper to invigorate and stimulate the skin; Horse Chestnut Tree Extract and Tiger’s Herb to help restore firmer and smoother skin; and Cat’s Claw, an extract from the Amazonian Palm Forest, to reduce the appearance of dimpled skin associated with cellulite - which works together to Improve the overall appearance of skin up to 80% and increase skin firmness and elasticity while masking imperfections and helps reduce the appearance of cellulite by up to 69%.

I do love a cellulite cream but this was my first experience with one that also firms and I have to say that I like it! The firming action helps smooth out the dimples and makes my thighs and butt feel tighter which is never a bad thing! I also really like the easily absorbed serum texture and the amazing crisp apple scent!

Also available in the Murad Firming line is a Body Firming Cream - 200ml - $43 and Firm and Tone Dietary Supplement Pack - 4 week supply - $137.50

Available at Sephora and sephora.com

Boots No7 Lifting & Firming Day Cream - 50ml - $26 - an advanced anti-aging day cream that was created for mature skin that is starting to lose some of its youthful tone and firmness which lifts and tightens the skin in just two weeks with a powerful blend of peptides that work to boost your skin's natural repair process, measurably reducing the appearance of lines and wrinkles, even skin tone and fade dark spots and make the skin smoother and more supple.

The Boots No7 Lifting & Firming formula is also available in a Night Cream - 50ml - $26 and an Eye Cream - 15ml - $23.

Available exclusively at Shoppers Drug Mart.

Olay Age Defying Mature Skin Night Firming Cream - 56ml - $19.99 - a 12-hour hydrating complex that helps improve the elasticity of skin while you sleep.

Also new to the Olay Age Defying line is an Anti-Wrinkle 2in1 Day Cream+Serum - 50ml - $19.99 and Anti-Wrinkle Eye Cream - 15ml - $19.99.

- Lisamarie -

These products from Stemulation, Garnier, Murad, Sukin and Serious Skin - will do your heavy lifting (but won't take out the garbage)!

Stemulation Rescue Repair - 50ml - $96 - a powerful hand and body treatment to visibly lift, firm and hydrate skin. It's designed to restore and renew areas of the hands, feet, knees elbows and decolletage, troubled with age spots, extreme dryness, loose skin and calluses with a powerful formula with proven age-defying ingredients to replenish the essential antioxidants and peptides your body needs for younger skin.

Stemulation products contain a unique derivative of growth factors from stem cells that can be absorbed directly into the skin as well as natural and organic ingredients proven to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, improve the tightening and firmness of skin tissue as well as diminish the appearance of sunspots.

Now available at Murale where you will also find the other products in the line: Facial Serum - 15ml - $135 and 30ml - $240 and Boost Creme - 15ml - $75 and 30ml - $140

Garnier Ultra-Lift Serum + Cream - 50ml - $22.99 - with 2X Pro-Retinol from nature (retinol and linoelic acid) it combines a concentrated serum and a daily moisturizer to help boost anti-wrinkle action and instantly give skin a firmer appearance. In 2 weeks, skin appears firmer, fine lines and wrinkles appear visibly reduced. Which really is a clever idea when you think about it - for most people a serum alone isn't enough moisture and you end up having to slap a moisturizer on top of it - this product eliminates the extra step!

Murad Resurgence Rejuvenating Lift for Neck and Decollete - 50ml - $55 - combats thinning skin, discoloration and sagging, providing an instant lift. With a botanical blend of ingredients including java plum, mango and banana pulp extracts that work together  in a collagen enhancing compound to improve elasticity to enhance smoothness and suppleness, plump and resurface skin. While bearberry and licorice root extracts lighten, brighten and even skin tone, reducing the appearance of spots and discoloration.

Available at Murale, Sephora and sephora.com

Sukin Purely Ageless Intensive Firming Serum - 30ml - $23.99 - a light gel-cream rich in natural actives, to gently firm, refine and leave skin feeling smooth. Contains argan oil, açai and goji fruit extracts that work to reduce the signs of aging and cocoa butter to lock in moisture to help protect skin from environmental conditions. What makes this brand great is what the products don't contain: parabens, artificial colours, petro-chemicals, mineral oils, synthetic fragrances or animal derivatives!

