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How to wear your make-up well this winter

www.pexels.com It might be cold and wet in January and February, but that doesn’t mean we don’t want to look our best in the draining winter months.

From the elements outside, to the endless layers of clothing, central heating and public transport sweating, it’s no wonder that our make-up melts faster than a snowman when the sun comes out.

We have some sure fire beauty hacks that will help you look put together whatever winter throws at you.

Turn to oil
You might think oil will make you look greasy, but it actually locks in moisture and adds hydration, so there is no flaking when it comes to your make-up. You can either use a little under your moisturiser, or add a drop or two to your make up and buff them together. Rather than going for one solid, thick layer of foundation that will slip away by the time you get to your desk, you need to go for several sheer, smooth layers for a dewy, fresh look.

Powder power
Far from being for older ladies, powder is a magic product that can save the day. Using loose powder, rather than dry, to set your make-up and concealer will help prevent creasing and wrinkling which is something you really want to avoid. Powder won’t age you, it will help you get a healthy look and if you stick to oily spots that cause bother, you will be winning the winter beauty battle.

Look for creamy products
Cream blushers, bronzers and highlighters will stay put for longer than other options. Go for a subtle shade to give you a healthy, youthful look and let your blush warm up your face, even when the temperature is colder than cold.

Waterproof mascara
You might not be going swimming, but waterproof mascara is a great idea in the winter. Our eyes often get weepy, gritty and tired, so if you don’t want panda eyes when the icy winds blow your way, go for lashes of waterproof mascara and you will look front row fabulous.

Use wet brushes
Ever noticed that when you put your eye shadow on it looks great, but the next time you look in the mirror it’s up above your eye brows? Yes, this is a common problem, but let it happen no more to you. Our top tip is to make your brushes slightly wet and not only will this set things in place, but it will add power to the colour of your make-up and give you a pro-look in an instant. You can of course opt for gel eye make-up but these tend to offer a strong, statement look and are great for nights out rather than the weekly team meeting.

Pucker up
You can put a hat on your head, and gloves on your hands, but there is no escaping the elements when it comes to your lips. Make sure you use a good balm during the day and this will help to not only lock in moisture and prevent chapping, but it can also keep your colour stronger, for longer.

Got a winning hack, send it our way.

Team Pure Beauty

Make Up Tips for People with Freckles

Make Up Tips for People with Freckles
Photo by CloudyPixel on Unsplash

When I was little, my mum used to tell me that freckles were a sign of beauty; of course, now that I’m older I know they’re just tiny little bits of melanin beneath the skin which create areas that are slightly different colour than your natural skin tone. Freckles can appear on all types of skin tone, but they are most common on lighter skin tones belonging to people of northern European origin. Most people with freckles find that they darken or multiply when they are exposed to the sun, and it’s advised that anyone with freckles should make sure they use a daily sunscreen.

In the last couple of years, there’s been a trend developing for people who don’t have freckles to create fake ones, or people who have light freckles to darken them using cosmetics. All sorts of videos have popped up on YouTube showing you how from using an eyeliner pencil to dipping a toothbrush brush in henna and smattering your face with it – the latter is not something we would advise!

With all this in mind, we thought we would take a look at how people with freckles should adjust their makeup to accentuate their skin tone, without drowning their little beauty dots all together.

Keep it Sheer

Unless you have difficulty with your complexion, such as pimples, which you like to cover with a heavier foundation, those of us with freckles should opt for a base which gives sheer coverage or something like a BB cream which will will give you a natural base without looking too heavy. This will allow your freckles to be seen through your makeup, giving you a more natural overall look.

Avoid Hyperpigmentation

As we mentioned above, people with freckles should be careful in the sun, not least of all because they are more prone to hyperpigmentation. Using a daily SPF is a must if you don’t want your skin in to suffer with sun overexposure so we would recommend using something like Decleor Protective Anti-Wrinkle Cream SPF30 Face on a daily basis before you apply your makeup.

Check Your Neck

Finding the right colour foundation can be even harder when you have freckles because you essentially have a multi-coloured complexion. The best tip that we can give you in these circumstances is to check your foundation colour against your neck, as this is where you will want the colour to blend seamlessly. Using your neck as a colour guide means that you won’t suffer with the dreaded orange mask and probably means that you’ll be able to use your foundation all year round, even when the sun has accentuated your freckles.

