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Get well soon

10/10/2017 07/10/2017 0

Winter is on the way and along with Halloween and Christmas, it also brings seasonal colds and bugs.

A balanced diet full of nutritious food and packed with valuable vitamins and minerals is a good starting point. Lots of water, regular exercise and fresh air plus decent sleep all help keep you fit and strong and keep your immune system firing on all cylinders. For those who need it, the flu jab is another way to keep healthy over the winter months as well as always washing your hands.

If you do come into contact with bug and your nose is running, your eyes are sore and everything aches, we have some helpful hacks to get you through the worst of it.

Keep warm
Keeping your temperature stable and body warm is really important when you have a cold. Go for layers of clothing, use a scarf if you have swollen glands and when you go outside, wear a hat and gloves to keep the heat in and chills away.

Rest
We know this isn’t always easy, or possible, but resting is one of the best ways to get over a virus. If you can take time off work, even one day, and catch up on some sleep, your body will thank you for it. Don’t try to fill all your time with activities and events as this is one way to add to the stress that lowers your defences and leads to bugs being caught.

Kill the pain
Antibiotics won’t do anything for the common cold, but you can take over-the-counter painkillers, such as paracetamol and ibuprofen, to reduce temperatures and ease tension and aches.

Keep it contained
Colds spread fast, so try to minimise who you give it to. Always sneeze and cough into tissues to help prevent droplets from your nose and mouth entering the air and infecting others. Clean your work surfaces regularly to keep them free of germs, use your own cups, glasses and cutlery and don’t share towels or toothbrushes!

Keep hydrated
You might not have much of an appetite, but it is important to drink plenty of fluids as this helps break up congestion, prevents dehydration and keeps your throat soothed. Water, sports drinks, herbal teas and cold juice are all good options. Try to steer clear of caffeine loaded drinks as they can contribute to dehydration and will stop you from sleeping, something you need lots of.

Gargle
If you are suffering with a sore throat that medicine just isn’t touching, gargle salt water gargle. Mix up a teaspoon of salt with half a pint of cooled boiled water and gargle, repeating as necessary. Honey can also really help with sore throats and can be mixed with lemon and hot water.

Deep breaths
One of the best things you can do to clear your sinuses, is inhale steam. Vaporisers are available on the High Street or you can simply add a little Olbas oil to hot water, put a towel over your head and breath in the herbal mist.

Go for a rub
Dabbing a simple menthol rub under the nose and on the chest and back can help ease blocked noses. Some people also believe that a little rubbed into the soles of the feet can help sooth coughs and help you breathe more easily – do put socks on for maximum benefit and don’t get it in your eyes.

While your doctor can fix a cold, if you aren’t getting better and are in pain, do make an appointment to check you don’t have an infection.

Team Pure-Beauty

Decleor, Dermalogica, Elemis, Health and Happiness, Skincare Advice

Give Your Skin a BOOST with Pure Beauty

07/10/2017 07/10/2017 0

Here at Pure Beauty, we often hear our customers say that although they’re happy with their every day skin routine, sometimes they feel as though they need a little something extra to give their skin a BOOST. Luckily for them, we stock a whole host of products which are designed to do exactly this, so today we’re sharing with you our top 5 beauty boosters:

Dermalogica Gentle Soothing Booster

This booster from Dermalogica does exactly what it suggests in the name – when applied to sensitive skin it gently soothes the face, reducing redness and allowing skin to recover from whatever has caused it to be over sensitised. It’s oil-free and can be used alongside your normal skincare products to reduce irritation and calm acne or razor burn, leaving your face feeling normal again.

Elemis Daily Moisture Boost

Unless their skin is made of some sort of weather-beaten leather, most blokes will tell you that nothing leaves the skin feeling more stripped than shaving. Running a blade over your skin might be an efficient way to remove hair, but it will also remove moisture and leave the skin feeling lacking in vital nutrients. This moisture boost from Elemis is designed for use after shaving to replenish the skin with all the things that shaving takes away, leaving skin feeling hydrated and supple.

