Our Blog – Page 46 – Pure Beauty – The Lichfield Beauty Salon

Find true love online

06/02/2018 12/02/2018 0

The dating world is awash with apps and sites promising singles not only fun but also the change to meet that someone special and hopefully find love.

With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, if you feel like Cupid needs a little digital help when it comes to helping you find ‘the one’, we have done the research for you.

Some are old, some are new and we hope there will be one that works for you.

Match.com allows users to check out profiles based on criteria like appearance, hobbies and profession. You will be sent profiles of potential partners that correlate to the personality traits and interests you listed as important when you signed up and for many the right match comes along at the right time.

With Tinder, it’s all about the swipes. Log onto the app and check out the photos of fellow ‘friends’ and while there is a bio, this tends to be more about physical attraction than a mental connection…..well at the start of things at least.

For women who like to be in control, there’s Bumble. While it is pretty much based on first impressions and how people look, this app is all about the female users making the first move. As well as finding love, you can use Bumble Bizz to network and further your career and if it’s new friends you’re after, Bumble BFF is perfect.

By completing a detailed personality test, eHarmony matches you with potential partners who have similar interests and values. This well established, award-winning site has been bringing people together for over three decades, and if you don’t want to be bombarded with endless, unsuitable profiles, it could be the place for you.

Another mobile app that is on the rise, is Plenty of Fish which is used by thousands of love birds. This free matchmaking service claims to generate more conversations than any other dating site, with over one billion messages being sent every month! So, what are you waiting for, get in on the action.

If location is important when it comes to a love match, check out Happn. This app takes a different approach because it links you to people you’ve crossed paths with, people you like and people you’d like to find again. This could make the partner pool much smaller than you’d get with other apps, but if long distance relationships aren’t for you, this could work well.

Of course dating doesn’t just happen in the city. For all those fancy free farmers, sleepy village singletons, and country dwellers wanting to find love, Muddy Matches is just the ticket. With more than 200,000 members from the UK and Ireland who all have a passion for the great outdoors, there could well be a muddy match that’s perfect for you.

Busy lives, demanding careers and friends to keep in touch with means scheduling dates can be hard. Why not check out LoveStruck and set up a date before your first morning meeting or in your lunch hour? You can search their ‘Little Black Book’ for someone who lives or works close to you and if that first coffee doesn’t create a spark, you’ve lost nothing more than the cost of a cappuccino.

If you do go out on a date be sure to have but also be sure to let a friend know where you are going and text them so they know you got home safe.

Life and Fashion

Why Should I Buy Expensive Face Creams?

03/02/2018 02/02/2018 0

Royalty-free image

When every discount shop is offering so-called ‘miracle’ face creams for less than a fiver, it can seem really tempting to ditch the pricier products in favour of a bargain? One of my Nan’s favourite sayings was “you get what you pay for”, and favoured quality over quantity, but is there any real value to buying cheaper products? The short answer is no, and here’s why:

Testing

Generally speaking, products which are on the higher end of the price range, like Elemis Pro Collagen Marine Cream, which costs £145 for 100ml, are expensive for a number of reasons, with extensive testing being one of them. This product has been rigorously researched and tested, all of which costs a lot of money and allows Elemis to guarantee that they’re giving you the best product possible.

Ingredients

One of the most important reasons for high-end products being expensive is that they contain the best quality ingredients, many of which are quite rare. A great example of this is within Elemis Pro-Collagen Neck and Decollete Balm – it contains sea buckthorn oil, one of the richest known plant-sources of Omega-7, a rare and unique fatty acid, to nourish and smooth skin.

Exclusivity

Because of the amount of research and development that Decleor, Elemis and Dermalogica put into their products, they also have exclusive elements to their products which are uniquely owned by each brand which cannot be found anywhere else. Dermalogica C-12 Pure Bright Serum contains an exclusive blend of oligopeptides, rice-derived phytic acid, zinc glycinate and algae to address pigmentation imbalance for people who are dealing with hyperpigmentation.