Use Lip Liner

Many people with freckles find that freckles around their mouth leave their lip line looking uneven, making it hard to apply lipstick and other lip products. Find a lip liner which is the same colour as your lips and use this regardless of what colour lipstick you’re wearing, as it will give you a defined lip line to apply your other lip products to.

Opt for Luminosity

Nothing looks better on freckled skin that products which make you look luminous there’s something quite ethereal about luminous freckly skin and the overall effect is something that makeup artists everywhere will tell you you is coveted by all. Elemis Pro-Collagen Rose Facial Oil is the perfect product to help you achieve a luminous glow as it’s infused with a trio of rose extracts and will leave your skin looking fabulous and smelling beautiful.

Breakfasts that will give you a boost

www.pexels.comForget cereals that come with a bucket of sugar and energy drinks that steal your buzz, and instead start your day with something that is packed with goodness.

We have some smart ideas for breakfasts that will give you a boost and that you will love eating.

Granola with gumption
As we have indicated, many cereals contain little nutrition, but if you think outside of the Frosties box, it doesn’t have to be that way. Go for a low sugar option granola by mixing rolled oats with your favourite nuts, seeds and dried fruits. Other options include dried coconut, the odd dark chocolate chip (treat only) and adding a sprinkling of cinnamon and salt can help bring the flavours together. Keep in an airtight box and enjoy with milk or shake over yogurt and slice a banana on top.

Toast toppers
Toast isn’t just about bread. Going for wholemeal or rye loaves turns things on their head, and you can add toppings which will boost your five a day quota, as well as giving you an extra serving of protein. Think about mashed avocado, poached egg with spinach, banana and peanut butter, cottage cheese or honey and hazelnuts. There are a whole world of toppings out there, you just need to find one that works for you and your appetite.

Put eggs on your plate
If in doubt, eats eggs at breakfast as they are jam packed with ‘get up and go’ goodness. Yes, you can go for boiled eggs with rye toast, poached eggs in a wholemeal pitta, or scrambled eggs with a side serving of iron rich spinach and roasted tomatoes and each will give you the perfect boost to your day.

Porridge, but better
Porridge, milk, microwave. There is nothing wrong with this, but you can add in a few extras and go from fine to fabulous when it comes to the most important meal of the day. Grains and seeds are the secret to switching things up, and here’s how. Take 25% oat bran, 25% quinoa and 50% organic rolled oats, mix and make with water or plant-based milk and once heated to perfection, add in fruit, toasted seeds and nuts. You can swirl in honey, but you don’t really need to.

Smoothie plus
We all know that smoothies taste good, but if make them the right way, they will also feed you with the goodness your body needs. So, let’s get things started. Blend up a banana (very ripe or frozen), with fresh raspberries, strawberries, half an avocado, some plant-based milk, and add a tablespoon of nut butter for a bigger boost. Throw in some crushed ice, blast until smooth and then drink down your breakfast delight.

Make muffins
We aren’t talking about double choc-chip here, but instead feel good veggie muffins that will fill you up and keep you fuller, for longer. Soften peas, peppers, courgettes and sundried tomatoes in a little oil and once cooled, beat in four large eggs and add grated cheese into the mix. Pop in muffin cases, cook for around 15 minutes and enjoy at breakfast, lunch or teatime.

So, the question is – what will you try first?

Team Beauty

Refined Skin, The Pure Beauty Way

Refined Skin, The Pure Beauty Way
Photo by Noah Buscher on Unsplash

For many of us, the word refined conjures up images of well-to-do ladies in expensive clothes. However, here at Pure Beauty, the word refined means something completely different. Refined skin is something that most of us strive for with pores minimised, skin well hydrated and excess sebum kept to a minimum, but it’s not always easy. With this in mind, we’ve curated a list of 5 products across the brands that we offer, which will help you to achieve a refined complexion.

Decleor Hydra Floral White Petal Skin Perfecting Hydrating Sleeping Mask

This mask from Decleor is designed to refine the skin by cleansing and closing the pores, and is applied to skin overnight so that you wake up with a complexion which is recharged, bright and glowing. It’s packed with essential oils of neroli and citrus aurantium amara, which gives off a relaxing fragrance to help you sleep.

