Walk into any clinic and you'll see a different retail wall. The brand a clinic chooses says something about how they think. At The Glow Co. Aesthetics in Gordon Park, the brand we've chosen to build our skin programmes around is Murad — and we thought it was worth explaining why, for anyone who likes to understand the "because" before they reach for a new product.
This post is educational. If, by the end, you're curious to try something from the range, we'd rather you book a skin consultation so we can match the right product to your actual skin, not your assumptions about your skin.
The starting point: Dr. Howard Murad's approach
Murad was founded by Dr. Howard Murad, a dermatologist with decades of clinical practice. His approach sits at the intersection of skincare, nutrition and what he describes as "Inclusive Health" — the philosophy that skin isn't a surface to be treated in isolation. It reflects what's happening throughout the body.
The clinical implication is that a good skincare routine is one piece of a broader picture — water, sleep, stress, movement, diet, sun exposure all contribute too. That framing matches how we treat skin in clinic, which is one reason we felt at home with the brand.
The range at a glance
Murad is a wide range. In clinic, we usually speak about it in core families: Retinol Youth Renewal (a retinol-led range for fine lines and firmness); Clarifying (built around acne and blemish-prone skin, including salicylic acid cleansers and targeted treatments); Environmental Shield (vitamin C and antioxidant formulations for the Brisbane climate, where UV exposure is constant); Hydration (the barrier-support backbone of almost every routine we prescribe); and Resurgence (targeted at skin navigating perimenopause and menopause).
The professional vs. retail range
Not everything Murad makes is available at every retailer. There is a professional range — higher strength, clinic-available — and a retail range sold direct to consumers. As a certified Murad-stocking clinic, we have access to both, which means we can build at-home plans that reach for higher-strength formulations where appropriate.
Ingredients we reach for often
A handful of ingredient categories come up again and again in the routines we prescribe: retinol and retinoid blends for lines and cell turnover; vitamin C for antioxidant support and brightness; salicylic acid for blemish-prone skin; glycolic acid and AHAs for surface exfoliation; hyaluronic acid as a hydration backbone; niacinamide for barrier support; and ceramides and nourishing lipids for long-term barrier health.
Why we committed to it
When you're the nurse prescribing a routine, you want three things from a brand: formulations you trust, breadth of range so you can build real programmes for different skin types and life stages, and professional support so when a client needs something stronger, you're not limited to retail-only formulations. Murad delivers all three.
How we prescribe it in clinic
Every Murad prescription starts with a skin consultation. We look at what your skin actually needs, what you'll realistically use day to day, and what your priorities are. Then we build a short, workable routine — often just four or five steps — and we review it at your next visit.
A note on realistic expectations
Skincare is foundational, not miraculous. The best products in the world need time and consistency. If you commit to a prescribed routine for 8–12 weeks, most people notice meaningful improvements in comfort, hydration, clarity and texture. Deeper concerns often need in-clinic treatments layered alongside the routine.
Come and talk to us
If you're curious about Murad but don't know where to begin, the best first step is a skin consultation at The Glow Co. Aesthetics in Gordon Park. We'll walk you through the range, cut through the noise, and build a plan that suits you.
This article is general information only. It is not personalised medical advice and does not replace a consultation with a qualified healthcare practitioner.