Ahead of the Curve

The world of beauty is often subject to changing trends (remember how crazy we all went for micellar water a couple of years back?) and we see faddy ingredients come and go. Some ingredients, however, are so good that our brands have been using them for ages, staying ahead of the curve when it comes to ‘fashion’. Retinoids are a great example, featuring at the top of everyone’s ‘must have’ lists for 2018, but Dermalogica Overnight Retinol Repair has been around for ages!

Transparency

As we mentioned above, certain brands will follow trends and release new products accordingly, but although they may claim to contain a high-end ingredient, the chances are they contain the MINIMUM amount of this component that they’re allowed to add and still mention it on the label. With our brands, if it says something in the name, you can guarantee that it actually contains enough of this ingredient to make a difference to your skin.

Health and Happiness

Keep flu at bay this winter

30/01/2018 26/01/2018 0

With flu cases accounting for 22,000 visits to GPs, 85 deaths and hundreds of hospital admissions, it would seem we are dealing with a flu crisis this winter.

With sore throats, soaring temperatures, aching joints, headaches and coughing just some of the symptoms, this is one bug you could do without.

While there is no guaranteed way to avoid germs, as well as having the flu vaccination, you can make small lifestyle changes to help reduce the chances of picking up a virus that could knock you for six.

Wash your hands
Colds and flu are caught by direct contact and can be spread from hands, door handles, telephones, keyboards with germs living on surfaces for hours. To do your best to avoid picking bugs up, wash your hands, use hand sanitisers when you are out and about and if you know someone is sick, keep away because prevention is better than cure.

Sleep more
We all need different amounts of sleep but it is important to maximise your snooze time as this is when your body heals itself and your immune system gets stronger.

Keep stress under control
Stress isn’t good for us and can seriously weaken your immune system leaving you susceptible to catching colds and flu viruses. Keep your stress levels down by saying no to non-vital commitments, doing a little meditation and yoga each day, stepping away from social media, using your holiday time and taking time out for you each day – even if it is 10 minutes.

Watch what you eat
A diet rich in fruit and vegetables can help you avoid many health problems. We love citrus fruits, dark blue and red berries, mangoes, apricots, carrots and beetroot because they are packed with Vitamins A and C which support the immune system. It is a good idea to eat a portion of healthy protein at each meal as this keeps the body strong and healthy and swap coffee and fizzy drinks for water and herbal tea for maximum hydration. Keep white refined sugar to a minimum as this can interfere with your digestion and immune system. If you think your diet is lacking nutrients, consider a supplement.

Avoid alcohol
As boring as it is, drinking too much alcohol is bad for immune cells as they become dazed and confused…just like us…do don’t over do it and to have a few booze free days a week.

Get some fresh air
Stuffy offices, shops and buses are full of people breathing in stale air and breathing germs out, so get outside when you can. Walk rather than take public transport, if someone at work is coughing maybe move desks (be subtle) or open a window and always wash your hands after going to the loo and before preparing and eating food.

Take some exercise
Exercise is a great way to boost your circulation and this makes it easier for immune cells to whizz around your body, search for viruses and deal with them before the take hold. Exercise also stimulates the lymphatic system which is good at getting rid of damaging toxins and waste in the body and of course, those endorphins will make you happy.

Don’t smoke
As well as damaging your lungs and heart, smoking irritates the delicate tissues of your respiratory tract and depletes the Vitamin C you need for a strong immune system. Quit today and reap the benefits for a lifetime.

Keep warm and well.

Health and Happiness

Smoking – Why You Should Quit NOW!

27/01/2018 26/01/2018 0

Despite the absolute flood of information out there about how bad smoking is for you, it’s estimated that there are still 9.4 million smokers in the UK, an amount which represents almost one fifth of the population. The risks associated with smoking are numerous, including cancers of the lungs, throat and mouth, not to mention the detrimental effects it has on your skin, and now has never been a better time to quit. If the list of diseases isn’t enough to convince you, here are five other effects of smoking that you may not even have considered

Stained Skin

Constant exposure to tar and other chemicals through cigarettes is well-known for staining your fingers, but did you know that it could be staining your lips, too? Many smokers report areas of hyperpigmentation around the mouth which is literally caused by tar seeping into your skin and dying it brown, something which can be reversed once you quit by hitting a regimen of anti-pigmentation products.

