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Be breast aware this October

25/10/2016 31/10/2016 0

If you didn’t know already, October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Breast Cancer Care research has shown that nearly 60,000 people are diagnosed with breast cancer in the UK every year.

That’s the equivalent of one person every 10 minutes, with 1 in 8 women in the UK expected to develop breast cancer during their lives.

That is quite a number, so we want to make sure you know the facts so you can be breast healthy and aware of your own body.

First of all, let’s look at who, statistically, is most susceptible to breast cancer:

First of all, woman are most at risk factor of developing breast cancer.

Secondly whilst we hear of young cases in the media, actually the older you are, the more at risk you are of developing the disease. Over 80% of breast cancer cases are diagnosed in women over 50 and if men have the disease, they are most likely to be aged 60 over.

A family history can be another factor but this isn’t common and around just 5% of those diagnosed with breast cancer have the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene.

Whilst these are the most at risk cases, the reality is that breast cancer can happen to anyone and anytime.

Bearing this in mind do you really know what breast cancer is?

Well, in the simplest of terms it happens when cells in the breast divide and grow in an abnormal way. This can happen for a number of reasons (including those above) or can be due to a combination of factors, some of which we can’t control.

The are several types of breast cancer, which can be diagnosed at different stages, and each case grows at different rates. As no two patients are the same, no two treatments plans are either.

From today, why not start to check your breasts regularly?

Once you start you will soon know what feels normal and therefore it will be easier to notice if something feels, or looks, different.

You can check them in the bath or shower, after you have exercised, when you get dressed or as you use moisturisers or body lotions.

Is it important to check all parts of your breast including your armpits and up to your collarbone and the changes you are really looing for include:

A change in size or shape of your breasts
A lump or thickening of tissue that feels different from the rest of the breast
Redness or a rash on the skin and/or around the nipple
Any changes in your breast skin texture such as puckering or dimpling
Look out for a liquid discharge from the nipple that occurs even when you don’t squeeze
Nipples becoming inverted or changing in shape or position
A swelling in your armpit or around your collarbone
A constant pain in your breast or armpit

Whilst most changes will be innocent, if you do find something you are worried about go and see your GP as soon as you can. The worst thing you can do is worry and suffer in silence. There’s a good chance of recovery if cancer is detected in the early stages and there is some incredible support out there if it’s the new you didn’t want to hear.

Chances are, it won’t be anything at all, but be breast aware and have peace of mind.

For more information visit the NHS website or go to Breast Cancer Care.

Decleor, Dermalogica, Skincare Advice

Brightening Beauty

22/10/2016 31/10/2016 0

At this time of year it’s really easy to start feeing a little dull – the sun has all but disappeared, many of us have our heating on and fashion has taken a turn for the woolly! It’s important for both mind and body to stay feeling great so we thought we’d take a look at five of our best brightening products to help you fend off those winter blues.

Decleor Anti-Dark Circle Multi-Brightening Eye Care

Whenever we’re feeling tired or under the weather, the first place it shows is in the dark circles around our eyes. This eye cream from Decleor is a powerful ally against dark circles and can be used daily to keep the area around your eyes looking bright and refreshed.

Decleor Brightening Cleansing Foam

Cleansing is an important part of helping us to feel bright and fresh, so opting for a silky brightening cleansing foam is a good idea. This product from Decleor does exactly that, eliminating impurities and excess sebum to refine the complexion day after day.

Decleor Brightening Cleansing Oil

Cleansing oils are such a great way to deeply cleanse your skin without stripping away essential moisture which is often the cause of dull skin. This cleansing oil from Decleor actively brightens your skin, adding radiance and luminosity as well as strengthening the skins natural barriers and deeply cleansing as it goes. Quite impressive!

Decleor Intense Brightening Mask

Using brightening products on a daily basis is important but you can also bolster your skin with regular mask treatments. Decleor Intense Brightening Mask is a mask to refresh, hydrate and brighten dull and pigmented skin types. It harnesses Decleor’s unique “White Focus” plant complex to intensively refresh the face and can be used once a week.

