Our Blog – Page 53 – Pure Beauty – The Lichfield Beauty Salon

Sleep like a baby

27/06/2017 26/06/2017 0

Last week, summer really came to town and while many people love the warmer weather and soaring temperatures, for others it makes hay fever worse and sleeping difficult.

‘I love the sun but getting to sleep and staying asleep is so hard.’
Jo

‘When it is too hot outside my house really heats up and trying to get any sleep is almost impossible so I am too grumpy to enjoy the sun the next day.’
Tara

‘The summer is here but so is my hay fever which sucks as it makes sleep really difficult.’
Donna

We have put together some ideas that we hope will help you get a better night’s sleep so you wake up feeling refreshed and able to enjoy the day ahead of you.

During the day, shut your windows and keep the blinds and curtains closed. Make rooms as dark as possible and try to keep the hot air and the sun out. By doing this you’ll have a cooler room in the evening, when you can open the windows again and let fresher air flood in.

You might want to think about sleeping downstairs on really hot evenings as lower floors tend to be cooler.

You probably won’t feel much like a roast dinner when it is 90 degrees, but if you do want to sleep better in the heat, having a light evening meal with water is probably your best bet. Salads, fruit and smaller protein based snacks and meals will fill you up, but won’t heat you up!

Take a cool shower rather than having a bath before you go to bed. As well as helping you to cool off, a shower, rather than a bath, will rinse away any pollen on your hair and skin that could cause problems as you try to drift off.

Applying a light after sun product to your skin, even if you haven’t had too much sun, can be a great way to cool off before you climb under the sheets.

Put clean pillow cases in the freezer an hour before you go to bed and them will feel wonderfully cold when you lie down to go to sleep.

Another freezer tip, and this time it is for your water. Put a half full bottle of mineral water in the freezer in the morning and at bedtime, top the ice up with cold water and you will have a chilled drink all night long.

Either wear cotton clothes in bed, or none at all. The hot weather will make you sweat more than ever and PJs won’t help you have sweet dreams, so keep those for Christmas.

You will probably also want to ditch your duvet and swap it for a lighter blanket or sheet.

Get a fan. These can be purchased quite reasonably at many shops, as well as on Amazon, and can make life more comfortable when the temperatures are high.

Once you’ve got a fan, put a bottle of frozen water in front of it and let the fan blow over the cold bottle to cool you down. Yes, really.

If you are feeling creative, why not take your covers and water outside and sleep under the stars?

However you do it, we hope you manage to get some sleep even on the hottest nights this summer.

Team Pure Beauty

Health and Happiness, Life and Fashion

Busting Some Common Beauty Myths

24/06/2017 26/06/2017 0

Busting Common Beauty Myths — Royalty-free Image

If you’ve ever had a conversation with anyone about something beauty related, I guarantee they’ll have spouted some nugget of age-old wisdom which is actually a total myth! Although people think they’re helping, often these pearls of wisdom aren’t nearly as useful as they’re touted as being, so we thought we’d take a look at five of the most common beauty myths around and debunk them as we go!

Cutting Hair Makes it Thicker

Probably the single most common beauty myth out there, people STILL claim that cutting hair (or brushing it more) will make it thicker. The fact of the matter is, your head has a finite amount of follicles and those follicles will always produce the same amount of hairs with the same thickness, regardless of what you do. Trimming split ends will get rid of that ragged, thinning look at the bottom, but cutting off your hair will definitely NOT make it thicker or grow faster!

Splashing Your Face with Cold Water Closes Pores

Pores will open and close of their own volition and no amount of cold water will make enlarged pores shrink. The key to keeping your pores minimised is to keep the skin really clean so that dirt can’t accumulate in them and use a decent primer to reduce the appearance of uneven skin and larger pores.

Hair Will Start Cleaning Itself

This one can produce particularly grim results if people decide to quit hair washing altogether! Even people who are part of the “no-poo” movement of non-washing will use other things on their hair to keep it clean because your head will produce sebum and sweat no matter what. Opting for a sulphate-free shampoo is basically the best way to keep it clean if you aren’t a fan of of using lots of harsh chemicals on your head.

