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Health and Happiness

Keep Your Skin Calm and Drink Smoothies

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Smoothies seem to be on the menu everywhere at the moment but if look at the small print you might wonder just how good they are for you. So why not go back to basics, invest in a blender (the NutriBullet is perfect) and make your own skin loving smoothies at home? Not only will you save money but potentially lose pounds, look great and have skin that will be the envy of your friends.

Whilst the traditional strawberry-banana combo is popular, by letting go and adding vegetables you will get a bigger, better beauty boost.

Image source - www.freedigitalimages.netGreen smoothies are a great way to benefit from the nutrient dense dark leafy greens we simply don’t get enough of. Kale and spinach are perfect because they are lower in sugar than fruits and packed with fiber. Adding these to a smoothie means you feel fuller for longer and are less likely to suffer a blood sugar drop and rush for the biscuit tin.

As well as tasting amazing, these drinks are packed with the vital vitamins, minerals and antioxidants your skin needs to prevent inflammation, irritation, acne and eczema. Smoothies packed with vitamins C and E, carotenoids, lutein and powerful phytochemicals can also help protect against the cell damage that can cause wrinkles and cancer.

We have some easy recipes that pack a punch and taste so great you will wonder why you haven’t tried them before:

 

Easy Greens
This is pretty much the easiest smoothie out there but one that is full of goodness.

Ingredients
2 cups of fresh spinach
2 cups of water
1 cup of mango peeled and sliced
1 cup of pineapple peeled and cut into small chunks
2 bananas

Instructions
Pack the spinach into the blender and whizz with the water until smooth. Add the mango, pineapple and bananas and blend again until creamy. Poor into a glass and feel the goodness taking over your skin.

Avocado and Banana Bonanza
This drink is a double skin winner because not only does it have a healthy serving of greens but also avocado, nature’s moisturiser.

Ingredients
1/2 an avocado peeled and sliced
1 banana peeled and sliced
1 apple chopped with the skin on
1 stick of celery finely chopped
1-2 cups of fresh baby spinach (or other leafy green)
1/2 – 1 cup of water

Instructions
For this recipe, put the avocado and banana into the blender, followed by the apple, then the water and finally add the spinach. Blend for around 30 – 40 seconds until smooth and creamy. Pour and enjoy.

Mango, Orange and Ginger Smoothie
As well as being packed with vitamins and skin boosting antioxidants, this smoothie has a kick thanks to the fresh ginger, which is brilliant for your digestive system.

Ingredients
1 mango sliced, peeled and pitted
2 oranges peeled and deseeded
3 cups romaine lettuce chopped
2 cups baby spinach
1/2 inch of fresh ginger root grated or sliced
1/2 – 1 cup of water

Instructions
Create this concoction by putting the liquid and soft fruit in your blender and blitzing for 30 seconds. Add the ginger and the greens next and blend everyone for another 20 seconds or until the smoothie is creamy. If you find it is too thick add a little more water.

Now sit back, relax and wait for your skin to benefit from all those extra goodies you are feeding it.

Life and Fashion

Classic Holiday Looks for All Ages

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If your mind is already on the holidays and you’re mentally planning what to pack, the chances are you’ll be visualising the outfits which will take you from pool to bar or piazza to cocktail hour. Obviously, you could opt for the latest trends and buy outfits accordingly, but we thought we’d show you three classic looks which have stood the test of time for the most fashionable of globe-trotters.

The Maxi Dress

Use Decleor Moisturising Body Milk for healthy looking skin

Nothing says holidays better than a maxi dress, and no-one does it better than Kate Hudson. The maxi dress is the ultimate holiday essential, as it can be thrown over a bikini to let you go for a spot of lunch directly from the beach, or dressed up with beaded accessories and statement earrings for a more evening feel. Maxi dresses often come in materials which don’t need a lot of ironing, and so won’t suffer for being shoved in a bag while you’re poolside and the huge range of patterns and cuts means there’s a maxi out there for everyone. Of course, you’ll want to make sure that your arms and décolletage are looking their best, so slather on some Decleor Moisturising Body Milk to help your skin look its best after a day in the sun.

