Our Blog – Page 34 – Pure Beauty – The Lichfield Beauty Salon

Facial Treatments, Health and Happiness, Life and Fashion

How To Bring Your Skin Out of Hibernation in Time for Spring

16/03/2019 18/03/2019 0

20th March is officially the first day of Spring and although it may still be too chilly to throw off the woolly jumpers and parade around in a summer dress, it’s definitely a good time to start bringing your skin out of hibernation. Hydration and exfoliation are the keys to a revived complexion, and we have 5 tips to help:

Exfoliation

As we said above, the first step should be sloughing away dead skin cells which have accumulated all winter. For the face, we recommend Elemis Dynamic Resurfacing Facial Pads, a gentle but effective skin exfoliator and for the body, Decleor 1000 Grains Body Exfoliator is a sumptuous body scrub to leave skin feeling smooth, soften and refined.

Hydrate

We know that drinking pints of water gets really boring, but it’s something that needs to be done. However, one way to supplement your hydration without feeling like you might drown is to eat fruit and veg with a high water content, like lettuce, cucumbers and obviously watermelon, which is over 90% water.

Moisturise

Once you’ve sloughed away all the dead skin cells, you’ll want to make sure you keep the new cells beneath well hydrated. For the face, Decleor Lift and Firm Day Cream will kep you hydrated all day long, while for the body, we recommend Decleor Moisturising Body Milk to help to hydrate and nourish the skin.

Glow

If your body looks like a milk bottle, you might feel a little better with a bit of a glow to remind you that spring and summer will be on their way…eventually! Use Decleor Gradual Glow Hydrating Body Milk as it’s the perfect treatment to offer intense nourishment to the body as well as gradually enhance it with a beautifully natural golden glow.

Spring Clean!

This one may sound odd, but cosmetics have an expiration date too. If you’re harbouring loads of products that you bought last year and want your complexion to have the best chance of looking fab for spring, then now would be a really good time to spring clean your make-up bag, dressing table and bathroom cabinets.

Body Treatments, Facial Treatments

The Low-Down on Exfoliation

12/03/2019 12/03/2019 0

Whether you’re a beauty guru or a relative beginner, most of us know that exfoliation is a key step in our beauty routines and an important part of keeping our skin healthy. But WHY do we need to exfoliate, and are we focusing on all of the parts which need a good scrubbing? We’ve got the low-down on exfoliation so you can make sure you’re getting it right.

Why should we exfoliate?

The skin is a living, breathing organ, constantly renewing itself and replacing old skin cells. During this process, dead skin cells sometimes manage to cling to the skin and this can leave your skin looking dry, dull and generally not great. Exfoliation clears away these old cells, encourages cell renewal, stops pores from becoming blocked with dead cells and improves circulation, too.

Where should we exfoliate?

Well, the obvious answer is – basically everywhere! Most of us will use scrubbing products on our face and bodies, but certain key areas often get forgotten. Your back is one huge area that often gets left out, so investing in a body brush and getting someone to give your back a once over every now and again would be a good idea.

Another key area which gets forgotten more than almost any other is our scalp. Exfoliating the scalp regularly can keep it healthier in the long run, preventing issues from cropping up and improving the look of hair. Our skin and scalp are part of the same ecosystem, as we would exfoliate, cleanse, and moisturise our skin, we should do the same with our scalp.

You may also be surprised to learn that exfoliating your armpits and bikini lines is really important. Most of us either shave or wax (or use some other hair removal method) in these areas which makes us susceptible to ingrown hairs. Exfoliating allows ingrown hairs to be released from under the skin, stopping them from forming into boils and becoming infected.

Which Products Do We Recommend?

Face

For the face, we recommend Decleor Phytopeel Smooth Exfoliating Cream, a gentle cream exfoliator that removes dead skin cells for a clear and radiant complexion. It’s suitable for all skin types and can be used once or twice a week as a part of your regular routine.