Dermalogica Dermal Clay Cleanser

This cleanser from Dermalogica is made of kaolin and green clay, which wicks away excess oil and deeply cleanses the skin to remove impurities and give you a refined texture. It’s ideal for anyone who suffers with excess oil production and harnesses the power of cucumber as well as ivy and lemon, which will soothe irritation and refresh the skin.

Elemis Dynamic Resurfacing A Smoother-Looking You Collection

Okay, so we’ve cheated a little bit here and instead of recommending one product we’ve recommended four! However, this dynamic resurfacing system from Elemis is guaranteed to give you smooth, refined and brighter skin. It contains two full size products from the Dynamic Resurfacing range with the Facial Pads and the Gel Mask, as well as a sample size of the Resurfacing Facial Wash and the Cellular Recovery Skin Bliss Capsules. The whole package is worth over £110!

Jan Marini Bioglycolic Facial Cleanser

Finding a facial cleanser which can both deeply cleanse the skin but avoid irritating it is kind of like the Holy Grail in the beauty world, but this soap-free formula from Jan Marini does just that. It promises to be non-irritating and rinses completely without the need for toner or astringent. It contains sorbitol which is derived from berries and leaves the skin soft and hydrated, while glycolic acid helps to give a refined finish.

Decleor Antidote Serum

This serum from Decleor is one of the newest products that we stock, and contains ingredients which are of 97% natural origin. It strengthens the skin barrier and protects it from daily pollution, as well as giving a flash firming effect which leaves your skin moisturised, supple and healthy, and looking more refined than ever before.

Boost your energy the natural way

www.pexels.comOK, we are more than halfway through January and Blue Monday has been and gone, but that doesn’t mean keeping your energy levels balanced is an easy task and you might find things get worse before the feel better. The cold weather, dark evenings and lack of money is enough to zap the spark from even the happiest, high on life kind of person, but you can help yourself, the natural way.

There are many reasons why you might be struggling but we have some natural pick me up hacks that could see you through until the spring.

Snack out of it
You might want to open the family size bag of crisps or finish off the Christmas Quality Street stash in one sitting, but this isn’t going to do anything other than give you a quick fix and grow your waistline. Bananas, apples, apricots, mangos, and oranges are packed with vitamins, minerals and natural sugars which will keep you alert and things like nuts and chia seeds work to give you a nice slow release of energy as day goes into night so add them to your shopping list.

Get more sleep
We aren’t telling you off, but sleep is one of the biggest reasons behind a lack of energy, so make sure you are getting enough. You should aim to get around seven hours of sleep every night and there are ways to make this happen:

• Eat your last big meal at least three hours before bed so that your food is fully digested and you’re not trying to sleep on a full stomach. Also, give caffeine a rest, drinking water or herbal teas instead.

• Do not look at your phone for an hour or more before bed if you want your brain to shut down.

• Have a warm bath before bed.

• Do some meditation or light yoga.

Be sociable
We aren’t saying you need to be ‘out, out’ but spending time with family and friends can be good for your energy levels, as well as your mood. No, a DM on Facebook won’t cut it. Social isolation doesn’t help any of us, so while the sofa and Corrie might be what you want to do, taking off your slippers and doing something with other people will take the slump out of the winter months. If you’ve had a break-up, moved somewhere new or are shy, look at joining a club, book group or a class, and new people could be the motivation you need to up your energy levels and find the good in life once again.

Stretch it out
A few simple desk stretches could be enough to lift your mood and put a bit of energy into your day. Maybe do a few downward dogs before your afternoon cuppa and make sun salutations your ‘go to’ for an early evening pick me up.

Ease off the booze
We know we have said that being sociable can be good for you, but when you go out it doesn’t mean you need to knock back a whole bottle of wine. It might make you feel good at the time, but your sleep will have been ruined, so the next day you’ll feel slow, lethargic and your energy levels will be ZERO. We aren’t saying don’t drink but we are saying you don’t have to get plastered to have a good time.

Have a laugh
Laughter is the best medicine, a great stress-buster and can boost energy levels too. Go to a comedy club, watch Friends, look at cat videos and just laugh it out – try laughter yoga at your peril.

