Our Blog – Page 28 – Pure Beauty – The Lichfield Beauty Salon

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.

Health and Happiness

Foods to boost your winter heath

05/11/2019 03/11/2019 0

Yes, you can have the flu jab, and take supplements, but if you want to keep coughs and colds away this winter, you may want to think about what you eat.

The chilly days and dark nights might have you reaching for comforting cakes and sugary chocolate, but what you really want to be serving up is healthy food that will help boost your immunity and keep you from harm’s way.

We aren’t saying you have to do a total kitchen cupboard overhaul, but simply making some swaps and adding some new foods to your plate could be all it takes to get in tip-top condition.

Brilliant broccoli
You need broccoli in your life simply because it’s bursting with bug fighting nutrients and also contains choline which is good for your gut. Yes, you can cook your broccoli, but also try eating it raw because it’s more nutritious this way. Brussel sprouts, cauliflower, and kale are also winning winter foods, so stock up, get eating and feel fabulous.

Call time with cinnamon
When you next enjoy a cuppa, ease up on the sugar and instead sprinkle some cinnamon on the top of your drink. You might think this spice is only for Christmas, but cinnamon is great for your gut and immune system, so if you end up with a cold, it should help it clear up quicker. You can also try mixing it with raw honey, which has similar properties, or put in healthy puddings and smoothies, give it a go and see what works for you.

Glorious garlic
As well as tasting great, did you know that raw garlic is brilliant at helping your immune system to fight fit? Well, it does! This is because it comes with amazing natural antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, that are key to warding off illnesses and speed up recovery too. Simply crush or slice garlic cloves and add to salad dressings and veggies, and if you can’t go cold with this, you can add to curries, sauces, stir-fries, roasts and many other dishes, but whatever you do, add it.

Oranges
Nothing new here, but we will tell you once again that vitamin C is a sure-fire way to help you fight off infections. Vitamin C isn’t stored in your body so you need to try and have foods that contain it every day. If oranges aren’t your thing, then tomatoes, peas, and peppers also have a healthy dose of the good stuff, and there is nothing stopping you from taking a supplement and drinking lemon with hot water and ginger is pretty good for you, too.

Watermelon
Watermelons come with a good serving of citrulline which helps keep your heart healthy, and they’re jam-packed with vitamins A, C, and B6 too, so if you spot them in the shops – buy them. The goodness carries on because the lush red flesh is full of the lycopene that not only helps strengthen bones but keeps your immunity balanced.

Yogurt
Rather than having milk with your cereal, why not drop have a dollop or two of yogurt instead? Go for a decent brand that contains friendly bacteria as this will help your immune system fight bad gut bacteria and encourage your body to produce more white blood cells, which are key to being happy and healthy.

So, bin the biscuits and get healthy this winter.

Team Pure Beauty

Health and Happiness, Life and Fashion, Manicures

How To Look After Your Nails Between Salon Visits

02/11/2019 01/11/2019 0

Visiting a salon to have your nails done feels like a lovely, luxury treat for many of us. However, even if you’re lucky enough to have your nails done by a professional on a regular basis, you still sometimes need to do a little bit of maintenance yourself, between visits. With this in mind, we’ve put together a little guide to show you what you can do to keep your nails in tip-top condition, even if you’re not due to see your regular manicurist for a while:

Keep Your Nails Tidy

Nails don’t always grow evenly, and they can also chip between salon visits. The best way to attend to this while keeping them strong and healthy is to file them into a rounded shape. File your nails from the outer edge into the centre so that each half is filed in one direction. This helps keep nails even, which prevents snags and breakages.

Don’t Cut Your Cuticles

If your cuticles have started to look ragged and untidy before your appointment, you might be tempted to cut them, but this is something that should really be left to a professional. Your cuticle protects the base of your nail and cutting them yourself can lead to uneven nail growth and even infections. Push them back with a rubber-ended cuticle stick.

Use Cuticle Oil

If your cuticles need a little more attention, then use Nailtiques Cuticle Care Oil. It comes in a handy rollerball applicator to help you to apply it in the right area with no mess and no fuss. This fresh formulation with a blend of sunflower, safflower, avocado and hemp seed oil will help keep your cuticles and skin soft and healthy.

Give Your Nails a Protective Layer

If your nails are already painted, you might not want to do anything to them, but if your nails are clean then giving them a coat of Orly Breathable Treatment and Shine Clear could really help to improve the health of your nails. It contains advanced oxygen technology which will help to nourish and hydrate to strengthen and grow with argan oil, pro-vitamin B5 and vitamin C all in one longer lasting formula.

Remember Your Whole Hand

It’s often the case that hands which are suffering from all-over dryness will also affect the nails, so remembering to hydrate your hands is essential for healthy nails. Nailtiques Hand Conditioner contains pure aloe, jojoba oil, glycerine and natural soluble collagen to deeply nourish. The cream is lightweight, non-greasy and fast absorbing, leaving your hands feeling soft, supple and cared for.

Health and Happiness, Uncategorized

Avoid burnout by practising self-care

29/10/2019 28/10/2019 0

Self-care is quite simply any activity we do on purpose to help take care of our own mental, emotional, and physical health. It sounds like a super simple concept, but it’s something that is often overlooked.

