Our Blog – Page 27 – Pure Beauty – The Lichfield Beauty Salon

Five of Our Favourite Decleor Products

10/12/2019 09/12/2019 0

Here at Pure Beauty, we’re always adding new products to our shelves from the brands that we stock and it doesn’t take long for us to fall in love with many of them. Decleor is a brand in which we have ultimate faith, and their products are something we’ve been passionate about since we opened our doors. With that in mind, we thought we’d showcase some of our favourite new products from Decleor, so that you can try them for yourselves and fall in love as we have:

Decleor Neroli Bigarade Gradual Glow Lotion

At this time of year when the sun is in hiding and your skin feels dull, getting an extra boost from a gradual tanner can really make you feel better. Decleor Neroli Bigarade Gradual Glow Lotion s A gradual glow moisturiser with a light, melting texture that is easily absorbed into the skin and offers a beautifully natural sun-kissed look from the first application. It harnesses the power of narcissus bulb to help prolong a natural or fake tan and preserve the skin’s youthful appearance.

Decleor Antidote Serum

This serum from Decleor is a wonderful little potion, derived from 97% natural ingredients. It contains a high concentration of hyaluronic acid which strengthens the skin’s barrier and protects it from daily aggressions, such as pollution. It firms the face and leaves the skin soft and comfortable, immediately after application and all day long.

Decleor Neroli Bigarade Oil Mask

This mask offers skin a textural treat, as it melt sinto a fine oil upon application to the skin. This allows the active ingredients to be efficiently absorbed into the skin, where they provide plumping and firming properties. In just 10 minutes, skin is left beautifully hydrated and fresh, making this the perfect product for restoring comfort, suppleness and radiance to the skin.

Decleor Essential Cleansing Milk

This cleansing milk from Decleor may just seem like a simple lotion to remove your make up, but it’s so much more than that. Active ingredients include detoxifying green tea essential water to help remove dirt and tighten pores for a clearer, more radiant complexion, sweet almond oil to leave skin beautifully soft and comfortable, and heavenly-fragranced neroli essential oil to help protect, repair and fight against dehydration.

Decleor Neroli Bigarade Night Balm

If you’re in the market for a night cream which is made from 100% natural ingredients, then look no further than this one from Decleor. This balm hydrates and nourishes the skin at night when it’s most effective for cell renewal and when smoothed onto the face, an amazingly light and gentle sensation dissolves perfectly into the skin. It’s potent enough to hydrate and help repair very dry skin types.

Health and Happiness

How to heal a hangover

07/12/2019 08/12/2019 0

When it comes to drinking, it’s all about damage limitation, on many levels. While it’s good to go out and have fun, too much alcohol can leave you with an empty wallet, splitting headache, dull skin, and a feeling sick is part of the hangover fun too.

Wherever you are this party season and whatever you do, stay safe and we hope our top hangover tips will help you look and feel better, sooner.

Get some water
You need to rehydrate when you have a hangover, so go for water if you can. Juice or squash work too, and if things really did get out of hand, head for the Dioralyte.

Spritz your skin
Booze will batter your skin, but using a face spritz can really help. Keep it in the fridge and it will help freshen things up when you aren’t feeling so bright. And, don’t forget to always take your make up off before you go to bed.

Get juiced!
Resist glugging back a coke to quash that queasy feeling, and enjoy a natural nutrient blast, instead. In the morning make a smoothie made with banana, blueberries, kiwi, flaxseed, cinnamon and avocado. A mix like this will ensure a supply of vitamins and help balance your blood sugar levels again, and hopefully you will start to feel more human again.

Avoid coffee
You might want coffee when you can’t get out of bed, but because caffeine narrows your blood vessels and boosts blood pressure, a latte can make a hangover feel so much worse, not better. It’s also a diuretic and will dehydrate you further, so sip green tea as it’s packed with the healthy antioxidants your body needs to recover.

Shower the pain away
We aren’t saying this will fix the problem, but a shower will make you feel more human and clean away the night before. If you choose a shower gel that is packed with essential oils, the energising scent will make you feel more awake, it’ll boost your senses and sooth tired, dry skin.