Make-Up Causes Acne

It’s a common myth that make-up can cause acne, or that acne sufferers have dirty faces. The most common cause of acne in teenagers is an over-sensitivity to hormones or simply a genetic pre-disposition which is passed down from parents. Using a proper acne-related skincare regime such as the Dermalogica MediBac Clearing System will help immensely.

Pulling Out Grey Hair Makes Two Grow Back

As we said above, a hair follicle can’t start growing hair which is wildly different from what is already there, and greying hair is simply a result of the body scaling back melanin production, the thing which gives your hair its natural colour. There’s absolutely zero evidence that pulling out a grey hair would make two grow in its place, otherwise balding blokes would be plucking their heads regularly to make double the hair grow back!

Health and Happiness

Boost your metabolism with your diet

20/06/2017 20/06/2017 0

We know that your metabolism is partly determined by your genetics, but if you want to fire it up and really getting it working for you, you need to look at what you eat too.

Lots of people think they know what their metabolism does, but just so you know for sure, it describes the chemical processes in your body that keep you alive. This includes making sure your organs work well, you can breathe, repairing cells and digest food.

A sluggish metabolism slows you down, makes you feel below par and can lead to you piling on the pounds.

If this is you, then it’s time to ditch the faddy diets and sugar laden snacks, and instead fill up the foods that will give you a super working, fat-burning body.

Eat when you wake
Eating a decent breakfast means your body won’t go into starvation mode and crawl to a halt to conserve energy. A glass of warm water and lemon accompanied by porridge, eggs or a vitamin packed smoothie will get your metabolism going for the day ahead and help you feel on top of things.

Egg Whites
Egg whites not only taste good when cooked the right way, buy they are really rich in the branched-chain amino acids that your metabolism loves. Of course eggs are also loaded with protein and vitamin D so go for an omelette, scrambled eggs with smoked salmon or boiled eggs with rye toast and you will ready to rev.

Get hot with chilis
Chili peppers are full of the chemical compound, capsaicin, which is brilliant at ramping your metabolism up a gear and they have a handy dose of Vitamin C too. Just one tablespoon of chopped, dried chili peppers being added to your diet each day can help fire things up and get you back on top. You can do this by simply adding the flakes to salsa, stir fries, marinades and sauces.

Whole grain goodness
White bread and cakes taste sweet but it’s whole grains that will get your body burning more fat. This happens because foods like brown rice and oatmeal are rich in fibre so your body has to work harder to break them down than their processed peers. So, go with wholes grains every time you eat.

Catch up with coffee
It’s an oldie, but coffee is still a goodie if you want to get your metabolism in working order. Don’t overdo it, but if you need a hit then have a cup or two a day and let it get to work on your system. If the hard stuff isn’t for you but you still like a hot drink at your desk, green tea has ingredients in it that apparently promote fat-burning, so pop to your health food shop and stock up.

Iron it out
You need to make sure your daily diet is packed with iron because if it isn’t, this can slow your metabolism down and cause other health issues such as anaemia. Ideally you want to eat three or four servings of iron-rich foods, such as chicken, kidney beans, lentils and fortified cereal, a day to keep in tip tops health.

Add water, exercise and sleep to this foodie equation and your body will be up to speed in no time.

Team Pure-Beauty

Decleor, Dermalogica, Elemis

Staying Fresh During Air Travel

17/06/2017 20/06/2017 0

It’s that time of year when many of us are getting ready to go on holiday but one of biggest concerns we hear from our customers is the fact that plane travel can play havoc with our skin, and often they get off the plane at the other end looking rather then than perfect! Today, we’re looking at five products which you can take on a plane to help you to look your best when you reach your destination:

Elemis Pro-Collagen Hydra-Gel Eye Masks

After a long flight, the eyes often feel dry, puffy and totally worn out, so these hydra-gel eye masks are the perfect thing to keep in your carry-on bag. Potent plankton extract, combined with the power of padina pavonica and chlorella, gives an instant skin-tightening effect, whilst hyaluronic acid hydrates the delicate eye area. Eye contours are left looking visibly smoother and feeling intensely moisturised.

