How to Prep Dry Skin Before Applying Makeup

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ageing skin, antioxidant, balm, cleanser, complexion, dead skin cells, dehydrated, Dermalogica Hydro Masque Exfoliant, Dermalogica Skin Perfect Primer SPF30, drier skin, dry skin, dryness, Elemis Pro-Collagen Rose Cleansing Balm, Elemis Superfood Kefir-Tea Mist, Evolve Organic Beauty Daily Renew Facial Cream, fermented, flaky, kefir, make-up, makeup, mist, moisture, moisturising, oil-based, patchy, prep, prime, primer, rooibos tea, skin, spray, Vegan

Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash

Unless you’re lucky enough to have the least problematic skin on the planet, every skin type will have it’s own issues when it comes to make-up application. Ageing skin can struggle with heavier formulas which weigh down the skin while those with oily skin may struggle to get their make-up to last the full day. Today, however, we’re focusing on dry skin and what you can do to prep your skin before applying make-up to ensure that you get the best covering with no patchiness or flaking. 

Choose the Correct Cleanser

If you already have dry skin, the last thing you want to do is choose a cleanser which has ingredients which will further dehydrate your face. We’d recommend using a cleansing oil oir balm, such as Elemis Pro-Collagen Rose Cleansing Balm, to start the cleansing process. Cleansers with an oil or balm texture will help to melt away daily dirt and make-up without stripping the skin’s natural oils and will leave your skin nourished and soothed, with a radiant glow. 

Gently Exfoliate

One of the main issues with applying base products such as foundation to dry skin is that the first place it will cling to is areas of dryness. This will leave your base looking patchy and uneven and it may even appear flaky. The most important thing that you can do to avoid this is gently exfoliating the skin with something like Dermalogica Hydro Masque Exfoliant. This will ensure that dead skin cells are sloughed away and your face is a clean canvas on which to paint. 

Properly Moisturise

If you have dry skin, there’s a good chance that you already have a moisturiser in your daily routine, but is it rich enough to properly nourish a dehydrated complexion? Opting for a moisturiser which is specifically formulated to deal with dry skin, such as Evolve Organic Beauty Daily Renew Facial Cream will ensure that your skin isn’t just drinking in the moisture but still remaining thirsty. 

Prime Your Skin

Many people are under the illusion that cleansing and moisturising is enough, but using a primer is especially important if you have dry skin and want your make-up to sit nicely. Dermalogica Skin Perfect Primer SPF30 will help to smooth away fine lines, brighten and prime for flawless skin and to prepare for make-up application. It’s formulated for use on drier or prematurely ageing skin and will ensure that your skin stays hydrated all day. It also provides broad-spectrum sun protection to prevent harmful UV rays from doing further damage. 

Use a Hydrating Setting Spray

Setting sprays are used quite commonly, but a huge amount of them are alcohol based, making them dehydrating, and therefore bad for dry skin. Imagine doing all of the above to get your skin and make-up on point, only to spray it with something to dry it out?! Elemis Superfood Kefir-Tea Mist is a hydrating 4-in-1 treatment mist, infused with antioxidant rich rooibos tea extract and vegan, soy-derived kefir ferment to help soothe and brighten the complexion.  It may also be used as a setting spray to lock makeup in place and revitalise the skin throughout the day.

Don’t Skip Your Brussels Sprouts This Christmas!

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acid, alpha lipoic acid, antioxidant, antioxidants, Brussels sprouts, cells, collagen, compounds, prebiotic, probiotic, skin, sprouts, superfoods, vitamin, Vitamin C, vitamin K

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When it comes to Christmas dinner, almost everybody has their own favourite part of the plate. For many of us, it’s the roast potatoes, while others like to savour the turkey, but some people out there (believe it or not) actually like the Brussels sprout part of the meal the best! Despite the fact that many people find them slightly bitter and not the easiest veg to eat, there are actually a bunch of reasons that you shouldn’t be skipping the Brussels this year, many of which will hugely benefit your skin and complexion. Here are five reasons why you should make sure you don’t leave a single Brussels sprouts on your plate this year.