Body

For the body, we recommend Elemis Exotic Lime and Ginger Salt Glow, which is an invigorating and nourishing exfoliator that tones and boosts metabolism.

Health and Happiness

How to boost your health in five minutes

09/03/2019 12/03/2019 0

60 seconds in a minute, 60 minutes in an hour, 24 hours in a day, seven days a week and there is only one you!

While it might seem they you just don’t have enough time in your life to get everything done, the worst thing you can do for your health is to place yourself at the bottom of the pile.

When life is crazy and things are getting you down, try to find five minutes to step back and look after you.

Breathe
We sometimes forget that our body and brain needs to slow down and if we do that, it can help us to catch up with ourselves. Once an hour, just take time out and stop what you are doing for five minutes and focus on your breathing. Set a timer for five minutes, sit in a quiet place, be that on your sofa, at your desk or even in the car before you collect the kids, and take deep breaths in through your nose and out through your mouth. Your thoughts might wander but bring them back to the now and feel your mind calming down as you block out the world for those precious moments.

Move it
The NHS may well recommend around 150 minutes of moderate exercise a week, but let’s be honest – that isn’t a reality for many people. Doing something is better than doing nothing at all, and shorter bursts of high intensity exercises can benefit your health, so not having a lot of time isn’t an excuse. Set your watch for this five-minute workout and do it as much as you can – warm up first, jog for 20 seconds, walk for 20, sprint as fast as you can for 20 seconds. Repeat five times and we think that in time, you will want to do more.

Have a plan
We aren’t saying that you have to plan every waking second but as the saying goes, ‘failing to prepare is preparing to fail’ so get your house in order. Spending just five minutes each day planning your meals, ensuring you have your admin up to date and looking at what you have coming up that needs organising, can make life a lot easier and smoother. Get a new notebook or diary, use Trello or even send emails to yourself and all of a sudden you will feel more in control.

Call up your bestie
Yes, you can like a post on Facebook or comment on a photo on IG, but there is nothing like talking to a friend in person. Work out which friends, or family members, like to have a chat and when you have a spare five minutes, give them a call. Talk about the weather, catch up with their news, ask for their for their ideas on your next holiday and you will be surprised at how much this will help relax you.

Think positive
It might not be easy, but looking on the bright side of life can make things better and even lead to increased success at home and work. At the end of each day spend five minutes listing the good things that have happened in the past 24 hours, however small. You will find your mood lifts – and if you make it a regular habit, who knows what may follow.

Get in the water
Have a bath, shower or even go for a quick swim and let the water take over your senses and calm your body and brain. You don’t have to spend ages getting wet, but even a paddle in the sea can really have great benefits for you.

Team Pure Beauty

Health and Happiness, Life and Fashion

Debunking Common Skincare Myths

05/03/2019 05/03/2019 0

Here at Pure Beauty, we love nothing more than giving advice to our clients to help guide them with their skin routines and issues, and we try to stick rigidly to FACTS. The problem is, there’s so many skin myths out there than many people just don’t know the fact from the fiction, so we thought we’d give you five myths we hear really often to help to debunk them once and for all.

If Your Mum Has Good Skin, You Will Too

We hear SO many women in their thirties who say “I don’t need anti-ageing products as my Mum has fabulous skin”. While genetics does play a role in defining how your skin will age, there are SO many other factors, like whether you smoke, what your diet is like, how much time you’ve spent in the sun, that it’s almost pointless looking at your Mum as a measure of how you’ll age.

Oily Skin Ages Slower

Because there’s so much emphasis put on the fact that dehydrated skin shows the signs of ageing, there’s a common myth that naturally oily skin looks younger for longer. This is simply not the case, and many people with sebum overproduction actually usually suffer from underlying dryness anyway.

If I Drink Lots of Water, My Skin Will Be Perfect

The whole “8 glasses of water a day” thing gets a lot of mileage, and while there’s no denying that adequate hydration is important for the whole body, it’s only a fraction of what you need to care for your skin. Drinking 8 glasses of water a day will help but it certainly doesn’t replace a proper skincare routine.

