Pure Beauty - The Lichfield Beauty Salon

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Reasons to embrace the cold weather

www.pexels.comThe 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.

 

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

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

How to complete ‘Dry January’

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

Prep Your Feet BEFORE Sandals Weather

Prep Your Feet BEFORE Sandals Weather
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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.

Get your sleep back on track

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

Are Your Intolerances Affecting Your Face?

Are Your Intolerances Affecting Your Face?
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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.

Make 2018 your best year ever

At the end of every year we look back on the past 12 months and remember the good, the bad and the ugly.

52 weeks is a pretty long-time but it’s gone in the blink of an eye, so why not make the next 365 days really count?

We aren’t saying totally change the way you live, that simply isn’t achievable, and is the easiest way to be sitting on the sofa eating Jaffa Cakes by the end of January feeling sad, but small changes do add up.

Chloe Leibowitz, a Life Coach, said, “This January, think about what you really want in your life, and implement small new habits over time to create BIG changes. If you implement one new habit each month, giving it time to stick, just imagine the upgrade to your life over 12 months!”

January
Drink more water. With the party season over, this is the perfect time to ensure you get those eight glasses of water a day. Start your day with lemon and warm water, have a bottle with you at all times and if you need some flavour, orange and mint are a great combination.

February
Why not make a difference this year and give something back. There are endless causes looking for people to volunteer their time and we are sure an organisation near you would welcome you with open arms. From reading at your child’s school to delivering meals to pensioners and painting the community centre, doing something selfless for someone else makes you feel pretty good.

March
As the nights start to get lighter, this is the perfect time to build your exercise levels. Find something you enjoy doing and try to do it at least three times a week, ensuring your heartbeat raises and blood is really pumping through your veins together with those feel good endorphins.

April
While you should use an SPF everyday on your skin, this is the time of year when you really need to remember to wear it. Even if it is cloudy outside and the temperatures aren’t scorching, those damaging rays can still penetrate your skin and that isn’t a chance you want to take.

May
If you are worrying about your to do list and having trouble sleeping, why not try journaling? There are no hard or fast rules for this, but get yourself a pretty notebook, write down your worries and ideas for a whole month, and before long it’ll be a helpful part of your day.

June
As summer approaches, have a clear out of your wardrobe. Pack away your winter jumpers and coats, give your dresses and skirts a wash and buy a few new staple pieces to bring your favourite clothes to life.

July
As the temperatures rise, it might be tempting to cool down with ice creams and fizzy drinks, but they can be full of sugar and empty calories so remember your pledge to drink more water in January and also reassess your diet to ensure you are eating plenty of fruit, vegetables and lean protein.

August
August is the perfect time to get outside and soak up some mood boosting Vitamin D, but wear that sun cream and don’t burn.

September
As the kids go back to school, this is the perfect time to look at learning something new. Whether it’s Spanish, cooking, knitting or golf, find something you are passionate about and make a pact with yourself to put that grey matter to the test.

October
On 1st October make a pledge to start planning Christmas. It might seem like you have all the time in the world but buying one or two gifts each time you are at the shops, writing cards in the evenings and booking your Christmas food delivery slot can all help take the pressure on in the days leading up to the big event.

November
With life getting busier, adding mediation into your life this month may well make sense. Spending just ten minutes a day sitting quietly, paying attention to your breath and focussing on your mind can make all the difference to your mood and coping strategies when the world around you is chaotic.

December
This month is the time to let your hair down and enjoy the festivities. Hopefully over the past 11 months you will have concentrated on creating a happy, balanced life so as the party invites come in, you will look and feel great and be able to have a fantastic time.

Happy New Year from Team Pure-Beauty

Salt – It’s Not Just For Putting On Your Dinner!

Salt – It’s Not Just For Putting On Your Dinner!
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Salt; it’s one of those things that we take for granted as seasoning for our fish and chips, but it actually has many, many benefits for the body both inside and out. There are lots of products from across the ranges that we sell which include vital ingredients, but today we’ve got five of our favourites to show you how versatile and essential salt is for a healthy body.

Elemis Exotic Lime and Ginger Salt Glow

Perhaps the most obvious use for salt in a beauty context is as a scrub for clearing dead skin cells and invigorating your circulation. This scrub from Elemis uses lime and ginger to polish the skin, boost the metabolism and improve skin absporption, giving a properly prepared canvas for applying moisture to the skin. It’s perfect for use on elbows, knees and heels, where hard skin can accumulate.

Dermalogica Sheer Tint SPF20

This tint from Dermalogica is available in Light, Medium and Dark varieties, allowing a spectrum of skin tones to use it and they can also be blended for a more personalised shade. It’s a lightly-tinted moisturiser which gives an all-day wash of colour, is suitable for all skin types and offers SPF20 protection from the sun. It’s a rich source of minerals and salts that protect tissues against oxidative stress.

Elemis Aching Muscle Super Soak

This foaming bath preparation contains a number of ingredients including sea salt, birch, juniper, clove, alpine lavender, wild thyme and blue chamomile, which combine to create a soothing soak for tired, overworked muscles. The aroma helps to clear the head and reficus the mind while the combination of ingredients helps to ease period pains, boost circulation, ease swelling and stiffness and is great for arthritis and rheumatism.

Elemis BIOTEC Skin Energising Cleanser

This cleanser from Elemis is designed to re-energise lacklustre skin and uses electrolytes from sea salt to add much-needed elements back into your complexion. The deep cleansing action helps reduce surface oils and impurities, whilst helping to rebalance the skin. It leaves the complexion looking fresh, energised and beautifully revived.

