Distract Yourself During Dry January!

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adult college, ageing, bath, body, Christmas, conditioning, cookery, December, dry January, excess, excesses, face mask, January, language, languages, learn, learning, mind, nail, nails, process, relaxing, rest, skill, sleep, treatment

Photo by Yuri Efremov on Unsplash

January is here and after the excesses of last month, many of us are opting for a dry January (i.e. no alcohol!) to try to give our bodies as chance to recover and start the new year off right. However, for some of us, a glass of wine in the evenings is our main way to wind down after a long day, so what do we do to relax and distract ourselves during dry January? We’ve got five ideas:

Get a Hobby

January is a great time to start a new hobby; it’s miserable outside anyway, so unless your hobby is gardening, it’s a great excuse to stay indoors! It’s a known fact that mental stimulation helps to keep your brain active and slows down the ageing process, even helping to halt the onset of Alzheimer’s, so a hobby will benefit both your mind and your body.

Get Some Extra Sleep!

So many of us stroll through life feeling totally fatigued, yet when it comes to it, we stay up to watch just one more episode of whatever show we’re into at the time instead of getting some sleep. Allowing yourself to get regular early nights will not only have massively positive effects on your body and its ability to heal itself, it’s great for your mental health too, especially when you wake up feeling rested.

Learn a Skill

Is there something you’ve always wanted to learn? A new language? A new style of cooking? January is a great time to take the bull by the horns and learn a new skill, so why not take a look at what your local adult college has to offer?

Pamper Yourself

Cold nights, long evenings spent at home – has there ever been a better time to pamper yourself a little? Instead of reaching for a glass of wine, have a relaxing bath, use a face mask, and treat yourself to a conditioning nail treatment. Indulge yourself at least once a week and your stress levels, as well as your body, will thank you for it!

Do Some Reading

So many of us have fallen into the pattern of work, home for dinner, kids bedtime routine, collapse on the sofa to watch the telly or stare at your phone screen and we then say “I never have time to read a book”. Often, finding time is just about having a re-shuffle, and if you really want to fine the time, you’ll put down the smartphone or switch off the TV!

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How to Beat Blue Monday

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21st January, amino acids, anxiety, anxious, bag, beans, below par, bleak mid-winter months, Blue Monday, breakfast, caffeine, cheese, coffee, cola, cold, coloured fruits and vegetables, concerntration, constipated, cucumber, daily fix, decaf, depressed, desk, doom and gloom, drink, eggs, emotions, fatty acids, fibre, fish, five a day, fizzy drinks, food, fresh, Frozen, gut, headaches, healthy digestion, herbal tea, hydrated, ice, January, juiced, lean meat, lemon, lentils, mental health, mentally, miserable, mood, nuts and seeds, omega 3 and 6, outside, partially hydrogenated oils’, payday, physically, portion sizes, protein, pulses, regular meals, resolutions, sip, sleep, small, soothing hot drink, soya products, squash, stimulant, tea, trans fats, tummy, water, wholegrains, winning lottery ticket, worried

With the 21st January, aka Blue Monday fast approaching, some of you might be feeling a little below per right now. It is cold outside, it’s still ages until payday and those resolutions that seemed like such a good idea on 31 December have been long forgotten, all of which can make you feel a bit miserable.

Fear not, it’s all doom and gloom. While can’t turn up the temperature or give you a winning lottery ticket, we do know that what you eat and drink can help ease the blues and beat the anxiety that makes life a little harder in the bleak mid-winter months.

Drink water
Yes, this one again. If you don’t keep hydrated you won’t feel at your best, your concentration will lapse, you may get headaches and you might also feel constipated and none of these things will help your mood. Cut down on fizzy drinks and high sugar squashes, and instead drink water with ice and add slices of lemon and cucumber to liven things up a little and keep a bottle on your desk and in your bag so you can sip during the day.

Keep an eye on caffeine
We know many people love a coffee first thing and a tea break mid-afternoon, but both of these drinks contain caffeine which might not help you if you are feeling blue. Caffeine is a stimulant and one which will give you a burst of energy at first, but then when you come down the other side it could make you feel anxious, depressed and disturb your sleep, especially when drunk before you go to bed. We don’t suggest you stop having your daily fix suddenly, as this could lead to nasty withdrawal symptoms, but it might be a good idea to start cutting back on tea, coffee, chocolate, cola and energy drinks and think about switching to decaf versions or opting for herbal teas which are caffeine free but mean you don’t miss out on a soothing hot drink.

Look after your tummy
You might not know this, but your tummy reflects your emotions so if you are feeling anxious and worried, your gut may suffer too. To help with healthy digestion, it is important to eat plenty of fibre which means loading up on wholegrains, beans, pulses, live yoghurt and you might want to consider taking a probiotic too.