Fake it
If you have to go into work and look as bad as you feel, you can give your skin a helping hand by opting for a dewy base. Go for a foundation or tinted moisturiser that hydrates and illuminates your skin, and if you really want to keep looking good, fake tan is a festive skin saviour.

Make it red
You might have gone for gold on the dance floor, but it you want to win medals at work the next day, get in early and wear red lipstick. A pop of vibrant red lipstick will make tired eyes look less tired and drained skin will seem less dull. So, put on a smile and let the red do the talking.

Don’t party every night
The temptation might be to go out all of December, but that won’t do you any good. Try to have a couple for nights at home, and always drink a glass of water, or two, between those potent cocktails and fizzy fizz, and a couple more before bed.

Got a trick we need to know about? Let us know, we are all ears.

Team Pure Beauty

Health and Happiness

Why apple cider vinegar is hot right now

03/12/2019 01/12/2019 0

While your mind might be on mulled wine and cocktails, apple cider vinegar might be something to consider in the run up to Christmas.

Used medicinally and therapeutically for centuries, it is made from apple juice that is fermented into apple cider, and fermented again to become apple cider vinegar.
Your skin, hair, house, and even your pets could benefit from a little raw, organic, unfiltered, apple cider vinegar and this how.

Healthy stomach
The fermentation process encourages the growth of healthy gut bacteria, so drinking apple cider can help with digestion, boost the immune system, and even positively affect mental health. It is also worth noting that as well as probiotics, it also contains anti-viral, anti-yeast and anti-fungal goodness which can make your stomach smile.

Blood sugar control
As you munch on chocolates and salty snacks, you may get a blood sugar crash, but apple cider vinegar can help balance things before they get too out of hand. Sipping a little before dinner may well help keep you on track help and if you aim for three meals and healthy snacks rather than grabbing the selection box for breakfast, you will feel better for it.

Keep weight under control
If you have heard of apple cider vinegar it might have been to do with weight loss. The full facts aren’t 100% but researchers believe it can suppress your appetite, so
add two teaspoons of apple cider vinegar to a glass of water and sip it throughout the day.

Hair care
A lot of shampoos are alkaline, which can topple your hair’s pH levels and cause dry ends, but using apple cider vinegar is the perfect post-shampoo rinse to restore balance, and boost body and shine. Mix ½ a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar with a cup of cold water, and run the solution through your hair after shampooing.

Use it as a cleaner
Yes, we know we said drink it, but the anti-bacterial properties in apple cider vinegar mean you can use to clean the house and it will make everything from the kitchen worktops to the shower, shine. Mix ½ a cup of apple cider vinegar with one cup of water, and get cleaning. Microwaves, kitchen surfaces, windows, glasses, and mirrors will love it, it can also be used in dishwashers as a substitute for detergent and if you leave it the loo overnight, it’ll be like new the next day.

Wash your food
Washing your fresh fruits and veggies with apple cider vinegar will not only make them safe to eat, but give them an extra dose of bacteria-fighting powers and if you mix in lemon juice, it’ll be even better.

Flea free pets
Fleas apparently don’t like the smell or taste of vinegar so think about spraying one-part apple cider vinegar and one-part water on your pet’s fur and rubbing it in generously. Repeat once a month, and you might be surprised at the results.

So, what are you waiting for, now is the time to make apple cider vinegar a part of your life.

Team Pure Beauty

Facial Treatments, Health and Happiness

Now is the Time to Tackle Hyperpigmentation

30/11/2019 01/12/2019 0

Hyperpigmentation is a problem which affects many people here in the UK. It’s estimated that 2% of people worldwide will have some issue with pigmentation, regardless of race, which might not sound like a lot, but that actually equates to over 150 million people!

Hyperpigmentation can be caused by scarring, some medical conditions, genetic conditions and other things besides, and summer is the worst time for it as it is exacerbated by the sunshine. Now that winter is here and the sun is at its weakest (although don’t be fooled into thinking that you don’t need an SPF – you still do, every day!), it’s a great time to try to get a handle on skin discolouration so we’ve put together a few tips to help you to get your skin tone back to even.