Dermalogica C-12 Pure Bright Serum

This serum from Dermalogica is one of their most powerful and most popular as it not only increases luminosity and brightness, it also actively reduces the appearance of dark spots and hyperpigmentation. It contains a number of oligopeptides which actually improve the appearance of your skin on a deeply cellular level and reduces melanosome transfer to cells.

Life and Fashion

Boost your mood with your food

18/10/2016 17/10/2016 0

Whilst some of us love wrapping up warm and kicking the leaves in the park, for others the cool winds of autumn are unwelcome and can create feelings of sadness and lead to snacking and comfort eating.

Whilst cakes and crisps might taste great, not only can the add to your waistline but doing so may make you feel sluggish and more tired and lethargic than ever.

We have put together our top mood boosting foods that will make you want to grab your trainers and run out of the door rather than hide under the duvet until spring.

Eggs are the perfect mood food you can enjoy at any time of the day. Eat them for breakfast, lunch or dinner, have them boiled, poached or scrambled and you simply can’t go wrong. One the reasons they are so good for you is because they are jam packed with protein that the body breaks down into the amino acids that make neurotransmitters and keep our mood balanced. What are you waiting for – buy a dozen today.

Another breakfast winner is porridge. Oats boost your mood because they have a naturally low glycaemic index (GI) so they slowly release energy into the bloodstream. This means both your blood sugar levels and mood are kept stable and you don’t get that mid-morning slump. Oats also contain the selenium as well as Vitamin B12 and other B vitamins that all play a role in producing and stabilising mood boosting brain chemicals. Start the day with a bowl of porridge made with semi-skimmed milk and add nuts or yoghurt for protein packed bonus points.

Bananas are a very, very happy snack. Either slice onto a bowl of fortified cereal with semi-skimmed milk or blend into a healthy smoothie together with mood boosting blackberries. As well as being full of potassium, bananas also boast high levels of the happy hormone, serotonin, which can also be found in plums, tomatoes, kiwis and walnuts.

Snacking on nuts and seeds rather than crisps and sweets, can be a great way to fill up and keep smiling. Full of protein, these once again can help with the production of neurotransmitters and help keep our mood balanced and mind focused.

A great way to keep a smile on your face and a skip in your step is to eat fish. Oily fish such as mackerel, sardines, wild salmon and tuna are a fantastic source of the omega 3s that are vital for healthy brain function and good mood. Don’t just have fish on Friday, instead enjoy a severing two or three times a week with rice and steamed vegetables or with a jacket sweet potato and avocado slices.

If you like chocolate, you’ll be delighted to know that a little bit of dark chocolate can be good for you. We aren’t saying buy the biggest pack and eat it in one sitting, but having one square of dark, organic, unprocessed chocolate a day can help to deal with anxiety and stress. This is because it contains the antioxidant, falvonols, which can have a positive impact on your mood.

Try switching red meat for turkey at least once a week. We say this because it is a rich protein full of feel good serotonin from an amino acid, Tryptophan. Tryptophan occurs naturally in turkey as well as some dairy products, dried dates and soya. To get most happiness from these foods, eat them with a small portion of carbohydrate to increase the absorption rate and conversion to serotonin and feel that smile creep onto your face.

Believe it or not, if you feel below par, reaching for cinnamon can be better than eating large slice of cake and mug of sugary tea. These kinds of food might give us a quick fix but in no time at all you will be feeling down in the mouth again. Sprinkling a teaspoon of cinnamon onto peanut butter or porridge or drinking a warming cup of cinnamon tea can keep blood sugar levels balanced and mood even.

So, next time you go shopping, think about what will make you happy before you put it in your trolley.

Team Pure-Beauty

Health and Happiness, Skincare Advice

5 Surprising Reasons for Spots

15/10/2016 14/10/2016 0

We all know that there are certain things which cause spots, like weather changes and hormones changes which are basically just a fact of life and have to be dealt with as and when they happen. However, there are quite a few totally avoidable reasons for spots which may not have even occurred to you, so we thought we’d take a look at those reasons and allow you to be pre-armed and forewarned.