Get your fruit and veg in
Eating a variety of coloured fruits and vegetables every day means you’ll get a good range of nutrients including the minerals, vitamins and fibre needed to keep you physically and mentally healthy. You might be interested to know that fresh, frozen, canned and juiced fruits and vegetables all count towards your five a day and if you are worried about portion sizes, one portion is about a handful.

Remember to eat protein
Protein is packed full of the amino acids that make up the chemicals your brain uses to regulate your thoughts and feelings, and it also keeps you feeling fuller for longer so you are less likely to reach for the mood interrupting sugary snacks later on. Lean meat, fish, eggs, cheese, beans, lentils, soya products, nuts and seeds are all good protein sources and it is pretty easy to fit them into every meal – so make sure you do.

Eat the right fats
We know we are told fats are bad and to be avoided at all costs, but this isn’t true. Try to avoid ‘trans fats’ or ‘partially hydrogenated oils’ and instead eat fatty acids, such as omega 3 and 6 as these are good for your brain function and mental health. Healthy fats can be found in oily fish, nuts (almonds and walnuts are a good choice), olive and sunflower oils, seeds (such as sunflower and pumpkin), avocados, and eggs all of which are tasty and easy to eat!

Eat on a regular basis
Now is not the time to skip meals as this will lead to a drop in your blood sugar levels and that can make you feel tired and irritable. Try to go for small, regular meals throughout the day, adding in healthy snacks, and always eat breakfast as this will set you up for the day. Wholegrain bread and pasta, brown rice, cereals as well as nuts and seeds are all a good idea but keep away from sweets, biscuits, sugary drinks, and alcohol as these won’t do your mood any favours.

Whatever you eat and drink make the sensible choice and we wish you a very happy, healthy 2019.

Team Pure Beauty

Give your body some TLC this January

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all skin types, beauty staple, body, cellulite, Clary Sage, cocktails, damp skin, dead skin cells, Decleor Gradual Glow Hydrating Body Milk, Dermalogica Conditioning Body Wash, Dermalogica Daily Cleansing Shampoo, Dermalogica Daily Conditioning Rinse, Devils Apron Seaweed, drinking lots of water, dull, eating a healthy diet, elbows, Elemis Body Detox Skin Brush, Elemis Cellutox Active Body Oil, Elemis Devils Mint Body Scrub, entle circular motions, eucalyptus, exfoliate, feet, glow, hair, healthy hair, healthy-looking, heart, indoors, January, juniper, knees, lavender, layers, lemon, light, light moisturiser, lymph flow, Magnolia Essential Oil, melting texture, mince pies, mind, natural, natural cactus bristles, natural moisturisers, orange, pale, paler, peppermint, Pigs in blankets, powerful blend, purify, Sandalwood, satin soft, Sea Buckthorn, Sea Fennel, sensory overload, shiny hair, shower, silicon-rich sea plant particles, silky, smooth, sparkle, sunglight, Tahiti, taking regular exercise, tan, Tea Tree, toxins, vanilla, vibrant

Mince pies, pigs in blankets, cocktails and cakes are all part of Christmas and taste great, but they can take a toll on your body as does the cold weather and central heating.

This January, as well as eating a healthy diet, drinking lots of water and taking regular exercise, you can help bring your body back to its best with the help of these products from Pure Beauty.

At this time of year, we can be on total sensory overload, so we suggest trying the Dermalogica Conditioning Body Wash which conditions your skin, quietens your mind and generally soothes you as you shower. Suitable for all skin types, Tea Tree, Lemon, Eucalyptus and Rosemary essential oils gently purify without stripping your skin’s own natural moisturisers while Sandalwood, Lavender, Orange and Clary Sage moisturise your skin and leaves it smooth and silky.

If it is cellulite you are worried about, you aren’t alone, but the Elemis Cellutox Active Body Oil could help. A powerful blend of Sea Buckthorn, Sea Fennel, Lemon and Juniper essential oils come together to nourish, detoxify and stimulate and is a great way to get your skin in good condition and rid your body of toxins. We suggest you use it before 7pm, and rub a little into problem areas and you will find that over time your skin will be smoothed and satin soft.

Reduced sunlight, lots of layers and time spent indoors means our skin is paler that pale at this time of year, but you can change that with the Decleor Gradual Glow Hydrating Body Milk. This light moisturiser not only nourishes your skin but also gradually tans your body so you have a beautifully natural golden glow. Extracts of Vanilla from Tahiti have been infused with Magnolia Essential Oil to offer a light, melting texture that smells great and sinks into your skin. Give it a go, we think you will like it, a lot.