Retinols

Retinols are one of the best ingredients to grab in the fight against hyperpigmentation. This is because they work to increase cell turnover, stimulate collagen and elastin production, fade hyperpigmentation, and help skin stay hydrated and glowing without irritation. Jan Marini Age Intervention Retinol Plus Mask is a highly concentrated mask, containing retinols, which will dramatically improve the appearance of dark spots.

Night Cream

Take advantage of night time treatments for hyperpigmentation as this is the very best time to tackle the problem. Provided you don’t live somewhere that the sun shines for 2 hours a day, taking the time to treat your skin when it’s dark outside means it won’t have to fight twice as hard to heal itself. Invest in Dermalogica Overnight Retinol Repair, which accelerates skin renewal and helps reduces the appearance of dark spots.

Serums

Serums are often the most powerful, potent products that a company will offer, packing maximum effects into one potion. Hyperpigmentation can be tricky to tackle, so opting for something which packs a punch will do your skin the biggest favours. Dermalogica C-12 Pure Bright Serum is a silky-rich, highly potent treatment that absorbs quickly to optimise efficacy.

Sunscreen

We know we mentioned this above but it cannot be said enough – using an SPF is THE single most important think you can do to halt the effects of hyperpigmentation. Many people are under the impression that we only have to wear sunscreen when it’s warm outside, but the sun can do damage all year round, especially if you have issue with dark spots. Decleor Ultra Protective Anti-Wrinkle Cream SPF50 Face will give excellent protection while also attacking the signs of ageing.

Life and Fashion

How to get party fresh beauty Christmas

26/11/2019 24/11/2019 0

Ever looked in the mirror after a long day at work and wished you didn’t have to apply yet more make-up for the office drinks or yet another client dinner?

Us too.

The thing is, the run up to Christmas is busy and demands on your time, and skin, are real, so it is vital to get the basics right.

Think about your diet
Eating well can help to keep wrinkles at bay, make your skin firmer and give it that holiday glow. Nuts, oats, oily fish like salmon and tuna as well as berries, spinach and oranges all come with skin loving vitamins and nutrients that will give you a natural boost, and if you drink at least eight glasses of water a day too, you’ll be laughing. We know that happy hour is tempting but keeping your cocktail count under control and alternating booze with water, as well as getting some downtime and decent sleep, will help you to get the skin you want from breakfast to bedtime.

Cleanse, tone and moisturise
Nothing new here, we know that, but this is one of the best things you can do morning and night if you want to look and feel great in your own skin. You don’t have to spend a fortune, there are some excellent products out there for all budgets, but by following this three-step regime you ensure your skin is clean and hydrated which eases the fine lines and dry patches that even the best Snapchat filter can’t erase.

Add a primer
You might not want to have too many layers of products on your skin, but a primer can be your saving grace on the dance-floor and in all those Christmas selfies! As well as helping your make-up to last longer, the right primer can give you an added moisture boost, so your skin is hydrated, and fine lines are eased.

Exfoliate
If you want snow smooth skin, we suggest you exfoliate it once or twice a week. Find a product which suits your skin and as it washes away those dulling, dead skin cells that can make you look tired and grey, you will be left looking healthy and revitalised. Be careful with the delicate skin around the eyes as this is thin, super sensitive and easy to irritate or damage.

Redo on the run
We hate to break it to you, but make-up fixes with your fingers just won’t cut it when it comes to festive fun. If you have a big night coming up straight after work, carry brushes and sponges with you as well as sample sizes of your regular products and you won’t regret it. Not only will this keep your complexion clear as you will be stopping bacteria and dirt spreading from your hands to your face, but it will give you a smooth, even base and adding a little of your moisturiser to your foundation will give you a soft, dewy finish.

Have a highlighter handy
If you want to brighten up your skin before that last-minute Chrimbo date, but don’t have time for a full make-over, then a highlighter is a hero product waiting to save the day, and a slick of gloss will help too.

