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Reviews
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Murad Acne
Complex
Review
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Murad offers a
wide selection of acne products, but their core offering is
a 4-step system that includes a cleanser, a treatment gel, a
lotion and a spot treatment. The company touts a strong
balance of medically proven drugs combined with natural
ingredients, and for the most part this can be seen in their
products, although it's the drugs that appear to be most
central to the system, particularly salicylic acid.
The Murad Acne
Complex is all about killing surface bacteria and promoting
exfoliation, both of which can help acne sufferers under the
right circumstances. But it's not cheap, and all that SA may
burn those with sensitive skin. Many users (and Murad
themselves) recommend buying the moisturizer in addition to
the core system.
It's worth
noting that among the Murad line of products, there is also
a supplement. It's actually not bad, packing a strong dose
of vitamin A, vitamin C and zinc. However, for a
4-pill-per-day supplement with 120 tablets per bottle, it is
rather expensive. |
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Murad Acne
Complex at a
glance
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Strong formula for exfoliating dead skin
cells and unclogging pores. |
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The less harsh products are balanced with
botanicals to give your skin a smooth, clean
feeling. |
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Dr. Murad has a product for everything, if
you've got the cash to afford it. |
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Intense exfoliation causes a "purge" effect
- your skin will typically burn at first,
and for some this never gets better. |
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Mainly a surface-level treatment. Only the
supplement (not included in the core
complex) offers prevention. |
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Very expensive, especially when you tack on
all the additional products that are
recommended. |
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A ton of steps makes for a real hassle if
you have to use this multiple times per day. |
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Key
Ingredients
Cleanser:
1.5%
Salicylic Acid
Treatment Gel:
1%
Salicylic Acid
Lotion:
Glycerin
Retinol
Spot
Treatment:
3%
Sulfur
Glycolic
Acid
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Who should try
Murad
The Murad Acne
Complex can potentially help moderate acne sufferers,
provided that your skin can handle and adjust to the purge.
With both salicylic acid and glycolic acid, the formula is
heavy on exfoliation, aiding to unclog whiteheads and
blackheads, as well as bring acne pustules to the surface
faster and kill underlying bacteria. Just expect that things
may get worse for a little while before they get better.
Your chances of
success will very likely go up if you purchase the
supporting products such as the moisturizer and supplement,
but then, so will your price tag. If this doesn't bother
you, it may be worth it to give Murad a try.
Note: Many users
report better results by using the stronger, harsher
products in the system (such as the treatment gel) less
often than directed, such as only once per day or once
every other day.
Who should
not
try Murad
Not everyone
will see improvement after the purge, and if you don't want
to put up with your skin being red and swollen for some
time, Murad probably isn't for you. Strong exfoliating
chemicals can mean irritation for those with sensitive skin,
unless you don't mind using a whole lot of the moisturizer
(which is loaded with SPF 20, and I really don't
recommend using strong sunscreen on a daily basis). Results
may also be very temporary for those who build up a
resistance to SA.
The supplement
is the only part of the product line that goes beyond
treating surface-level acne, so if you get deep pustules or
cysts, most of the complex isn't going to help. Moreover, if
price or practicality are big factors for you, Murad may be
a hard sell. The products are expensive, and with so many
steps, you're going to have to sacrifice a decent chunk of
your time each day to use them as directed.
Average Price
$50 plus S&H for
the basic kit, $33 for the moisturizer, $40 for the dietary
supplements
Alternatives
Zenmed Derma
Cleanse, Other salicylic
acid-based cleansers and gels, Exfoliating scrubs, Retinol
lotions
Have you tried
the Murad Acne Complex?
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