Your Make-Up

Using make-up with is ‘non-comedogenic’ is basically the only way to ensure that your make-up will never cause you spots because this literally means that it doesn’t clog your pores. Other than that, making sure that you wash your face really thoroughly at the end of the day is the only remedy. We recommend Decleor Soothing Micellar Water and Dermalogica Soothing Eye Make Up Remover to ensure a super clean face with no irritation from harsh chemicals.

Your Bed

Okay, so this one is a bit…icky…but if you’re not changing your bedsheets as often as you should, especially your pillow case, then your sleep-haven could definitely be giving you spots. Every night, you lay in bed and your face touches your pillow case which, if it hasn’t been properly sanitised, could be teeming with bacteria. Make sure to change your bedding at least once a week and wash them at a minimum of 60°C.

Your Partner

If your partner has facial hair of any kind, there’s a good change he could be contributing to your spots, especially if you’re a pair of kiss-aholics! If your partner has short, stubbly hair, this could be irritating your skin and causing breakouts, whilst a long beard could be harbouring sebum and bacteria, also causing you to breakout. Make sure he keeps his beard super clean and softened with a little beard oil.

Overusing Products

Having a skincare routine is something that we’re fairly evangelical about, but we’ll be the first to admit that there IS such a thing as overdoing it, and even we need to switch things up sometimes. Although products which contain salicylic acid can do absolute wonders for your skin, some of them are for occasional use only and using them too much can cause a whole set of issues by themselves, such as dryness and outbreaks of spots. If this happens to you, try to lay off the powerful products for a while and stick to something gentler like Dermalogica Gentle Soothing Booster.

Smoking

Sorry to be a bore, but smoking is bad for you in YET ANOTHER way. We all know the potentially fatal side effects of smoking, which is reason enough to quit, but smoking can also give you spots. When you smoke, you literally deprive your skin of oxygen and all of the chemicals in cigarettes will dry the skin, causing you to over-produce sebum which will eventually make you spotty. How to stop it? Quit!

Health and Happiness

50 easy things to do to make you happy

11/10/2016 10/10/2016 0

Bogged down, tired, stressed?

Many of us feel this way as life is busy, schedules are full and the nights are drawing in.

Don’t feel mad, sad or bad, instead take a leaf out of our book and do something easy today that will make you feel great.

Go for a walk in the autumn sunshine and get some fresh air.

Meet a friend for coffee and chat.

Write a letter.

Cook a cake.

Take up knitting – very therapeutic.

Swim in the sea.

Light some candles and enjoy the sweet smell filling up your house.

Listening to your favourite song on full volume.

Book a holiday.

Resign from the job you hate.

Tell someone you love them.

Have a horse-riding lesson.

Take a duvet day.

Pay someone a compliment.

Read that book you have had on your list forever.

Put all your photos in an album.

Buy a new pair of shoes and wear them out of the shop.

Propose!

Throw away the scales.

Buy a colouring book and relax as you draw.

Make a hot chocolate with double cream and enjoy every last taste.

Cuddle a newborn baby.

Say hello to a stranger and brighten their day.

Make a donation to a charity you believe in.

Cancel that expensive gym membership you never, ever use.

Call your mum and say hello.

Have a digital detox and turn off all devices and gadgets for the day.

Cook a roast dinner for the whole family.

Take a course and learn something completely new.

Go to a car boot sale and sell anything you don’t use or need anymore.

Go to the beach.

Paint your nails bright red and wear matching lipstick.

Make a mid-year resolution.

Have your hair done, feel special. You’re worth it.

Keep a diary of three good things in everyday and embrace happy.

Tell the truth.

Throw out your chipped mugs and buy a new set that matches and looks nice!

Send a postcard to your sister.

Snuggle up with your dog, and if you don’t have a dog, borrow one.

Say sorry and really mean it.

Throw a party, just because.

Meditate and take time out to rest, relax and find happiness.

Don’t skip meals, instead nourish your body and soul with good food and water.