Elemis BIOTEC Skin Energising Night Cream

The sea salt in this night cream is utilised in a highly scientific way – the sea salt, minerals and electrolytes help facilitate the bio-electric exchange reaction in zinc and copper which encourages optimum cell health and vitality. Which means, in much simple terms, that the ingredients work together to give you healthier looking skin and cells which regenerate more effectively!

Keep cool this Christmas

It’s the most wonderful time of the year but Christmas can be demanding and stressful and keeping your cool can be tough.

While we are expected to have a heart warming, joyful time with the ones we love, the reality is, holiday gatherings can be hard work.

We have had a look at how you can make the most of the festivities without things falling apart.

Make a List
Whatever you do, make a list and check it twice. You’ll be glad you did.

Pace Yourself
First of all, you can’t go to everything. Christmas Day and Boxing Day are loaded with demands, extended families add pressure and if you have stepfamily it can be even harder. Decide what you can do, how you can please as many people as possible but remember you need a rest too.

Resist an Argument
Bickering and arguments do happen at Christmas, but count to ten and keep your cool and you’ll come out the bigger person. It takes a second to blurt mean things out but this can hurt feelings and take a long time to mend.

Watch the Booze
You might be tempted to knock back every drink going, but that probably isn’t the best way to get through the festivities. Stick to one drink, alternate with water and remember to eat something or things could get very messy.

Secret Santa Rules
If a Secret Santa has been organised, then take part in the fun, otherwise someone will leave empty-handed and you’ll be branded a misery.

Social Media Rules
After a glass or two of wine it might seem like a good idea to put photos of your dad on Facebook as he sleeps on the sofa, but he might not be impressed the next day. Put pic’s up of you and your friends but this isn’t an opportunity to make people look silly!

Be Happy
This isn’t a time for gossiping or backstabbing, instead, enjoy time with your nearest and dearest, catch up on what’s been happening with them and realise the good stuff in your life.

Fresh Air
Whether it’s a walk with the dog, a run around the park with your nieces or a bike ride, getting outside and filling your lungs with fresh air will do you the world of good.

Have a Spare
Boxes of chocolates, wrapping paper, Champagne, Sellotape, mobile phone chargers, loo rolls, batteries and gravy are all part of Christmas but be wise and have spares just in case you are found in a tight spot.

Get the Timing Right
Check when guests are arriving, set the timer for the turkey and make sure your online shop is really booked or it could be bacon sandwiches for Christmas dinner.

The TV
If you must watch TV, check what everyone would like to see, don’t argue over the remote and remember that most things can be found on catch-up of DVD, so it isn’t worth a fight.

Say Thank You
It is amazing how much time and effort, as well as money, goes into organising Christmas so make sure you say thank you and show your appreciation to hosts and anyone who gives you a gift.

Don’t Drink and Drive
This is as old as we sometimes feel, but don’t drink and drive this Christmas as it could put you and others in danger. Call a cab or sleep on a sofa but don’t risk a life for the sake of a few quid.

Whatever you do this Christmas, have fun, enjoy and don’t do anything we wouldn’t do.

Team Pure-Beauty

Cheat Your Way to Festive Perfection

Cheat Your Way to Festive Perfection
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It’s the most wonderful time of the year, but for most of us that means boatloads of stress, being run off of our feet with present buying, cooking, wrapping and entertaining, and we’re STILL expected to pull a fresh-face out of the bag for all the different social events we need to attend. We don’t know about you, but this is probably the time of year when we need to look our best but probably need the most help to do it! Read on to find out which five products we reserve as our secret weapons for Festive freshness:

Elemis Fruit Active Rejuvenating Mask

We love using masks at this time of year because not only do they give our skin a much needed boost, they also give us an excuse to sit down and relax for ten minutes! This mask from Elemis uses fruit extracts from strawberry and kiwi in a kaolin base, and is great for restoring circulation and luminescence (perfect for smokers or if you’ve spent time around smokers at Christmas parties!). It’s actually designed as a pre-party treatment – what could be more Christmassy than that?!

Dermalogica Phyto Replenish Oil

Many treatment oils are too intense to be used on a daily basis, but this replenishing oil from Dermalogica is designed for exactly that. It strengthens, hydrates and shields the skin, giving you back some vital nutrients that’s been lost through all that partying, and protects your face from further damage, meaning you can celebrate through to the New Year without having to worry about your skin.

Decleor Micellar Oil

Cleansing your face is super important when you’re wearing make up on a regular basis, especially when you’re at parties and maybe in a smoky environment, but you don’t want your cleanser to be too harsh. This micellar oil cleanser from Decleor uses micro-particles of oil to almost melt the make up off of your face, and leaves a layer of moisture to protect and replenish your skin, making it perfect for the busy Christmas period.

Elemis BIOTEC Skin Energising Day Cream

Using a decent moisturiser is pretty much essential during the party season as your skin tends to be drier in the cold weather, and this day cream from Elemis is one of the best on the market. It contains a patent-pending BIO-ENERGY complex which is designed to increase the energy within your skin’s cells, increasing cell renewal and making your skin look more radiant than ever. Use this for a few weeks and you might even want to ditch your foundation!

Dermalogica Breakout Control

Spots are a particular pain at Christmas – no-one wants to look pimply in the hundreds of photos which will likely be taken at parties and celebrations, but all of the centrally heated rooms and make-up are setting you up for a breakout. This lotion from Dermalogica is an invisible treatment cream that clears, controls and prevents breakouts. It is suitable for acneic and breakout-prone skin and is a godsend at Christmas.