Decleor Face Tan Activator Serum

Getting a tan is more than just a case of sitting in the sun, and sometimes you want to prep your skin to maximise your tanning potential. This tan booster from Decleor can be applied before your SPF to prepare the skin for the sun by boosting its natural defences, promote an even and long lasting tan and prevent skin from ageing. Perfect for slipping into your beach bag on holiday!

Dermalogica Skin Renewal Booster

If your skin is feeling dull and weighed down, or struggling to push back against the ageing process then there’s a good chance that you need a good exfoliating product to rid you of dull, dead skin cells. This booster from Dermalogica uses a blend of hydroxy acids and natural humectants for increased cell renewal, giving you more supple, healthier-looking skin. Lactic and citric acid help to smooth the skin and reverse the signs of ageing.

Elemis Hydra-Boost Serum

Thirsty skin often needs a boost to get it back to its fully hydrated glory, which is why Elemis created this serum. It contains a highly-targeted blend of acids and oils which work together to infuse the skin with moisture and lock it in so that skin stays hydrated for the long term. It also contains anti-oxidant compounds which help to bolster the skin’s own natural defences.

Health and Happiness

Sleep well this winter

03/10/2017 02/10/2017 0

Winter is on the way and while the nights are drawing in and the mornings are darker, that doesn’t mean we sleep any better.

It is thought that on average, adults need eight hours of sleep a night. The thing is, this isn’t the reality for many of us and having that figuring hanging around in your head at 2am as you count sheep, isn’t helpful.

We have had a look at some tips to help you get the rest you need to keep healthy this winter.

Keep it clean
Spring clean your bedroom so you have a peaceful haven for sleep. Fresh bedding, decent curtains, blackout blinds, soothing smells and a fresh carpet can all enhance how you rest.

Tidy up
You might not think it, but if your bedroom is a mess, your sleep patterns might be too. Piles of books on your bedside table, washing all over the floor and old cups of tea on the table are not conducive to a restful night. We aren’t saying go minimal but be mindful that your bedroom is a place of calm, not calamity.

Check the temperature
If you are too hot or too cold you won’t sleep so aim for a room temperature of 16 – 18° C (60-65° F) and as the nights get cooler add a warmer duvet or thicker PJs.

How is your mattress?
Having the right mattress can make all the difference to how you sleep. An old, sagging mattress or one where you can feel the springs as you roll over, won’t help you rest and may actually keep you awake and cause aches and pains. Why not pop into your local bed shop and give a few mattresses a go, it could be the change you have been looking for.

Turn it off
We know some people think this doesn’t make a difference but turning off technology can only be a good thing when it comes to sleep. Avoid mobiles, laptops and TVs and use an alarm clock for waking up. You may also want to consider ramping down the use of devices an hour or two before you go to bed to give your mind time to wind down and relax.

Think about what you eat
We all know that big meal and strong coffee at 10pm isn’t going to help us sleep. We suggest avoiding stimulants like caffeine and cigarettes in the evening, and if you do want a sleepy snack, try eating turkey, chicken, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds or peanuts as they contain tryptophan which the brain turns into the serotonin that helps us sleep. A hot milky drink or herbal tea, such as camomile, can also help us get ready for bed.

Before you settle down
A warm bath with lavender oil, a little stretching, playing music and reading can all help you get into a relaxed mind-set and allow you to let go of the stresses and worries of the day.

The 20-minute rule
If you go to bed when you are tired but are still awake after twenty minutes, get up and do something else. Don’t turn on your phone, instead use low lighting to help you read, practise some yoga, listen to a guided mediation or have a warm drink. When you start to feel relaxed, go back to bed and give sleep another go.

If you still find your mind racing and sleep avoiding you, maybe talk to your GP and talk about what’s going on.

Team Pure-Beauty

Elemis, Skincare Advice

Why You SHOULD Be Dry Brushing

30/09/2017 02/10/2017 0

Dry brushing is a practise which has been around for many years, done in both spas and at home. The people who already do it know the benefits that it can have for their skin, but not many people know about all of the other ways that dry brushing can help. Read on for five reasons that you should be using a Elemis Body Detox Skin Brush to dry-brush your whole body.

