Our Blog – Page 45 – Pure Beauty – The Lichfield Beauty Salon

Make a super smoothie to go

03/04/2018 16/04/2018 0

Busy lives, packed schedules and family demands can mean we often skip meals and grab a bar of chocolate on the run when hunger pangs strike.

Smoothies are nothing new, but because they are packed with goodness, they are a great way of getting those vital vitamins and nutrients that are often missed out of our diets because other things take over.

We don’t think this has to be the case and have put together some of our favourite smoothie recipes that are really easy to make, even when you are time poor.

Breakfast on the go

This is a simple smoothie but one that is packed with goodness and thanks to the addition of oats, it will keep you away from the vending machine mid-morning.

1 large, ripe banana
1 tablespoon of porridge oats
100g of fruit such as strawberries, blueberries or mango (go for frozen if you haven’t got any fresh options at home)
150ml of semi-skimmed milk
1 teaspoon of honey
Ice cubes

Put all the ingredients into a blender and whizz for around one minute or until smooth, adding ice cubes it you want the liquid to keep colder for longer. Pour the mixture into a flask, and start your day the healthy way.

Go, go green smoothie

Smoothies do not have to be sweet, so if you are looking for something with a more savoury edge, this is for you. Vibrant and vitamin packed, the avocado, cucumber, spinach and kale pack a punch that is evened out with coconut water and pineapple.

For this drink you will need:

1 avocado, peeled, stoned and sliced
1 cup of spinach
1 cup of kale
50g of fresh pineapple
A 15cm piece of cucumber, sliced
300ml of coconut water
Ice cubes

Put the avocado, spinach, kale, pineapple and cucumber in a blender, then add the coconut water, blitz until smooth. Then add the ice cubes and blend until they are totally broken up. This smoothie is a great mid-afternoon latte swap and will not only hydrate you thanks to the coconut water, but it tastes great too.

Vitamin C blaster to go

Pink grapefruit, strawberries and pineapple are all high in immune boosting, disease-fighting Vitamin C so if you feeling a little off colour, this is a great pick me up.

1 large pink grapefruit peeled, seeded and sliced
1 ripe banana, peeled and sliced
1/2 a cup of fresh pineapple, chopped
1 cup of strawberries
½ a cup of blueberries
1 kiwi, peeled and sliced
1/2 a cup of almond milk
Ice cubes

Put all the fruit into a blender, blitz for one minute, add the almond milk and ice and let the goodness get to work as you drink post-work out.

Got a winning smoothie recipe? Let us know what it is, we’d love to give it a go.

Health and Happiness, Life and Fashion

How to Improve The Shape of Your Bottom

31/03/2018 01/04/2018 0

Whether you’re petite or plus-sized, the shape of your bottom isn’t always affected by your size. There are size 6 women with plenty of junk in the trunk, as well as size 20 women who wish they had a few more curves in the right places. There are, however, a few things you can do to affect the shape of your derriere and we’ve put together a few tips and tricks for you to try.

Squats

When it comes to using exercise to influence your shape, there are few better things to try than squats. This can be either plain ol’ body weight squats that you can do at home, increasing your volume by 10-20 each day, or weighted squats using a rack in the gym. Either way, squats are the perfect exercise to help you to lift and tone your bottom while adding muscle volume to the areas.

Dry Brushing

Dry brushing is a brilliant way to stimulate your circulation, and if you dry brush your bottom you can also help to reduce the appearance of cellulite, which is one of the most common complaints that women make about their rear end. Use the Elemis Body Detox Skin Brush upward sweeping motions to get everything flowing in the right direction every evening before you bathe or shower.

Massage

Massage is another way to help you to get a smoother bottom as regular stimulation will reduce areas of water retention, help to disperse cellulite and will also make you feel a whole lot better if you’ve been hitting the squats as we suggested about! Elemis Cellutox Active Body Oil is the perfect oil to use for massaging your bum and will leave your skin hydrated and replenished.