The More Steps My Skincare Routine Has, The Better My Skin Will Look

For some people, adding serums, night creams, tonics, oils, micellar waters and all sorts of other things into your routine will probably make you look a million dollars. However, for some of us it is possible to keep it simple with a daily cleanse, tone, moisturise. The key to a good skincare routine is not having the most steps, but finding what works FOR YOU.

My Skin is Only Clean if There’s No Oil At All

We’ve all felt that literal squeaky clean feeling when we wash with soap and we’re all programmed to think that this is peak cleanliness. Actually, this is what happens when the natural, healthy, oils in your skin are totally stripped away, leaving skin open to dryness. Your skin needs its own natural oils to act as a barrier and hydration, so washing your face until it’s totally oil free is actually not such a good thing. A good cleanser will balance your skin, not strip it.

Life and Fashion

Love the skin you are in

02/03/2019 04/03/2019 0

You might think that achieving flawless skin, is impossible but we don’t think it is. The struggles with acne, dark circles, age spots, fine lines and wrinkles are real, but if you combine products with lifestyle changes, you can improve the appearance of your skin.

We have some easy tips you can use to make your skin look and feel better than ever.

Exfoliate
You probably know that you need to cleanse, tone and moisturise, but if you want great skin, you need to add exfoliating into the mix. Doing this is essential for a smooth complexion because it removes the dead skin cells that can cause your skin to be dull, grey, rough and dry. This build up can also lead to excess oil and clogged pores which can cause acne and blemishes, something we know you could do without. Aim to exfoliate twice a week with a product that is suited for your skin if you want to see the best results.

Take care in the sun
We know you’ve heard it a million times, but you really do need to look out for your skin when you are in the sun. Applying an SPF is the best way to keep your skin safe and it is a lot easier to prevent damage, rather than fix it. As well as wearing a decent SPF, keep sunglasses handy, wear a hat and long sleeves in the midday sun and if you do burn, apply an after sun lotion.

Eat berries
A decent diet is always going to help your skin, and including berries along with other fresh fruit and veg, is a good idea. Berries are loaded with the antioxidants that can help keep wrinkles at bay. Why not top yogurt with a handful of raspberries and blueberries and add a spoonful of honey, and it could help you get the gorgeous, glowing skin you have been looking for.

Drink water
Water is important for our skin because it flushes away the toxins that cause inflammation and blemishes. It also gets all those lovely nutrients and oxygen delivered to your skin cells which prevents the dehydration that can cause premature ageing. We know it seems like a lot, but aim to drink at least eight glasses of water a day, more if you’re active, and this can help you achieve dewy skin. If you want a little flavour, try adding some lemon, cucumber and mint and we recommend skin-soothing chamomile tea if you want something to warm you up.

Exercise
We all know that exercising is great for your overall health and well-being, but did you know that is can be a life saver for your skin too? When you do a decent workout, your heart beat increases, so does your blood flow and this can really nourish your skin cells. Try to do some cardio three times a week, add in some stretching too, and you will start to feel the benefits in many ways, but remember to shower afterwards so your skin is clean and fresh.

Keep stress in check
Life is busy, we know that, but stress can make your skin more sensitive, trigger breakouts and can cause interrupted sleep which is never good for your skin. To encourage healthy skin, as well as positive mental health, you need to take steps to manage your stress. Make sure you get plenty of rest and sleep, keep a to-do list so you don’t feel overwhelmed, say no now and again, Also make time for hobbies and treat yourself to a regular massage or facial and you might be surprised at the results.

Team Pure Beauty

Life and Fashion

How to cut down on your plastic

26/02/2019 27/02/2019 0

Not a day goes by without the media reporting on the wide-spread problem of plastics clogging landfills, polluting seas and killing wildlife. While you might not think that you can personally do anything to change the situation, the reality is, if we all make small changes, it could have a big impact.