Exfoliation

The most obvious reason for dry brushing is to exfoliate your skin, brushing away the top layer of dead cells and revealing the newer cells beneath. But did you know that this is for more than just appearances? Brushing away dead cells will not only make your skin look better, but it will also allow it to ‘breathe’, helping it to regenerate more efficiently, helping it to heal itself better and unclogging pores, thus reducing the risk of ingrown hairs and other imperfections.

Stimulating Your Lymphatic System

The lymphatic system is a bit like a waste-removal system for your body, hundreds of miles of tubes winding their way around and carrying away waste materials. Sometime, your system can become sluggish or blocked and a vigorous body-brushing can help to get things started again, allowing your body to dump the toxins which may be stagnating within.

Getting Rid of Cellulite

We’ve written before about how cellulite can be a genetic fact of life for many people, but a strict body brushing routine could be just what you need to help break down the collected fat cells and smooth them out. The fat deposits become more evenly distributed, ridding your body of that uneven appearance.

Stress Relief

Massaging yourself after a hard day can be next to impossible and if you don’t have a willing masseuse at home (or the budget to go to a spa every evening!) then body brushing is the next best thing. It helps to unknot muscles, get rid of tension and totally de-stress your body after a long, hard day.

Improving Circulation

As well as kick-starting your body in other ways, it’s been shown that dry brushing can improve your circulation. This helps your body to deliver oxygen more efficiently to your brain, helping you to feel more awake and better equipped to deal with life! We highly recommend dry-brushing after you’ve been to the gym which will really accentuate the benefits you’ve got from getting your heart-rate up!

Health and Happiness

Get Your Vitamin D Fix this Winter

26/09/2017 26/09/2017 0

With the much hoped Indian summer looking unlikely as the end of September fast approaches, it would seem winter is on the way.

As well as swapping maxi dresses for jeans and flip-flops for Uggs, this is also the time to start thinking about getting enough Vitamin D to keep healthy as the nights draw in and temperatures dip.

Vitamin D is really important for healthy bones and is also needed to keep teeth and muscles strong, so it is a pretty key nutrient.

In the UK, the best time to absorb Vitamin D from the sun is between late March and the end of September, so you still have a window of opportunity. Come October however, sunlight in the UK simply doesn’t have enough UVB radiation for our bodies to create Vitamin D naturally.

You might not think this isn’t a massive problem, but it can be. A lack of vitamin D isn’t great because it can lead to bones becoming soft and weak which in turn can lead to deformity. In children, a lack of Vitamin D can lead to rickets and in adults osteomalacia, which causes bone tenderness and pain, is a possible outcome.

People most at risk of a Vitamin D deficiency include:

Women, especially teenagers and young women
Babies and the under 5s
Over 65s
People with little exposure to the sun
People with darker skin, such as African, African-Caribbean and South Asian origin, as these groups aren’t able to make as much of the vitamin as people with paler skin

So, with this in mind, how much Vitamin D do we actually need?

Public Health England advises that babies up to the age of one need 8.5 – 10mcg of Vitamin D a day and children from one, and adults, need 10mcg of Vitamin D a day.

With the sun not helping us over the winter it is time to look at how we can source Vitamin D, and this is from the food we eat and the supplements we take.

Great sources of Vitamin D are found in:

Oily fish, with herring, fresh tuna, herring, salmon and sardines are all being good Vitamin D friendly options
Red meat, especially liver
Egg yolks
Fortified foods including fat spreads and breakfast cereals

It is interesting to note that cows’ milk in the UK isn’t considered to be a good source of Vitamin D because it isn’t fortified, but some non-dairy milk alternatives are helpful sources.

If you still think you will be deficient in Vitamin D, you can buy supplements or vitamin drops that include Vitamin D at most chemists and supermarkets. While you can’t overdose on Vitamin D from the sun (but of course your skin can burn if you don’t use sun protection), it is possible to take too much when using supplements. As with all supplements, always follow the instructions and note that more than 100 micrograms a day could be harmful, so if you have any questions ask your GP or pharmacist.