Dermalogica Multi-Active Toner

One of THE most refreshing things you can do on a plane is spritz your face with a product designed to cool and soothe the skin, and the Dermalogica Multi-Active Toner is perfect for this. Not only does it contain skin-repairing aloe, but it also has soothing lavender, balm mint and arnica in the blend to make it perfect for plane-weary skin. It also comes in a handy 50ml sized bottle which makes it handbag sized and totally in line with airline regulations.

Elemis Sweet Orchid Hand and Nail Cream

Another place that we often feel is dried out by air travel is our hands and nails. A few hours on a plane is enough to leave our hands feeling rough and dehydrated, so keeping this hand and nail cream from Elemis nearby can really help. As well as giving our hands vital moisture, it smells absolutely divine, infused with sweet orchid for a luxurious scent.

Decleor Face Tan Activator Serum

If you’re jetting off for time in the sun, you’ll want to get your skin ready for all of those rays, and the plane journey is the perfect time to keep up with your routine. Decleor has formulated this Face Tan Activator Serum which prepares your skin for sun exposure, boosts your tanning potential and can be used alongside other sun protection to ensure your face is properly protected from the ageing rays.

Dermalogica UltraCalming Cleanser

Often, plane travel can leave us feeling a little grimy (something about being stuck in an air-conditioned tube with hundreds of other people) and by the time we reach our destination, a bit of a wash is in order! Unless you’re lucky enough to be travelling First Class, you probably won’t have access to a shower, but this cleanser from Dermalogica will not only get your face feeling clean and refreshed, it will also soothe is after a long flight AND comes in a 50ml bottle, making it the perfect product for travel.

Health and Happiness, Life and Fashion

How to look good in photos

13/06/2017 12/06/2017 0

Let’s face it, from selfies to group hugs, photos are becoming a part of everyday life and with many snaps being put online, you want to look good.

Double chins, closed eyes, smudged make-up can be filtered out of the equation, but our guess is you would rather they weren’t in the picture from the start.

Follow our photography tips and you will that you’ll always look great in pics.

Think about unicorns
Nope, we haven’t lost the plot but rather we know when we think about nice stuff, our faces look happier. Real thoughts of happiness help put a genuine smile on our faces and help us look, and feel, calm and happy rather than having a forced, fake smile that screams ‘I don’t want to be here’.

Be your best you
OK, this might be over thinking things but if you know which bits of you, you like and which bits look best and this is what needs to be focussed on in your photos. If your lips are on the thin side, when the camera clicks, have them slightly parted and blow lightly as this will give the illusion of being fuller. If you are conscious of having a round face, don’t look at the camera straight on, instead turn your head slightly to the side. If you want to take the focus off your nose, move your jaw forward a little and this helps with a more balance profile and better picture.

Find ‘your’ smile
This might sound over indulgent but rather than a stab in the dark at your sister’s wedding, why not perfect your smile before the big day? Many celebrities and models are snapped with the same smile and pose time and time again and always look great. We know this is in part because they are beautiful but it is also because they know what works for them. Get your phone and take some photos, or ask a friend to do it for you, and find a smile you love and stick with it. Practice makes perfect, right?

All about the lights
We know you can’t organise this for every photo, but a lot of image success is down to the lighting. Avoid harsh shadows as these make blemishes worse and don’t look directly at the sun or it will be squint city. The best lighting is when it is even from the top of your forehead to the bottom of your chin, and from cheek to cheek.

Keep your body straight
You can easily get lost in the background of photos so when sitting down, sit up straight and ensure you are on the edge of your chair. This helps lengthen your body so the camera captures you at your best.

Hands on your hips
There is no doubt that putting your hands on your hips is a winning look as it will accentuate your waist and make you look slimmer. To get this look right, position your hands with your fingers out, palms facing behind you and you are on course for natural and comfortable shot you will want to shout about.

It’s all about the clothes
These tips can help you look good on and off-screen. Wearing darker clothes slim your body, thighs and arms whereas horizontal stripes make your hips and waist appear wider than they actually are, so steer clear and go for block colours. Keep lines clean and sharp and while they might on trend for S/S17, floaty sleeves, accentuate the thickest parts of your arms making them look bigger, not cool.

Cameral level
Whether it is an iPhone or fancy camera, having the device at eye line or slightly higher is great as you will get a defined jaw line and more flattering photo.