Light up your lids
It’s not just Christmas trees that look good with lights on you know! While many people favour the smoky eye, lighter, neutral tones don’t smudge and crease as much, so your overall look will be fresher and more stylish. Go for a shimmery eye shadow and blend across your lid with a slightly darker tone, then vamp it up with a volume blasting black mascara and festive red lipstick.

Go pro
Between parties and cocktails, why not book into your local salon for a relaxing facial and you will leave with a glow and a smile in time for the next event.

Team Pure Beauty

Facial Treatments, Health and Happiness, Life and Fashion

Top Facial Hair Removal Methods for Women

23/11/2019 22/11/2019 4

For centuries, women have removed their facial hair, yet we’re in 2019 and it’s still something that we rarely talk about. Sure, everyone talks about their eyebrows, but it’s much rarer to hear people talk about removing hair from their chins, sideburns or top lip. Well, we’re here to tell you that one in 14 women in the UK suffers from some degree of hirsuitism and there are many health conditions which cause excess hair. With this in mind, we’re taking a look at the best ways for women to remove facial hair safely and effectively:

Waxing

Waxing is one of the most popular ways to remove facial hair because it’s quick, easy, accurate and the results last a decent amount of time. You can wax yourself at home, although this does take a little practice, especially if you use hot wax, so we’d recommend visiting an expert in a salon. Use Elemis Tea Tree S.O.S. Spray on the areas you’ve waxed to prevent infection or ingrown hairs.

Shaving

You might be surprised to hear that facial shaving is becoming increasingly popular with women, even for those who only have the tiniest amount of peach fuzz. This is because many women feel their make up sits better and is easier to apply on a smooth canvas. If this is for you, make sure you use a clean, sharp razor every time and use with Elemis Skin Soothe Shave Gel for a close finish.

Threading

Threading is an ancient method of hair removal, popular in Eastern cultures and gives an extremely precise finish. It’s perfect for eyebrows, top lips, chins and sideburns and, like waxing, pulls the hair out at the root which means the results at a long time. You can learn to thread, but it takes a LOT of practice, plus it’s usually so cheap to have done in a salon that we’d always recommend going to an experienced professional. You should also use Dermalogica Redness Relief Essence afterwards to control redness and irritation.

Plucking

If you’re lucky enough to just have the odd hair here and there, going for the good old fashioned tweezers might be the best option for you. You don’t need a broader method like shaving or waxing and tweezing can be done at home, in the privacy of your bathroom. Make sure you use a good pair of tweezers and disinfect them before each use to ensure you don’t transfer any bacteria to your skin and treat your face to some Decleor Organic Rose D’Orient Soothing Comfort Oil Serum once you’re done.

Electrolysis

If you’re serious about removing hair for good, electrolysis could be a good option for you. Electrolysis safely and permanently removes all types of hair from all skin tones by permanently destroying the growth cells of the hair follicle and preventing treated hairs from ever growing back. Treatment can be applied to most facial and body parts including eyebrows, chin, upper and lower lip, jaw line and sides of the face.

Life and Fashion, Manicures

Nail Colours for the Winter Season

19/11/2019 17/11/2019 0

Having your nails done, for many people, is one of life’ little pleasure, and there’s no denying the fact that professionally manicured nails make your whole appearance look tidier and more pulled-together. However, it’s often tough to make the choice of what colour you want to go for when faced with a huge choice of polishes, o we’ve gone into our Orly stocks and picked out five autumnal colours to give you some inspiration when choosing your next mani:

Orly Breathable The Antidote

Nothing say autumn than deep wine shades, and with the huge popularity of mustard in autumn/winter fashion for 2019, this would probably compliment most of your wardrobe, too. All Orly polishes nourish and hydrate to strengthen and grow with argan oil, pro-vitamin B5 and vitamin C all in one longer lasting formula, to cut manicure time in half.

Orly Breathable Heaven Sent

Grey is one of those colours which has been huge in both fashion and interiors this year and it doesn’t look to be going away any time soon. This colour from Orly is described as a “charmeuse” colour, offering shimmer and depth, perfect for your nails heading into party season. Also, Orly polishes are so tough, they require no topcoat or base coat.