They’re Packed With Prebiotics

Most of us have heard of probiotics, but not everyone knows what prebiotics are. If you think about probiotics as being the seeds of the good bacteria that you want to grow in your tummy, then prebiotics are like the compost in which you would plant those seeds in order to get them to grow. Sprouts contain high levels of insoluble fibre and it’s within this that the pre-biotics can be found. This is all part of protecting your microbiome, which is hugely important. 

They’re High in Vitamin C

Brussels sprouts are full of nutrients and contain significant amounts of vitamin C. In fact, gram for gram, Brussels sprouts contain nearly 50 per cent more vitamin C than an orange. Just four to six Brussels sprouts contain the adult daily requirement for vitamin C. Vitamin C is an important vitamin for the skin as it can help to brighten the complexion, reduce hyperpigmentation and boost collagen production through the process of collagen synthesis.

They Contain a HUGE Amount of Vitamin K

Another hero vitamin which can be found in abundance in Brussels sprouts is vitamin K. Often used to help skin recover from surgery or cosmetic procedures like laser treatment, vitamin K is believed to help cuts, wounds and bruises heal considerably faster than usual. It’s also a star ingredient in many eye creams with studies showing it can help brighten dark circles and boost skin elasticity.

They’re Rich in Antioxidants

Antioxidants are protective compounds that reduce oxidative stress in your cells, and as a result may help lower your risk of chronic disease and can also help to slow the signs of ageing. Brussels sprouts are rich in antioxidants, compounds that contribute to healthier cells and a lower risk of cancer, making them the perfect superfood to enjoy all year round. 

They Contain Alpha-Lipoic Acid

Alpha Lipoic Acid, like so many great skincare ingredients, is an antioxidant produced naturally by your body. However, the quantities produced are at such a low level that people are increasingly looking for ways to supplement their levels of ALA through other sources – and that’s where your Brussels sprouts come in! When applied topically, Alpha Lipoic Acid penetrates the surface layers of the skin and begins to work its magic. The skin has a brighter, more youthful appearance and benefits from the cellular protection that ALA offers.

How to Protect Your Skin’s Biome

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antioxidant, bacteria, biome, black tea, blackcurrant, brighten, complexion, Elemis, good bacteria, jelly, make up, mattified, micellar, microbiome, Murad, Nordic bilberry, Nouveau, nutrients, oil-free, oxygen, prebiotic, primer, probiotic, protect, protective matrix, skin, smooth, soft

Photo by Daniel Apodaca on Unsplash

As we’ve mentioned previously, the skin’s biome is an umbrella term for all of the bacteria which lives on your skin. We’re primed, as humans, to see bacteria as a bad thing, but actually, protecting your skin’s biome is incredibly important if you want a balanced, healthy complexion. Fortunately, we have everything you need to protect your skin’s biome, regardless of your skin type. Here are five of the best products for the job:

REN Clean Skincare Perfect Canvas Clean Primer

REN Clean Skincare Perfect Canvas Clean Primer is a probiotic Primer that plumps skin, mattifies and fills in fine lines for the perfect makeup application. It contains skin-boosting extracts that help balance your good bacteria, reducing breakouts and promoting a healthy microbiome. It can be used on its own to give you smooth, mattified skin or as a primer underneath make up for the perfect canvas. 

Advanced Nutrition Programme Skin Clear Biome

These capsules do exactly what it says on the box – they work on your skin’s biome to give you a clear, blemish-free complexion. Skin Clear Biome is designed to work from the inside out: feeding the gut with bacteria to clarify and brighten skin. The formula is housed within a protective matrix to ensure active bacteria reach the area of the gut where they are most needed. 

Elemis Superfood Blackcurrant Jelly Exfoliator

The Elemis Superfood range is all packed with naturally occurring ingredients, derived from superfoods, and this jelly exfoliator is made from antioxidant rich Nordic bilberry and black tea for healthy looking skin. It contains a prebiotic, naturally derived from sugar, that helps to leave skin feeling soft and smooth, without stripping natural oils while black seed oil supports the skin’s lipid barrier for a healthy glow.

