These Foods Can Help Beat Acne

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acne, anti-inflammatory, antioxidants, avocado, breakout, Broccoli, carbohydrates, Dermalogica Breakout Clearing Booster, Dermalogica Oil Free Matte SPF30, detoxifying, dry skin, Elemis Superfood Facial Wash, fats, fermented, free radicals, Greens, immune system, inflammation, kale, kimchi, minerals, Nettle, oil, oily fish, omega-3, prebiotic, probiotic, sebum, spinach, spots, spring greens, vitamins

Photo by Glen Carrie on Unsplash

Here at Pure Beauty, we believe in our products, but we’re also aware that some elements of healing need to come from within. We offer several acne-beating skincare systems, but making sure your diet is right for your skin can give your complexion an extra boost. With that in mind, we’ve got five food suggestions that you should think about adding to your diet if you’re an acne sufferer:

Kimchi

Kimchi is a Korean dish which is made from salted and fermented vegetables, such as napa cabbage and Korean radish. It’s an amazing source of probiotics, which help to control the bad bacteria in your skin which contribute to acne. Start your skincare routine with Dermalogica Foaming Wash, which will rid your skin of any external bacteria and combined with the probiotics in the kimchi, your skin will get an acne-beating boost.

Avocado

Avocado might seem like a bit of a ‘trendy’ ingredient right now, but it’s actually jam-packed with nutrients and good fats which are amazing for your skin. Acne can often be exacerbated by an underlying dry skin issue, which causes the skin to overproduce sebum. The good fats in avocado, though, help to hydrate your skin from within, eliminating dryness and calming the causes of acne.

Oily Fish

Everyone should try to get at least two portions of fish a week, including one of oily fish, for good overall health, but there’s also evidence to suggest that adding oily fish to your diet can help to eliminate acne. This is because it can lower inflammation in your body, and that may help keep acne away. Dermalogica Oil Free Matte SPF30 can also help to reduce acne-causing inflammation.

Leafy Greens

Leafy Greens are great acne-fighters for a number of reasons. Firstly, there’s evidence to suggest that more fibre in your diet can help to banish acne. Secondly, dark greens such as spinach, kale, spring greens and broccoli contain iron and a plethora of vitamins which bolster your immune system and help your body to fight unwanted bacteria. Dermalogica Breakout Clearing Booster will also help to kill off the same bacteria.

Nettles

You might think of nettles as the annoying things that sting your legs on a summer walk, but nettles have anti-inflammatory properties which make them an effective ally against acne. They’re also extremely detoxifying, thanks to high levels of antioxidants which protect the body from the over-production of free radicals – chemicals which can cause damage to proteins, fats, carbohydrates and DNA in the body. Elemis Superfood Facial Wash also contains nettle, which acts as a gentle astringent and has anti-inflammatory properties.

Aloe Vera is Your New Best Friend

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acne, Aloe Vera, Anti-Aging Peptides, anti-inflammatory, antioxidants, antiseptic, Arnica, beautifully scented product, boost, chamomile, Cornflower, cucumber, damaged cells, dehydration, dehydration lines, Dermalogica Skin Renewal Booster, Dermalogica Skin Smoothing Cream, Dermalogica UltraCalming™ Mist, discomfort, disinfectant, drier, dry skin, dull skin, Elemis Skin Soothe Shave Gel, everyday grooming, fine lines, free radicals, gel, glowing skin, glycolic acid, gorgeous silky softness, happy, healing, healthier-looking skin, hyaluronic acid, hydrate, hydroxy acids, inflammation, irritated, Jan Marini Bioglycolic Resurfacing Body Scrub, Jan Marini Transformation Face Cream, Jojoba oil, lavender, lecithin, long flights, love, luxury product, Mallow, Marine Extracts, Menthold, moisture balance, natural humectants, nourishes, prematurely ageing skin, rebuild and repair, repair damaged skin, rough skin, samples, sensitive skins, Shaving, skin irritation, stretch marks, sunburn, suppleness, texture, thirsty, tired, Vitamins A and C, witch hazel, youthful

At Pure Beauty we are massive Aloe Vera fans.

