Five Skincare Mistakes You Might Be Making (and How to Fix Them)

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acne, ageing process, bacteria, breakouts, clogged pores, collagen breakdown, dead skin cells, Decleor Bi-phase Caring Cleanser, Dermalogica Hydro Masque Exfoliant, dirt accumulation, dryness, elastin breakdown, exfoliation, harsh products, healthy complexion, inflammation, irritation, makeup removal, makeup remover, makeup residue, neck and décolletage neglect, neglecting steps, oil buildup, oil overproduction, premature ageing, progress, radiant skin, redness, renewal process, sensitive eye area, skin barrier, skin breathing, skin cancer, skincare mistakes, sleeping with makeup, sunburn, sunscreen, unclog pores, UV rays, wrong products

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Achieving healthy and radiant skin is a goal that many of us strive for, but sometimes we unknowingly fall into common skincare mistakes that hinder our progress. Whether it’s using the wrong products or neglecting essential steps in our routines, these missteps can prevent us from attaining the skin we desire. Today, we’re looking at five common skincare mistakes you might be making and provide effective solutions to help you rectify them. So, let’s dive in and discover how to overcome these skincare blunders for a happier, healthier you!

Sleeping with Makeup On

Sleeping in makeup is highly discouraged due to the numerous negative effects it can have on your skin. When you leave makeup on overnight, it clogs your pores and prevents the skin from breathing and renewing itself naturally. This leads to the accumulation of dirt, oil, and bacteria, which can trigger breakouts and acne. Additionally, makeup can cause inflammation and irritation, especially around the sensitive eye area. Moreover, makeup residue left on the skin can accelerate the ageing process, as it contributes to the breakdown of collagen and elastin, which are responsible for maintaining the skin’s elasticity and firmness. We recommend Decleor Bi-phase Caring Cleanser and Makeup Remover for effective make-up removal.

Over-Exfoliating

Exfoliation helps remove dead skin cells and unclog pores, promoting a healthy and radiant complexion. However, excessive or aggressive exfoliation can lead to a range of issues. The skin’s natural barrier can be disrupted, causing dryness, redness, and irritation. Over time, this can weaken the skin’s ability to protect itself, making it more susceptible to environmental damage and sensitivity. Excessive exfoliation can  also trigger an overproduction of oil, leading to breakouts and acne flare-ups. It’s crucial to strike a balance and exfoliate appropriately for your skin type and condition, and we recommend Dermalogica Hydro Masque Exfoliant, which offers gentle but effective exfoliation. 

Not Wearing Sunscreen 

Sunscreen acts as a protective barrier against harmful ultraviolet rays emitted by the sun. Prolonged exposure to these rays without adequate protection can lead to various skin problems, including sunburn, premature ageing, and an increased risk of developing skin cancer. Additionally, repeated sunburns can weaken the skin’s elasticity, leading to wrinkles, fine lines, and sunspots. Therefore, neglecting to wear sunscreen not only compromises the health and appearance of your skin but also jeopardises your long-term well-being. 

Using Harsh Products

Using harsh skincare products can have detrimental effects on the health and appearance of our skin. These products, often laden with aggressive chemicals and irritants, may provide temporary results but can lead to long-term damage. Harsh skincare products strip the skin of its natural oils, disrupting its delicate balance and causing dryness, redness, and irritation. Prolonged use of such products can weaken the skin’s protective barrier, leaving it vulnerable to environmental pollutants and increasing the risk of infections. Furthermore, harsh ingredients can trigger allergic reactions and worsen existing skin conditions, such as eczema or acne. It is important to prioritise gentle and nourishing skincare formulations that promote skin health without compromising its natural resilience and balance.

Neglecting the Neck and Décolletage

While you may focus primarily on your face, neglecting the neck and décolletage area can lead to an uneven appearance. The skin on your neck and décolletage is thinner and more delicate compared to the skin on your face. This makes it more susceptible to signs of ageing, such as fine lines, wrinkles, and sagging. Neglecting these areas can accelerate the ageing process, making them appear older than the skin on your face. Extend your skincare routine to include these areas by cleansing, moisturising, and applying sunscreen to them regularly. This will help maintain a more youthful and cohesive look.

Think All Teen Skin is Oily? Think Again!