Head outside
Put your coat and gloves on and go outside. You might not want to face the wind and freezing temperatures but even a quick walk will invigorate you and boost your energy levels as the endorphins fly around your body and make you feel great again.

Take water onboard
We know that drinking water can feel like a drag when it is cold, but if you don’t get enough H2O onboard, you will feel sad, mad and bad. Go for eight glasses a day, keep an eco bottle in your bag and while you might think that a latte is your friend, water with a slice and ice will be better for you and your energy levels.

Team Pure Beauty

Three basics wellness steps that work

www.pexels.comIf the ‘new year, new you’ thing has got you in a tangle and the choice of diets and eating plans leaves you feeling overwhelmed, fear not – you’re not alone. So many of us make a big list of New Year’s resolutions that we just can’t keep up with, so they fall by the wayside as the decorations go back in the loft and life goes on.

To make things easier, we suggest you forget the apps and expensive plans, and instead stick with the three wellness areas of hydration, nutrition and movement, and everything else should come together as nature intended.

Drink Well
Drinking water is a really basic, but really important way to ensure you are well. Being hydrated can cut down on your headaches, improve concentration, help make your skin glow and it is needed for every bodily function. While it’s really easy to drink the recommended 2-3 litres of water a day during the warm summer months, in the winter it isn’t always quite as simple – because it’s cold! Yes, you can have a cup of tea or coffee but watch out for the caffeine, and instead try herbal infusions as they taste good and work for your body not against it. If detoxing is on your mind, you can get specially created detox infusions and a simple slice of lemon in hot water when you get up, rather than a mug of builders brew, will give your body a great kick start. Keep a glass of water on your desk and a bottle in your bag and drink on the go – use a reusable bottle of course.

Eat Well
Winter isn’t the best time for keeping to a healthy diet, because we tend to want to dive into stodgy comfort food that has lots of salt and sugar. Porridge is good for breakfast, soup makes light of lunchtime, and go for hearty stews packed with veg for dinner to keep vitamin and mineral levels up. Rather than going in heavy with sugars and salt, think about how you use spices. One real winner, if you have a sweet tooth is cinnamon, which is meant to keep your blood sugar levels, well, level, and it counteracts sugar crashes so keeps your mood stable. Add to that morning porridge, put onto your coffee, and a dash in a smoothie will give it the kick you need.

Move Well
Bodies simply feel better when they are active so move around if you want to live well. Box sets on TV, scrolling on your phone and nights in the pub might be what you want to do, but doing it all the time isn’t a great idea. Walk to work, park further from the shops than usual, get on your bike, have a swim, take the stairs or go our dancing rather than watching back to back episodes of Breaking Bad if you want to keep your body active and your mind happy.

None of this is new, but we hope it takes away some of the conflicting advice that is out there right now and allows you to be happier and healthier which is something we all deserve.

Team Pure Beauty

Enhance Your Glow This Winter

Enhance Your Glow This Winter

Photo by it’s me neosiam from Pexels

Although December is a very enjoyable month, with holiday season bringing parties, family time, hibernating indoors in pyjamas and lots and lots of food and drink, we often feel a little bit relieved by the time January comes around and we can go back to our normal routine. If there’s one thing that does suffer in December it’s usually our skin, which not only feels the effects of weeks of eating and boozing at will, it also struggles with the amount of makeup central heating and cold days that it has to endure. January skin is often a little bit dull and lackluster, so we thought we would take a look at five ways to improve and increase your glow from January onwards.

Deep Cleanse

The first thing you want to do is give your skin a super deep cleanse, as you’ve probably still got lots of nasties hanging around from the overindulgence of December. Getting rid of makeup, daily grime and pollutants is the first step towards encouraging your skin to have a naturally glowing appearance, and for this we would recommend Elemis Pro-Collagen Rose Cleansing Balm which is formulated for exactly that. It contains extracts from various roses around the world and is infused with elderberry, starflower, optimega oils and padina pavonica. It soothes skin and leaves you with a radiant glow as well as an exquisite aroma.

Peel

Another way to enhance your glow is by using a product which will peel away the top layer of your skin, as this will allow the healthy new skin beneath to show through as well as allowing it a greater oxygen supply, which will make your overall complexion healthier. Dermalogica Rapid Reveal Peel is a salon strength exfoliating peel that you can use at home and contains a combination of acid and fruit enzymes which will increase epidermal cell turnover, firm your skin and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles while leaving you with a natural glow.