Keep it simple
Keeping it simple really is at the heart of the photographic matter. Don’t force your pose too much, stand up straight, try to keep things relaxed and don’t look like a baby deer caught in headlights either.

Happy snapping.

Team Pure Beauty.

Elemis

Product Focus: Elemis Superfood Facial Oil

10/06/2017 12/06/2017 0

Most of us know by now that there are foods, and then there are SUPERfoods; superfoods are nutrient powerhouses that pack large doses of antioxidants, polyphenols, vitamins, and minerals. Eating them may reduce the risk of chronic disease, and prolong life, and people who eat more of them are healthier and thinner than those who don’t. But what about for your skin? Well, superfoods are also incredible for your complexion, which is exactly why Elemis has harnessed the power of as many superfoods as it can pack into its Superfood Facial Oil.

What Does it Do?

This oil nourishes and hydrates the skin, leaving it soft and supple and with a radiant glow, thanks to the non-greasy formula which melts into the skin with ease. Once absorbed, the oil forms a protective layer over the skin which locks in moisture and protects the skin from the daily barrage of pollutants and free radicals. The key ingredients are the high concentrations of Omega acids, which are antioxidants and help to feed the skin, keeping it healthy.

What’s in it?

Oils have been extracted from a whole rainbow of superfood for this formulation, including broccoli seed oil, flaxseed oil, daikon radish oil, rosehip seed oil, cucumber oil, macadamia oil, poppy seed oil, rice bran oil and meadowfoam seed oil! Rich in fatty acids from Omega 3 to 7, these oils are brimming with vitamins B1, C, E and tocopherols as well as oleic acid.

Who is it For?

Elemis Superfood Facial Oil is 100% natural and can be used on any skin type. Although it’s an oil, the formula is totally non-greasy, which means that even those with excess sebum production issues can use it, and the oil will actually help to balance out oily or combination skin by calming and hydrating the face. It’s particularly good for ageing skin as it’s often harder to get older skin to retain moisture, however it can be used from any age and will keep your skin looking younger for longer.

How Do I Use it?

Massage 3-4 drops over the face and neck every morning. Use alone, or before your daily moisturiser. If contact with eyes occurs, rinse thoroughly.

Health and Happiness, Life and Fashion

Essential oils to help you sleep

06/06/2017 05/06/2017 0

Fed up because you can’t sleep?

Tired everything from a warm bath, hot chocolate and having the window open?

Well, why not give an essential oil a go?

Available in many health food shops and chemists, essential oils are a fantastic way to help ease you to sleep the natural way.

Mixed with a carrier oil (we like sweet almond oil) you can gently rub them into your neck or the bottom of your feet and let their magic get to work. Alternatively, they can be used with a burner and the smell will have you nodding off in no time.

Today there are more oils on the market than ever, and the right one, or combination of several, can have you sleeping like a baby in no time.

Bergamot
Bergamot is a citrus fruit and the oil is cold pressed from either the rind or the peel. Many citrus oils have a stimulating effect, not what you want at night-time, but bergamot is in fact calming. The flavonoids in Bergamot oil are relaxants that soothe nerves and help reduce anxiety, stress and tension – often then causes of insomnia.

Cedarwood
Cedarwood essential oil is a natural sedative. It has a calming, soothing effect on the mind and helps take away tension. The scent encourages your body to release the feel good hormone, serotonin, which is then converted by the brain into melatonin which encourages sleeps so you’ll drift off and awake refreshed.

Lavender
Many people know about lavender and it is believed to help ease anxiety and insomnia. Lavender has a fresh, calm scent that not only helps take away tension and stress but also eases migraines and depression.

Marjoram
You might not know much about marjoram, but you need to know about it. This wonderful oil is great for easing the joint and muscle pain that can prevent sleep. It works because the sweet smell is calming and has a sedative effect that helps lower blood pressure and ease nervous tension, which can stop you from sleeping.

Roman Chamomile
Chamomile is a popular essential oil, but it is Roman Chamomile that really helps with aiding sleep. This ancient herb is well documented for its calming, soothing and relaxing properties and this is down to its sweet, herbaceous scent that creates a calm, peaceful atmosphere that is conducive to sleep.

