When it comes to skincare, I’m something of a slut.  I flit from brand to brand taking the pieces I like and cobbling them together in some sort of self curated regime.  My skin is changeable, sometimes it’s oily, sometimes it’s dry and other times it’s a bit of both – hence the sluttery.

What I know deep down but have completely suppressed, is the fact that good, healthy skin, is a reflection of not just what you apply topically, but how you live.  Every aspect of your life directly affects cellular hydration, and that’s the basis of the whole Murad skin regime.

I visited Murad at House of Fraser Intu Metrocentre this week to discover more about the range that explores the connection between skin, body and mind – something they call Connected Beauty.  What struck me immediately, is how clinical the Murad counter is.  In a beauty hall filled with prestige and luxury brands such as Tom Ford, Chanel and Acqua Di Parma, Murad stands out as being cosmeceutical.  With a stark white counter and clean, simple packaging, the brand needs no gimmicks to convey its message.

I was introduced to Murad skincare expert, Rachael (she’s worked with the Queen’s personal doctor), and given a skin analysis using a high tech facial scanner.  The machine scans for skin concerns and prioritises them in order of their appearance.  This wonderful, awful machine also has the capability to fast forward time and give a projection of how skin may appear on the future.  Horrific but also very fascinating.

After completing a basic questionnaire about my health, lifestyle and skin concerns we established that my primary and secondary concerns – fine lines and brightening –  could be improved with a glycolic peel and a selection of Murad products for home use.

If you didn’t already know, House of Fraser has a suite of treatment rooms hidden away at the back of the store, it’s a calming, tranquil oasis that could be a million miles away from the busy shopping mall.  The Murad room is bathed in soft light and there are a range of products on display.  As Rachael begins the process of the glycolic peel, she explains that this will brighten and tighten my skin, but may give rise to a little temporary redness.

The process starts as you would expect, with a deep cleanse, and once the peel is applied, my eyes are covered with a weighted mask whilst my shoulders, arms and hands are massaged.  The whole treatment takes a little over an hour and is incredibly relaxing – not at all what you would expect from a glycolic peel.  There’s no tingling sensation, no pain and personally, I have no redness afterwards although this varies from person to person.  At the end of my treatment I’m left thinking (almost out loud) “don’t stop!”  Yup, it’s that good.

Rachael makes observations about my skin during the treatment and asks about my diet, lifestyle and stress levels, all of which have an impact on skin.  She advises the use of retinol on an evening to encourage cell turnover and renewal, and gives me a batch of “youth activating” smoothie recipes (none of which require the purchase of any Murad products).

I’m also given an awesome goodie bag with a selection of Murad’s hero products and a promise of a follow up in four weeks to see how I’m getting on.  The philosophy is clear, treat the skin concerns from both the inside and the outside and you’ll see improvement.  It’s doctor led skincare with a focus on healthy, nourished, strong and protected cells.

As I leave the counter, I’m reminded to “eat your water” by consuming a balanced diet, exfoliate regularly, and to “be kind to your mind” by cultivating emotional self awareness.  Rachael hands me a card that she’s hand selected for me as she bids me adieu, it says “Focus on your ultimate goals and not the steps getting there.”

If you’re looking to switch up your skincare then Murad is a good place to start.  Good solid foundations, a strong clinical basis and completely cruelty free; the brand is made up of products which aim to address common skin concerns with a suite of off-counter treatments available using clinical grade ingredients.  My experience with Murad was great and it certainly got me thinking about internal, external and environmental factors which could be affecting my skin.  Well worth a visit , even if it’s just for the scary skin assessment….

Pixie xo

I visited Murad at House of Fraser, Intu Metrocentre’s and was treated to a glycolic peel which normally costs £55.