Orly Breathable Nail Superfood

We’d usually associate bright coral tones with summer months, but anyone who know anything about colour trends will assure you that this is a hot tone for this season. Orly describes ‘Superfood’ as a “bright watermelon cream colour” and as with all of their polishes, oxygen and hydration penetrate to the nail allowing it to stay moisturised.

Orly Breathable Detox My Socks Off

This time of year always conjures up images of deep greens, from Christmas trees to shimmering dresses worn for festive occasions, and “Detox My Socks Off” is the perfect deep green. The great thing about Orly nail varnishes is that they are all vegan friendly, cruelty free, gluten free and offer treatment and colour all in one.

Orly Breathable Fairy Godmother

The festive season would not be complete without a shimmering golden polish for your nails, and this rose-gold colour would look amazing with just about any outfit you can throw together for Christmas parties and drinks with friends. Orly never uses camphor, formaldehyde resin, parabens or xylene, giving you the confidence to know that your nails are still being cared for beneath their colourful exterior.

Health and Happiness

How look after your houseplants this winter

16/11/2019 15/11/2019 0

As well as looking pretty and bringing the outside, inside, houseplants can help improve air quality by trapping pollutants which means we can breathe more easily. However, just as you look after yourself when the winter sets in, you need to do the same for your plants, or they won’t see the cold months out.

You might think you can carry on regardless of what’s going on outside, but that isn’t the case, so we have some easy tips to ensure your greenery stays green, even when it’s blue outside.

What plants are right for you?
Some of the best bets for winter success are succulents, yuccas, ferns, cacti and Aloe Vera plants as they can put up with varied conditions and will carry on being healthy into spring and summer. We aren’t saying don’t get anything else, but we just want you to know what you can work with and keep alive.

Look at the temperature
A good step when it comes to keeping your indoor plants alive when it’s chilly outside, is to protect them from the cold air. Insulating your doors and windows is a great way to keep your plants draft free, and this can keep bills down as well. If you tend to put your house plants on windowsills during the summer, now is the time to take them somewhere warmer, but don’t put them right next to fireplaces, radiators, or heating vents because intense heat blasts won’t be helpful.

Put your plants on a diet
Unlike our waistlines, plants don’t generally grow in the winter month so you can ease off the fertiliser and food for now. Wait until the spring and when you start to see signs of growth, new shoots and green leaves, you can feed them, but for now let them relax and rejuvenate. When it comes to water, they need some, but don’t overdo it. What you don’t want to do is let your plants sit in water as this can cause root rot, fungus, and generally leave them at risk of damage and dying. Yellow leaves and mouldy soil are signs that you are watering them too much, so just go easy on the fluids if you want them to stay alive.

Let the light shine in
Just as we love sunlight in the winter, so do plants as it keeps them strong and healthy. We would suggest you give them access to natural sunlight and also rotate them to make sure each one gets the rays and the shade they need.

Get your duster out
This isn’t a joke! Just like everything in your house, dust and dirt can build up on the leaves of your plants and this stops them from soaking up the sun we have just been talking about. You don’t need polish, but what you can do is gently clean leaves with a damp cloth every other week and this will let the light shine through and keep them healthy.

Got a tip you want to share, let us know!

Team Pure Beauty

Health and Happiness

Drink herbal teas to keep the bloat away

12/11/2019 12/11/2019 0

Our bodies are brilliant machines that not only work to keep us alive and safe, but they also alert us when something isn’t right. As we zoom at full speed towards the festive season, there is more temptation than ever to eat rich foods, but these salty snacks and heavy meals can leave us feeling full and bloated. One way to keep this problem at bay, is to watch how much you eat at the buffet and not to refill your glass to many times, but if temptation gets in the way and bloating hits, herbal tea can help.

The good news is that Mother Nature’s herbs can fight bloating and discomfort and the water in each cuppa keeps you hydrated. We have some fab de-bloating tea ideas that we think you will like.