As well as being an excellent anti-inflammatory and fabulous moisturiser, it is also said to contain antioxidants that can help repair damaged skin and prevent free radicals from doing their undesirable work. Used to relieve sunburn, acne, irritated, and dry skin, some people also believe it helps to reduce the appearance of stretch marks, fine lines and wrinkles.

We did a little bit of a search of our products and today we are sharing the Aloe love with you.

Dermalogica Skin Smoothing Cream is great if you want to maintain your skin’s moisture balance while improving texture and tone. Deep-moisturising Lecithin nourishes your skin and extracts of Mallow, Cucumber and Arnica soothe and hydrate it so suppleness is restored. Aloe has been added to the mix to moisture your skin and help prevent the appearance of dehydration lines and promote healing – what’s not to like?

The Jan Marini Transformation Face Cream helps to rebuild and repair damaged cells so that your skin looks, and feels, youthful. Anti-Aging Peptides, Hyaluronic Acid, Antioxidants and Aloe Vera come together in this luxury product and from the very first time you use it, your skin will appear smoother and have a gorgeous silky softness we think you will love.

Aloe can be great to boost tired, dull skin and this is why it has been added to the Dermalogica Skin Renewal Booster. A blend of hydroxy acids and natural humectants have been blended to help with cell renewal and promote healthier-looking skin. Suitable for drier or prematurely-ageing skin, the booster exfoliates away dead skin cells and together Aloe, Chamomile and Cornflower hydrate the skin while Vitamins A and C smooth skin, so it feels happy once again.

Shaving is a part of everyday grooming but it can cause skin irritation, so to prevent this, we suggest using the Elemis Skin Soothe Shave Gel. This easy to use, effective gel has an active base of Aloe Vera and Witch Hazel, that have been scientifically blended with anti-inflammatory extracts of Arnica and Chamomile and cooling Menthol. Together this offers the perfect shaving solution for even the most sensitive skins, and with Marine Extracts and Jojoba Oil added for comfort, this is a bathroom cabinet must have.

We know some people think toners dry the skin out, but this could not be further from the truth with the Dermalogica UltraCalming Mist.This cool, soothing toner offers thirsty, dry skin hydration as well as relieving inflammation and discomfort. Aloe has been added as a skin soothing agent and this works beautifully well with the antiseptic and disinfectant qualities of Lavender to ensure skin is soft and supple and ready for your day or night cream. It is also brilliant to keep skin hydrated on the beach and during long flights when moisture is lost and dehydration sets in.

If your body feels like it needs a little extra love, why not take the Jan Marini Bioglycolic Resurfacing Body Scrub into the shower with you? Highly concentrated glycolic acid with exfoliating particles have been expertly blended with Aloe, Chamomile and Rosemary Extracts that together leave you with glowing skin that is silky smooth to the touch. That rough skin and those troublesome areas on the back of your arms, knees and legs will be a thing of the past. While you will see immediate benefits from this beautifully scented product, there will be progressive improvement over time that we think you will love.

If you would like more details about aloe,or are interested in trying samples to see if they work for you, get in touch and we would love to help you get your best skin ever.

Team Pure-Beauty

Hair Removal – What Are Your Options?

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age spots, ageing, ALA, alpha lipoic acid, anchovies, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, apricots, arms, berries, bikini line, blackberries, blemishes, blueberries, body hair, Brazillian, broad spectrum, Broccoli, chia seeds, damage, dark spots, decleor, Decleor Post-Wax Double Action Gel, Decleor Rose D’Orient Soothing Oil Serum, dermalogica, Dermalogica Antioxidant HydraMist, Dermalogica C-12 Pure Bright Serum, Dermalogica Clearing Mattifier, Dermalogica Post Shave Balm, Elemis, Elemis Body Detox Skin Brush, Elemis Energising Skin Scrub, Elemis Liquid Layer SPF30, Elemis Pro-Collagen Super Serum Elixir, epilate, epilator, epliation, exfoliate, eyebrows, fatty acids, fish, free radicals, fullness, hair, high factor, Hollywood, hyperpigmentation, ingrown hair, laser hair removal, liver spots, mackerel, nuts, oils, oily fish, omega-3, orange, plump, plumper, polyphenols, pomegranate, protection, raspberries, salmon, Shaving, SPF, spinach, spots, strawberries, sun, sunscreen, sweet potato, threading, UVA, UVB, vitamin A, walnuts, waxing, wrinkles