Have an early night and catch up on some much needed sleep.

Get out the popcorn, close the curtains and watch your favourite movie in your pjs.

Volunteer your time. Whether you help at a local hospice, make tea at the school fete or do some shopping for a neighbour, do it for free and make a difference.

Make a list and stick to it, ticking each item off one by one.

Don’t keep anything for ‘best’ use or wear it everyday.

Look for butterflies.

Smile, it is hard to feel down when you are grinning.

Go on, give these a go and we bet you will feel better for it.

Team Pure-Beauty

Health and Happiness

De-Stress with Decleor and Dermalogica

08/10/2016 10/10/2016 0

Unless you’re the sort of rare creature who manages to remain Zen at all times, there’s a good chance that you’ll feel the need to de-stress at times. Taking some time to concentrate on yourself can be an excellent way to improve your inner-calm and we’ve got suggestions of five amazing products which will help.

Dermalogica Stress Relief Treatment Oil

This oil from Dermalogica is the perfect product for relieving stress and can be used in a number of different ways. It contains soothing lavender, sandalwood and orange oils and can be smoothed onto the skin during a massage, added to a bath, rubbed onto wet skin after a shower or even added to your regular moisturiser for an all-over effect. Additionally, patchouli and clary sage as well as tea tree, lemon and ylang-ylang combine to help to soothe your overworked mind.

Decleor Neroli Hydrating Oil Serum

This serum is perfect for skin which has been exposed to the stresses of everyday life. It’s won numerous awards for Decleor and soaks into the skin upon application to soothe and relax the skin. It works best when combined with Decleor Hydra-Floral Anti-Pollution cream and should be applied morning and night, smoothed onto the face a drop or two at a time.

Dermalogica Conditioning Body Wash

More often than not, when we need to de-stress, the first place we head for is the bath or shower and this body wash is the perfect accompaniment to your scrubbing to help you de-stress. It contains a blend of purifying and cleansing natural oils which also smell sublime and will leave you feeling as though all of your tension has melted away/

Decleor Sublime Re-Densifying Night Cream

Once you’ve de-stressed and are ready to hit the hay for a restorative snooze, using a night cream to continue the good work is a great idea. The cream contains an aromachological blend of iris, frankincense, immortelle and camomile to soothe and de-stress the skin, allowing you to wake up feeling fully revitalised.

Dermalogica Gentle Soothing Booster

This booster from Dermalogica does exactly what it says on the bottle by gently soothing dry, tired and stress-out skin. Red raspberry extract, healing honey and calming flower extracts soothe irritation and areas where your skin looks and feels stressed as well as reducing redness and natural moisture levels.

Health and Happiness

Relax on World Mental Health Day

04/10/2016 03/10/2016 0

World Mental Health Day takes place on 10 October and it is an opportunity to raise awareness of mental health issues around the world.

As life gets busier and pressure mount, it is very easy for anxiety to hit and for stress to spiral out of control.

“I find a full time job, as well as a collage course and planning a wedding can sometimes just be too much.”
Sarah

“I have three children under five and I admit, I get overwhelmed and stressed and don’t know which way to turn.”
Jo

“My business is growing really fast and my children are hitting their teens. As a single mum I find that life is really busy, stress builds and I just need to step away from time to time to regroup.”
Fiona

As tough as things might seem, there are some simple steps we can all take to try to ensure life doesn’t get too much.

Talking is always a good place to start. We aren’t saying book into therapy, but simply chatting to a close friend, family member or partner about how you are feeling can help. It is amazing how someone else will be able to look at things from another perspective and come up with ideas you hadn’t thought about.

Make a list. We all have a lot to do and life is busy, but if your mind is constantly busy and you don’t know where to start, nothing will get done. Work out what you have to do, what can wait and what just isn’t necessary at all.

Eat properly. Skipping breakfast, grabbing a burger for lunch and drinking too many energy drinks might give you a brief buzz but it won’t help keep your mood stable and body healthy. Aim to eat at least five portions of fruit and vegetables today, add good fats and protein to your meals, keep caffeine and alcohol to a minimum and drink plenty of water.