Spend Less Time Sitting Down

It’s a fact that people who spend more time sitting down, because of sedentary jobs or an inactive lifestyle, will be more prone to bottoms without shape and fullness. Moving around more will help to keep your bottom from appearing flat and will also help to tone your legs, which will make the shape of your butt appear better too.

CLENCH!

If you;ve had kids, you’ll know the value of doing those random pelvic floor exercises, even while you’re just standing around waiting for a bus and the same goes for your derriere – spend a few minutes, a few times a day, clenching and releasing your glutes. It’s a mini workout for your bottom and it will really make a difference to the overall shape and perkiness of your backside if you do it regularly.

Health and Happiness

Feed your skin

27/03/2018 23/03/2018 0

Not a week goes by without a new superfood being added to our ‘must-eat’ list, making it hard to know where to start when it comes to finding the perfect balanced diet.

You really can’t go wrong if you eat a range of seasonal fruit and vegetables mixed with whole grains, pulses and good protein. Plenty of water, regular exercise and decent sleep are also a good idea.

If you really want to use your diet to feed your skin, we have some suggestions of foods that will make your complexion glow.

Pumpkin seeds
Pumpkin seeds are a pretty secret beauty hero food, but we don’t mind sharing it with you. Full of skin saving Vitamin E, zinc and magnesium, these littles seeds promote the regeneration of skin cells and are filled with protein, making them a perfect mid-morning snack that will fill you up until lunch time when mixed with almonds. Add to cereal, smoothies and salads and you are already ahead of the glowing game.

Carrots
We know carrots are meant to help you see in the dark, but they also offer skin a beauty boost, so stock up when you are shopping. Filled with beta carotene, try juicing one with an apple and a sprig of mint for a refreshing replacement to a mid-morning latte and dip them in hummus rather than reaching for a packet of crisps and your skin will thank you.

Salmon
Salmon is jam-packed with the omega-3 fatty acids which have been shown to help reduce inflammation and the signs of ageing. For a quick and easy dinner, drench a piece of fresh salmon in lemon juice, wrap it in silver foil and pop it in the oven for 25 minutes then serve with a fresh salad and sweet potato.

Blueberries
If you are going to add one fruit to your diet, make it the blueberry. Filled with antioxidants as well as essential vitamins and minerals, blueberries can help heal damaged skin and are delicious too, so eat as many as you can.

Flaxseed oil
OK, not a food as such, but flaxseed oil, like salmon, is rich in the omega-3 fatty acids that can decrease inflammation and help skin look smooth and calm. It can be pretty much added to anything from porridge and smoothies to salads and pancakes.

Green tea
We all head to the coffee pot for an energy boost, but this might not be doing you much good at all. Instead, grab a cup of green tea and as you take five minutes to relax you can let the inflammation-fighting antioxidants and vitamins keep your complexion blemish-free.

Avocado
We couldn’t do this round-up without mentioning the avocado. Complete with essential fatty acids, Vitamin E and antioxidants, avocados are staple for great skin. The ‘good fats’ are great for the cell membranes that let the good stuff into your skin and keep the bad ones out. Why not chop an avocado into a smoothie or enjoy with a tuna and egg salad at lunchtime?

Got a superfood you, love, drop us a line and let us know what it is.

Skincare Advice

Argan Oil – the Newest Wonder Ingredient

24/03/2018 23/03/2018 0

We’ve written before about how the beauty industry is often influenced by trends, just like the fashion industry, and trends of new wonder-ingredients pop up on an almost weekly basis. With brands like Elemis, Decleor and Dermalogica, however, it takes a lot more than “trends” to influence what they put in their products, so when something like argan oil does make an appearance, you know it’s really effective.

What is Argan Oil?

According to Wikipedia “Argan oil is a plant oil produced from the kernels of the argan tree (Argania spinosa L.) that is endemic to Morocco. In Morocco, argan oil is used to dip bread in at breakfast or to drizzle on couscous or pasta. It is also used for cosmetic purposes.”