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Hair removal – it’s one of those things that most of us do but few of us ever talk about it, but it’s a fact of life and needn’t be taboo. There are various different methods that you can use for hair removal, some more permanent than others and varying in price and effectiveness. Here’s a rundown of a few of them:

Shaving

Probably the most common type of hair removal on the planet, shaving is also one of the cheapest ways to remove hair, with some disposable razors costing a matter of pennies. It’s not a very long-lasting method because it only trims the part of the hair which sits above the skin, but it’s definitely convenient and can be done on any part of the body that you care to use it. If you plan to shave, use Elemis Energising Skin Scrub beforehand to prevent ingrown hairs and soothe the skin, post-shave, with Dermalogica Post Shave Balm.

Waxing

Waxing lasts longer than shaving and gives a smooth finish, but does have it’s downsides. You need to leave time between waxes to allow the hair to be long enough for the wax to adhere to, and there’s obviously the pain-factor. Also, unless you wax at home, you’ll need regular appointments which can be pricey. If you do wax, treat your skin with Decleor Post-Wax Double Action Gel to soothe and repair.

Laser

Laser is probably the most expensive way to remove hair but it’s also the only way to remove hair permanently. Most people require between 6 and 10 sessions for complete removal and occasional touch-ups if you get a rogue hair or two growing back, but most people have great levels of success with it. Your skin will feel sensitive after a laser session, so treat your skin to some Decleor Rose D’Orient Soothing Oil Serum.

Threading

Threading is an ancient form of hair removal from Asia which involves using pieces of twisted thread to pull the hairs out. Many Asian women use threading to remove facial hair and arm hairs and the method is actually incredibly accurate, allowing you to get a really nice shape when threading eyebrows. There are many tutorials online to allow you to learn how to thread yourself, but we’d recommend going to a professional at least for a while!

Epilating

Epilating is the Marmite of hair removal – most people either love it or really hate it! It’s usually done with a handheld machine which pulls the roots out and it actually lasts quite a long time – if you can deal with the pain! Ingrown hairs are a real issue with epilation, so regularly scrubbing the areas you epilate with Elemis Body Detox Skin Brush will help minimise this.

Chicken soup, the soul lifter

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anti-biotics, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and antiviral properties, betacarotene, blender, bones, bowl, brown rice, bug busting, butternut squash, chicken, chicken soup, chillies, cold viruses, fresh ginger, garlic, ginger, gut-friendly bacteria, hydrate, immune system boosters, ingredients, live yogurt, mix, mushrooms, nasal membranes, natural decongestant, nose, onion, pan, potent, powerful, quinoa, sauté, Shiitake mushrooms, shred, smooth, sniff, spoonful, spoonful of live yoghurt, stir, stock, stuffy nose, super-nourishing, zinc

Old wives tale or not, there is something magical about chicken soup.

Clear broths for poorly tums, spicy chicken noodle soup for a stuffy nose and there is nothing like a lovely bowl of hot, creamy soup to cheer you up when you are feeling below par.

You can of course get it in a can, but if you want something super-nourishing that will warm you up and make you feel better and brighter, we have the perfect recipe for you.

For our winning bug buster you will need:

5 chicken thighs (ideally organic)
1 small butternut squash, deseeded
1 small pack of Shiitake mushrooms, washed
4 cloves of garlic
1 red onion
2 green chillies
1 piece of fresh ginger (a 5cm square should work)
1 litre of fresh chicken stock
To make a perfect pan soup, you will need to:

Chop the chillies, garlic, onion and sauté them together until the onion softens and goes slightly brown.

Next, chop the butternut squash into manageable cubes, slice the mushrooms and add to the pan together with the chicken. Stir all of this together and then add enough stock to cover the ingredients.

Turn down the heat and simmer the mix until the squash is soft and the chicken is cooked.

This is the bit many people don’t do, and makes all the difference. Carefully remove the chicken from the soup and put on plate, put the other ingredients in a blender and mix until you have a smooth soup base.