Adult Acne

Researchers have discovered that adults who suffer with acne are more likely to be smokers, and it’s all to do with the fact that your skin doesn’t like nicotine. Smokers are also far more likely to suffer with blackheads and blemishes, which is likely a cause of the pollutants in the smoke which swirls around your face when you smoke a cigarette. If this is you and you’ve recently quit, opt for an acne-busting facial routine to get your skin back to being flawless.

Early Menopause

If you’re approaching the end of your reproductive years and you’re a smoker, there’s a high likelihood that your menopause will come earlier than you think. Studies have shown that heavy smokers are likely to experience menopause two years earlier than non-smokers, and can also make symptoms such as hot flushes significantly worse. Quit while you’re ahead to stave off the dreaded night sweats!

Dulled Senses

Most of us are aware that smoking can affect our sense of taste (how many times have you heard a recent quitter saying how everything suddenly tastes better?!) but did you know it can also affect your sense of smell and even your eyesight? Smokers are up to three times more likely to develop cataracts and two times more likely to suffer macular degeneration than non-smokers, and it’s the nasties in the tobacco which block your taste and smell receptors over the years.

Hair loss and greying

It’s long been discussed whether smoking contributes to hair loss and premature greying of the hair, and while in many people genetics play the biggest part, smoking has also been proved to make both things worse. The toxins in cigarette smoke effectively poison the hair follicles, affecting their ability to produce new hairs or affecting the body’s ability to produce melanin. Use a clarifying shampoo to rid your hair of any toxins which may be clinging on.

Health and Happiness

Reasons to embrace the cold weather

23/01/2018 30/01/2018 0

The mornings are dark, the days are cold and the evenings are, well, both.

While the chilly temperatures might have you diving for the duvet, it could actually be that the cold is good for your mind and body.

Yes, that’s right.

If you’re an active, healthy person, the cold weather doesn’t mean you have to put life on hold, in-fact it’s quite the opposite.

Burn More Fat
We aren’t saying you don’t need to do any exercise until the spring, but your body will naturally burn more of the ‘brown fat’ it likes to store, if you turn the heat down and let your internal central heating warm you up.

Enjoy Radiant Skin
Many of us think that winter weather equals dry, dehydrated skin but one of the benefits of cold temperatures include the fact that it trains blood vessels in the skin to be responsive and this cause redness. So, go easy on the blusher and instead, get outside and your lungs will be full of fresh air and you will have rosy cheeks and bright eyes.

Boost Your Body Image
One of the great things about winter is that we simply don’t need to think about shedding our clothes and revealing our ‘bikini body’ to the world. So, with the pressure off, the cold weather is a great time to focus on fitness goals for the year ahead and maybe take up something new (outside) that will get your heart rate going and blood pumping.

Get Running
There is no getting away from the fact that running in hot, humid weather is hard work and extremely taxing on the body. Running in the cold is perfect because less heat makes it easier and more pleasurable to run, you run faster to get warmer and this will speed up your metabolism and burn more fat. It might be cold when you set off but wear layers, as you will get hot, warming up exercises are still vital, you need to stretch afterwards and always drink plenty of water and you will be thanking the cold for making you feel and look so much better.

Sleep Well
You might want to turn up the heat and put the electric blanket on at this time of year, but it is thought that by keeping your body temperature between 60 and 67 degrees Fahrenheit will help you sleep better and you’ll wake up feeling refreshed rather than sluggish.

Breath Better
There is something special about the clean quality of cold, crisp air so make the most of those frosty mornings and take long walks and enjoy the feeling of fresh air.

Declutter
We tend to spend more time at home in the winner and it could be that you see just how much ‘stuff’ you have that you really don’t need. Spend a weekend going through each room and as well as having a spring clean, also clear out what you no longer need and either recycle it or give things to your local charity shop. The result will be a fresh home and a clear mind that is free to focus on what matter.