So, make the most of the last of the September sun, then stock up on Vitamin D friendly foods and supplements and keep healthy all winter long.

Team Pure Beauty

Decleor, Dermalogica, Elemis, Facial Treatments

Our Favourite Beauty Masks

23/09/2017 26/09/2017 0

Here at Pure Beauty, we simply adore using face masks – they make our skin look fabulous and force us to take five minutes for ourselves, rather than rushing around from morning til night, like we usually do! Masks (or ‘masques’, depending on your preference) can soothe a whole load of different beauty woes, and we’ve put together a list of five of our favourites for your consideration.

Elemis Exotic Cream Moisturising Mask

We’re huge fans of Elemis’ Exotic ranges here at Pure Beauty, mainly because they smell heavenly, but this mask is so much more than a nice smell! It combines mimosa and honey absolute, with extracts of sea rocket, orange and bergamot which leave the skin feeling luxuriously enriched with moisture. All of the ingredients are 100% natural and it can even be left on overnight for a more intensive treatment.

Decleor Deep Cleansing Clarifying Clay Mask

Clay is an ingredient which is commonly used in masks and it’s easy to see why; as well as giving this mask from Decleor a smooth, creamy feel, it possesses natural absorbent elements which wick away dirt and oil from your skin, leaving it rebalanced, clean and soft. It can be left on for up to 15 minutes for best results and washes off easily, leaving skin ready for a gentle toner and moisturiser.

Elemis Herbal Lavender Repair Mask

Lavender is an incredibly soothing plant which can not only help your mind to relax through aromatherapy, but also contains anti-inflammatory properties which help to skin which is feeling over sensitised. This mask from Elemis uses lavender to repair skin, helping to banish blemishes and reduce redness.

Dermalogica Sebum Clearing Masque

If your skin is prone to acne and breakouts of spots and blackheads, then this sebum-clearing masque from Dermalogica should be the choice for you. It harnesses the power of bentonite clay, which purifies, absorbs excess surface oil and helps prevent future breakouts. Niacinamide, zinc gluconate, yeast extract, caffeine and biotin purify and reduce overactive sebaceous gland production while soothing irritation.

Elemis Fruit Active Rejuvenating Mask

If you skin has been feeling dull and lacking ‘glow’, this mask from Elemis will sort you out. It uses rich extracts of strawberry and kiwi to cleanse and refine the skin, revitalising dull complexions and enhancing circulation. Use twice a wekk for best results and your complexion will feel renew in no time.

Health and Happiness

Pack a healthy lunch

19/09/2017 19/09/2017 0

Back to school and as well as getting the PE kits ready and uniform washed, the pressure is on to pack up a healthy lunch.

While the requests might be for chocolate and crisps, the school rules and guidelines say otherwise.

We have had a look at some creative, tasty ideas that will get even the fussiest eaters, well, eating.

Monday: wholemeal pasta salad and fruit kebabs
A carb-filled wholemeal pasta salad packed with protein, is a good start to the week. Easy to make the night before, simply add some chicken or tuna, cubes of cheese, tomato and sliced pepper and you have a ready-made meal. Adding a rainbow fruit kebab is an added extra they will love. Remember to pack a fork for this dish or things could get messy.

Tuesday – star sandwiches and sweet potato crisps
Tuna and sweetcorn, ham and cheese or chicken and avocado are all great sandwich fillings and with a mini ice pack in your child’s lunchbox, they will be cool until noon. Go for brown bread, crusts on, and use a star shape cutter just for fun and they might eat the lot. Rather than a bag of ready salted crisps, make a batch of sweet potato chips by slicing the veg into thin strips, adding a drizzle of olive oil and then roast in the over for 20 minutes. Add a piece of fruit or bag of raisins and you will keep them topped up until home time.

Wednesday – wraps and flapjack
If you don’t want to send them with traditional sandwiches every day, a wrap can be an easy alternative. Go for the healthy wholemeal variety and use Edam and tomato, chicken and cucumber and if they are adventurous, falafels are super-feeling. Follow this with homemade flapjacks packed with dried fruit and seeds for slow release energy. Make a batch on Sunday with the kids and store in an airtight box so you can grab and go.