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acne, balance, breakouts, Dermalogia, Dermalogica Hydrating Lotion, Dermalogica Skin Hydrating Masque, dry skin, Elemis, Elemis Gentle Foaming Facial Wash, facial, foaming, hormones, hydrate, hydrating, lotion, mask, masque, moisturise, moisturising, nourish, nourishing, Pracaxi oil, REN Clean Skincare, REN Clean Skincare Clearcalm 3 Replenishing Gel Cream, REN Clean Skincare Evercalm Gentle Cleansing Milk, scars, spots, teen, teen skin, teenage, teenage skin, teenager, wash

Photo by Jason Deines

If you mention teen skin issues to almost anyone, they’re usually going to assume that you’re referring to oily skin and pimples. However, there are plenty of teenagers out there who struggle with dry skin, especially when the weather turns cold and they’re out in the elements between school and their social lives. Today, we’re sharing with you five products which could help to nourish and rebalance your teen’s dry skin:

Dermalogica Skin Hydrating Masque

Masques are a great way to treat teen skin and this one from Dermalogica contains calming botanical extracts of bitter orange, hops, cucumber and arnica reduce inflammation, while antioxidant vitamins A, C and E and pro-vitamin B5 help to nourish and replenish the skin. It’s suitable for use on all skin conditions, which means you won’t have to worry about it exacerbating eczema or acne, to which many teens are prone. 

REN Clean Skincare Evercalm Gentle Cleansing Milk

Keeping the skin clean is vital when you’re a teen, but if you have dry skin you may find that many of the teen-specific cleansers are simply too harsh on your already-irritated skin. REN Clean Skincare Evercalm Gentle Cleansing Milk is a gentle cleansing milk with a multi-action formula that fights environmental aggressors, increases skin resilience and minimises the signs of irritation and sensitivity. It’s perfect for teens who want to stay clean without causing more dryness. 

Dermalogica Hydrating Lotion

It goes without saying that dry skin needs moisture, but many heavy moisturisers are aimed at older people who are hoping to combat the signs of ageing – not something that’s usually at the forefront of teenage minds! Dermalogica Hydrating Lotion is a lightweight lotion that helps soothe discomfort and hydrate areas that feel dry and can also help to relieve the dryness often associated with some acne treatments.

Elemis Gentle Foaming Facial Wash

As we touched upon above, keeping teen skin clean without stripping away the natural oils can be tricky. Elemis Gentle Foaming Facial Wash is a gentle wash that combines extracts such as fig, and apple amino acid, which helps produce the foamy texture and protects the skin’s moisture barrier. It also contains the ultra-exotic Pracaxi oil, found in the depths of the Amazon rainforest, which works to soften skin, but also helps maintain its delicate balance, respecting the skin’s natural oil levels.

REN Clean Skincare Clearcalm 3 Replenishing Gel Cream

While it’s true that not all teen skin is oily, it can still be prone to breakouts, thanks to the riptide of surging hormones coursing through them on a daily basis. REN Clean Skincare Clearcalm 3 Replenishing Gel Cream is a soothing gel-cream formulated to leave blemish and breakout-prone skin comfortable and calm while helping to combat the appearance of blemishes. It nourishes the skin, reduces breakouts and will even help to fade scars from old spots. 

Treat Yourself for Under £10

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100% natural, £10, breakouts, budget, carbon footprint, circulation, cleanse, comb, cotton, cotton pads, damage, dead skin, deodoriser, detangling, disposable, eco-friendly, exfoliate, firm, gentle, good quality, healthy, heated tools, hemp, hydrate, impurities, irritation, keratin, luxurious, make up pads, massage batter, moisture barrier, moisturising, money, mud mask, Niacinamide, non-recyclable waste, nutrients, parents, pedicure, professional quality, reusable, sea salt soak, sheet mask, skinq, soothe, St Ives, sugar scrub, summer holidays, Sustainable, texture, toxins, treats, vegan friendly, vegetable soap, watermelon, wet hair, white tooth

Photo by cottonbro

This time of year can be expensive for parents, when you’ve got kids to entertain for six week during the summer. That means that finding time for yourself, and more importantly, money for treats, isn’t always easy. Here at Pure Beauty, we know that we all sometimes need a pick-me-up, even when the budget isn’t huge. So, we’ve put together a list of five treats which cost less than a tenner, allowing you to treat yourself without feeling guilty!

Maskology Niacinamide Professional Sheet Mask – £5.95

Using a sheet mask can feel like a luxurious treat, even if it doesn’t cost a lot. This sheet mask from Maskology is infused with niacinamide for a professional-quality treatment that balances the skin, improves texture and prevents breakouts. It will also help the skin to build up keratin, ensuring it stays healthy and firm. It helps to rebuild the skin’s moisture barrier which encourages the cells to function at a higher capacity, therefore making it easier to circulate nutrients and flush out toxins.