Just as winter can dull your skin, it can also take the sparkle out of your hair, but fear not, the Dermalogica Daily Cleansing Shampoo is here to help. This sulphate-free, great smelling shampoo can be used every day and will leave you with healthy looking, shiny hair from the word go. For the best results, use with the Dermalogica Daily Conditioning Rinse and you will have your most vibrant, healthy hair, ever.

If you want your skin to look good, you need to exfoliate and what better way to do this than with the Elemis Devils Mint Body Scrub. Packed with silicon-rich sea plant particles, Devils Apron Seaweed and Peppermint Essential Oil this scrub washes away the dead skin cells that build up over time, and instead leave your clean, soft and more receptive to your moisturiser. Apply with gentle circular motions to damp skin when you are in the shower or bath, pay extra attention to feet, knees and elbows and watch as your skin comes alive once again.

Why not really get to work on those stubborn areas with the Elemis Body Detox Skin Brush? Made from natural cactus bristles, this effective beauty staple can help to reduce the appearance of cellulite because it works at improving your circulation as well as softening your skin and taking away dead cells. The brush can be used every day on dry skin and as you work upwards from your feet, towards your heart, lymph flow will be stimulated and your skin will be invigorated.

If we can help with any of these products, get in touch today and we will make sure we find something that will work for you and your body in 2019.

Team Pure Beauty

How to cut down on your sugar intake

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2019, artificial sweeteners, bowl of cereal, box, bread, buying, cake, carrots, children, chilled isle, choices, Cinnamon, coffee, Cold turkey, cucumber, curry, drink water, extra sugar, Fizzy pop, fresh fruit, frozen chips, Greek yoghurt, habit, health issues, healthy breakfast, herbal teas, hidden sugar, homework, hot drinks, house, ice, jacket potato, labels, low sugar options, morning, no added sugar, nut butter, nuts, organic porridge oats, plain, porridges, pots, products, protein, Public Health England, refined carbs, seeds, shelves, shocking statistic, sliced lemon, slow cocker, sports drinks, squashes, sugar, sugar cubes, supermarket, tea, teeth, time poor, tomato ketchup, tomato sauce, tooth decay, vitamin, waistline, water, yogurt

The new year is here and with it comes a report from Public Health England that states some children in the UK have eaten more than the maximum recommended sugar intake for an 18-year-old by the time they are 10.

According to the study, children are eating about eight extra sugar cubes a day which amounts to a staggering 2,800 cubes too many, every year.

While we know that this is an average, it is still a pretty shocking statistic, and a habit that can lead to a whole host of health issues. To help, we’ve looked at how you can cut down on sugar so you are a whole lot healthier in 2019, and beyond.

Drink water
Fizzy pop, sports drinks and squashes might taste good but they are all jam-packed with sugar, and you can really do without it. Yes, you can go for the no added sugar options, but these are often full of artificial sweeteners that can be damaging, so instead drink water, add ice, and if you want to spice things up, pop in some sliced lemon and cucumber, and your teeth, and waistline, will thank you.

Take it out of hot drinks
Tea with one, coffee with two? The extra sugar in your hot drinks adds up, and while it might take a while to get used to not having it, over time you will adapt. We aren’t saying go cold turkey (you can if you are brave enough) but we do suggest that you cut out sugar in your hot drinks and even try herbal teas instead?

Look at labels
We get it, you are busy and in a rush but tooth decay waits for no one, so if you can spare a few moments, then do read labels to find out exactly what is in the products you are buying. You will be amazed at the amount of hidden sugar that is found in everyday products like yogurt, bread and even tomato ketchup, and once you see just how much sugar you are eating without realising it, you may make different choices in the future.

Rethink your cereals
A bowl of cereal might feel like a healthy breakfast, but do you know just how much sugar you are eating before you even leave the house in the morning? Even some muesli and packaged porridge have extra sugar, so before your next shop, do some homework and see just what is inside your box of favourite cereal. You can find low sugar options on the supermarket shelves or why not simply combining organic porridge oats with nuts, seeds and a little cinnamon and you will have a far healthier option, that is probably cheaper too.

Check your yogurts
To get it right, opt for plain or Greek yoghurt rather than some of the fancier pots you find in the chilled isle. Adding fresh fruit, cinnamon, nuts and seeds is a great breakfast or mid-morning option that is low in sugar but gives you a vitamin and protein hit rather than a miserable sugar low by 11am.

Cut out cakes
We don’t mean never eat cake again, but the sugar and refined carbs found in most shop bough cakes won’t do you many favours. You can off course make your own using or, try slicing apples and pears and spreading with 100% nut butter and you have a healthy snack that will fill you will goodness rather than sugar. Fruit, hard-boiled egg, nuts and carrot sticks are also good cake alternatives.

Cook from scratch
We know many people are time poor, but when you can, cook from scratch so you know exactly what you are eating. Making a simple tomato sauce to go over pasta is much better for you than a pre-made version, a curry in the slow cooker will contain only the sugar you add and baked potatoes in the oven for an hour are so much better for you than frozen chips!