What Does it Do?

Argan oil is most commonly used as a skin moisturiser to hydrate and soften skin. With its high vitamin E and fatty acid content, argan oil is the ideal product to give skin a natural boost. It absorbs easily and is non-greasy and non-irritating, which makes it a great natural moisturiser. Argan oil is also proven to make hair softer, silkier and shinier. It is the ideal hair conditioner, and it can even help to treat split ends and tame frizzy hair.

Which Products Contain Argan Oil?

Decleor Marjolaine Nourishing Oil Serum

One of the newer products on our shelves, this serum is an intesly rich moisturiser, designed to totally reinvigorate and repair very dry skin. It contains myrrh, lavender, marjoram and avocado oils, as well as argan oil, to enrich the skin with essential nutrients and protect the skins natural balance. It can be used underneath your regular moisturiser for an improved complexion.

Dermalogica Overnight Repair Serum

This serum may come in a tiny bottle but it is PACKED with age-fighting ingredients, including rose oil and jasmine oil, amongst others, as well as several peptides and amino acids, and of course argan oil. Applied at night time after cleansing your face, this serum synchronises with night time circadian rhythms to enhance skin nourishment, recovery, cell renewal and hydration levels. It also delivers a quicker, more effective penetration of actives to address skin care issues.

Decleor Hydra-Nourishing Duo Mask

This mask from Decleor performs two main functions; phase one hydrates the skin to give a soothing sensation. Phase two provides nourishment and relieves feelings of tightness and irritation. The mask contains cranberry oil, as well as argan oil, and leaves the skin with improved luminosity.

Skincare Advice

Rosacea – what’s it all about?

20/03/2018 18/03/2018 0

While generally poorly understood, rosacea is a pretty common, acne-like inflammatory skin condition that particularly affects the face.

The symptoms often start with skin flushing with the complexion turning red for short periods of time and this can be accompanied by burning and stinging, dryness, spots as well as small blood vessels becoming visible.

There isn’t an exact cause of rosacea but abnormalities in facial blood vessels and reactions to microscopic mites are thought to be two possible reasons for flare ups. It is also thought that stress, light exposure, hot and cold weather, alcohol, caffeine, spicy foods are triggers that can make things worse.

There are no specific tests for rosacea, but seeing your GP about persistent symptoms and getting an early diagnosis can help to stop things getting worse and offer peace of mind. They will talk over your concerns, ask about your possible triggers, examine your skin and while there is no cure they can help with a treatment plan.

When medication is offered, it generally comes in the form of creams and gels that are applied, under guidance, to the affected skin areas and in some cases antibiotics are prescribed too.
A lot of the treatment is around self-care, so leading a healthy lifestyle and avoiding your own personal triggers, be that not drinking alcohol, choosing decaf tea and coffee and reducing exposure to sunlight, is advisable.

In some cases laser and intense pulsed light (IPL) treatment might be offered. This involve beams of light being directly aimed at the inflamed blood vessels in the skin so they shrink and become less visible.

While treatment can control the symptoms (there is no cure), rosacea can change the appearance of the skin which can cause embarrassment and affect everyday life.

“I suddenly found myself with rosacea in my early 40s and it had not only an impact on my skin but also my confidence and self-esteem”.
Helen

It is important to know that millions of people around the world suffer with this condition and you aren’t alone. Taking care of your diet and lifestyle will help you feel more in control and following your treatment plan will hopefully keep your skin calm and healthy. If you do feel self-conscious, try not to let it take over your thoughts and some people find meditation helps them keep calm and grounded.

If you really do struggle with the physical impact of rosacea, go back to your GP and see if they can help with some counselling or support. It is also worth noting that the charity, Changing Faces, offers a variety of services for anyone in the UK who has a condition that affects their appearance.

