Five of the Best Ingredients for Youthful Skin

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acidic, acne, ageing, all skin types, allergic reactions, alternative, anti-aging, anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory, ayurvedic medicine, bakuchiol, blemish prone, breastfeeding, ceramides, Chinese medicine, collagen, combination skin, complexion, dark spots, dehydrated, delicate, dermatology, dry skin, dryness, eczema, epidermis, Eyes, fats, firm, firmer feeling, germs, glowing, healthy, humectant, hyaluronic acid, Indian Babchi plant, inflammation, leaves, lines, lipids, melanin, moisture, oceans, oil based, oily skin, pigmentation, plump, plumper, potent, pregnant, products, Psoriasis, rainforests, reinforce, retinoids, retinol, rosacea, seeds, sensitive skin, sensitivity, skin, skin barrier, skin care, skin cells, skin issues, smoother, sun damage, topically, useful, vitamin A, Vitamin C, water, wrinkles

Photo by Karolina Grabowska

Here at Pure Beauty, we’re well aware of how confusing skincare can feel. There’s a different product for every different skin issue and a wealth of ingredients which vary from things found in your pantry to things found in the deepest oceans or rainforests! Looking at ingredient lists often feels like trying to decipher an unknown language, but there are some key things that you can look for if you’re in the market for anti-ageing products. Here are five of the best ingredients for maintaining a youthful complexion:

Retinol 

Retinol is a form of vitamin A that’s suitable for the skin. It belongs to a group of vitamin A derivatives, known as retinoids. Retinol has multiple uses and can be used to combat conditions like acne and can target areas of pigmentation. It can also reduce signs of ageing and sun damage. Retinoids don’t work equally well on everyone. If you suffer from rosacea, eczema, or psoriasis, it’s probably best to avoid retinol since it can be too powerful on skin that needs a gentle touch – it can increase inflammation, dryness and sensitivity in already delicate complexions.

Try Murad Retinol Youth Renewal Serum

Hyaluronic Acid

Hyaluronic Acid is a humectant — a substance that retains moisture — and it is capable of binding over one thousand times its weight in water. This substance is naturally found in many areas of the human body, including the skin and eyes. Hyaluronic acid helps skin stretch and flex and reduces skin wrinkles and lines. Hyaluronic acid is also proven to help wounds heal faster and can reduce scarring. Allergic reactions to hyaluronic acid are rare, so that means whether you have oily skin, sensitive, dry skin, or combination skin, you have the green light to use hyaluronic acid products.

Try SkinCeuticals H.A. (Hyaluronic Acid) Intensifier Serum 

Vitamin C

Vitamin C can help keep skin looking plump and firm. This is because it’s highly acidic when applied topically and can help to promote collagen production and reduce the appearance of ageing skin. It also contains a property that inhibits the skin’s melanin production levels, two of the culprits that can lead to dark spots and hyperpigmentation, making it an absolute hero at giving you a glowing, healthy complexion. It’s usually found in oil-based products, so may not be ideal for acne and blemish prone skin, but it’s great for pretty much all other skin types. 

Try REN Clean Skincare Glow Daily Vitamin C Gel Cream

Bakuchiol

If you’re looking for an alternative to retinol that can be used on more sensitive skin, bakuchiol is a good place to start. Bakuchiol is found in the seeds and leaves of the Indian Babchi plant and has been used in traditional Ayurvedic and Chinese medicine for centuries. It also has calming anti-inflammatory and healing antibacterial properties and is even safe for use when pregnant and breastfeeding. It’s a potent-yet-kind ingredient which the British Journal of Dermatology found was just as effective as retinol and significantly less irritating, which is great news for anyone looking for an alternative.

Try Medik8 The CSA Bakuchiol Edition Kit

Ceramides

Ceramides are fats or lipids that are found in skin cells and make up 30% to 40% of your outer skin layer, or epidermis. Ceramides are important for retaining your skin’s moisture and preventing the entry of germs into your body. If your skin’s ceramide content decreases, which often happens with age, it can become dehydrated. Skincare products with ceramides will help reinforce your skin’s barrier and increase hydration, giving you plumper, smoother, firmer-feeling skin with fewer visible lines and wrinkles, as well as fewer signs of sensitivity.

Try Advanced Nutrition Programme Skin Moisture IQ

It’s Now Possible to buy Dermalogica Clearing Skin Wash from Pure Beauty!

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anti-bacterial, avoid, bacteria, Balm Mint, blackheads, Camphor, care, caution, cells, clearning, clogged, cloth, comedones, complexion, congestion, dampened, dead skin, dermalogica, eucalyptus, eye area, fingertips, follicles, germs, inflammation, potent, Pure Beauty, redness, Salicylic Acid, skin, slough, soothing, sponge, spots, upward strokes

Dermalogica Clearing Skin Wash

Back in 2009, we had the unfortunate task of telling our customers that we were no longer able to sell Dermalogica Clearing Skin Wash on our site, due to Dermalogica deciding that it should only be sold through skincare practitioners who were able to give a personalised recommendation based on a consultation with a client. We respected Dermalogica’s decision and completely understood their need for caution, however we’re delighted to say that after a recent policy review, Dermalogica has decided that it CAN be sold online again, providing a proper warning is given. So, here’s everything you need to know about Dermalogica Clearing Skin Wash!