Green tea
Green tea has a lot of health benefits because it comes with a powerful dose of rich polyphonic ingredients. Drinking green tea can help with the gas that causes bloating and helps to settle your stomach. There are lots of versions of green tea to choose from and it can be quite potent and strong, so find something that works for you. Remember that green tea has a natural caffeine kick, so not one to drink before bed but could help with a morning hangover – if you can handle it?

Chamomile tea
Chamomile tea is great because not only does it help you relax and fall asleep, but you can also use it when bloating kicks in and leaves you feeling a little grotty. While you can make it fresh, keep a stock of organic tea bags in your kitchen, and handbag, and when the pain starts, boil the water and let nature get to work.

Lavender tea
Yes, you read it right. Lavender is one of the most beloved herbs used today and as well as using it in beauty and calming products, it can also be drunk to help your sore stomach. Sipping lavender tea can help ease bloating and swelling and if you’re feeling sick, it could take the edge of that too. Now, don’t pour your oil into a cup of water, instead let a small number of dried lavender buds rest in boiling water and drink once cooled.

Ginger tea
Ginger has been used to help with tummy troubles for thousands of years. This is because the oily resin from the root of the plant contains powerful bioactive components that can set bloating free. You can buy ginger tea bags, but it is super easy to make your own fresh tea. Simply peel and slice a 2cm piece of fresh ginger root and leave it to sit in boiling water for five minutes before sipping.

Dandelion tea
You might think this is a weed, but the pretty dandelion is actually a powerful medicinal herb with goodness found in the leaves, roots, and flowers – both fresh and dried. Dandelion can cause enzymatic reactions in your body that stimulate digestion and relieve bloating. If you can find flowers, put then in boiling water for five minutes or find some dandelion tea in your health food shop and feel better that way.

If all else fails, mint tea works a treat for bloating and also cleanses the palette and freshens the breath, which makes it a winner for us.

Team Pure Beauty

Facial Treatments

Busting the Most Common Retinol Myths

09/11/2019 09/11/2019 0

When you hear the word retinol, what does it make you think of? Many people are aware that it’s a common skincare ingredient, but not many know exactly what it is, or does. You might be surprised to learn that retinol is a form of Vitamin A. Not so scary now, right? Retinol is an ingredient that is used in skincare products because of its super power ability to speed up skin cell renewal and enhance collagen production. There are also a lot of misconceptions and myths surrounding retinols and their use, so we thought we put some of them straight for you:

“Retinols take 4 to 6 weeks to work”

We hate to disappoint you, but in some cases it can be double or even triple this length of time, and it all depends on your skin. Generally, by the 12 week mark, you’ll start to see a massive improvement in your skin, but the main take away from this is that you shouldn’t be disheartened if you don’t see results right away. Stick with it!

“Stop using retinols if your skin gets worse”

Retinols are very much a “things will get worse before they get better” kind of ingredient and providing you aren’t experiencing extreme discomfort or signs of an allergic reaction, you should power through because things can only get better. For many people, their issues with retinols could be solved if they didn’t give up on them so quickly, but for something potent, opt for Jan Marini Age Intervention Retinol Plus.

“Go for the strongest formula”

Different products contain different concentrations of retinol and a lot of people will go straight for the strongest, believing it to be more potent. However, this can be a little like using a sledgehammer to crack an egg. Dermalogica Overnight Retinol Repair is customisable and can be mixed with a buffer cream so that you can choose your exact concentration for yourself.

“Don’t use retinol around your eyes”

This is one of the myths we find most annoying, not least of all because so many people are missing out when the eye area is often in the MOST need for potent ingredients. Retinol might sting a little if it gets in your eye, but it’s not going to damage your skin. In fact, Jan Marini Age Intervention Eye Cream contains all-trans retinol and is designed specifically for use around the eye area.

“Retinols stop working after a year”

While it might be true that after 12 months of using the same retinol-containing products you’ll see results start to plateau, this doesn’t mean that the retinol has suddenly become useless. What this actually means is that your skin is ready for something with a higher concentration of retinol so that your improvement can continue. If you’re ready for a more intense treatment, we recommend trying Jan Marini Luminate Face Lotion, which is highly-concentrated.

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