Masks

Another product which is great for helping your skin to release its natural glow is masks. These are often a product which is left on your skin the longest, giving them time to really work. Decleor Energy Concentrate Youth Mask is a highly concentrated formula which contains extracts of peony, lychee and rhodiola which re-energise the skin, as well as giving your face a fresh and luminous glow. The mask leaves it looking plumper and firmer after just one application.

Eye Gels

It’s all well and good having a glowing face but if your eyes are ringed with dark circles it will immediately ruin the effects of all of the other products that you’ve been using. Decleor Hydra Floral Everfresh Hydrating Wide-Open Eye Gel is a lightweight formula which leaves you looking more youthful and well rested. It creates a protective barrier over the eye contour which will defend against pollution and help to create a brighter healthier and more glowing appearance.

Fake It

Never underestimate the effect that a slight tan can have on your body, but don’t worry, we aren’t advocating baking yourself in the sun as that’s completely against the Pure Beauty way! Decleor Neroli Bigarade Gradual Glow Lotion is a moisturiser with a light melting texture which absorbs into the skin and gives you a gradual glow which you can build to produce a gentle golden colour. Skin looks and feels intensely moisturised and soft with a radiant top-to-toe golden glow.

Easy ways to be more naturally resilient this winter

pexels.comThe shortest day has been and gone, but the temperature is still way down, the rain is lashing, the wind is sharp, and our bodies aren’t always happy with what January and February bring us.

Boots will keep your feet warm, scarves, gloves and a woolly hat will stop your natural heat escaping from your body when you leave the house, but if you really want get your winter resilience ready, we have some additional tips to keep you well over the next couple of months.

Change your diet
This really is not the season for cold food. Freezing temperatures and damp days require warming soups and stews to keep your body fuelled and deliver nourishing warmth. We hate to say it, but salad isn’t going to do that for you at this time of the year. Think about adding root vegetables and pulses to your meals and don’t be tempted to skip breakfast as this won’t set you up for the day, but a bowl of steaming porridge will. One of the best things you can do, is batch cook a large pot of soup at the weekend and this will ensure that you have a hearty warming lunch during the week and can even go back for seconds at tea time. You can get a soup maker, or slow cooker to help make light work of these meals and it’s easy to pop servings into the freezer and defrost when you are peckish. When it comes to dinner time, think about stews, curries, roasts, chillies and stir fries that will fill you up as well as adding to your veg intake and if you go with good quality fish and meat, it will give you some healthy protein too.

Swap out of coffee
You might automatically go for a hot latte or creamy hot chocolate, but the sensible money is on drinking lemon and ginger tea during the winter. In traditional Chinese medicine, fresh and dried ginger are considered to help in two different ways. Dried ginger pulls the blood to the stomach and helps digest food, while the fresh version dilates the small blood vessels in the extremities and allows the blood to flow so your hands and feet warm up. Put two slices of ginger, about the width of a pound coin, in a mug, fill with hot water and add honey and lemon if you like. Keep topping up the hot water during the day and you should notice the difference in your circulation when you drink this regularly.

Fight off coughs and colds
Yes, you can have the flu jab and take supplements, but elderberry is a great herb to take at this time and health food shops sells it in a syrup form. It comes with a really potent anti-viral and is packed with vitamin C, which means it is the perfect thing to take to support a healthy immune system. If you are looking for an effective, home-made bug-buster, simply fill a sterilised jam jar with layers of sliced onion and garlic, then pour a jar of honey over the top. Keep for four days and then strain, then put it in the fridge and take a teaspoon three times a day if you feel a cold coming on. Yes, it is a strong-tasting option, but it works.

Do some exercise 
You might not want to leave your warm spot on the sofa, but getting outside and having some exercise will do you the world of good. Even on the coldest days, a brisk walk, cycle or jog will put a spring in your step, blow away the cobwebs and get the blood and feel good chemicals pumping around your body. Do it, you won’t regret and your health will thank you for it.