What Does it Do?

Dermalogica Clearing Skin Wash is a potent cleanser which can be used on skin which is prone to blackheads, breakouts and oiliness. It clears pores of impurities and dead skin cells, clears clogged follicles, and helps to prevent future breakouts. It also contains anti-bacterial ingredients which help to kill the germs which cause spots and skin problems.

What’s in it?

Dermalogica Clearing Skin Wash contains some really potent ingredients, hence the warnings! Salicylic acid takes care of sloughing away the top layer of dead skin cells and dirt, while balm mint, eucalyptus and tea tree take care of the anti-bacterial side of things. Soothing camphor will soothe the skin, helping to eliminate areas of redness and reducing inflammation.

How Do I Use it?

Perform the Dermalogica Double Cleanse that begins with Dermalogica PreCleanse.

1. Pour a small amount of Dermalogica Clearing Skin Wash onto dampened hands.

2. Apply to wet face and throat, activating with fingertips in light, upward strokes and concentrating on any areas of congestion. Avoid eye area.

3. Rinse thoroughly with tepid water. The Dermalogica Sponge Cloth can be used (dampened).

4. Repeat for professional results.

What Do I Need to Remember?

If skin experiences sensitivity or dehydration from daily use, reduce use to 2-3 times per week. Discontinue use if irritation occurs. Use as directed. For external use only. Keep out of eyes.

The Beauty of a Good Education

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abrasions, acne, anti ageing, anti-bacterial, anti-viral, bacteria, base, breakout, brighter, Calming, clean, clear, college, complexion, cuts, dermalogica, Dermalogica All Over Toner, Dermalogica Breakout Control, Dermalogica UltraCalming Redness Relief Primer SPF20, Elemis, Elemis Tea Tree S.O.S. Spray, Elemis White Brightening Even Tone Cleanser, formulation, foundation, illuminated, impurities, mattified, mattify, oil, over-sensitised, primer, redness, school, sebum, sensitised, sensitive, September, skin, smoother, SPF, spot, spots, student, study, sun, teenager, Toner, university

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It’s the end of August which means that Autumn is on it’s way, school will be restarting again soon and the lazy summer days will be replaced with routine and structure, especially for those in education. Whether you’re starting a new school, college or university, you’ll want to be doing so with the best skin possible, so we’re going to show you five products which can help:

Dermalogica UltraCalming Redness Relief Primer SPF20

Sensitised skin can be difficult to control, and many products will add to the problem. This primer from Dermalogica is designed to minimise redness, mattify the skin by controlling sebum production and provide a good base on which to put make-up, giving you the confidence of knowing that your foundation will stay in place all day. It contains a green tint which counteracts redness and an SPF which protects the skin from the sun’s harmful rays.

Elemis Tea Tree S.O.S. Spray

This S.O.S. Spray from Elemis might not be a lifesaver, as such, but it’s definitely a SKIN saver – the cooling teat tree will help to soothe over-sensitised skin while the anti-bacterial properties will kill spot-causing bacteria, helping you to cut the cause of breakouts before they even occur. It can be sprayed directly onto the face to help speed up the healing process if you’ve already had a breakout, and can even be used on other cuts and abrasions for an antibacterial and antiviral barrier.

Dermalogica Breakout Control

If your skin is prone to acne or hormonal breakouts, it can be tricky to know when breakouts are going to happen and treat them before the fact. This lotion from Dermalogica is a fast-but-gentle formulation which is designed to target the bacteria which causes breakouts to halt them in their tracks, and contains natural sponges to absorb sebum which can make the skin oily. It contains soothing ingredients which help to calm the skin and reduce sebum production and is gentle enough to be used daily, under your normal moisturiser.

Elemis White Brightening Even Tone Cleanser

Keeping your skin super clean is the first step to staying breakout-free but that can be tricky as some cleansers irritate the skin and make spots worse. This cleanser from Elemis has been designed for daily use and gently removes impurities, reduces the appearance of excess oil and reveals a super-clean and mattified complexion. Skin is left smoother, brighter and naturally illuminated, as well as being clean and clear.

Dermalogica All Over Toner

This toner is the perfect product for keeping in your school bag as it provides a much-needed spritz of cooling toner, right when your skin needs it the most. It calms redness, kills spot-causing bacteria and helps to keep spot and acne prone skin under control. It’s perfect for teenage skin and can either be sprayed directly onto the face, or wiped onto problematic area with a cotton pad.