Sandalwood
Often used in aromatherapy and blended into perfumes, sandalwood oil has a deeply relaxing effect on the nervous system. It has a rich, seductive scent that triggers the feel good endorphins that can calm the brain and help you sleep.

Vetiver
Taken from the roots of the vetiver plant, this oil is great at helping to relax the nervous system and dealing with over stimulation. This was used as a traditional medicine in Asia for centuries and in India it is known as the ‘oil of tranquillity’. You might be surprised at the strong, earthy scent of this oil and to start with, you might want to mix it with a lighter oil such as chamomile or lavender so your senses aren’t overwhelmed but in time you will grow to love it and effect it has on your ability to sleep.

Remember, find an oil that is right for you and whichever one you use, a little goes a long way so don’t overdo it.

Team Pure Beauty

Decleor, Dermalogica, Elemis, Skincare Advice

A Rose By Any Other Name…

03/06/2017 05/06/2017 0

Here at Pure Beauty, we’re passionate about the natural ingredients which are used in the brands that we sell and one of our favourites is rose. The oils have many properties which are highly beneficial to the skin, and obviously the fragrance is second to none, so we thought w’d give you a little look at some of our best products from Decleor, Elemis and Dermalogica which harness the power and beauty of the rose:

Elemis Gentle Rose Exfoliator

Exfoliating the skin is a fine balancing act of being abrasive enough to slough away the top layer of dead skin cells whilst doing your best not to stimulate or irritate the remaining skin. This gentle rose exfoliator from Elemis contains micro-spherical Jojoba beads that are blended with hydrating Rose Absolute to gently exfoliate the surface of the skin leaving it silky smooth and soft to the touch. It contains rose petal flower water to deeply hydrate the skin whilst being totally free of parabens SLS or mineral oils.

Dermalogica Antioxidant HydraMist

Free radicals are all around us and can exacerbate the signs of ageing if left o attack your skin. Antioxidants are important in the fight against free radicals and this mist from Dermalogica helps to form a shield against these damaging molecules. As well as harnessing rose and clove extracts comfort and refresh skin while hyaluronic acid acts as a hydration magnet to quench dehydrated skin.

Elemis Rehydrating Rosepetal Cleanser

In order to be properly effective at ridding the skin of make-up and daily grime, some cleansers can be a little drying. However, this cleanser from Elemis is infused with rosepetal water to hydrate the skin while restoring a clean and radiant complexion. It’s ideal deal for sensitive skin, has a light, non-sticky texture and can even be used on the sensitive eye area without causing irritation.

Decleor Rose D’Orient Soothing Night Balm

If you suffer with skin which is sensitive, then night time is often the best time to use a really restorative product as it will have time to soak in without other daily pollutants interfering. This 100% natural, preservative-free balm from Decleor melts into the skin to soothe and restore while you sleep, leaving you to wake up feeling refreshed and repaired.

Elemis Jasmine and Rose Hand and Nail Cream

A beautifully-scented hand cream can feel like a real luxury, especially when it also contains argan oil and vitamin E to intensively nourish the skin too. This hand and nail cream from Elemis contains not only rose but also jasmine to offer a delightful floral scent, as well as white lotus flower milks soften and calm dry and sensitive skin, leaving your hands felling soft and smelling great.

Health and Happiness, Skincare Advice

The anti-ageing tips that really work

30/05/2017 30/05/2017 0

Never has there been so much pressure on us to look youthful and while life is busy, it is worth taking time to look after your mind, body and soul so you don’t look older than your years.

Water, water, water
When your skin is dry and dehydrated, it is far more prone to fine lines and wrinkles. One of the simplest ways to combat this is to drink plenty of water and this is because it is full of micronutrients that nourish your body, organs and skin and can help fight signs of ageing. The general guidelines are at least eight glasses a day and you get fed up of plain water, why not add slices of lemon, cucumber and mint leaves to make your taste buds, senses and skin come alive.

Eat for your skin
Eating a healthy, balanced diet is an important part of maintaining good health, and can help you look your best too. Try to eat a wide variety of whole foods including fresh fruit and vegetables, lean proteins, nuts and pulses and if you can keep away from processed, surgery foods that is helpful as these offer little nourishment and leave your skin looking tired.