Denim Shorts

Decleor Slim Effect Draining Massage Balm to help reduce the appearance of cellulite

Rihanna has done as much to raise the profile of denim shorts in the last five years as she has for the entire nation of Barbados and to be fair, they’re a fab item to throw over a swimming costume if you dare to bare your pins. Denim shorts don’t necessarily have to be cut super high, and a mid-thigh length paired with a cotton kaftan or colourful vest make a great casual outfit. Dress down with flip flops or up with wedges, but be sure to give those thighs a once-over with some Decleor Slim Effect Draining Massage Balm to help reduce the appearance of cellulite.

The Kaftan

Use Decleor’s Brightening Night Cream for even skin tone.

Rita Ora shows us how more is definitely more in this gorgeous kaftan, looking more than glamorous enough to go from day to night. Kaftans offer great coverage whilst still looking chic and relaxed, and can be paired with heels or flats, depending on the look you’re going for. Decleor’s Brightening Night Cream is an evening moisturiser which revitalises the skin and evens tone to make sure that, even if your face is the only thing on show, you still look radiant.

Oversized Hats

Use Decleor Multi-Protection BB Cream to keep skin tone even

Sometimes, even the most seasoned sun-seekers like to give their head and shoulders a break from the sun and an oversized hat is probably the most stylish way to do it. Hats can be combined with almost any look, especially those we’ve mentioned above, and celebs from Kim Kardashian to Blake Lively opt for super-wide brims to help them stay in the shade. Keep your face light and flawless beneath with a layer of Decleor Multi-Protection BB Cream, which also offers SPF15 protection.

Health and Happiness

Eat Your Way to Healthy Skin

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If you want radiant skin, the old adage ‘you are what you eat’ has never been truer as our lives get busier and more stressful and the environment becomes more polluted.

If you want glowing skin you need to treat it with respect and take a holistic approach. There’s endless advice on how to be super-healthy but it seems that the rules change every month making it all the more confusing to do the right thing. It might be quick, but grabbing a latte and muffin on the go won’t fill you up for long and it certainly won’t make you feel good inside or look great on the outside.

Making a few informed decisions and setting easy to follow goals you’ll soon see and feel the difference.

The Five a Day a Rainbow
We know this has been said time and again but aim to eat a rainbow assortment of at least five portions of fruit and vegetable a day. The plant chemicals, which give fruit and vegetables their distinctive colours, offer health boosts and powerful antioxidants that protect skin from the free radicals that cause fine lines, wrinkles and age spots.

Mangos contain powerful carotenoids that boost collagen production and promote smoother, youthful-looking skin. Tomatoes are a great source of UV protecting lycopene and for acne-prone skin, foods rich in antioxidants, like blueberries, will help the body eliminate toxins and clear blemishes and spots.

Fruit and Vegetables

Vitamin C
For a healthy immune system and flawless skin, look no further than the trusted vitamin C. This super vitamin helps form collagen and elastin which is essential for keeping skin looking plump, taut and young as well as acting as an antioxidant that protects against UV rays and pollution. Blueberries, broccoli, oranges, kiwis, strawberries and sweet potatoes are all great sources and of course help you reach your five a day.

Vitamin E
Vitamin E is found in nuts, oils and avocados and not only protects skin from cell damage and but also supports healthy skin growth.

Get the Good Carbs
Do not be fooled, not all carbs are bad you just need to know what you are eating and why. Beans, pulses and oats slowly release sugar into the blood stream leaving you fuller for longer and giving you sustained energy during the day. White bread, pasta and cakes have a high GI index so increase insulin levels, which can damage collagen and accelerate wrinkles, something no one wants.

Know Your Fats
No we aren’t going mad, you really do need fats in your diet if you want a natural, dewy completion. Avocados, nuts, fish and seeds contain essential fatty acids and will act as a natural moisturiser.

Omegas 3 and 6 are essential fatty acids and are vital for healthy skin as well as building healthy cells to maintaining brain and nerve function. Our bodies cannot make these nutrients but they can be found in oily fish, flaxseed oil, linseeds, walnut and rapeseed oil.

Drink Water
Skin needs moisture to stay healthy and even mild dehydration will make it look dry, tired and grey. Aim to drink six to eight glasses of water a day and if you keep a jug on your table and adding lemon and cucumber is an easy, tasty way to reach your quota.

Keep an Eye on Alcohol
Every time you drink alcohol it depletes the essential nutrients in your skin making it look dry, dull and tired. Booze also causes the dilatation of facial blood vessels, causing spidery red thread veins to appear and exasperating skin conditions like Psoriasis and Rosacea.