5 Products To Help Your Teen Through Prom Season

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acne, acne prone, acneic, anti-bacterial, bacteria, blackheads, blemishes, clay, complexion, dead skin, Dermalogica Daytime Treatment, Dermalogica Emergency Spot Fix, Dermalogica Matte Moisturiser SPF15, Dermalogica Overnight Treatment, Dermalogica Pore Control Scrub, exposure, natural, prom, sebum, sensitised, sensitive, skin, skin cells, SPF, spots, sun, teen, teenager

Photo Credit: http://bit.ly/2jCfRnb

If you’ve got a teen who’s in their last year of school then you’re probably well aware that as soon as Christmas is over, prom preparation begins, which means hours of researching an shopping for dresses, hair appointments and make-up sessions. The teen years can be really difficult if they struggle with blemishes or acne and it will be all the more angst-inducing now, so we’ve put together a selection of products which could really help them to get control of their skin in the coming weeks.

Dermalogica Daytime Treatment

Acne and breakout prone skin may seem like it’s moist enough, but it’s actually really important to use a moisturiser even when you feel like you don’t need one. This daytime treatment from the Dermalogica Clear Start range is a lightweight formulation which helps to regulate sebum production and contains anti-bacterial components which actually kill the root cause of the spots before they have a chance to develop.

Dermalogica Emergency Spot Fix

If breakouts do happen at critical times (like, the night before the prom!) then this potent topical application will target the spot-causing bacteria and kill it in its stride. It also contains several powerful, naturally-occurring ingredients such as green tea and licorice which reduce inflammation and redness, making the blemish appear less angry.

Dermalogica Pore Control Scrub

Keeping acne-prone skin clean is of the utmost importance, as is making sure your products don’t irritate the skin further. This scrub removes dirt and dead skin cells from the skin whilst employing natural clays to soak up excess sebum, ensuring teen skin is spotless…both literally and figuratively!

Dermalogica Overnight Treatment

It’s important to take care of skin during sleep hours as this is often the time when spots develop, so using Dermalogica’s Overnight Treatment is a really great idea. It soothes over-stimulated skin, thus reducing the skin’s need to produce sebum which will halt one of the main causes of acneic breakouts. Use after cleansing and toning before bed for the best results.

Dermalogica Matte Moisturiser SPF15

If your teen has particularly sensitive skin, then the sun can actually be a problem as over-exposure will play havoc with oil production and can damage the surface of the skin. Encouraging your teen to use a moisturiser which is both suitable for acne-prone skin and containing an SPF could help to protect their skin in the long run and will also help them to form good habits for later in life, ensuring that the signs of ageing don’t appear in an untimely fashion.

Put soup on the menu this winter

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anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory, antibiotic, carrot, herbs, mushrooms, potato, soup, soya, spices

If someone convince you that one little pill taken three times a day throughout the ‘darker’ months would prevent you from falling prey to colds or flu would you take it? Of course you would. A really bad cold or, even worse the ‘flu’ is guaranteed to make you feel totally miserable, be forced to take time off work and see friends and family giving you a very wide berth while you suffer!

Studies continue to show that a deficiency of certain vitamins and minerals reduce our immune response and render us more prone to catching something but as cold and ‘flu’ viruses that sweep the globe each year are rarely the same as the previous year or the year before, there is unlikely to ever be one pill or vaccine that offers all-round protection so we are pretty much on our own on this one, I’m afraid!

However, there’s a lot we can do to up the ante and this is where soup can be our saviour!

Soup is so much more than just a warm and comforting bowl of deliciousness – a good soup is like a medicinal tonic, offering a whole host of natural, anti-viral goodies rich in immune-boosting micronutrients like folic acid, vitamins A, B6, C and E plus zinc, copper, iron and selenium. Not any old soup will do, however. It’s all about the ingredients and perhaps more importantly, the cooking method – the secret is in the simmering.

A great soup base makes for a great soup and a slow sauté over a very low heat until the vegetables used are soft (onions, leeks, garlic, celery, carrots and other roots) not only forms the basis of a really tasty soup but also helps the vegetables retain their disease-fighting nutrients. The addition of herbs and spices at this stage and another spell of slow simmering adds yet more immune-boosters. Thereafter, it’s simply a matter of slinging in all the other ingredients according to the cooking times required (e.g. beans, lentils, rice and other grains first, meat, poultry and game next and leafy greens and seafood last) until you have a pot of goodness you can’t wait to get your spoon into! The same goes for broths that involve meat, poultry or fish bones – keep it low and keep it slow for maximum protection!

Top foods with anti-viral, anti-bacterial, antibiotic and anti-inflammatory properties to include in your soups:

• the onion family (red and white onions, leeks, shallots, garlic, spring onions, chives)
• roots (turnip, carrot, parsnip, celeriac, sweet potato, beets)
• mushrooms (whatever is in season but particularly shitake)
• greens (everything from lettuce to spinach – the darker green the better!)
• the citrus family (lemon, lime, orange, grapefruit)
• herbs and spices (everything from A to Z but particularly ginger and turmeric)
• bones (meat, poultry, game and fish)
• probiotics (yoghurt, kefir, buttermilk, fermented soya products)

For some excellent recipes take a look at Fiona Kirk’s website and be totally inspired and super-healthy this winter.