Loosen the chicken from the bones, shred and then put back into the now smooth soup and serve.

Individually these ingredients are powerful, together they are potent, and this is why.

Let’s start with the chicken. We all know chicken is a source of protein which is vital for your immune systems but it also packed with zinc, which is believed to reduce the severity and length of colds.

The chicken stock is added because that extra bit of liquid will not only help hydrate you but also clear blocked noses.

Green chillies are a brilliant natural decongestant that stimulates nasal membranes and helps clear nasty mucus.

Garlic contains the compound allicin, which is full of antibacterial and antiviral properties, which help mop up cold viruses and get rid of them a little bit faster.

We suggest using red, rather than white onions, because they contain antibacterial properties and offer and added blast of goodness.

Butternut squash isn’t always used in soup but we like it because it is full of betacarotene, which an anti-inflammatory that will also helping clear up a stuff nose. Bet you didn’t know that?

Ginger is an all round natural bug busting wonder product. It fires up you circulation so those white blood cells can deal with any infection fast, it warms up if you are feeling cold and because it has anti-inflammatory properties it can clear bunged up noses and heavy heads.

We love this soup served piping hot with a slice of garlic bread and large glass of water with lemon, but there are other ways to enjoy it.

If bread isn’t for you, but you need a little more energy, why not add a handful of brown rice or quinoa.

If you have been on antibiotics, adding a spoonful of live yoghurt will give you a much-needed serving of gut-friendly bacteria.

If you are a vegetarian, don’t despair. Swapping the chicken thighs for a handful of almonds will give you a healthy serving of essential amino acids that are brilliant immune system boosters.

What’s your favourite soup, we would love to know.

Team Pure-Beauty

Eating for Beauty

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alpha lipoic acid, anti-inflammatory, antioxidants, avocado, beauty, cocoa powder, coconut, coconut oil, collagen, Decleor Lift Wrinkle Filler, Decleor Protective Hydrating Milk SPF30 Body, Dermalogica Skin Hydrating Booster, diet, dry, dryness, eating, fish, flaxseed, food, full, fullness, hyperpigmentation, oily, omega-3, plump, polyphenols, pomegranate, sallow, skin, SPF, sun

Keeping your skin in great condition doesn’t have to be a full-time job, providing you follow a targeted skincare regime for your skin type. There are also things that you can do from within to help your skin to look its best, such as adding certain foods to your diet. Here, we take a look at what you should be eating, based on your specific skin need.

Acne

Acne responds well to increased doses of vitamin A because this is the thing which helps to regulate the life cycles of your skin cells. In acne, dead skin cells combine with sebum to form the comedogenic plugs which look unsightly. Foods such as sweet potatoes, apricots and mangoes contain all the vitamin A you need, which you can combine with using Dermalogica Clear Start Breakout Clearing Kit to keep breakouts under control.

Hyperpigmentation

Hyperpigmentation usually happens to slightly older skin and can give your skin the appearance of being aged before its time. Foods which are green, such as broccoli and kale contain high levels of alpha lipoic acid (ALA) which is a potent fat-and-water-soluble antioxidant and anti-inflammatory, keeping hyper-pigmentation at bay.

Dryness

Using a moisturiser such as Dermalogica Skin Hydrating Booster to combat dryness is a no-brainer, but sometimes dryness has an underlying dietary cause which can be tackled, too. Often, dryness can be caused by a lack of essential fatty acids and omega 3 in the diet, so adding things like nuts, oily fish, coconut oil and avocado will help your skin immensely.

Lacking plumpness

Free radicals in your system can dull your skin reduce collagen production, which will leave your skin looking sallow and lacking fullness. Adding berries to your diet is a good idea to combat this as they contain antioxidants which will ward off any nasties, while a good plumping cream such as Decleor Lift Wrinkle Filler will target any deeper lines which may have formed.

Sun exposure

We all know that too much sun isn’t good for us, but that doesn’t stop us from wanting to get out in the warmth and soak up a few of those rays while they last. Adding more polyphenols to your diet will actually increase your skin’s natural defences against harmful rays, which will help your sunscreen to do an even better job, so adding pomegranate, cocoa powder and flaxseed is good if you plan on a spot of sun-worshipping.