Ask for help. Yes, we know we are meant to have it all and do it all, but that simply isn’t reality. If things are getting on top of you, ask a friend to look after the children for an hour, employ a cleaner or join a support group to take the edge off. No one is super human and sometimes admitting this can help break the perfection cycle that is so easy to get into.

Do some exercise. Being stuck at a computer all day, driving to the office and being glued to social media all means we do less to get those magical endorphins pumping around our bodies. Jog in the park, swim in the sea or go to a body pump class with a friend and you will soon see a difference in your mood and waistline.

Relaxation techniques are a really helpful way to manage stress. We know they help but we don’t always take them on board, because we are too busy. Finding time to relax means your body and mind can recuperate and recover and you can generally feel calmer. Whether you read a book, have a warm bath, meditate, do some yoga or get an early night, all of these things give you the head space you need to get away from it all and think about you for a while.

If you find you simply aren’t coping, book an appointment with your GP so you can talk to a medical professional and look at the best options for you.

Good luck and keep calm.

Team Pure-Beauty

Decleor, Dermalogica

The Best Gel Products from Dermalogica and Decleor

01/10/2016 04/10/2016 0

The products that we sell come in many different forms, from sprays to creams to serums and more. Today, we’re focusing on the products which come in a gel form and we’ve a gel for almost every part of the body – read on to find a gel from Dermalogica or Decleor which you’ll love.

Decleor Lift and Brighten Peeling Gel

Gels are great for older skin which can handle a lot of moisture without becoming flooded. This peeling gel from Decleor is a powerful exfoliator which actually removes the top layers of skin to revive and brighten the skin as well as tightening and lifting the face. Use it once or twice a week to allow the specially selected fruit acids to drastically improve the appearance of your complexion.

Dermalogica Overnight Clearing Gel

This gel from Dermalogica is great if you have acne or breakout prone skin and need something to help you to get control of it. Smooth it onto your face before you go to bed and the niacinamide and biotin combine with zinc gluconate, yeast extract, caffeine and nordihydroguaiaretic acid to sooth irritation, minimise overactive sebaceous gland activity and purify the skin, allowing you to wake up looking fresh-faced.

Decleor Circulagel Refreshing Toning Gel

As we mentioned above, our gels aren’t all for your face – this gel is designed for your legs! As well as improving your circulation, this gel will help to revive heavy legs after a long day and help them to shake off that heavy feeling. Use it daily after a shower, smoothing the gel upwards towards your knees, for best results.

Dermalogica Invigorating Shave Gel

This shave gel is primarily aimed at men, offering a “barber-close shave”, but obviously, plenty of us ladies shave too and this gel will help you to achieve total smoothness without nicks or rashes. It soothes, cools and protects the skin, and best of all, won’t clog the razor because of its gel consistency.

Decleor Fresh Purifying Gel

Oily skin can be a pain to control but this gel from Decleor will purify the skin, cutting through excess oil and minimising shine. The gel actually lathers into a fresh and soft mousse upon contact with water and contains peppermint oil and ylang-ylang to help oxygenate it and eliminate excess sebum.

Health and Happiness

Keep winter germs at bay

27/09/2016 27/09/2016 0

As the nights draw in and there’s a distinct nip in the air, we are turning to chunky knits, winter boots and dare we say it, flu jabs.

Whether you decide to have the vaccination is your call, but it is really important to keep yourself fit and healthy during the winter months to give your body the best chance of fighting colds, flu and other nasty bugs.

Taking exercise, drinking plenty of water, having a decent night’s sleeping and keeping stress to a minimum are all key players in positive winter health – both mental and physical.

Diet is another factor and as well as a variety of fresh, seasonal fruit and vegetables, other vital nutrients can be added to your diet to keep your immune system strong.

You might not know this but oats are thought to boost immunity, speed wound healing, and even help antibiotics work more effectively. A bowl of steaming porridge will not only keep you full all morning but because it contains beta-glucan, a fiber with antimicrobial and antioxidant properties, it could be more effective than taking cold busting Echinacea.