Nouveau Prebiotic Eye Make-Up Remover Gel

The eyes are a tricky area – the skin is ultra delicate and finely balanced, while make-up for this area is often hardy and long-lasting. That’s why a specialist product is required to adequately remove cosmetics while protecting the delicate biome of the skin around the eye. Nouveau Prebiotic Eye Make-Up Remover Gel is an advanced oil-free, micellar gel eye make-up remover that contains powerful prebiotic ingredients to promote healthy skin microbiome, and to help prevent irritation.

Murad Prebiotic 3-In-1 MultiMist

Make-up can play havoc with the skin’s natural biome, preventing the transfer of oxygen and other nutrients. Murad Prebiotic 3-In-1 MultiMist is a 3-in-1 hydrating mist that hydrates, primes and sets makeup.The formula features hydrating sugars to moisturise and refresh skin, while a yeast peptide helps lock in hydration, making it the perfect, hard-working multitasker that your face needs. 

Vaping and The Effects on Your Skin

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acne, ageing, antioxidant, balanced, chemicals, cleanser, cream, daily routine, dangers, dark spots, day, discolouration, dry, dry skin, drying, dryness, e-cigarette, enlarged, exfoliator, flaky, hydrated, hydration, hyperpigmentation, inhaling, irritation, itchy, nicotine, oily skin, oxygen, patchy, pores, rashes, resurfacing, sagging, sebum, sensitive, sensitivity, skin, smoking, soothing, supple, texture, toxins, uneven, Vape, vaping, vapour, wrinkling

Photo by FORMM agency on Unsplash

Vaping is something which has gained HUGE popularity the world over in the last decade. When e-cigs first came along, we were all assured that they were far safer than cigarettes and the health benefits of making the switch would be numerous. Now that we’re a few years down the line and more research has been done, we’re now aware that vaping presents its own dangers, not least of all to your skin. Here’s an overview of some of the negative effects of vaping on the skin and what you can do to reverse them:

E-Liquids Contain Toxins Which Can Damage The Skin

Exposure to the chemicals from e-cigarettes are twofold – as well as inhaling chemicals which can be harmful to your skin, you also create a cloud of vapour when you exhale, which also enrobes your skin in chemicals. The best way to stop the effects on your skin is to stop vaping altogether, but adding a potent exfoliator such as Dermalogica Skin Resurfacing Cleanser can also help to remove toxins and reverse some of the damage. 

It Makes Your Skin Dry

One of the ways that smoking ages the skin is by depriving it of oxygen and drying it out, and that can also be said for vaping. Every time you take a puff of a vape, you’re drying your skin out and exacerbating dry skin. Ironically, for some people, this can then lead to OILY skin, as your natural sebum production will ramp up to overcompensate. We recommend Elemis Hydra-Balance Day Cream, which is an ultra-light, antioxidant rich day cream that provides continuous hydration, to leave skin feeling perfectly hydrated, balanced and supple.

It Can Make Acne and Redness Worse

Vaping contains lots of chemicals and nicotine which come in contact with our skin. This may cause the skin to become dry or flaky. It can also aggravate those with naturally dry skin by making it patchy and sometimes itchy. The chemicals in e-cigarettes can also cause skin sensitivity and irritation which can lead to rashes and even acne. To combat these effects, we’d recommend adding Elemis Sensitive Soothing Milk to your daily routine, as it is infused with red sage and aloe vera, whilst bisabolol complex helps to protect against visible daily aggressors that might cause irritation. 

It Accelerates the Signs of Ageing

Despite being touted as “better than smoking” for our health, vaping is still incredibly damaging when it comes to the signs of ageing, as it deprives our skin of nutrients. This will lead to premature ageing in the form of dryness, enlarged pores, sagging, wrinkling, hyperpigmentation, and uneven texture. Using Aromatherapy Associates Anti-Ageing Overnight Repair Mask will help to smooth out lines and firm the skin, treating you to an overnight facial. 

