Well Connected by Murad

Acne sufferers know it isn’t just about pimples—serious cases can have major impact on our physical and mental health. Since June is Acne Awareness Month, it’s time to deep-dive into the skin condition that affects up to 50 million Americans. Here to chat all things acne is creator, activist, former model and founder of the #freethepimple movement, Lou Northcote. Listen as she shares why having acneic skin isn’t the same as a breakout; how the lookism she’s experienced affected her stress; and the can’t-miss skincare tips she’s learned as an acne sufferer. For the latest in all things skin wellness, check out wellconnected.murad.com.

Does money make you anxious? You’re not alone. According to a study by the American Psychological Association, 65 percent of people said it was a major cause of stress. The good news? If you reframe the way you approach it, money can also be a great source of joy. Tune in as Gabe Dunn, creator and host of the podcast Bad With Money joins us for a conversation that covers all things money —like why millennials might prefer to shell out on social justice instead of houses, why spending on skincare isn’t frivolous and why blanket financial advice can be harmful. For more wellness stories like this, check out wellconnected.murad.com.

Content warning: This podcast episode contains references to suicide/suicidal feelings. If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available 24/7. Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org

According to the American Psychological Association, more than a quarter of adults say that most days they’re too stressed to function. Also, most mental illnesses actually start when teens/young adults are in school. Luckily, a new generation is changing the way we approach addressing mental health by starting earlier. In this episode, host Alison Haislip chats with Alison Malmon, founder of Active Minds – a nonprofit dedicated to saving lives that supports mental health education for young adults – about how to ensure that no one feels alone, the harrowing incident that drove her to create the org, and hosting critical “stress less weeks” on campus communities around the country. For more, check out wellconnected.murad.com.

With social media often dictating culture—from skin and body positivity movements to normalizing formerly stigmatized mental health conditions—is the proliferation of popular meme accounts glorifying anxiety, depression and the “sad girl” persona? Is social media rightly celebrating mental health, or unnecessarily causing more of it? Join host Alison Haislip as she chats with lifestyle influencer Samantha Klein (@samswhurld) and therapist Shani Tran (@theshaniproject) to answer all these questions and more. For more wellness stories like this, be sure to check out wellconnected.murad.com.

Why do some Japanese men refuse to use skincare? Why is plastic surgery so prevalent in Korea? And what do hot springs and spas have to do with skincare? In this episode of “Why is No One Talking About…”, we take an inside look at the top recommendations, ancient traditions and philosophies behind Japanese and Korean beauty. Listen as Japanese makeup artist (and Buddhist monk!) Kodo Nishimura (@kodomakeup) and Korean skinfluencer Ava Lee (@glowwithava) break down the differences, similarities and product obsessions of each beauty culture. Want to be in the loop on all things skin? Be sure to check out wellconnected.murad.com.

The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Murad, and are for informational purposes only, even if the advice of physicians and medical practitioners are included. This article is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment, and should not looked be considered specific medical advice.

Are you a lookist? Do you favor people who are deemed “traditionally attractive”? In this next episode of “Why is no one talking about” (where experts cover hot takes on mind, body, food or skin), our new host, actor/TV personality Alison Haislip, dives deep into lookism with philosopher/professor Heather Widdows. Heather’s book “Perfect Me: Beauty as an Ethical Ideal” has been deemed groundbreaking by Vogue, and she’s revealing the 4 global beauty ideals, how to combat lookism and more. (Spoiler: Don’t say, “It’s what’s inside that counts,” because we know that isn’t 100% true all the time.) For more eye-opening wellness stories for total skin health, check out wellconnected.murad.com.

Cosmetic chemists are beauty’s new influencers, and we have two of the best in the game in this next episode of our new podcast series, “Why is no one talking about” (where experts cover unexplored, sometimes taboo hot takes on mind, body, food and skin). Nerd out as beloved chemists Michelle Wong (@labmuffinbeautyscience) and Esther Olu (@themelaninchemist) debunk “dirty lists,” explain whether clinical testing matters and expose the overhyped “clean beauty” apps that everyone seems to be using these days. For more fact-revealing stories on skin health, be sure to check out wellconnected.murad.com.

Welcome back to our new series, “Why is no one talking about,” where experts cover unexplored hot takes on wellness and skin. In this second episode, DermTok star Dr. Sugai (aka Dr. SPF) and preeminent fertility expert Dr. Aimee Eyvazzadeh (aka the Egg Whisperer) explain how your skin could be a window into unexplained fertility issues and why it’s important for dermatologists and fertility doctors to work together. For instance, did you know that cystic acne could be tied to an autoimmune concern? Or that certain rashes might signal a risk to your pregnancy? For more eye-opening stories, be sure to visit wellconnected.murad.com.

Welcome to our new series, “Why is no one talking about,” where experts and insiders cover unexplored (sometimes taboo) hot takes on mind, body, food and—of course—skin. For this debut episode in honor of Mental Health Awareness Month (May), body acceptance advocate Katie Sturino explores the repercussions of putting herself out there—only to get “barf emoji-ed” on by a male contingent. Listen as Katie and her guest, Amelia Diamond (Man Repeller, The New York Times), break down confronting toxic men, elevating the skin-positivity movement, and keeping your social media bully-free. For more mental health-boosting stories, be sure to visit wellconnected.murad.com.

These next 10 minutes with hypnotherapist and coach Chloe Brotheridge may lead to some serious (yet quite literally subconscious) changes in your life. Yes, hypnotherapy—backed by validated research—is making waves in wellness, helping with everything from addressing imposter syndrome to improving general anxiety. No longer used to make people cluck like a chicken, this formerly out-there practice is now a fairly common way to help deal with mental health. Listen as Brotheridge breaks down what hypnotherapy can do, including even conquering everyday hurdles like prepping for a presentation. For more stress-relieving stories, be sure to visit wellconnected.murad.com.