Give Back
Rather than sitting home watching TV in the evenings, why not get involved with a community project or not for profit organisation and give something back – you never know, you might like it and do it all year round.

Feel the Love
When you’re warm and cosy inside and it is cold outside, this is the time to catch up with your nearest and dearest. There is nothing more therapeutic than a call with your sister or dinner with your best friend, so use the winter months as time to reconnect.

So, there’s no reason to hide away from winter weather, instead, wrap up, embrace it and enjoy all it has to offer.

Life and Fashion

5 Surprising Things Which Could Be Making You Look Older Than You Are

20/01/2018 19/01/2018 0

Ageing is a fact of life, but how you approach ageing can make a huge difference to the impact it makes to your appearance. Obviously, a daily regime of anti-ageing products should be your first port of call for keeping the signs of ageing at bay but there are several other things which have an impact too – here’s five of them:

Your Hair Colour

Grey is all the rage these days and if you’re lucky enough to have a ntaurally platinum shine to your hair, then you’re a lucky lady. However, some colours have a tendency to fade rather than go truly grey, and this washed-out look can make you look far older than you really are. Speak to your hairdresser about reviving your colour or going for something completely different which flatters your face.

Unflattering Clothing

Often, as we age and our bodies change shape, we can feel like we no longer know how to dress to suit our bodies and wearing unflattering clothing can be very ageing. Opt for fitted rather than baggy and try to avoid pastel colours or chintzy prints. Classic items which don’t follow trends are a great place to start and will last longer than items which will likely go out of fashion as soon as they come in.

Your Posture

Be it a lack of confidence, back problems or something else, lots of people have terrible posture and there’s nothing that will make you look more like an old lady than walking with a stoop. Try to correct your posture by ensuring that you wear good shoes and sleeping on a supportive mattress, and if you’re still struggling then it might be time to see your GP for a referal for some physio.

Super Skinny Eyebrows

Back in the late nineties and early noughties, when we were plucking our eyebrows into oblivion, we never imagined thick brows would be back in fashion like they are now, but it’s a fact, and super skinny brows now look very dated. Growing back your existing brows might not be possible if you’ve overplucked them for years but there are options available like microblading, which can give your eyebrows the fullness they lack.

Dated Make-Up

As with your hair, often your complexion loses pigmentation and your skin appears lighter, which means that your usual make up may no longer suit you. We highly suggest visiting a make-up counter of a brand that you love for a consultation on which colours suit the new you – and don’t forget a delicate make-up remover to protect your skin!

Health and Happiness

How to complete ‘Dry January’

16/01/2018 19/01/2018 0

Over the past few years, Dry January, has become ‘a thing’ and one that is gathering momentum.

Just to give you an overview, Dry January is an annual event where thousands of people give up alcohol for the first month of the year.

While January is a tough month already, the idea of abstaining from booze is that it gives participants the opportunity to ditch the hangovers, lose some weight, save cash, raise money for a charity close to their hearts and think about their relationship with alcohol.

If you have taken on the challenge then we have got some ideas of how you can stay dry all January and even carry on the good habits for the rest of the year.

Get a buddy
If possible, don’t go alone during Dry January. Rope in your husband, boyfriend, flatmate, sister or work colleagues and you can deal with all you have taken on, together.

Find alternatives
Whether it is water, squash, mint tea or mixers minus the gin, find something to replace your favourite tipple from the word go.

Take up a new sport
We aren’t saying everyone who drinks, doesn’t exercise, but taking up a new sport could do you the world of good and remove temptation from your path. Running, cycling, rowing or even a dance class could work well and give you a new lease of life outside of your beloved wine glass.

Step away from the pub
If you usually go to the pub after work a few times a week, you might want to take a different route home. We know you don’t want to lose your best mate, but maybe a weekly trip to the cinema, going to a yoga class or simply having a hot bath and early night will take away the temptation to have ‘just one’.

Keep busy
Without a cold beer in your hand to take your mind off the worries of life, it is key to keep busy in January. Keep busy. Whether you take to calling friends, writing to your grandma, cleaning the house or doing the weekly shop in-store, rather than on-line as you sip your drink, do it.