Give Up Smoking
There is nothing good about smoking. It damages your skin and teeth, affects everything from your fertility to the strength of your heart, lungs, and bones. It makes you smell, empties your pockets and accelerates ageing so give it up today and watch the changes happen straight away.

Obviously a treat now and again is fine but if you follow these simple guidelines and combine with an effective skincare routine you will see the results.

Health and Happiness

Top 5 Beauty Myths – Fact or Fiction?

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beauty mythsAs most women know, for every beauty truth out there, there’s a whole list of beauty myths; long held beliefs, passed down from generation to generation which have no more base in reality than witchcraft or water divining. We thought we’d take this opportunity to have a look at some of the most common beauty myths and work out which ones are age-old wisdom and which are nothing more than old wives tales.

You Need to Change Products for Them to Remain Effective

Some people say that if you use a particular product over a long period of time, your skin ‘gets used’ to it and they are no longer effective. This one is 100% myth; products definitely don’t lose potency or effectiveness over time and if you’ve found a perfect combination or system, don’t fear. As long as you’re applying targeted products which work for you and keep your skin healthy, there’s no need to switch things up unless you really want to.

Cutting Hair Makes it Thicker

Who remembers being told by their mother or grandmother that having their hair cut would make it grow back thicker? Or even that shaving your legs would make the hair darker or denser? Well, you can go back to Granny and tell her that it’s hokum! Over time, hair splits and breaks off at the ends, making the ends of your hair appear thinner than the section above. Cutting off the ends simply trims the broken hair, it doesn’t cause the hair to be any thicker. Same goes for shaving or waxing. It won’t affect how the hair grows – that’s purely genetic.

Wearing Make-Up Will Give You Spots

Despite the fact that no-one has managed to come up with a sure-fire cure for acne yet, certain people still hold beliefs about what causes it, with make-up or diet being held up as the most common culprits. As it stands, there’s no link between make-up OR diet and having acne. Some products may cause inflammation to particularly sensitive skin and cause break-outs, but this isn’t the same as chronic acne, and there’s absolutely no proof that it’s caused by chocolate, either (thank goodness!).

You Can’t Always Smell Your Own Perfume

This one is actually true! It doesn’t matter how liberally you apply your perfume, by the middle of the day, you’ll struggle to smell it on yourself. The brain somehow zones-out on the smell, leaving you feel as though your perfume is lacking the magic it had when you originally bought it. Don’t worry though, everyone else can smell it. And don’t be tempted to wear twice as much because you think it’s not potent enough – all you’ll do is overpower the noses of everyone around you.

Yellow Teeth Are Caused By Food Stains

This one is part fact and part myth. Foods such as red wine, coffee, tea and Coke can stain teeth over time, as can smoking. However, over-brushing teeth can also leave you with a yellow appearance as the outer protective layer of enamel is scrubbed away, leaving the yellow-tinted dentine which forms the inside of every tooth. Try to use a gentle toothpaste and medium brush to keep teeth clean without removing the enamel.

Body Treatments, Health and Happiness

Don’t let a stressful life cause you stress!

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If you’ve found yourself saying “I’m just a little stressed at the moment,” recently, it’s worth taking a serious look at how long you’ve been using that as an excuse for not taking proper care of your mind and body. Busy modern lifestyles encourage long working hours in emotionally demanding, draining jobs that sap our mental energy and leave little time to actually put anything back into our system. It’s all too easy to get sucked away from enjoying the fruits of our labours and make no time for pleasant relaxation. For many people, the end of the working day does not bring release, as they return to the hurly burly of family life and running a busy home.

Credit: telegraph.co.uk

The effects of stress on the body can be significant; our immune system and health can suffer, causing colds just when we are at our busiest and placing pressure on our body as it fights to combat rising blood pressure and the hormones that stress causes our body to produce. Long term, this can have an effect on our heart muscles, putting our bodies at risk of heart disease and may even be a trigger for other serious health issues. Subtle changes such as tension causing us to sleep poorly or eat badly have knock on effects such as weight gain; this in turn triggers more stress and makes it harder to relax. Research has shown the physical changes on our cells are also dramatic, causing premature aging as they struggle to regenerate in a sub-optimal environment.