It Can Cause Dark Spots

We all know that smoking can cause discolouration to the skin, but it’s also possible to suffer from hyperpigmentation, thanks to vaping. The nicotine in cigarettes is often what contributes to dark spots, and nicotine is still usually present in e-cigarettes too. Murad Correct and Protect Serum SPF45 is a satiny-smooth serum with 100% mineral SPF that’s tested and scientifically proven to visibly correct discolouration and prevent future hyperpigmentation, making it the perfect product for vapers and smokers. 

Starting College? These Products Will Give Your Teen Skin a Boost

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A-levels, AHI, antimicrobial, antioxidant, apple fruit, apprenticeship, bacteria, BHA, blackhead, blackheads, clarifying, clear skin, college, cowling clay, decongest, exams, excess oil, extractions, extracts, face mask, GCSEs, gel serum, Glycerin, glycolic acid, hormones, hydroxydecanoic, impurities, Lactic Acid, lysophosphatidic, mandelic acid, mango Steen, masks, oiliness, paws, poor refining, purify, radiant, raspberry, redness, results, Salicylic Acid, school, sebacic, sebum, serum, shine, sixth form, skin, skin care, skin issues, smoothness, soothing, spots, spots prone skin, sulphur, teenage, texture, university, visible paws

Photo by Max Fischer

With A-Level results out already and the impending GCSE results coming out next week, there are going to be a LOT of 16-18 year olds thinking about the next stage of their education, here in the UK. Whether you’re off to a new college, going into sixth form, embarking on a degree or even starting a work-based apprenticeship, we’re guessing that you want to put your best foot forward. With this in mind, we’ve put together a list of the best skincare for teen skin so that your face will be the last thing you need to worry about when starting your next adventure:

Dermalogica Blackhead Clearing Fizz Mask

This clay-based cleansing mask has an active fizzing formula which activates upon application helping to open pores, decongest skin and facilitate blackhead extractions. The clay absorbs excess oil and purifies the skin whilst apple fruit helps to hydrate the skin. It also contains sulphur, which provides anti-microbial benefits to help clear skin, making it the perfect way to cleanse and clear teenage skin. 

Medik8 Surface Radiance Cleanse

While this product isn’t specifically for teen skin, it has properties which make it perfect for fighting several typically teen issues. It contains an exfoliating AHA/BHA complex of mandelic, lactic and salicylic acid as well as glycerin for a pore refining, deep cleanse. It’s infused with mangosteen and raspberry extracts to provide natural antioxidant protection and increase skin barrier function and thoroughly removes impurities to decongest the skin.

Skin Republic Spots and Blemish Mask

As you’ll know if you come here often, we at Pure Beauty love masks for their enhanced efficacy when it comes to reversing certain skin problems, and this one from Skin Republic is every teen’s best friend. Ideal for spot-prone skin, this calming face mask will reduce shine and redness, as well as tighten pores and eliminate spots without drying out the skin. With anti-bacterial and antioxidant properties, this effective mask will help keep skin clear and radiant.

Elemis Clarifying Serum

Teen skin is prone to spots, due to a combination of hormones and sebum production, but it’s also quite common for teenage skin to be sensitive and reactive, causing redness and worsening breakouts. Elemis Clarifying Serum is a lightweight, soothing serum clinically proven to reduce the appearance of blemishes, visible pores and blackheads in just 2 weeks. Skin is left looking calmer, clearer, more even with improved texture and smoothness.

Murad Outsmart Blemish Clarifying Treatment

Getting rid of stubborn blemishes takes dedicated products such as this clarifying treatment from Murad. It is a medicated lightweight gel serum that is clinically proven to reduce overall blemishes in just 1 week. Salicylic acid combines with lysophosphatidic, hydroxydecanoic, sebacic and glycolic acids in Penta-Acid Technology to clear skin of blemish-causing bacteria, oiliness and blackheads while minimising dryness and irritation, giving you the confidence to go back to school with clear skin.