As well as drinking water, you might also want to start sipping on green tea. Olyphenols are powerful plant antioxidants that give this tea amazing immune-boosting powers. To make a cuppa use just-below-boiling water and let the tea stew for no more than two minutes. Don’t add milk, but if you need to tackle the natural bitterness, a little lemon and honey will do the job and add a little extra goodness too.

Yogurt is full of probiotics (good bacteria) and can support not only your immune system but also your gut. Add to smoothies, pop on cereal or eat with blueberries and you will be set to ward of nasties all day.

Speaking of smoothies, add a handful of spinach to every one you make. As well as smashing the glass ceiling when it comes to Vitamin C levels, a simple cup of cooked spinach contains some of the much needed potassium and magnesium the body needs for sustained energy levels and good hydration.

Sweet potatoes are full of Vitamin A and beta-carotene and are an excellent source of fiber. Peel, cut into thick wedges, boil for ten minutes then roast in the oven with a little olive oil and garlic for a healthy treat.

Why not add broccoli, the green God of vegetables, to your lunch or evening meal? As well as naturally detoxing the body and preventing illness, it also contains acid choline which keeps cells functioning properly and with high levels of Vitamin C and calcium it is a real winter winner.

If you do get a cold, make a pot of chicken soup. Hot chicken soup makes noses run which gets rid of the viruses and bacteria lurking in there. Like any liquid, soup keeps you hydrated and raises the temperature of the airways, both of which are help loosening secretions. Try adding chilies, garlic or anti-inflammatory turmeric to make it a real immune-boosting broth.

Oh and don’t forget to steer clear of anyone with a cold, take a good supplement and wash your hands to stop catching or spreading germs.

Team Pure Beauty

Decleor, Dermalogica, Facial Treatments

Everything’s Rosy with Dermalogica and Decleor

24/09/2016 23/09/2016 0

We think it’s fair to say that most of the products from Dermalogica and Decleor contain natural ingredients, added for their beauty-giving properties, as well as lending their delightful scent. One such ingredient is rose oil, which is found in many products across both Dermalogica and Decleor, and we thought we’d give you an insight into our best-selling rose-scented products so that you can try them for yourself.

Dermalogica Overnight Repair Serum

This serum is perfect for skin which is succumbing to the signs of age and works overnight to repair damage and increase luminosity. It will drench dry skin in moisture and help to minimise fine lines. As well as containing rose oil, it also contains rosehip seed oil which is naturally rich in antioxidants and vitamins which will replenish your skin with the nutrients it needs to encourage cell growth.

Decleor Rose D’Orient Soothing Night Balm

This night balm from Decleor contains 100% natural ingredients and not a single preservative, so you know that what you’re putting on your skin is going to be entirely beneficial. As well as smelling wonderful and helping to soothe you off to a good night’s sleep, the balm will soothe skin and reduce signs of irritation as well as protecting the skin from irritation and increasing the skins’ strength by 33%.

Dermalogica Antioxidant HydraMist

This product has SO many functions and benefits that it’s tricky to even list them all. It’s a soothing spray which provides a burst of moisture as well as an antioxidant shield to protect the skin against irritants and free radicals, which increase the signs of ageing. The spray creates an instant lifting and tightening effect while the rose and clove extracts comfort and refresh skin.

Decleor Rose D’Orient Soothing Oil Serum

Another totally natural product from Decleor, this serum is designed to soothe and calm redness and areas of sensitivity. This is a true “a little goes a long way” product, as only 2 drops are needed for smoothing over your whole face, preferably before bed, to restore your radiance to its former glory.

Dermalogica Skin Resurfacing Cleanser

Rose flower oil makes a great addition to cleansing products like this resurfacing cleanser from Dermalogica because it allows them to use other ingredients which are tough on dirt and sebum whilst having the rose oil to immediately soothe the skin. This means that you can be assured that your skin will be refreshed and renewed without redness, irritation or added sensitivity – basically, the holy grail of deep cleansing!

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