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The formula
Having been a long-term fan of Murad’s vitamin C cream, I can honestly say it’s gone from strength to strength.
Like all four new Murad face moisturisers, it’s had a high SPF upgrade, increasing from SPF30 to SPF50. Just as importantly, it’s a broad-spectrum formula, so it has a very high level of UVA protection, too.
The second big change is Murad has packed it with 10 times more vitamin C (the cream’s hero active) in the form of 3-O ethyl ascorbic acid. It’s a more stable and tolerable derivative of the active, so it’s less likely to go off or irritate the skin. It’s anecdotal, but it seems to work; I didn’t have any reactions or sensitivities to the product as I tested it.
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Vitamin C is often referred to as the ‘holy grail of skincare’ because it does two clever things for our skin. The first is that it protects skin from damage that leads to premature ageing. It’s a powerful antioxidant protection from the free radicals formed when your skin is exposed to the sun or pollution – these break down the skin’s collagen, leading to fine lines and wrinkles, pigmentation, and loss of firmness.
As well as protection, this powerhouse active also has corrective benefits. It’s a proven skin brightener that fades pigmentation and dark spots by interrupting pigment production, giving you a more even skin tone. It also promotes the production of collagen, which leads to smoother-looking skin. Excitingly, there is also new evidence that suggests vitamin C helps age-related thinning of the skin.
The application
Across Murad’s extensive skincare line-up, you’ll see a variety of different packaging, but the face cream comes in a new tube. The new pump applicator means I could control how much I dispense and ensure none goes to waste.
The cream itself is beautifully lightweight; it absorbs in seconds, leaving skin instantly well-moisturised and leaving behind no signs of grease or a white cast. It does, however, leave a subtle dewy glow.
The result
My big criticism of Murad is that it’s pretty expensive, and this cream is no exception. However, this formula offers so many things in a single skincare step that I genuinely believe this is good value. It acts like an antioxidant serum, enriching moisturiser, sunscreen and even make-up primer – absorbing instantly and leaving behind a smooth canvas for coverage to go on top.
Its brightening benefits quickly take effect. There’s instant gratification with its slight glowy (not greasy) finish that perks up that dullness to skin that starts to happen in your 40s. However, my skin also started to look brighter the more and more I used it – I saw a noticeable difference after just 10 days, and even better results after a month and a half.
My dark spots were kept under control, even in sunny weather, and I even started to see a slight fade after using it for just a month. The only caveat here is the cream’s results when boosting collagen. Even after testing it for weeks, I have to give it longer before I can confirm if it boosts collagen.
Overall, however, it’s hard to fault. I love using this moisturiser; I feel assured that my complexion is getting the high UVA and UVB protection it needs to prevent further damage. It’s remarkable to achieve that with an undetectable sheer, lightweight formulation.