Don’t smoke
This is a really simple one because if you smoke your skin is going to age. This happens because smoking damages your tissues, reduces the blood flow to the skin and prevents oxygen and vitamins from reaching your skin cells, so wrinkles appear. If you find quitting hard, speak to your GP and talk about the options out there for making the best decision ever for your heath.

Take regular exercise
Fitting regular exercise into your lifestyle will help hold back the years, as even a gentle 30 minute walk cause the heart to pump faster, boosting vital oxygen and nutrients in your muscles, brain and organs. This keeps them well supplied with everything they need to work at their best and you will also flood your body with feel good endorphins giving you plenty to smile about.

Cleanse, tone and moisturise
Drinking water helps us hydrate from the inside and a decent skincare routine can help too. If you want to deal with dry skin, lines, blemishes and pigmentation it is vital to cleanse, tone and moisturise morning and night and adding a serum can give added anti-ageing benefits too.

Be SPF Savvy
Whether it is hot or cold, you are at home or away, don’t go skip the sun cream. Even on the cloudiest of days UV rays can penetrate the skin, damaging cells and making us look older. We suggest you wear an SPF every day, it can be combined with your daily moisturiser, and when the sun it hot, stay in the shade between 11am and 3pm and reapply as needed.

Get your sleep
If you want to look fresh, you need to get enough sleep. We all differ but experts suggest between six and eight hours sleep a night is what to aim for. Have a warm bath, turn off all devices and ensure your bedding is clean and room is at the right temperature and you should be set to snooze.

Keep stress down
Stress can make us tired which can in turn make us look older than we are. We know life is busy and can be hard at times, but try to get a good balance so that stress doesn’t take over. Take time out for you, see family and friends, take some exercise everyday and enjoy life. Don’t make it all about the hard stuff or it’ll show up on your face.

For more details about beauty products that can help deal with ageing, get in touch and we would love to help.

Team Pure Beauty

Decleor, Dermalogica, Health and Happiness

Beauty Tips for Beach and Poolside

27/05/2017 30/05/2017 0

Summer is here and for many of us that means days out to the beach, spending time at a local outdoor pool, or if you’re really lucky, jetting off to foreign shores. Looking our best while we’re relaxing in the sun is usually at the forefront of our minds and we’ve got some tips to help you look good with as little maintenance as possible.

Hair

If you’re a hair straightening devotee, there’s a good chance that it just won’t work for you in a hot, wet environment. Opting for a slightly shaggier look, even using a sea-salt spray to give you a tousled, beachy look will be far less effort than trying to maintain super-sleek locks and will give you far more time for sipping cocktails!

Nails

Tatty nails on your hands or feet are the quickest way to look untidy, but maintaining a mani and pedi while you’re on holiday can be tricky. Opt for a long-wear nail polish, or even a gel manicure so that you’re guaranteed a chip-free couple of weeks. Pack some Decleor Ongles Nail Strengthening Serum to keep your cuticles tidy and use Elemis Exotic Frangipani Monoi Hand and Nail Cream for an incredibly fragrant solution to dry hands.

Skin

Obviously you’ll need to use a sunscreen every day whilst on your holidays but make-up can be a tricky issue. Wearing a full-face of make-up around the pool is often pointless as it ends up sweating off or washing away when you swim, but using Dermalogica Sheer Tint will not only give you a wash of colour and coverage but will also offer SPF20 protection from the sun’s harmful rays.

Hair Removal

Hair removal is often a bit of an issue for women on holiday. Spending time in a bikini means that things need to be kept tidy, so legs, armpits and bikini lines are the minimum to take care of. However, most of us don’t want to be shaving every other day whilst on holiday, nor do we want shaving rash while we’re wearing a bathing suit! Opt for a full waxing session before you jet off to get your hairy areas under control and use Decleor Post-Wax Cream – Sensitive Areas to protect against regrowth and ingrown hairs.

Feet

Here in the Pure Beauty office, we all agree that when we’re on holiday we spend as little time as possible wearing shoes, and when we do wear shoes, they’re usually strappy, sandal-y type things which don’t offer much protection. This can leave our feet feeling a little rough and dry, so keeping some Elemis Treat Your Feet Foot Cream in your suitcase is a really good idea if you don’t want feet like a Hobbit by the time you fly home!

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