Available at health food and specialty stores across Canada - check out - http://www.sukinorganics.com/stores.asp to find one near you

Serious Skin Firma-Face XR Instant Temporary Invisible All Over Skin Tightener - 85g - $49.95 - an instant, temporary, all over skin tightener - within minutes wrinkles are temporarily smoother over, the skin is pulled tighter, pores appear to be shrunk closed, nose to mouth lines look diminished, under eye puffiness looks smoother and crows feet seem to disappear. What's different about it is rather than traditional tighteners that lay on top of the skin, this one is micronized which allows the firming ingredients to filter deep into the wrinkles, lines and pores to perform the firming benefits from within the imperfections to help re-connect and tighten the look of the skin's surface without the delicate topical film that can be easily disrupted by facial movements, creams and liquid makeup.

Available at The Shopping Channel - www.theshoppingchannel.com

- Lisamarie -

Adult acne fighting regimens from Olay Professional and Murad!

Everybody hates acne so of course no one wants to see it on their face - and it's especially frustrating when you are also dealing with wrinkles, I mean really, where's the justice in that!?! Dealing with adult acne can be a lot harder as many of the products out there are meant for teens and don't take into account the special needs of adult skin.


Of course the most popular way to deal with blemishes is spot treating - but experts agree that skin consistently prone to acne is better served through the daily use of special skin care products on the entire face, even when there are no blemishes present.

Fortunately companies are waking up and filling the gap in the market with acne systems suitable for older skin - here are a couple you might want to check out:

Olay Professional Pro-X Clear Acne Protocol - $49.99 - a 3 step daily skin care regimen that is designed to treat acne, minimize the appearance of pores and refine texture. The steps include:
Step 1 - Olay Professional Pro-X Clear Pore Cleanser - a wash off salicylic acid acne treatment that reduces oil and removes dead skin to help prevent clogged pores, while helping prevent new acne from forming.
Step 2 - Olay Professional Pro-X Clear Skin Clearing Treatment - a full face leave-on salicylic acid treatment designed to bring acne under control and help prevent future breakouts.
Step 3 - Olay Professional Pro-X Clear Complexion Renewing Lotion - a sheer moisturizer that hydrates to help fade the look of spots and redness for an overall renewed appearance.

Also available in the line are a SPF 15 Moisturizer which is oil-free - $34.99 and an Intensive Refining Sulfur Mask - $34.99 (which I have tried and you can find my thoughts here)

Murad Acne & Aging Skin Solution - $45 - a dual-function regimen which fights acne while minimizing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. It has 4 steps which include:
Step 1 - Cleanse & Tone - Time Release Acne Cleanser - extra-gentle, low foaming lceanser improves skin's appearance by: delivering a sustained release acne treatment, even after rinsing; and optimizing hydration to restore suppleness.
Step 2 - Treat & Repair - Acne & Wrinkle Reducer - clinically proven formula restores a clear, more youthful complexion by: clearing congested pores and neutralizing acne-causing bacteria; and diminishing the appearance of ine lines and wrinkles.
Step 3 - Hydrate & Protect - Anti-Aging Moisturizer SPF 20 for blemish-prone skin - multi-function, lightweight moisturizer improves skin's appearance by: fighting premature aging through advanced UV protection and healthy collagen support; and minimizing blemishes and oil-production
Step 4 - Treat & Repair - Acne Spot Treatment - promotes immediate healing of blemishes by: delivering targeted acne medication; and providing on the spot relief.

Available at Murale, Sephora and sephora.com.

I don't have the right kind of skin to test these products out - I am fortunate to only be bothered with occasional breakouts so my husband is my guinea pig. Problem is, he has now tried enough of these products that he's found a couple that work for him so he hates to try new stuff because you go through that period where you skin gets bad again before the product either starts working or doesn't. Bottom line: neither of these worked in his 3 week window - which is not to say they are bad or good, just not fast enough for my impatient spouse! It's hard to get good help!

If anyone has tried either of these (for more than 3 weeks) and want to give us your thoughts in the comments section, please do! And if you want to know which systems my husband loves, check out NeoStrata and Proactiv Solution!

- Lisamarie -

- Lisamarie -