How to reduce stress:-

  • If stress is related to frustration and overwork in your everyday life, it may help to try to positively accept how things are currently and plan a series of small steps towards making change by a given future point.
  • Explore mindfulness and take a few minutes each day to focus on how you feel emotionally, your surroundings and your body. Combining this with meditation and deep breathing will help to lower your heart-rate and counteract the impact of stress. While it is easy to feel “I don’t have time for that,” even 5 minutes a day can make a positive difference.
  • Book a pamper session. A massage or beauty treatment can make a big difference to your mental well-being. Chalk up the cost to taking care of yourself so you function better and enjoy it.
  • Find time for fun; whether it is making time to be among friends and have a night out, or curling up on the sofa for a film with your partner, reconnecting mentally and physically with friends or loved ones can really help to reduce stress.

The down side of worrying about the impact of stress on our life is that it is in itself quite stressful; making small changes in a few minutes of the week will alleviate that fresh anxiety as well as improving the situation.

Online Special Offers

Our Online Special Offers for Wednesday 17th June

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Our online shop’s special offers for Wednesday 10th June 2015 are on the following products.

Dermalogica Skin Kit – Body Therapy: £19.75 – Saving 25%

Dermalogica Skin Kit Body Therapy

The Body Therapy kit is wonderful for a special Pamper Night in (or two) or it’s great for those holiday essentials that you really cannot do without. The kit contains:

Dermalogica UltraCalming Sensitised Skin Treatment Kit: £19.75 – Saving 25%

Dermalogica UltraCalming Sensitised Skin Treatment Kit

The Sensitised Skin Treatment Kit contains the perfect regime for those with sensitive or sensitised skin and is ideal for testing or travelling: The full contents are:

As always our Special Offers will be available from about 06:00 tomorrow morning until about the same time on 24/06/2015.

Pure Beauty Online’s Newsletter for 17/06/2015

Waxing

Waxing lyrical on beautiful body treatments

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With summer looming, it is time to prepare to unveil some areas of skin that haven’t seen the light of day since that last warm weekend in October. Whether your legs are looking furry or some bits of you have a date with a bikini, sprucing up those body areas that have been lurking under winter clothes ready for a summer on show can be a daunting task.

A professional wax might not be the most relaxing spa appointment in your week but on the positive side, the aesthetic effects of it will be long lasting and give you a feel good boost as your bare your body on the beach this summer.

Ladie's Legs

Our top tips for waxing week will make sure your treatment is effective and long lasting and gives you the results you want in time for the summer.

  • Make sure you have plenty of hair to be waxed – a 3-4 week growth of hair is advisable in order to ensure that the treatment is properly effective. The longer the hair, the more the wax can grip and remove. Leg hairs should ideally be around 1cm in length for maximum effect.
  • Check skin condition carefully – waxing should only be performed on healthy skin so if you have a rash, have had a reaction to something, are sunburned or have cuts or abrasions, make sure they have healed before booking your treatment.
  • Never wax over a mole or skin tag and make sure you point them out to the professional administering your wax treatment.
  • Prepare your skin over the previous week. Exfoliating with a body scrub or shower mitt to make sure pores are not clogged with dead skin will make your wax more effective. Be careful not to over scrub and damage your skin or make it sensitive.
  • Avoid booking your treatment just before or during your period as changes to your body will make hair removal more painful at this time.

For more sensitive areas, such as upper lip and eyebrows, a hot wax treatment may be used instead. Be sure to plan ahead so that any red areas, soreness or sensitivity has time to settle before a big event or holiday. After your treatment, take some time to relax and avoid chaffing treated areas by doing too much exercise or walking. Once your skin has settled, enjoy your new hair free body and get ready for a great summer showing it off!

Dermalogica, Online Special Offers

Our Online Special Offers for Wednesday 10th June

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Our online shop’s special offers for Wednesday 10th June 2015 are on the following products.

Dermalogica Skin Kit – Oily: £19.75 – Saving 25%

Dermalogica Skin Kit Oily

This is a great kit with 5 fantastic travel sized products, ideal for Oily Skin, that should last anywhere between 2 and 4 weeks. A great way to test the products or to save on weight if going on holiday. The kit contains:

Dermalogica PowerBright TRx Treatment Kit: £25.30 – Saving 25%

Dermalogica PowerBright Treatment Kit

The PowerBright kit was launched this year during the reformulation and rationalisation of the ChromaWhite TRx range and contains each of the 3 new products in the PowerBright range. The full contents are:

As always our Special Offers will be available from about 06:00 tomorrow morning until about the same time on 17/06/2015.