Thursday – pick and mix lunch
Put a selection of French bread or soft rolls, cheese cubes, a pot of cucumber and tomatoes and some carrot sticks into their lunchbox for a picnic style lunch they will love unpacking. Add an apple or banana and a pot of yogurt, but don’t foget the spoon!

Friday – pizza pittas
They have made it to Friday, so give them a treat. Fill wholemeal pittas with some grated cheese, ham and sliced tomato and they will have the perfect pizza pitta in their hands. You can also add a small sachet of ketchup to create the real deal. Send a pot of homemade popcorn and a piece of flapjack (if you have any left) and you have the perfect end of week treat.

Always include a bottle of water and some tissues and check what they ate at the end of the day.

If you’ve got a packed lunch idea you think we would like, then send it over!

Team Pure Beauty

Decleor, Dermalogica, Elemis

Micellar Madness at Pure Beauty!

16/09/2017 19/09/2017 0

You may have noticed that micellar products have become all the rage recently, with just about every beauty brand out there getting in on the act. Decleor and Elemis are no exception and have released their own products using micellar technology (which, by the way is pronounced MEE-cellar, not MY-cellar!) so we thought we’d take a look at what they have to offer and why you should be choosing them above other, more traditional products.

What does micellar mean?

So, before we tell you what micellar products can do, you probably want to know what they are, right? Micelles are tiny particles of oil which are suspended in another liquid and attract dirt particles, then carry them efficiently away from your skin when the product is rinsed off. Because it’s oil-based, it means that your skin doesn’t get dried out, but the oil doesn’t come into direct contact with your skin either, so it doesn’t make your skin greasy. Genius, huh?!

So which products do we offer?

Here’s the low-down on all of our micellar products:

Decleor Micellar Oil

Not only does this cleaning oil make the skin feel silky smooth and super clean, it’s fun to use too! When spread all over the face it looks like a regular oil, but when you add a couple of drops of water into the situation, the product emulsifies, turning a milky white and changing slightly in consistency. This is where the oil starts to do the hard work of sweeping away the day’s grime while moisturising your face and maintaining the delicate natural balance of the upper epidermis. When rinsed off, skin feels fresh, nourished and revitalized, perfectly prepped for the next step in your skincare routine.

Elemis Smart Cleanse Micellar Water

This micellar cleanser from Elemis is an all-natural product which is gentle enough to use on the eyes and is amazing at removing all traces of make-up. It’s infused with organic English rose water and soothing anti-oxidant rich chamomile to gently cleanse the skin, while the natural moisture barrier is maintained. This will protect your skin and reveal a clear and radiant complexion with regular use.

Decleor Soothing Micellar Water

This micellar water from Decleor is designed as a product which can perform thre tasks in one product. As well as cleansing the face and removing daily grime, it also tones as it goes, allowing you to go without a separate toner. Finally, it also efficiently removes eye make up (even the waterproof stuff!) gently but efficiently, leaving you with a beautifully clean, comfortable and soft complexion.

Skincare Advice

Eradicate Acne with Our Pimple Perfecting Tips

12/09/2017 12/09/2017 0

Acne and pimples can be really difficult to live with, affecting your confidence and leaving you in pain in some severe cases. This time of year, which is a time of new beginnings at school, college and university, can leave us feeling down about less-than-perfect skin, so we thought we’d pull together some of the best tips for keeping your pimples under control.

To Squeeze or Not to Squeeze

We know that the temptation to squeeze spots can sometimes be overwhelming and if you’ve got a noticeable pimple with a yellow head on it, the last thing you want to do is to leave it there for all to see. If you must squeeze, we recommend doing so using two clean cotton buds, as this will minimise the risk of scarring and bacteria transfer from nails which may harbour dirt. Popping a little Dermalogica Emergency Spot Fix will also help to reduce inflammation and kill any spot-causing bacteria.