The Sea Shed Coastal Path Soap – £5.50

We’ve all washed our hands more in the last couple of years than ever before, and as a result have realised the value of using a good quality soap. This moisturising, triple milled vegetable soap from The Sea Shed is enriched with shea butter and is made in St. Ives using a vegan friendly, sustainable formula. It makes your skin feel great, rather than drying it out like other soaps. 

GHD Detangling Comb – £8.95

Taking care of wet hair requires specific tools as hair is more breakable when it’s wet. GHD Detangling Comb is a gentle way to detangle damp hair. The wide-toothed design allows for delicate detangling on damp hair, which is fragile and more prone to damage. The professional-quality comb is heat-proof and can be used to style your hair in conjunction with other GHD heated tools. 

UpCircle Hemp and Cotton Makeup Pads – £8.99

Here at Pure Beauty, we’re huge advocates for anything which is sustainable and allows us to reduce our carbon footprint, as well as non recyclable waste, which is why we love these hemp and cotton make up pads from UpCircle. Made from 100% natural materials these triple layer pads are perfect for gently removing makeup without irritation. These reusable pads are the eco-friendly alternative to disposable cotton pads or wipes.

Voesh 4 Step Deluxe Pedi in a Box Watermelon Burst – £9.99

One of our favourite ways to pamper ourselves is with a pedicure and this kit from Voesh gives you everything you need. Enriched with key ingredients to give your feet the nutrition it needs, each product is individually packed with the right amount for a single pedicure. Each kit contains a Sea Salt Soak to detox and deodorise the feet, Sugar Scrub to gently exfoliate dead skin, a Mud Masque to deep cleanse impurities an

Allantoin – The Best Soothing Ingredient that Nature Has to Offer?

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acne, acne scars, alcohol, algae extracts, Allantoin, anti-irritant, Arnica, blue Lotus extracts, botanical, botanical extracts, breakouts, chamomile, cleansers, combination skin, Comfrey, cuts, debris, decongest, dirt, dryness, dullness, Europe, exfoliate, face masks, Glycerin, glycolic acid, hands, herb, hydrate, hydrolipid, ingredient, ingrown hairs, irritation, itching, Lactic Acid, lightweight, lotions, Magnolia Essential Oil, moisture, moisture balance, nails, natural sources, normal skin, nourish, oil, oily skin, organic, pore minimising, pores, purify, Salicylic Acid, salicylic acid serum, scrapes, sensitive skin, serums, Shea butter, skin problems, skincare, smooth skin, soothe, sugar beat, tobacco seed, urea, uric acid, Vitamin E, water, wheat sprouts, white meadowfoam oil

Photo by Ron Lach

As you’ll know if you’re a regular visitor to our site, we like to keep our fingers on the pulse when it comes to skincare ingredients and trends. One such ingredient which has been popping up a lot lately is allantoin. It’s something which has been around for some time, but it’s going through something of a renaissance, with many major skincare companies including in their products. Here’s the lowdown on allantoin:

What is allantoin?

As we mentioned above, allantoin is used in many skin care products, including cleansers, lotions, serums, and face masks. Due to its anti-irritant properties, companies tend to add it to products that hydrate and soothe the skin. This ingredient is perfect for sensitive skin and is usually derived from natural sources.

Where is it found? 

In its natural form, allantoin is found in several plants, such as sugar beet, chamomile, tobacco seed, and wheat sprouts. A popular source of allantoin is the extract of comfrey, a species of herb native to Europe. It can also be prepared synthetically for cosmetic use, either by oxidation of uric acid, reaction of dichloroacetic acid and urea, or condensation reaction between glyoxylic acid and urea. (Don’t worry, that’s the last time today that we’ll get so scientific!)

What is it good for?

Allantoin might be your ticket to super smooth skin. It’s one of those amazing ingredients that offers a major bang for your buck and is great if you’re dealing with dryness, dullness, irritation, acne scars and even cuts and scrapes. Allantoin is also known for its ability to add more water to your skin. It can help your skin hang on to moisture longer, and helps fight annoying skin issues like dryness, itching, and irritation, which can ultimately lead to more skin problems, like acne or oily skin. 

Which products contain allantoin?

Decleor White Magnolia Hand and Nail Cream

This light cream is ideal for use throughout the day to leave skin beautifully scented and provide essential care for hands and nails. Key active ingredients include white meadowfoam oil to regenerate the hydrolipid film, shea butter and allantoin to nourish and soothe, plus magnolia essential oil to help protect and reinforce the skin.

Lycon Ingrown X-It Solution

With allantoin, salicylic acid, lactic acid and arnica, Lycon Ingrown X-It Solution is a break through spray formula for the face and body. It mildly exfoliates, decongests and helps minimise the appearance and discomfort of ingrown hairs. 