Snack the healthy way
Just like giving up smoking, keeping away from the wine can lead to you to bingeing on box sets while eating blocks of chocolate and family size bags of crisps. Healthy snacks such as energy balls, home-made popcorn, carrot sticks, almonds, cashews and bananas are so much better for you, and between those and the exercise you might drop a dress size too.

Treat yourself
If you are giving some up you actually really quite like, it is important to treat yourself and acknowledge you are doing well. With the money you are saving you could have a manicure, fancy haircut or afford to buy that fab bag you have been looking at for months.

Talk about it
Tell your friends how well you are doing when you see them, put updates on your social media feeds and when you are at the water cooler, rather than sharing your drunken weekend antics you can tell colleagues how much progress you have made.

Don’t binge in February
When the end of the month does come, don’t run straight to your local watering hole and drink all you can. We aren’t saying never drink again but keep a diary over the month so you can see the changes you have enjoy (no hangovers, more energy, money in the bank the day before payday) and work out if you actually do need the crutch you thought you could never give up.

If you are doing Dry January, well done, keep it up and good luck from all of us.

Team Pure-Beauty

Life and Fashion, Pedicures, Skincare Advice

Prep Your Feet BEFORE Sandals Weather

13/01/2018 19/01/2018 0

Unless you live somewhere with an amazing climate all year round, the chances are you’re currently living in thick socks and boots, which puts keeping your feet in great condition very low on your list of priorities. However, we often hear from our customers that they do zero foot care all winter and end up with feet like a Hobbit by the Spring, which is when we want to look good in sandals! Here at Pure Beauty, we advocate taking care of your feet all year round so that it’s not a mad rush as soon as the first daffodil appears, and here are a few of the things we do:

Soak Them

Sitting with your feet in a bowl of water might not be your idea of fun, but at least once a week you should try to swap your daily shower for a bath. The warm water will help to soften the hard skin, and adding some Elemis Skin Nourishing Milk Bath (which is designed to make the skin soft and supple) will give you extra softening power, especially if you have a lot of hard skin.

File Them

There are a number of different products out there which are designed to scrape the hard skin off of your feet once you’ve softened them and they all do a pretty decent job, but ensuring you do it on a regular basis is key to making sure you really keep the hard skin at bay. Concentrate on your heels, the balls of your feet and the sides of your big toes as this is where hard skin most commonly forms.

Moisturise Them

Adding moisture to your feet is absolutely essential for keeping the skin supple, which is why you should be using Elemis Treat Your Feet Foot Cream every time you have a bath or shower. It’s a rich cream which melts beautifully into the skin, smoothing and hydrating rough dry areas. It will help to keep your feet hydrated which, in turn, will prevent more hard skin from forming.

Measure Them

This might seem like an odd one, but when was the last time you had your feet measured? We’re betting it was when you were a child, but wearing shoes in the wrong size can contribute to blisters, callouses, corns and all sorts of other foot issues. Opt for a reputable shoe shop which measures both length AND width to ensure that your feet are being properly supported at all times.

Protect Them

Another thing which contributes to hard skin is walking around with bare feet. The more contact your feet have with hard surfaces, the more they’re likely to form a hard layer as protection. When you’re at home, wear a decent pair of slippers with a good sole, or at the very least wear a pair of non-slip socks to give a little bit of padding between you and the floor.

Health and Happiness

Get your sleep back on track

09/01/2018 19/01/2018 0

With Christmas late nights and lazy lie ins over, going to sleep at reasonable time and getting up and out in the morning, can be a tough job.

As well as a balanced diet, plenty of water and regular exercise, a good night’s sleep is needed for tip-top health and we have some ideas about how to get back into a routine.

Take some exercise
What you do during the day can have an impact on how easily you nod off and the quality of sleep you have. Taking exercise every day is one really good thing to do. We aren’t saying you have to train for a marathon, but doing something that gets the heart really working and those feel good endorphins pumping round your body will do you, your health and your sleep patterns, the world of good. We suggest that you don’t embark on strenuous exercise two hours before you go to sleep as your body needs time to settle, but a little light stretching or yoga can benefit you at this time of day.

