Toners are in the spotlight

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absorb, acne, Aloe, apply, Arnica, bacteria, balance, bank, beauty regime, blend, bottle, breakout prone skin, cleansers, clear complexion, complexion, cucumber, damp cotton pad, day, Decleor Essential Tonifying Lotion, dehydration, Dermalogica All Over Toner, Dermalogica Multi-Active Toner, Dermalogica Redness Relief Essence, detoxifying, discomfort, Elemis, Elemis Balancing Lavender Toner i, enhances, essential oils, evens out, Eyes, face, face cloth, fight, fragrance-free spray, fresh, Green Tea Essential Water, healthy, hydrating, hydration, hygienic, impurities, inflammation, lavender, long flights, love, luggage, moisture, moisturiser, moisturisers, money, Neroli Essential Oil, oil, paraben-free toner, PH levels, professional-strength toner, protect, purifying, Quillaja Wood, redness, refreshing blend, relieve, repair, restore, results, Salicylic Acid, sensitive skin, sensitivity, skin, skin-repairing, smooth, soothing, spots, spritz on toner, summer heat, surface skin cells, Sweet Betty flower, teenage skin, tightens pores, tip-top condition, Toner, UltraCalming, venly absorbed

You might not think you have time for a toner in your life, but we think you need to make time if you want to keep your skin healthy and in tip-top in your beauty regime, and extra money out of your bank account, but we hope our overview of some of the best toners we sell, will make you rethink.

One of the most popular toners at Pure Beauty works for all skin types and is the Dermalogica Multi-Active Toner. This refreshing blend of skin-repairing aloe,moisture-binding sodium PCA and soothing lavender, mint, and arnica is perfect for hydrating skin after cleansing. The hygienic, fragrance-free spray can be used throughout the day and because it evens out skin porosity, it means your moisturiser to be evenly absorbed, which has to be a good thing.

If balance is what you need, the Elemis Balancing Lavender Toner is for you. This product effectively tones the skin and rebalances the pH levels, without the use of alcohol or harsh chemicals, so you are left with a fresh, clear complexion. Extracts of lavender, sweet Betty flower and saponins from Quillaja wood are all part of the blend and we think you will love it as much as we do.

While the Dermalogica Redness Relief Essence is lightweight like a toner it is concentrated like a serum, which means it reduces redness and sensitivity by strengthening the skin’s moisture barrier. As part of the UltraCalming line, this product works to relieve, restore and hydrate skin, taking care of discomfort and dehydration and is a great addition to the beauty regime of anyone with sensitive skin.

How about trying the Decleor Essential Tonifying Lotion? This professional-strength toner totally enhances the toning process and leaves skin feeling beautifully refreshed, revitalised and rehydrated. Detoxifying green tea essential water removes impurities and tightens pores, while neroli essential oil helps protect, repair and fight against dehydration, something many of us need in the summer heat and on long flights. Use after cleansing by applying to the face using a damp cotton pad or clean face cloth which can then be used to absorb any excess product before your moisturiser comes on the scene.

Breakout prone skin needs toner love too, and this is where the Dermalogica All Over Toner comes into play. This light, refreshing, purifying, spritz on toner is suitable for teenage skin and is a great intro to a good beauty habits. Salicylic acid exfoliates surface skin cells and reduces inflammation. Orange peel and lavender soothe and refresh sad skin, while the antiseptic in tea tree oil kills bacteria and you can spray the toner over your face, and as well as anywhere else that is prone to breakouts. Try to give it time for the toner to absorb before applying other products and use morning and evening for best results.

If you are worried you won’t be able to take a toner in your luggage this summer, think again. The fantastic Decleor Essential Tonifying Lotion now comes in a 50ml bottle, and is perfect for ensuring your skin is refreshed and balanced when you are away. This gentle paraben-free toner contains neroli essential oil which protects and repairs your skin whilst easing dehydration so you are left with a complexion that is moisturised and radiant.

Need help to find the toner for you, get in touch and we would love to help.

Team Pure Beauty

Love the life you are in

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21st century, a problem shared is a problem halved, activity, aggressive, alcohol, angry, attention, blood, body and soul, boost, bottle, brain, brighter, concerns, confidence, control, depressed, down, energy levels, enjoy, family, feel happier, focus, future, glass of wine, Instagram, journal, journaling, Keep a journal, lighter, lives, long run, meditation, mind, mindfulness, move, old school, overwhelming, oxygen, paper, past, peace, perfect, present, pressure, rule, scary, self-esteem, selfish, shiny, Sit quietly, sleep, sunny side, support system, thoughts, time well spent, world, worries, write

Life can be overwhelming in the 21st century and living in a world of perfect, filtered Instagram images it can be easy to compare ourselves to others even though this knocks our self-esteem and dents our confidence.

We have had a look at how to feel happier with your lot, however shiny everyone else’s lives might look.

Keep a journal
Yes, it might seem a little old school to write things down on paper but keeping a journal helps you get a better perspective on things and can make life look a little less scary. Buy a pretty notebook and make time at the end of each day to just write. There are no rules when it comes to journalling so just write and let the pages soak up your stress and you will see the sunny side of life again.