Pure Beauty Online’s Newsletter for 10/06/2015

Manicures

Make life better with a manicure

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Our hands take plenty of punishment every day, whether typing on a computer at work, doing the washing up or working in the garden. Like our face, they are more exposed to the elements than any other part of our body and without proper care, one of the first places to show signs of ageing. In recent years they have had a new starring role as fashion points with manicures, nail art and nail bling becoming ever more daring. Nails are accessorized and glammed up to suit every outfit and occasion and are an easy way to add sparkle to a special day or even just cheer you up with some pampering time.

Manicure

 

Getting a manicure is great for your self-esteem levels and how we are perceived from outside. We – and anyone we come into contact with – catch sight of our hands all the time and they are a very visible part of our ‘look’; knowing they look nice and are in a healthy, well-groomed condition really boosts confidence. A manicure or nail treatment will improve the health, texture and strength of your nails, giving a uniform look in a variety of styles from the simple white tipped French Manicure to natural American style versions. Nails that are in good health will take polishes and nail art applications better and spending time boosting the surrounding skin with moisturisers and cuticle treatments ensures your polish looks wonderful and draws attention to the best parts of your hands.

As well as looking great, a manicure is brilliant for reducing stress levels and bringing some relaxation into your life. The hands are full of pressure points that link to other areas of the body and many manicurists will use reflexology techniques to massage your hands and put the ‘aaaaah’ into your treatment. Other techniques include paraffin wax treatments which warm and deeply moisturise your skin, adding softness and longer life to the treatment. Exfoliating, shaping of cuticles and an application of a special mask using heated mitts all put the luxury into your experience, making sure that when you leave, it isn’t just your hands that feel better.

Top Tips for Going for a Manicure.

  • Check the type of polish or nail art is on offer when booking.
  • Remember to clean old polishes off your nails before arrival.
  • Make sure you have time to rest after the treatment to allow the new application to dry.
  • Avoid hand intensive activity immediately after the manicure to give it time to harden.

 

Health and Happiness

Count down to the perfect sleep

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We should spend one third of our lives asleep and many of us regularly complain that we don’t have enough time sleeping but making space for good quality shut eye can be difficult. In a world where we can take work to bed with us in the form of our inbox on a mobile phone and watch films, play games or read books on brightly lit screens until moments before we need to be asleep, it’s not surprising that this essential bodily function can be hard to come by at times. Insomnia can leave sufferers almost incapacitated with exhaustion, with lowered concentration levels, poorer health and significantly impaired quality of life.

Up to 30% of people will experience insomnia or sleeplessness at some point each year, where their sleep is affected enough that they do not feel refreshed when they wake up the next day. Insomnia occurs when the opportunity to be asleep is disrupted by not being able to drop off initially or by waking during the night or too early the next day. This can be caused by stress, depression, health issues or environmental factors. It impacts mood and psychologically can be self-perpetuating, with anxieties about staying awake escalating into an issue which keeps the sufferer from falling asleep through worry.

Credit: NHS.uk
Credit: NHS.uk

There are a number of ways to combat sleep issues, including making sure a relaxing bedtime routine is followed, not eating heavy meals late at night, avoiding consuming large quantities of alcohol and having a relaxing bedroom environment. Turning off gadgets and leaving them out of the bedroom is also useful, since bright or blue light stimulus wakes the brain up and having a warm but well ventilated room makes it easier for the body to relax. The benefits to health of enough sleep and a properly dark environment at bedtime are well documented with some research even suggesting it can affect our weight as well as our mental health.

Social Media has recently been alive with talk about the 4-7-8 sleep trick – a yoga breathing exercise that can help to calm the body and mind and produce a physically soothing effect. It works by learning a breathing pattern that triggers deep relaxation; described as part meditation and part ‘natural tranquiliser’, it’s a trick that takes a little practice but can then be used both for helping sleep and combating anxieties, cravings and tension. Combined with the tips above, this latest craze sounds like it might just be the perfect way to retrain a tired mind and help it relax enough to enjoy the perfect night’s sleep.