Cut the caffeine
Have a think about your caffeine intake in the day as this can can cause sleep issues. Tea and coffee, energy and fizzy drinks are all packed with caffeine, so don’t have them after lunchtime, instead opt for non-caffeinated options, herbal teas and water. You can keep a caffeine diary (maybe include alcohol in this) and look at the impact of what you drink on how you sleep.

Take a break from tech
Taking a break from technology before you go to bed can be one of the best ways to boost your sleep. The blue light that comes from screens works in the same way as the natural light that wakes us up in the morning, so turn screens off a good hour before bed. Consider using night-time modes and screen dimmers in the evening, or read a real book and leave screens in the living room!

Set a pattern
It doesn’t matter what age you are, a routine before bed helps you wind down. As well as turning off screens you can also lay out your clothes for the next day, write a gratitude journal, do a little yoga or meditate and all of these will start to tell your brain you are heading towards bedtime.

Have a bath
We know water bills add up, but a warm bath before hitting the sack can really help you relax and leave the worries of the day behind you. Soft lights, bath soaks and calming music can all set your mind free and let your muscles relax and if you do this every night, it will become another cue to your brain that it’s almost time to go to sleep.

Extra Preparations
Keeping your bedding clean, surfaces uncluttered and your room temperature consistent, can help ease you into sleep and if you need help nodding off, warm drink can help.

Keep consistent
Our brains and internal body clock like to keep to a consistent sleep routine so if you can, once you have a set a pattern, keep to it everyday. While you might have later nights on Friday and Saturday, try to still get up at your usual time as you will then find it easier to get to sleep that night and wake up feeling refreshed and ready to go once again.

If you do have ongoing problems when it comes to sleep, do speak to your GP.

Team Pure-Beauty

Health and Happiness, Skincare Advice

Are Your Intolerances Affecting Your Face?

06/01/2018 19/01/2018 0

When it comes to the ageing process, most of us are pretty savvy and know about the normal things which will speed it up – smoking, alcohol and sun exposure being the most common. There are, however, a whole slew of things which could be ageing you without you even realising it, and today we’re showing you just five of them:

Processed Foods

While whole, fresh foods contain nutrients that the body needs to grow and repair itself, processed foods often lack these nutrients and contain additives and preservatives which can speed up the ageing process. Obviously we’re not suggesting never eating a sausage again, but aiming for fresh meat and veg, as well as nuts containing beneficial oils, for most of the week will help to halt the effects that processed foods can have.

Poor Eyesight

It’s amazing just how many people there are who stubbornly refuse to admit that their eyesight has got slightly worse as they’ve got older, but constant squinting is going to exacerbate crows feet and fine lines around the eye area. The simple fix here is to go and have an eye test and get yourself some specs with the correct prescription, but you can also undo some of the damage by using Dermalogica Age Reversal Eye Complex.

Drinking Through Straws or Sports Bottles

Obviously, the main thing about smoking which causes ageing is the nasty chemicals you’re taking into your body, but also the constant pursing action of your lips creates deep lines around your mouth, and this same action is repeated if you drink through straws or from a sports bottle on a regular basis. Swap your bottle for a regular cup and use Dermalogica Multivitamin Power Firm to reverse some of the wrinkles.

Your Pillowcases

If you use a pillowcase which is made from a stiff material such as linen or Egyptian cotton, it may feel luxurious but it can also be adding to your wrinkles. Stiff materials press into the skin causing indentations which can, over time, become permanent. Softer materials such as satin, silk, or jersey are MUCH better for your skin as they don’t form hard creases, and using a good night cream such as Elemis BIOTEC Skin Energising Night Cream will give you the best chance of waking up fresh-faced.

Low Fat Diets

For years, we were taught that fat makes you fat and that the best way to lose weight and avoid heart disease was to cut fat out of your diet. These days, the accepted wisdom is that fat doesn’t make you fat and is actually an essential component of a healthy diet. Good fats include coconut oil, extra virgin olive oil and avocado oil, all of which contain omega-3 fatty acids essential for cell renewal.

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