The reality is that self-can isn’t a luxury, but something that is vital for good mood and reduced anxiety as well as cutting down the likelihood of exhaustion, stress, anxiety, and burnout which you really want to avoid.

Signs of burn out include becoming withdrawn from family and friends, drinking too much alcohol, eating badly, not getting enough sleep and having a general feeling of low mood and dissatisfaction.

We spend so much of our time caring for others, we often sacrifice our own needs. Self-care is different for everyone but the important thing is that you take 10 to 15 minutes a day, to do something that allows you to totally relax and let go.

As well as eating a good diet, drinking lots of water, taking exercise and sleeping well, we have some easy ideas that will allow self-care to not only slip into your life but make it better too.

Reading
It doesn’t matter what you read, but reading is a great way to escape from life and go somewhere a little slower for a little while. Whether it’s the current bestseller, a classic or an easy to read chic lit novel, let the words leap off the page and feed your mind and imagination. Book clubs, local libraries and reading in coffee shops are all good ways to start something you may have left behind, and once you are hooked on a book the world will simply fall away and burnout will be on the back burner.

Meditation
Whether you use an app, go to a class or simply find a quiet spot at home, a little meditation can go a long way towards keeping burnout away. Find something that allows you to leave the stress of the day at the door so you can collect your thoughts, slow down your heart rate and let life go back to basics for a while.

Yoga
We love yoga at Pure Beauty because it allows you to look after your mind, body, and soul. A class can be sociable, but with many online lessons and apps out there, you can also do downward dogs to your heart’s content at home!

Gardening
If you think you haven’t got green fingers, think again. Being outside, at one with nature, creating and nurturing is a fantastic way to bring things down a notch or two and take care of yourself. You might have a big garden, a window box or a simple patio with pots, whatever it is, go out there and as you see flowers, plants and herbs grow, burnout will be the last thing on your mind.

Talk it out
You might not want to burden others with your problems but talking can be a good way to practice self-care and keep burnout at bay. What you might see as a nightmare with no escape, could actually be viewed as an exciting opportunity by someone else. It could be your partner, mum, sister, friend or even a colleague, but chatting over a cuppa is a self-care treat many of us don’t indulge in often enough.

Treat yourself
A massage, manicure or pedicure at a salon is a real self-care treat and while you can’t do it everyday, once in a while is fine. Let someone else take over while you simply lie back and let your worries fade away.

Crafting
Anything you do that stops your mind racing and worrying is a good way to improve mental health and crafting is high on the list. Knitting, crochet, painting or scrapbooking are all easy, but effective ways to add self-care into your life and can be really beneficial in preventing burn out. Find something you enjoy, join a local group and as well as keeping demons away, you can make your Christmas presents too so take away the stress of last-minute shopping that isn’t much fun.

Team Pure Beauty

Health and Happiness, Life and Fashion

How to Prolong the Life of Your Coloured Hair

26/10/2019 28/10/2019 0

There’s nothing quite like the feeling of walking out of a salon with freshly coloured hair. It can make you feel happier and more confident and help to put a spring in your step. There’s a good chance it’s also taken quite a dent out of your purse, so making your colour last as long as possible is a top priority. Thankfully, there are things you can do which will prolong the life of your colour and keep it looking glossy and vibrant for as long as possible. Here are five of our top tips for keeping your coloured hair looking good:

Deep Condition First

Hair which is well-hydrated will be more receptive to colour and will hold on to dye better and for longer. While deep conditioning treatments aren’t a great idea for a while after you’ve dyed your hair, making sure your hair is hydrated BEFORE you have it coloured will help. Use Elemis Exotic Frangipani Monoi Hair and Scalp Mask to help restore softness and strength to dry, damaged hair.

Cool the Shower

If you take showers which are super hot, there’s a good chance that this will dull your hair colour. Hot water opens up the cuticle of the hair which releases the moisture and the colour from your hair. Simply turning the temperature down when you wash your hair will help your colour to stay in place and keep it looking fresh for longer.

Hold Off on Washing

We know that you want to keep your new ‘do looking fresh, but you should try to wait as long as possible before washing your hair for the first time after having it dyed. A minimum of 48 hours is recommended, but if you can hold off for longer, that’s even better. Try to use a mild, sulphate-free shampoo like Dermalogica Daily Cleansing Shampoo.

Consider a Filter

You might have a filter for your drinking water, but did you know that you can get a filter for your shower head, too? The water that comes through our taps contains chlorine and other chemicals which can make your colour fade or strip it away altogether. Invest in a shower head filter and it will get rid of all of these nasties and help you to prolong the colour of your locks.

If You Must Use Heat, Protect

It’s a fact that heat styling with hairdryers, straighteners and curling irons will all contribute to your colour becoming dull. However, we’re also sympathetic to the fact that pretty much everyone uses some form of heat to style their hair and getting rid of it altogether is a big ask. If you must use heat, try to add a protective oil like Decleor Aroma Nutrition Satin Softening Dry Oil as this will give the hair a protective barrier and hydrate the hair for colour longevity.

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