We know that plastic is used everywhere and in everything, but we’ve had a look at some easy ways you can reduce your plastic usage, and help to make a difference to the planet we all want to protect.

Bag for Life
Reusable bags for life are the way to go and such an easy way to make a difference. With a 10p cost attached to most bags, use the ones you have and remember to take your own bags when you go shopping.

Drinking Straws
Don’t use plastic straws. Either go for paper or steel options, or you could just cut them out altogether – simples.

Household Products
When you buy your household products, like washing powder and dishwasher tablets, go for ones that come in boxes rather than bottles because cardboard is generally more easily recycled than plastic. It is always worth looking at ways you can reuse any packaging you do have, using them as storage containers for example. To save money and unnecessary packaging, buy food like fruit and veg as nature intended, and keep the plastic wrappings down.

Shop Local
Shopping locally will not only keep your fuel usage down because you won’t need the car, but you can ask your green grocer, butcher and baker to wrap fresh produce in paper bags and then walk or cycle home.

Coffee Cups
When you buy a take-away coffee, take your travel mug with you so you don’t need to use a paper cup and plastic lid that will then be thrown away.

Water Bottles
The same goes with water – forget the single use bottles when you can, and instead buy a pretty reusable bottle that you can refill on the go, time and time again.

Juices
As we are talking about drinks, rather than buying endless plastic containers of juice and smoothies, invest in a blender and make them fresh. Take a banana, handful of berries, an apple and a kiwi, and you have a delicious drink with no waste and no plastic to throw away either.

Food for Thought
Think about the frozen foods you are buying. Many come in plastic packaging, and even the cardboard boxes, often have a thin plastic coating. Buy fresh food when you can, batch cook and freeze meals for the week rather than throwing anything away, and you will not only cut down on processed foods in your diet, but keep your plastic wastage down too. If you take your lunch to work, put your sandwiches in a reusable container, and take warm food in a flask with your own cutlery, there’s simply no need for plastic knives and forks in this day and age.

Nappies
If you have babies and toddlers, think about using cloth nappies rather than disposable ones. This will cut down on rubbish, and save you money too.

When you do have rubbish to throw away, make sure you recycle as much as possible and remember that together we can make a difference.

Team Pure Beauty

Health and Happiness, Life and Fashion, Skincare Advice

Wedding Season – Your Six Month Skincare Plan

23/02/2019 25/02/2019 0

We’re almost at the end of February, which means that six months from now, the summer wedding season will be in full swing. Whether you’re going to be a bride, a bridesmaid, a mother of the bride, or simply a treasured guest, you’ll want to put your best foot, and your best face, forward. This means getting your skin in shape for the big day, so we’ve put together a six month plan to help you get your skin in perfect wedding condition.

Six Months

With six months to go until the big day, this is when you’ve got the most time to bring in the big guns and completely resurface your face. Start using Jan Marini Age Intervention Retinol Plus Mask twice a week as this will give you visibly smoother skin for a radiant appearance and refine pores for a clearer complexion.

Three Months

The key to getting flawless make-up is providing a perfect base and the best way to do this is to ensure optimum levels of moisture – cosmetics play MUCH nicer with your skin if there’s no dryness to contend with. We suggest adding Elemis Hydra-Boost Serum into your daily routine. It’s good for all skin types and will give a rich dose of moisture to your skin.

Six Weeks

With just six weeks to go until the big day, this is the prime time to begin using a mask to treat your skin. Decleor Energy Concentrate Youth Mask re-energises the skin and helps the skin to look plumper and firmer, with a fresh and luminous glow.

One Month

At this point, with the wedding firmly in sight, we’d suggest holding off on any powerful or potent products and sticking to a skincare regime which is gentle and designed to nurture the skin. Dermalogica’s Meet Dermalogica Kit features 30 days of Dermalogica hero products, which is the perfect way to keep your skin in check in the run up to the wedding.