Body Treatments, Health and Happiness

Get Your Glow On

17/03/2018 18/03/2018 0

At this time of year, with the last of Winter hanging on for dear life and even more snow in the forecast, it’s easy to feel very drab and dull, favouring warmth and comfort over a glam glow. However, Spring is just around the corner and giving your body an overhaul to get your glow on can make you feel better and improve your mental wellness, too. Here are five of our favourite products for helping to restore your glow:

Elemis Fruit Active Rejuvenating Mask

Face masks are a great way to get rid of the dull, dead skin that may be shrouding your complexion and stopping it from looking its best. This mask from Elemis contains naturally occurring fruit extracts from strawberry and kiwi, mixed with a kaolin base to restore radiance, enhance circulation, and brighten the skin, leaving you looking rejuvenated and glowing.

Decleor Intense Glow Dark Circle Corrector

Is there anything more likely to make you look tired and drawn than dark circles under your eyes? This dark circle corrector from Decleor had a refreshingly delicate texture and is an all-in-one treatment for dark circles, containing caffeine to stimulate drainage to reduce puffiness, as well as orange pigments which deliver an instant illuminating effect.

Elemis Exotic Lime and Ginger Salt Glow

Exfoliating your body is also a good way to improve your overall glow, and this salt-based exfoliator from Elemis is designed to specifically remove dead cells, tone the skin, increase blood flow and even improve your metabolism. It improves the skin’s ability to absorb moisturisers and other products and contains no parabens, SLS or mineral oils.

Decleor Intense Glow Awakening Cream

Fatigue is one of the main causes of feeling as though you’ve lost your glow as it can cause dark circles and tired-looking skin. This cream from Decleor is designed to impart radiance into skin every morning, and contains powerful active ingredients, to work on the signs of tired skin. Tamarindus Extract offers intense hydration and optimum skin softening, smoothing fine lines and wrinkles to fully rejuvenate skin.

Elemis Total Glow Bronzing Body Lotion

Gradual tanner is one of the very best ways to increase your glow and make you feel less like you’ve been hibernating in a cave for the past six months! This bronzing lotion from Elemis is designed to deeply moisturise the skin, while building a gradual, even, natural looking tan. It contains anti-oxidant rich green tea for a more even skin tone and red algae extract to help ensure long-lasting hydration.

Life and Fashion

Healthy hair for spring

13/03/2018 09/03/2018 0

The Beast from the East may have left our shores, but the snow and wind it bought our way marked the end of a harsh winter. As well as your skin taking a battering from sub-zero temperatures outside, and central heating blasts inside, your hair can also be damaged by the elements.

We have had a look at how to get your hair healthy for spring and summer 2018.

Wash less
The truth is, there are no hard and fast rules when it comes how many times you should wash your hair, but over washing it – which means every day or more – can dry it out and strip it of natural oils. While thick and curly hair can benefit from a few days without washing, someone with thin, straight hair might not feel the same way. Find a good quality shampoo and conditioner that works well for your hair, and lifestyle, and aim for two to three washes a week. If you hair does get oily, try using dry shampoo on your roots to help soak up excess oil in between washes.

Go for a cold rinse
When it comes to your conditioner, rinse it off with cold water if you can bear it. This will help with improve strength and leave your locks looking super shiny when your hair is dry.

Careful combing
It is important to tame wet hair with a wide toothed comb and run it from the roots to the ends of your hair as gently as possible to prevent damage.

Pat it dry
Even better than combing your hair, is patting it dry. While many people rub their hair dry it is easy to yank it which will damage the roots and ends. Pat drying might take longer but it is gentler on the hair and more effective. When you hair is dry, don’t brush, comb or handle too much as this can make it lank, dirty and greasy which means you will want to wash it all over again.

Get it cut
Having your hair trimmed every few weeks will get rid of split ends and allow your hair to grow and look healthy. Chopping off around 1cm every 6 to 8 weeks will make a big difference to your hair and you will be surprised at how fast it grows when you look after it.