Mindfulness
Mindfulness is the buzzword of the moment and is quite simply a form of meditation that bring things into the present, and can be beneficial to your mind, body and soul. Sit quietly for ten minutes a day and move the focus of your attention away from the world, away from the past, away from the future and just focus on now. Doing this will help you relax and be at peace with your thoughts and while it can take time to really get into meditation, it is time well spent as it will be worth it in the long run.

Be number one
This might sound selfish, especially if you have a family, but putting yourself first is key to being happy and feeling more in control of your life. It can be hard to say no sometimes, but saying it will give you the time you need to look after number one and in the long run it will boost your energy levels and self-esteem.

Keep alcohol down
When times are hard and the pressure is on, it is really tempting to have a drink, or two. While it might take away some of those feelings of overwhelm in the short-term, it can make you feel angry and aggressive and leave you feeling down, depressed and hungover. Keep a check on how much you drink each week and if you feel like the odd glass of wine is becoming a more regular occurrence, look at what is going on and what you could do instead of heading for the bottle.

Move
As well as keeping you healthy and getting blood and oxygen pumping around your body, moderate exercise will release the feel good chemicals in your brain that make you happy. Find an activity you really enjoy, so it is fun not a chore, and you will find that you will start to feel brighter and lighter and as well as having more energy in the day, you will sleep better at night.

Talk about it
The old saying goes, a problem shared is a problem halved, and that is so true. Holding onto worries and concerns can really get you down, so chat things over with your partner or a friend and feel the weight lift off your shoulders.

Of course, if things do feel too much, speak to your GP and see if they can help put a support system in place to make life easier once again.

Team Pure-Beauty

Eating the right way on holiday

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actions, after dinner chocolates and liquors, alcohol, all-inclusive cocktails, avocado, aware, bags of nuts, baked or sweet potatoes, beach, blood sugar levels, boots, bottle, breakfast buffets, buffet, burger, Cakes and pastries, calories, cereal, cheese boards, chips, chocolate, cooking from scratch, crisps, desserts, dried fruit, drizzle, eggs, empty calories, energy bars, fresh fish, fresh fish and meat, fruit, G&T, gems, glass of wine, Grilled chicken, gym, hangovers, happy, healthier options, healthy and hydrated, home, hotel, hungrier, jeans, lettuce wrap, local food, local wines, meal, muffin top, nuts, olive oil, quinoa, rice, salad, salads and vegetables, snacks, sorbets, sweet tooth, trip, up for grabs, vegetarian option, water

Big breakfast buffets, all-inclusive cocktails and free after dinner chocolates and liquors are par for the course when you are on holiday, but if you go full speed ahead and fill your boots every night, your jeans might not be quite so happy when you get home.

Yes, holidays are all about relaxing and having fun, but if you go all out on the cheese boards and local wines when you are away, all that hard work spent in the gym and cooking from scratch the rest of the year will be wasted.

It’s not about being a kill joy and missing out on the good things but rather going for the healthier options and having the odd treat here and there so you get the balance right.

We have some easy to follow tips that will mean you enjoy all there is to offer without having hangovers all holiday and muffin top when you get back.

One great thing to is pack snacks for your trip. It is easy to overdo it on crisps and chocolate but if you have bags of nuts and boxes of dried fruit as well as energy bars, we love the new Deliciously Ella ones, then you will be less tempted to eat empty calories.

If you have a buffet at your hotel, look at the salad and fruit options and always start you day with a decent protein based breakfast that will keep you full and balance your blood sugar levels.

When you eat out, look for restaurants that are busy, offer local food, fresh fish and have a vegetarian option – if you search a little you will be surprised at what gems you find.

When it comes to menus, start off with deciding about a decent serving of protein. Go for grilled chicken or fresh seafood and you can then add local salads and vegetables to balance out your meal.

Chips are always up for grabs but think about which carbs you go for, especially if you are away for a couple of weeks. Rice, quinoa (ask about this if you can’t see it on them menu), baked or sweet potatoes are all good options and if you can’t find anything other than the deep-fried stuff, a lettuce wrap for a burger can be a great option too.

We know we need some fat in our diets so drizzle olive oil on salads, add avocado to your eggs and make sure you have some nuts on your cereal.

Cakes and pastries are all there for the taking when it comes to deserts but make the most of luscious fruits and cooling sorbets if you do have a sweet tooth.

Drink plenty of water (go easy on the ice depending where you are visiting) and keep a bottle with you at all times and this will keep you feeling healthy and hydrated. While you might be less partial to a coffee or cup of tea when you are away, the temptation to have an early G&T or glass of wine can really win when you are on holiday. We aren’t saying don’t drink, you are on holiday after all, but remember that alcohol adds calories and makes you hungrier and those beach hangovers in the heat the next day are no fun.

Have a great holiday and enjoy finding some great places, and thing, to eat!

Team Pure Beauty

Free your mind

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Stressed?

Over worked and under paid?

Tired?