We aren’t saying that you have to cut out ALL sugar all the time, but we do think that making some changes could not only help with your teeth and waistline but it could also help to really nourish your brain and save your skin, so give it a go and let us know what you think.

Team Pure Beauty

New year, new skincare?

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100% natural, acne and breakout prone skin, anti-oxidant rich night cream, beautiful, beauty products, bleak mid winter, blended, body, Calendula, care, Centella Asiatica Extract, chamomile, chlorella, cleansed skin, Cornflower, cracked, daily moisturiser, daily stress, Decleor Organic Harmonie Calm Soothing Comfort 2 in1 Cream and Mask, Dermalogica Conditioning Body Wash, Dermalogica Gentle Soothing Booster, Dermalogica Ultimate Buffing Cloth, dry, dull skin, Elemis Hydra-Nourish Night Cream, Elemis Pro-Collagen Hydra-Gel Eye Masks, even tone, exfoliate, Eyes, feet, geranium, glycolic acid, gorgeous, honey, hyaluronic acid, intensely moisturised, Jan Marini Bioglycolic Facial Cleanser, Japanese spa, knife, Nailtiques Avocado Foot Cream, new, New Year, non-irritating, oil-free treatment, organic, Padina Pavonica, Persian Silk Tree extract, pick me up, plankton extract, Red Raspberry Extract, redness, rinse, Rose Essential Oil, rough, sensitive skin, serum, sink, skin tightening effect, soap free formula, soothe skin, super rich Avocado Oil, sweet almond oil, tired, Toner, transform, treat, visibly smoother, Ylang-Ylang, youthful eyes.

We all tend to stick with what we know when it comes to beauty products, but with a new year upon us we think it might be time to try something new!

The Decleor Organic Harmonie Calm Soothing Comfort 2 in1 Cream and Mask is an organic, 100% natural product is a great pick me up for sensitive skin. Rose Essential Oil, Sweet Almond Oil and Centella Asiatica Extract have been blended together to soothe skin, even tone and keep complexions happy all day. You can either apply to cleansed skin and use as a daily moisturiser, or you can put on a thicker layer once a week and leave to completely sink into your skin and bring it back to life.

We love the Jan Marini Bioglycolic Facial Cleanser simply because regular use leaves skin softer, smoother and more refined than ever. The soap free formula is non irritating and when you rinse it away, there is no need for a toner because the work is already done. Excellent for acne and breakout prone skin, the secret to the success of this cleanser is the Glycolic Acid which aids follicular cleansing – give it a go, we think you might like it.

While no one sees them, your feet take the brunt of your body every day, so why not treat them with the Nailtiques Avocado Foot Cream in 2019? This cream has been specially created to help heal rough, dry and cracked skin and it does this with the help of super rich Avocado Oil. Simply apply the silky smooth cream into your legs, feet and heels, concentrating especially on those unloved areas and watch the skin transform from hard and unsightly to soft and beautiful.

If you aren’t ready to go under the knife, but need a little extra care when it comes to your eyes, the Elemis Pro-Collagen Hydra-Gel Eye Masks could be what you have been looking for. Potent Plankton Extract has been combined with Padina Pavonica and Chlorella to offer an instant skin tightening effect. Hyaluronic Acid has been added into the mix because of the hydration properties it offers, and the result is visibly smoother, intensely moisturised, youthful eyes after just 20 minutes.

Life is better with a serum, and a good place to start is with the Dermalogica Gentle Soothing Booster. This popular, oil-free treatment helps to reduce redness and gives your skin the chance to recover from daily stress. Thanks to Red Raspberry Extract, Honey as well as Calendula, Chamomile and Cornflower, irritation is eased and natural moisture levels are restored.

If the bleak mid winter has left your skin feeling below par, we suggest you let the Elemis Hydra-Nourish Night Cream get to work as you sleep. This anti-oxidant rich night cream helps to seal in moisture as well as nourishing and de-stressing tired, dull skin, thanks to a blend of Persian Silk Tree Extract and Hyaluronic Acid. A gorgeous blend of Geranium and Ylang Ylang means not only is your calm and rebalanced when you wake, it smells amazing as you fall asleep.

Don’t just wash and go in the shower, take in the Dermalogica Ultimate Buffing Cloth and you can exfoliate your entire body as you cleanse it. Perfect to use with the Dermalogica Conditioning Body Wash, this Japanese spa inspired cloth smooths away rough skin, in even the most hard-to-reach areas, and leaves it feeling soft and smooth.

Got your eye on something but not sure if it is for you, then get in touch and we can give you more advice to ensure your skin is in tip-top condition in 2019.

Happy new year.

Team Pure-Beauty