Team Pure Beauty

Product Focus: Dermalogica Biolumin-C Eye Serum

Product Focus: Dermalogica Biolumin-C Eye SerumThere are several reasons that the skin around the eye needs more potent support from the products you choose. As well as being an area of high movement, this skin is naturally thinner than elsewhere on the body and produces less collagen. This means that it’s more prone to wrinkles, sagging and dryness. Dermalogica Biolumin-C Eye Serum has been designed to offer high-level support to the delicate eye area, so we thought we’d take a closer look at what it does and how it does it.

What Does it Do?

Dermalogica Biolumin-C Eye Serum delivers the same brightening power as BioLumin-C Serum, in a lightweight formula optimised for the delicate eye area. It is a supercharged vitamin C eye serum that outsmarts visible premature skin ageing caused by daily eye movements and environmental stress to dramatically brighten and visibly firm.

What’s in it?

This serum contains a highly-researched and carefully blended formula of vitamin C complex, arjun tree extract, tremella mushroom, dunaliella salina (micro-algae) extract, poria mushroom, papain enzyme (from papaya) and salvia hispanica (chia seed) oil. Each ingredient offers something from firming properties to deep hydration.

Who is it For?

Dermalogica Biolumin-C Eye Serum is created for normal to mature or prematurely-ageing skin. It’s perfect for anyone who feels like they sign of ageing are starting to appear around the delicate eye area.

How do I Use it?

After cleansing and toning your face, you should apply Dermalogica Biolumin-C Eye Serum under the eye and along the orbital bone morning and evening, being careful to keep it out of the eyes. In fact, you can layer it however your heart desires, both in the morning and before you go to bed. You can even use it under any eye cream you already use; Biolumin-C Eye Serum can be applied to your skin between cleansing or exfoliating and before moisturisers and creams.

Is There Anything to Bear in Mind While Using This Product?

This product contains AHA that may increase your skin’s sensitivity to the sun. Be sure to use an SPF while using this product to avoid burning.

Beauty Trends for 2020

Beauty Trends for 2020
Photo by Jamie Street on Unsplash

2019 has been a big year for beauty trends, with brows taking the lead above every other part of the face. From brow kits to microblading, everyone’s brows are suitably thick and ‘on fleek’ as the kids would say! But will we be leading into 2020 with our brows or are there a whole new set of beauty trends for the coming year? Our bet is ‘DEFINITELY!’, so we’ve put together a list of predictions for what we think will be big in the world of beauty for the next 12 months:

Jawlines

Lips have been the main focus of cosmetic procedures for quite some time (thanks to a certain Kardashian…), but towards the end of 2019, we saw a shift towards people focusing on their jawline. Jaw and cheekbone fillers are on the up, with people coveting a more defined facial shape, but if you don’t fancy injecting your face, Jan Marini Juveneck improves definition in the jaw area, and tightens skin for a more youthful look.

Unisex Beauty

2019 saw a massive surge in the amount of male make-up influencers, with Jeffree Star, James Charles and Manny MUA all launching their own ranges of make-up. It’s now perfectly acceptable to have a stubble AND a killer cut crease, which is a huge leap for equality, and we think that unisex beauty products, aimed at both male and female markets, will be huge in 2020.

Pink Lips

Lip colour trends are pretty cyclical, and even the classic red goes out of vogue at times. At the end of 2019, we’d already started seeing bold, bright pink lips on various influencers and catwalks during the autumn/winter shows, but it seems like this ‘usually summery’ colour is going to be big from the beginning of 2020. Make sure your lips are in good condition with Dermalogica Nightly Lip Treatment, because bolder colours tend to seep into feathery fine lines around the mouth.

French Manicures

The classic French mani will always be around, but 2019 saw trends for much longer, pointier statement nails that left the simple French manicure in the shadows. We think that 2020 will see an upswing for the French manicure, but we suspect it will get a modern update, thanks to exciting new nail shapes like the scalloped edges we’ve seen on the catwalks.

Creative Eyeliner

Eyeliner was all about the perfect wing in 2019, and many of us spent hours in front of the mirror, perfecting our technique. Eyeliner in 2020 looks like it will be a lot more creative, with pastel and neon colours, floating lines and even double lined eyes. Keep the skin around your eyes in perfect condition for lining with Decleor Hydra Floral Everfresh Hydrating Wide-Open Eye Gel.