Anxious?

Far from being words that are banded around for the sake of it, for many of us this is the reality of 21st century living.

We are expected to be on the ball, on trend and down with the kids 24/7 and sometimes, things can get a bit too much.

We have put together some easy ideas of how to free your mind so you can relax and chill out once in a while rather than constantly having your brain in free fall mode.

Breath
Before you do anything else, sit back, count to ten and breath. Focus on your breathing, feel the air go into your body and out and just stop for a few minutes and regroup.

Talk
After breathing, comes talking. If you bottle everything up, then it is only going to get worse and seem harder and harder to deal with. Open up to your partner, mum or a close friend and they may have ideas about how you can make changes and find a positive way forwards.

Live in the moment
Whatever is making you anxious right now, isn’t going to last. Breakdown what is bothering you into manageable chunks and tackle it one step at a time. For example, if you are moving house you might feel overwhelmed, but step back, make a list, work out what needs to be done and if you can, delegate.

Not this again
If you are worried about an interview, think back and see if was the same the last time you went for a new job? If it was, and you got the job, what are you worried about? You aced it last time and we bet it will be the same the time round too.

It’s not all about you!
Harsh we know, but not everything that happens in this world is about you. Yes we can all feel put upon or have our sensitive days, but thinking every situation revolves around you in some way can be really destructive and you could be missing out on a lot of fun.

Look at the bigger picture
Ask yourself whether the issue that is on your mind right now will still be there tomorrow, in a week or in a month. It is unlikely it will be, so regroup, relax and look at what is going on in the world and see there is more to life than a difficult boss or messy flatmate.

Preparing for the worst
I will lose my job. He is going to dump me. She doesn’t want to be my best friend anymore. We tend to jump to conclusions and dwell on the worst-case scenarios and this can lead to stress and depression. It is far better to talk to the person involved face to face and find out what is really going on before you make yourself ill believing the world is about to end.

Take some exercise
Social media, long hours and desk based jobs mean many of us get less exercise than ever. Try to get some fresh air every day and even if you have a brisk walk or a quick swim, your heart beat will go up and the endorphins will pump good vibes around your body.

Laugh
If nothing else, remember to laugh. Life is short so make the most of it and enjoy every single day you have.

Team Pure Beauty

Be hangover free this festive season

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bottle, drink, festive, glass, hangover, hydrate, hydration, Natural Hydration Council, water

Halloween is over, the fireworks have fizzled out and with the adverts now playing during every commercial break, Christmas is well and truly on the way.

As well as presents and cards, stockings and turkeys, it’s also a time for parties to start and those dreaded hangovers to kick in.

What is a hangover?
Although the symptoms of hangovers such as headaches, nausea and tiredness are well known, the causes are not. In the past, dehydration was thought to be the main cause of alcohol hangover symptoms. Scientists now also believe that alcohol withdrawal and chemicals formed in the body when our liver breaks down alcohol contribute to those unpleasant symptoms.

Can a hangover be prevented?
As the saying goes prevention is better than the cure so here are a few simple changes you could make to try and reduce the hangover pain. Of course, it is important to bear in mind that there is no better way to avoid a hangover than not drinking alcohol…!

Professor Tom Sanders, Professor emeritus of Nutrition and Dietetics, King’s College London and advisor to the Natural Hydration Council:

“Excess alcohol intake causes dehydration, which can result in headaches the next day. Headaches are also caused by acute increases of blood pressure following the withdrawal of alcohol. Drinking plenty of water is the best remedy and it is sensible to have a glass of water by your bed when you go to sleep after drinking. Paracetamol can also help if you wake up with a headache.

“A glass of orange juice in the morning can pick up blood sugar levels, which are often low after excess alcohol. Despite what people think, you should avoid eating greasy foods such as fry ups in the morning as these can make you feel worse. Instead, opt for carbohydrate rich foods such as breakfast cereals or toast and marmalade and continue to drink water throughout the day.

“The darker the alcohol, the more likely it is to cause a hangover. This is because of the phenolic antioxidant compounds found in darker alcoholic liquids, which are thought to cause dilation of blood vessels in the brain. Swapping red wine for white and brandy for vodka can help reduce hangover symptoms.”

Top hydration tips from the Natural Hydration Council for the festive season:

• Don’t drink alcohol when you feel thirsty! Quench your thirst with a refreshing glass of water.
• If you’re hosting a party provide plenty of healthy and interesting soft drink options for guests including bottles of sparkling mineral or spring water and jugs of still water.
• To encourage your guests to drink water include ice cubes with festive berries frozen inside.
• Avoid drinking from large wine glasses, as this may lead you to underestimate how much alcohol you have consumed.
• Our hydration status is constantly fluctuating. Drinking alcohol can lead to dehydration, so you should try to alternate any alcoholic drinks with a glass of water.
• Following a night of indulgence, keep a bottle or glass of water by your bedside to drink whenever you feel thirsty.

So, we aren’t saying don’t have fun when you party this Christmas, but if do drink try to stay safe and healthy and avoid that dreaded hangover the next day.