Quarantine Skincare with Murad

“Quarantine skin” is definitely a thing. We’re all suddenly (and for many, quite drastically) changing our lifestyles to meet the current lock-down criteria, so we’re behaving differently, eating differently, worrying and stressing more and probably not sleeping in the same way we used to, all of which has an impact on our skin.  My skin showed anxiety with lots of lovely breakouts and redness, so Murad kindly came to the rescue with a skincare toolkit, with something for everyone struggling with Quarantine Skin woes.

If you’re breaking out, struggling with sensitivity or finding skin is just generally lacking balance, start your routine with a very gentle cleanse and tone session.  The Murad Prebiotic 4-in-1 Multicleanser (£38 here – link) is a great all-rounder that’s light and gentle yet very effective at cleansing the skin without upsetting it further.  If you’re finding dullness to be an issue, the Murad AHA/BHA Exfoliating Cleanser (£38 here – link) is a great product to add to your routine as it makes use of both manual and chemical exfoliators, just don’t overuse it!

The Hydrating Toner (£30 here – link) is another good example of a basic product that does exactly what it says on the tin: it hydrates and it tones.  I know many people don’t think toners are necessary, but as someone who breaks out at the drop of a hat if any cleanser is left on the skin, toners are essential for me.  I like two types on toners, the exfoliating ones that add a little hit of chemical exfoliation to my routine, or, if I’m using a retinol or similarly aggressive active, a soothing one, much like this one, that’ll just gently calm skin and remove any cleanser residue.

Hydration is everything, regardless of your skin type, as if your skin is stressed then it’ll always benefit from a soothing drink, you just have to make sure you find the perfect formula so that it doesn’t cause more problems…definitely easier said than done! If it feels like all moisturisers are exacerbating your problems, give the Murad Nutrient Charged Water Gel (£50 here – link) a go, because it’s such a light formula that will gently aid the repair of your skin barrier without overloading it.  In fact, if your skin is red, angry and reacts to everything, I would use the aforementioned Prebiotic Multicleanser and the Nutrient Charged Water Gel and that’s it until your skin settles down.

I can’t write up a Murad recommendation post without giving a shout-out to the Hydro-Dynamic Ultimate Moisture (£60 here – link) which is a real “Goldilocks” moisturiser that isn’t too heavy, nor too light, it provides just enough hydration to keep tricky skin balanced – don’t be put off by the name as it sounds like it’s going to be a buttery balm, but it’s actually great for dehydrated skin and ideal for those who struggle with both breakouts and dryness.  If laziness is your main Quarantine Skincare issue (I hear you!) then the Murad Retinol Youth Renewal Night Cream (£70 here – link) is here to help, covering both your treatment and your moisturiser in one quick slick, this is a brilliant way to maintain a good routine without putting much effort in.

I just want all of the Murad Vitamin C range as the few products I’ve tried from the range have really suited my skin, plus I love Vitamin C in general; it’s not the greatest if your skin barrier is compromised or your skin is just generally angry, but it will deliver speedy results if your skin is struggling with dullness and clarity, and if you want seriously speedy results, start with the Murad Intensive-C Radiance Peel (£55 here – link) which is a creamy mask-style peel that will give skin a big boost of radiance, a light exfoliation and an overall pick-me-up.

Finally, SPF is a good example of a product that I think a lot of people stop using when their skin is freaking out for fear of making things worse, but it’s absolutely essential.  Murad have loads of SPF options available, so do have a nose at their SPF section (here – link – love that they have an eye SPF!) and if breakouts are your woe, they have several possibilities that might suit, including the Anti-Ageing Moisturiser SPF30, which i can’t actually find on the site, so I’ll update as soon as I can!

*PR Samples – I was not paid to feature these products.