One Week

If you want a natural glow to your skin for the wedding, now is a great time to start using a gradual tanner, like Elemis Total Glow Bronzing Body Lotion. This will ensure that your skin looks radiant all over without the worry about streaks or staining. The lotion is enriched with Abyssinian and elderberry seed oils to nourish and condition, and skin is left feeling soft, velvety smooth and with a beautiful golden glow.

Health and Happiness

How to keep your back healthy

16/02/2019 17/02/2019 0

Many people are blighted by back pain and this can have a massive impact on your quality of life and makes even the most simple, routine activities difficult and agonising. While you cannot perform miracles, like so many things in life, it you look after your back now, you can potentially lower your chances of developing problems later in life.

We have had a look at some of the preventative steps you can take to keep your back healthy, and they are pretty good things to do for general wellbeing too.

Keep your posture in check
Remember at school your teachers would tell you to stand up tall? Well it was for good reason. It is important to keep your back straight, whether you are sitting or standing, and try to avoid slouching forward or leaning back, as this won’t help matters. When you are standing, stand tall and proud, and make sure your ear, mid-shoulder, hip, mid-knee and ankle are aligned.

Sleep well
Having good posture isn’t only important when you are awake, but while you sleep too. We would suggest not sleeping on your tummy, because this puts extra pressure on your spine. Sleeping on your side, is better for your back and generally helps give you sleep better. It is also vital that your mattress is fit for purpose and we would suggest that if you have had yours for quite a while, and it is saggy and lumpy, you get a new one that gives you the support you need. Firm pillows are also a good idea, but try before you buy so you find one that works for you and your body.

Don’t stop moving
Whether you work-out at the gym, ride your bike or play netball a couple of times a week, it is important to keep your body moving if you want to maintain a healthy back. Combining stretching exercises, yoga or Pilates, with physical exercise, can help keep your back strong and will also give you the chance to unwind.

Look at how you work
Many of us sit at a desk for hours every day, and that can put stress on your back, so make sure your workspace is set up for your needs. Find a chair that provides good back support, keep your knees at 90-degrees and make sure you can rest your feet on the floor with ease. You don’t want to sit in the same position for a long time as this can cause your muscles to stiffen and your back to become sore, so take regular breaks away from your screen and stretch things out while you wait for the kettle to boil.

Drink water
We say this a lot, and today we are going to say it again. Spinal discs are vulnerable to hydration loss and this can lead to herniated or slipped discs, so make sure you drink plenty of water each day to keep soft tissue elastic, and joints fluid.

Have a massage
Every now an again, have a massage with a professional therapist. Not only will this give you some time out, but it will also help to ease stress and tension in your back, neck and shoulders.

Keep an eye on your weight
Being overweight or obese will influence many aspects of your health and this includes you back because excess weight puts pressure on muscles, ligaments and tendons. Maintain a constant healthy weight by combining exercise with a healthy, balanced diet.

As you can see, many of the steps you can take to help keep your back healthy, are common sense and if you put them into play now, they may well benefit all areas of your life in the future – which has to be a good thing?

Team Pure Beauty

Skincare Advice

Don’t let your make up age you

12/02/2019 17/02/2019 0

Eternal youth is something that many of us strive for. You might think that your make up is helping you to stay young-looking, but sometimes we get it wrong and it actually ages us. We have had a look at how to wear your make up so that it embraces what Mother Nature has given you and makes you look your age, if not a little younger.

Wear the right foundation
As we get older, wearing foundation becomes more important, but you need to get the shade and consistency right. We all have different skin with different needs, so find something that not only gives the right coverage but also offers protection for the sun and added hydration if your skin complexion is dry. Go with a foundation that matches your skin tone, make sure it isn’t too heavy, as this can settle in lines and wrinkles, and if you mix it with a little moisturiser, you will have added comfort for your skin too. Use either a sponge or brush to apply your foundation, rather than your fingers, as this will give a really flawless finish, but remember to wash them on a regular basis to keep them free of bacteria.