Keep Your Face Clean

There’s a really annoying assumption that people with acne aren’t clean and we know that isn’t the case at all. There are, however, special face washes for people with acne to kill the specific bacteria which causes acne, such as Dermalogica Foaming Wash. It’s designed to cleanse acne-prone skin without causing further irritation to already sensitised skin and clears trapped oil to help wipe out existing and future breakouts.

Don’t Forget to Moisturise

When your skin is acne-prone, it’s usually pretty oily too, which makes it seem like adding more moisture to the skin could be damaging. However, acneic skin is often really out of balance and produces extra oil because it thinks it’s too dry. Using a balancing moisturiser like Dermalogica Oil Control Lotion, which contains oil-absorbing microsponges, will soothe and moisturise irritated skin whilst controlling oil production all day.

Use a Long-Acting Treatment

People with acne-prone skin, often report waking up with more spots than they went to bed with, so using an overnight treatment which will work on your skin while you sleep will give you a better chance of waking up without new breakouts. Dermalogica Overnight Clearing Gel is designed to clear congested skin and prevent future blackouts, as well as unclogging pores and reducing irritation.

Mask Up

Masks are great for acne as they allow you to do several things with one product. Dermalogica Sebum Clearing Masque will soothe the skin, soak up excess sebum, purify the skin to prevent future breakouts, clears congested follicles to minimise development of future comedones and breakouts, and even encourages the skins own ability to kill bacteria. It’s a must-have treatment for all sufferers of acne and breakouts.

Decleor, Dermalogica, Elemis, Skincare Advice

Smooth it Out with Pure Beauty

09/09/2017 12/09/2017 0

One of the biggest questions we’re asked by our customers is “how can I get smoother skin?”, which isn’t always about their faces, but sometimes also referring to their necks, chests or even their bottoms! Smooth skin has always been a desirable quality, but with the rise of the Instagram filter and re-touched photos it’s easy to believe that our favourite celebs have been hewn from alabaster by a master sculpter, while you feel like you’ve been moulded from jelly! Here, we’ve picked five products which will help you to achieve smoothness in any area to help you feel less mumsy and more masterpiece.

Decleor Hydra-Radiance Smoothing and Cleansing Mousse with Cloth

This three-in-one cleanser from Declor performs a number of different functions – the rich cream forms a thick foam to deeply cleanse the skin and rid the face of daily dirt, while the grape juice, papaya extract and Japanese white mulberry exfoliate and gently slough away dull, dead skin cells. Finally, the Neroli oil and hyaluronic acid lock moisture deeply into the skin and keep the skin properly hydrated. When used in combination with the accompanying cleansing cloth, the smoothing results are stunning.

Dermalogica Daily Resurfacer

This daily resurfacing product from Dermalogica is one of the most powerful smoothing products that we have to offer. It contains a combination of powerful enzymes which resurfaces and smooths skin without causing irritation or redness, helps to reduce the signs of premature ageing, and brightens with a unique botanical complex that helps even skin tone and balance pigmentation. The product is packaged into 35 individual pouches which give you the correct amount to use with each application, ensuring that no a single drop is wasted.

Elemis Exotic Frangipani Monoi Body Cream

It’s all well and good having a flawless face, but if your body isn’t looked after then you won’t look your best. This body cream from Elemis is designed to be used all over your body to help to hydrate your skin, leaving it silky smooth and delicately scented. It contains a unique blend of exotic oils, while leaving out any artificial nasties and will give lasting hydration and supple skin.

Dermalogica Body Hydrating Cream

As well as containing botanical extracts and essential oils moisturise and condition the skin, this hydrating body cream from Dermalogica also utilises natural hydroxy acids from sugar cane and apple extracts, combined with lactic acid help to smooth the skin. Oils from green tea, lavender, tea tree and chamomile soothe the skin, giving ongoing softening powers, while sandalwood, orange, clary sage, patchouli and rosemary all give lasting hydration.

Decleor Phytopeel Smooth Exfoliating Cream

One of the things that we love about this cream is that it powerfully exfoliates the skin without the use of harsh particles which can actually cause micro-abrasions to the healthy skin beneath. It will cleanse and remove impurities, remove the layer of dead skin cells and reveal a new, smoother layer of skin beneath, giving you the complexion you desire.

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