Be kind
Avoiding really hot water, straighteners and hot settings on hair dryers makes sense if you want to keep your hair healthy so leave it to dry naturally when you can. When you can avoid styling products and give your hair a break from mousses, gels and waxes when you’re not going out.Couring and highlighting your hair might give you a fashion edge, but bleach and chemicals can really destroy your hair so either go back to your natural colour or use gentle options if you want to stay blond or branch into being a brunette.

Apply a soothing mask
Once a week treat your hair to a rich, coconut oil mask. Wash your hair as usual and pat dry. Mix two tablespoons of warm coconut oil with one tablespoon of olive oil, then massage the mixture into your scalp and then from the roots to the ends and wrap your head in a warm towel for 20 minutes. Wash and rinse your hair then leave it to dry and see how soft it feels and how shiny it looks.

Eat protein
Hair is made of protein so adding eggs, tuna, steak, beans, lentils, nuts and soy into your diet will not only strengthen your hair and promote growth, but it will add to your overall health and wellbeing.

Get a hat
Whether it’s a beanie in the winter, a sun hat on holiday or a swimming cap when diving into a chlorine pool, covering your hair can make a bigger difference to keeping it healthy.

Good luck and let us know how you get on.

Health and Happiness, Life and Fashion

5 Tips for Applying Make-up to Ageing Skin

10/03/2018 09/03/2018 0

As we get older, our skin changes, and because of this our make-up routine usually needs to change too. As well as looking at the products we use, we also need to think differently about HOW to apply them, so we thought we’d put together five tips on how to get flawless make-up, even on ageing skin.

SKINCARE

The first thing you should be doing is applying a good quality anti-ageing cream, such as Decleor Lift and Firm Day Cream, to your skin before applying your make-up. This will help to smooth your skin and plump any areas of fine lines or wrinkles, essentially giving you a better canvas on which to work.

PREP

Once your anti-ageing cream has worked it’s magic, you’ll want to apply a primer. This will create a blurred appearance to your skin, add radiance and even out your skin tone, ready for your base. Dermalogica HydraBlur Primer is ideal because it minimises the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, mattifies against oily shine and imparts a silky finish onto the skin.

THINK

Think about the type of foundation you want to use as a base. Older skin is often dry, so powder-based products can add to the dryness and end up looking flaky. Equally, a heavy, oil-based foundation can be way too much on skin which has lost even a tiny bit of elasticity and will look cakey. Opt for a dewy base with medium coverage like Decleor BB Cream 24 Hour Hydration – it gives a wash of colour which looks natural and flattering and also contains an SPF for added protection.

BLUSH

Once you’ve got your base sorted, adding a bit of colour back to your cheeks is a must – it will add a youthfulness to your face which could be lost if you leave your face as one solid block of base colour, and will brighten your whole complexion. We’d advise using a cream blush, rather than a powder as these can look dated and unflattering on ageing skin.

BROWS

Many women find that their browns naturally thin-out as they age, and while we aren’t suggesting going for the very full-on look which seems to be fashionable for brows at the moment, filling them in with a brow pencil to give a little more definition can really complement our face and give a finishing touch to your overall look.

Life and Fashion

Smart beauty tips

06/03/2018 05/03/2018 0

We all like to look, and feel good, but with busy lives and endless demands from family and friends, we are often left time poor when it comes to ourselves and run out of the door with wet hair and a smudge of mascara.

We have come up with some easy but effective ways you can look great without it taking ages or costing a fortune.

Go easy on concealer
You might think concealer will help ease the dark circles under your eyes but it can make you look older, especially if you don’t go with the right colour – you want to match your natural skin tone not lighten or darken it. Rather than spending time covering up your skin, use those precious moments to add a little concealer to even out your skin tone rather than covering up your complexion completely. If you don’t want to clog fine lines, add a little eye cream and the creamy texture will smooth out problem areas.

Bronze it
Dusting your cheeks and eyelids with bronzing powder gives you an instant natural glow that takes seconds but lasts for hours.