Find the right blusher for you
It’s really important to wear the right blusher shade for you – one that compliments your skin tone and doesn’t stand out from the rest your face. Once you have found the perfect colour, counter staff are always happy to help you do this, you need to apply it the right way. The colour should be visible but you don’t want to create lines or stripes as this will look really unnatural. Using a big, soft, clean brush, take the colour from under your pupils and sweep it along your cheekbones going gently upwards before blending it into your hairline. If you find powder options too drying, try a cream blusher which can help with hydration but still give you the colour you are looking for.

Keep lips light
For many people, wearing a lip liner or lipstick that’s too dark can be ageing. It might be your favourite red, but as you age, have a look at lighter, more neutral lip colours. It is also a good idea to make sure your lip liner isn’t too harsh as this is a dated look and may make lines look more prominent. Try a moisture-rich lipstick, always use a lip balm and remember to take lipstick and liner off at the end of the day.

Ease up on black eyeliner
We know many people love black eyeliner, but there comes a time when those harsh lines need to be softened. Go for a brown gel or pencil and smudge in the colour so you get a softer, classier look.

Cleanse, tone and moisturise
Whatever else you do, always make sure you cleanse, tone and moisturise both morning and evening. This will ensure your skin is clean and hydrated, smooth and nourished and looking great whatever your age. You can add in an exfoliator to ensure dead cells aren’t dulling your complexion, and a serum can add the extra layer of love, so your skin looks dewy and youthful. When you can, treat yourself to a professional facial as this will not only keep your skin looking healthy, but it is a great chance for you to lie back and relax for an hour.

Our best overall tip to stop your make up from ageing you, is to remember to keep things light and natural, and we believe that less is always more.

Team Pure Beauty

Body Treatments, Facial Treatments, Skincare Advice

What’s the Holy Grail of Glowing Skin?

09/02/2019 17/02/2019 0

One of the most-requested pieces of advice that our customers want is “how do I get glowing skin?”. Everyone wants that healthy glow which makes us look more youthful and beautiful, but not everyone knows how to get it. That’s why we’ve curated a list of five products which can help you achieve a youthful glow.

Jan Marini Bioglycolic Resurfacing Body Scrub

The first step to an all-over body glow is making sure your skin is free from layers of dead cells and dry skin, which is where this body scrub from Jan Marini comes in. It combines highly concentrated glycolic acid with exfoliating particles and key botanical extracts for noticeably smoother glowing skin that is silky smooth to the touch.

Decleor Gradual Glow Hydrating Body Milk

Only the most seasoned globe-trotters have a real tan in the UK at this time of year, which is why we recommend faking it. This body milk from Decleor will build to an even, natural glow without leaving streaks or patches and will intensely nourish the skin in the process, making you look even healthier.

Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm

This cleansing balm from Elemis is designed to dissolve make-up, daily grime and pollutants to ensure your skin is perfectly clean, but it also deeply nourishes the skin using elderberry, starflower and optimega oils, as well as anti-ageing algae, padina pavonica. This leaves your complexion feeling and looking more radiant than ever.

Decleor Intense Glow Awakening Cream

No-one looks radiant when their face looks tired and drawn, which is why Decleor developed this awakening cream. It’s a day moisturiser to help restore radiance and eliminate signs of fatigue and uses orange flavonoids as well as samphire extract, which improves skin tone and evenness of complexion.

Elemis Superfood Facial Wash

Cleansing your skin is essential to maintaining a glow, but this superfood-packed facial wash from Elemis is an active pre-biotic, leaving skin looking radiant, with an outdoor-fresh glow. Avocado, broccoli and pumpkin seed oils are combined to help balance the skin’s precious microbiome. Wheatgrass, kale, and nettle are combined to leave the complexion looking luminous, bright and radiant.

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