Medik8 Blemish Control Pads

Pre-soaked in a clarifying maximum strength salicylic acid serum, Medik8 Blemish Control Pads dissolve oil and dirt from deep within the pore to purify problem complexions. Crafted without alcohol and infused with allantoin and glycerin, they protect the skin’s natural moisture balance to ward off dryness, while caring for the most sensitive of skin types.

Murad Clarifying Body Spray

Murad Clarifying Body Spray is a quick-drying formula that helps prevent body breakouts. Salicylic acid helps clear up blemishes as glycolic acid helps clear away pore-clogging debris. Allantoin and blue lotus extract help soothe irritation for healthier-looking skin.

SkinCeuticals Daily Moisture

SkinCeuticals Daily Moisture is a lightweight, pore minimising moisturiser, designed to hydrate and nourish normal, combination and oily skin. It contains an exclusive combination of vitamin E, three nutrient-rich algae extracts, and a blend of seven botanical extracts including allantoin. 

Five Masks to Add to Your Summer Skin and Hair Care Routine

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absorbed, air conditioning, and skincare, beta glucan, blemishes, brassy, breakouts, brittle, Centella Asiatica Extract, chest, chlorine, comforting, complexion, concentrated, cooling, cosmetic procedures, Dalton, dehydration, dry hair, dull, exercise, face, face masks, frangipani, frizzy, hair, hair care, hair damage, heat wave, holiday, hot weather, intensive, irritable scalp, lip area, macadamia, mask, masks, moisture barrier, Moringa, neck, non-sticky, oily skin, oversensitivity, pink clay, potent, protected, radiant, redness, reparative, Rose Essential Oil, routine, salt water, scalp, sensitive skin, sesame, softness, strength, stress, summer, sun, sun exposure, sweet almond plant, temporary redness, treatment, white mushroom extract, wind, wind burn, yeast

Photo by Anna Shvets

It’s easy to associate the summer with oily skin, blemishes, breakouts, dull and dry hair and an irritable scalp. However, waiting for the summer to end for that radiant face and shining hair isn’t a viable solution, so a quick fix to beat the heat is needed. The best solution is to switch up your skin and hair care routine by adding effective cooling hair and face masks to your stock of beauty products and we’ve got some awesome ones to help you to get through the heatwave:

Olaplex No.8 Bond Intense Moisture Mask

With summer fun unfortunately comes summer hair damage and after spending time in the wind, sun, chlorine, salt water and air conditioning your hair may be dull, brassy, frizzy, dry or brittle. Olaplex No.8 Bond Intense Moisture Mask is an at-home reparative treatment mask that provides intense moisture to treat damaged hair. It’s an intensive, concentrated treatment that only needs ten minutes to transform your locks. 

REN Clean Skincare Evercalm Ultra Comforting Rescue Mask

Hot weather can play havoc with sensitive skin, increasing redness, causing dehydration and exacerbating the key signs of sensitive skin. REN Clean Skincare Evercalm Ultra Comforting Rescue Mask is specially developed to combat over-sensitivity and will strengthen the protective moisture barrier to aid recovery and increase skin’s ability to cope with stress, improving skin well-being. It contains white mushroom extract, which helps to protect the skin against discomfort and beta-glucan from yeast, which moisturises and reduces signs of sensitivity.    

SkinCeuticals Phyto Corrective Masque 

This mask from SkinCeuticals is designed to soothe skin after sun exposure, exercise, windburn and even cosmetic procedures. It delivers intense cooling and calming comfort to skin sensitivity and is suitable for irritated, sensitive skin prone to temporary redness. It can be used on the face, chest and neck (avoiding the eye and lip areas) and is ideal for taking on holiday…or using during an unseasonably hot summer! 

Decleor Organic Harmonie Calm Soothing Comfort 2 in1 Cream and Mask

This multi-functional product can be used as both a soothing cream and a potent mask, depending on how you wish to use it. Rose essential oil, sweet almond plant oils and centella asiatica extract soothe the complexion, even the skin tone and stabilise your skin all day long. With its fresh and non-sticky texture, this cream and mask is rapidly absorbed so your skin is protected and soothed without any discomfort. 

Elemis Exotic Frangipani Monoi Hair and Scalp Mask

Elemis Exotic Frangipani Monoi Hair and Scalp Mask is a luxurious weekly, intensive hair and scalp mask treatment formulated with frangipani monoi and pink clay to help restore softness and strength to dry, damaged hair. The pink clay provides hair with a deep clean, while a moisturising blend of sesame, moringa, macadamia and frangipani oils nourish the hair, making it the perfect partner during the long, hot summer.