Clean your nails
If you are between nail appointments, or just need to make your hands look good, a great place to start is with a lemon. Simply slice a lemon in half and run the fruit over your nails to help fade stains and bring them back to life. You can also mix two teaspoons of lemon juice with two tablespoons of warm water and soak your nails for 15 minutes, then dry them and use a gentle hand and nail cream to seal the deal.

Dry shampoo
If you don’t have time to wash your hair, don’t despair. There are some great dry shampoos on the market that will take your tresses from greasy to sleek in seconds. One great tip to keep oil at bay is to use your dry shampoo before bed, and then again when you wake and you will be surprised by the transformation.

Exfoliate tiredness away
Exfoliation is key for bright, healthy skin as it removes excess dirt while cleansing deep into your pores which allows cell regeneration to happen and for products to be easily absorbed. The skin on your face is more delicate than it is on your body so choose a dedicated product, follow the instructions and you will be amazed at how much difference you will see from the very first use.

Go for smart storage
There is nothing more frustrating than investing in good products, only to find they don’t stand the test of time because of the way you have used them. Don’t pump your mascara wand as this lets air in and dries it out which means buying another mascara sooner than necessary. Keep your perfume in a cool, dark place away from direct sunlight and do the same for nail polish, ensuring the lid is on tightly and standing upright to prevent discoloration and spillages. Keep brushes in a separate pot and wash them often to keep them in good condition and free from bacteria.

Get your H2O
We have said it before and we will say it again, drink plenty of water every day. Drinking at least eight glasses of water a day will not only keep you hydrated and alter but it will ensure your skin, eyes, hair and nails are in tip-top condition. Add in a balanced diet with regular exercise and sleep and you will glow.

Remove your make-up
It doesn’t matter if that one bottle of wine turned to two or if you are super-tired, always cleanse, tone and moisturise at the end of the day if you really want to look after your skin.

Smile
Life is for loving so add a smile wherever you go and you will look fab.

Body Treatments

Make Your Body a Well-Oiled Machine

03/03/2018 05/03/2018 0

Winter is a really good time to use rich, nourishing products to protect your face, hair and body, and there are few products which do this better than oils. We stock several different oil-based products, all of which nourish different parts in different ways, and we’ve put together five of our favourite for your perusal:

Elemis Superfood Facial Oil

This facial oil from Elemis contains oils extracted from a number of different superfoods to nourish your face deeply from within. Oils from broccoli seed, flax seed, Daikon radish, rosehip, cucumber, macadamia, poppy seed, rice bran and meadowfoam seed contain Omega 3, 6, 7 and a whole range of vitamins to moisturise the skin, improve the skins own natural barriers and soothe the skin, reducing redness.

Decleor Body Refining Oil Serum

This body oil from Decleor contains 100% natural oils to help to refine the skin and reduce the ‘orange peel’ appearance of cellulite. It helps to restore softness and elasticity within the skin and it is concentrated with essential oils of grapefruit and patchouli known for their aromachological energizing and stimulating properties.

Elemis Cellutox Active Body Oil

This is Elemis’offering in the fight against cellulite and contains a powerful synergy of sea buckthorn, sea fennel, lemon and juniper essential oils. It bears the Elemis promise of no artificial colours or preservatives and should be rubbed into the body after a bath or shower to increase its effectiveness.

Decleor Aroma Nutrition- Satin Softening Dry Oil

This oil from Decleor is actually a dry oil and can be used on your face, body AND hair. It contains frankincense, camellia, rose and sweet almond oils, which nourish the skin and hair without leaving you feeling greasy. Skin will feel moisturised and hair will look shiny and sleek. Apply to the body in upward strokes.

Elemis Musclease Active Body Oil

This oil from Elemis not only nourishes the skin, but also contains ingredients which soothe aching muscles and helps to loosen stiff joints. It’s best for problem areas, such as lower back, abdomen, buttocks and thighs when the body is warm and can helps ease muscle spasm caused by sport, dance, physical work and wear and tear.

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