Murad's Vita-C Triple Exfoliating Facial Made My Skin Glow

We put the Murad Vita-C Triple Exfoliating Facial to the test after receiving a complimentary sample from the brand. Keep reading for our full product review.

Over the course of the last two years, the word that I have been using to guide me is "intention." I’ve been making it a priority to listen to my inner voice and make purposeful decisions instead of choosing haphazardly or out of fear. For the past year, I’ve also been really intentional about the way I care for myself—and that has included a complete overhaul of my skincare routine. After painstakingly researching products, ingredients, and musing about past skincare experiences, I’ve been putting new products to the test. Some of the elements of my skincare routine I’ve been experimenting with are at-home masks and facials. After researching the Murad Vita-C Triple Exfoliating Facial, I wanted to check it out and see if it would work for me. Keep reading for my honest thoughts below.

About My Skin: Acne-prone with hyperpigmentation

My skin and I have been through a lot: from acne and plenty of harsh skincare products used in my teens to tons of over-the-counter treatments, I’ve tried just about everything over the years. After my second round of Accutane in my early twenties, I decided to scale it all the way back and use gentle skincare products from the drugstore. The products I use have since changed, but most of the skincare I use now can either be found at the drugstore or is a mid-tier purchase.

Right now, I use the CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser, the SkinCeuticals Vitamin C E Ferulic serum (a splurge but hands-down the best vitamin C serum I’ve used), the LaRoche-Posay Toleriane Ultra Fluide Moisturizer, and three nights a week, my prescription retinol treatment. I also currently use the SkinCeuticals Physical Sunscreen during the day. Wanting to up the ante with exfoliation, I thought Murad's Vita-C Triple Exfoliating Facial might be a good addition in my routine.

The Feel: Gritty, yet creamy

Murad's Vita-C Triple Exfoliating Facial has both micro-mineral physical exfoliants and chemical exfoliants, so it does have a gritty texture to it. 

This product can act as a scrub or, when left on longer, is more of a facial that delivers results similar to a spa-like microdermabrasion treatment. However you decide to use the product, you’ll know the product has been applied properly and you can stop scrubbing when its color changes from orange to white. A few exfoliators I’ve tried in the past—both chemical and physical—have left my skin burning when it was on and visibly irritated when I rinsed it off because the product was too strong for me. This product didn’t burn or irritate my skin. 

The Ingredients: Potent, yet non-irritating

I think this treatment worked so well because it has an ideal cocktail of active ingredients. Each does its own thing for your skin.

• Enzyme exfoliants: The enzymes gently exfoliate the skin and help to dissolve oil, dirt and dead cells for improved skin texture.
• Physical exfoliants: You can feel the gritty texture of the product that helps slough away dead cells. This product contains micro-mineral exfoliants so they are effective, but don't scratch or irritate your skin.
• Chemical exfoliants: Glycolic acid, lactic acid and salicylic acid are chemical exfoliants that all work together to remove dead skin cells to improve texture for radiant skin.
• Vitamin C: The addition of vitamin C assists with improving skin tone and texture.

When you first think about it, that sounds like an overwhelming amount of powerhouse ingredients to put on your skin at one time, but the ingredients work well together.

How to Apply: Leave on damp skin up to 10 minutes

The directions for using Murad's Vita-C Triple Exfoliating Facial are clear: use the product on clean, damp skin, massage the exfoliant onto your skin, and then leave it on for up to 10 minutes. When you’re ready to take the product off, use wet hands to sweep off the exfoliant. 

Before trying the product on my face, I performed a patch test on my neck the day prior to make sure that Vita-C and my skin were a good fit. When I saw that my skin responded well to it, I knew I could use it. After washing my face with my cleanser, I squeezed a quarter-sized amount of exfoliant onto my hands and applied an even amount of the scrub onto my cheeks and forehead. Gently rubbing the product over my face, I scrubbed until the Vita-C turned white and left it on for a total of five minutes. Because I have incredibly sensitive skin, I thought it was best to start small when working with a product that features vitamin C as well as physical, enzymatic, and chemical exfoliators. After my time was up, I wet my hands and used the recommended sweeping motion to remove the product.

The Results: Smoother skin with visible radiance

Immediately after rinsing off Murad's Vita-C Triple Exfoliating Facial, my skin felt soft, and most importantly, comfortable: I didn’t experience any burning, stinging, or other types of aggravation. It was a relief to unearth smoother, more glowing skin without causing other problems. 

After a handful of uses over the course of two weeks, my skin was visibly more radiant and my texture did improve, but I can’t say that I saw dramatic results. As much as I wish I could use a product once and wake up looking a million times better the next day, the Vita-C Triple Exfoliating Facial, as with most skincare products, takes time to be effective and requires consistency. My skin definitely looks better than it did before, but my dark spots and the textured areas of skin still need more help.

The Value: Expensive, but for good reason

Exfoliants run the gamut in terms of cost; there are expensive, high-quality options, and then there are products that can perform just as well at a fraction of the cost. I like to think of the Murad Vita-C Triple Exfoliating Facial as being somewhere in the middle. At $79 for 2.7 oz., you’re paying for a product that’s reminiscent of a microdermabrasion treatment—and those definitely don’t come at that price. While this product won’t yield the exact same results, it’s still packed with enzymes, AHAs, BHAs, vitamin C, and gentle grains to elevate your at-home facial experience. If you’re similar to me and carefully consider the types of skincare products you invest in, Murad’s Vita-C Triple Exfoliating Facial is an effective multi-tasking product that could be a good choice.

What to Look For

When deciding on exfoliating products, you should consider your skin type. Physical exfoliants, such as scrubs, remove dead skin cells by having a gritty texture that  physically removes dead skin cells. Chemical exfoliants use products such as alpha hydroxy acids to dissolve the dead skin cells. Sensitive skin may react better to chemical exfoliants, as physical exfoliants may irritate this skin type. Those with thicker skin tolerate stronger exfoliants. 

Murad's Vita-C Triple Exfoliating Facial has both physical and chemical exfoliants, making it very effective—however those with sensitive skin should make sure not to scrub too hard or for too long. Murad recommends using this product two to three times per week. If you have sensitive skin, you may need to use it less. 

Similar Products: You've got options

Kate Somerville ExfoliKate Intensive Exfoliating Treatment: Working to reveal brighter, smoother skin in just two minutes, Kate Somerville's ExfoliKate ($98) is one of the most popular at-home facial treatments out there. With AHAs, BHAs, enzymes, and nourishing ingredients to calm skin, you can expect to see amazing results with minimal irritation.

Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant Exfoliator: One of my personal favorite products, Dermalogica’s exfoliant ($62) is a gentle, rice-based powder scrub that helps improve radiance. With salicylic acid, papain enzymes, and actives from rice bran, this water-activated product can help with texture and clear your pores in no time.