Quit smoking for good in 2020

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addictive nature, alcohol, ashtrays, bad, balanced diet, bathroom mirror, better, bin, cancer, cash, cigarettes, cigarettes are expensive, Cold turkey, dance class, dirt, eating well, family and friends, fitness levels, fitter, fridge door, fruit and veggies, get fit, GP, gross, gum, habits, health, healthier, healthier you, jar, join a gym, kitchen cupboards, lighters, lighting up, lozenges, maintaining your weight, make a list, matches, money box, netball team, nicotine, people, pocket, professionals, put on weight, quit, quitting, reminded, right headspace, save, save money, smell, smoke, smoked, smoking, stubs, substitute, sugary snacks, support, takeaways, talk, teeth, temptation, thirty a day, toxicity, treat yourself, vices, wash your bedding, waste of money, water, willpower, written down

Like so many vices, people know that smoking is bad for them, but giving up can be hard.

There is no getting away from the addictive nature of cigarettes, but stopping is the best you can do for your health, and it won’t hurt your pocket either.

Let’s have a look at how you can get away from the smoke, nicotine, smell and toxicity of one of the worst habits in the world.

Make a list
Having all the reasons you are quitting, written down in black and white can be a great way to kick things off. Whether it is to smarten up your teeth, keep cancer at bay, save money, smell better or just be healthier, write down your reasons. Next, stick them on the fridge door, kitchen cupboards, bathroom mirror and add to your phone so you are reminded all the time – and when you are feeling like cracking and lighting up, those words will help see you through.

Have a clear out
The dirt and smell of smoking is pretty gross, so having a clean-up can help get you in the right headspace to quit for good. Get rid of all the ashtrays, put lighters and matches in the bin, chuck out any old packs, find stubs in the garden and bin them. Then, open the windows in the house, and your car, and have a really good clear up. Wash your bedding, put throws and cushions through the machine, and a valet is good if you smoked when you drove.

Talk about it
Family and friends will be used to seeing you smoke, so let them know you are stopping. Some might join you, but at least if they know you are quitting then they shouldn’t offer you one when they see you, you don’t need temptation to be placed in your path.

Think about what you eat
A lot of people find that they put on weight when they quit smoking, but it doesn’t have to be that way. Eating a balanced diet and not adding in lots of sugary snacks and takeaways is the key to maintaining your weight. Drink plenty of water, stock up on fruit and veggies, and don’t up your alcohol intake as a substitute for smoking.

Get fit
Just as eating well, you might also want to consider doing some more exercise, or taking it up for the first time again. Maybe join a gym, go to a new dance class with a friend or join a local netball team who are looking for new players. Yes, you might find that smoking has had an impact on your fitness levels, but keep at it and in time you’ll get fitter, be able to keep up with others, but more importantly you will become a better, healthier you.

Keep your cash
There is no escaping the fact that cigarettes are expensive and a total waste of money. Whether you were on three a day or thirty a day, get a jar or money box and put the money you were spending on your habit, in it. At the end of the year, treat yourself to something you really want – we think you will be surprised at just how much you’ll save.

Ask the professionals
Before you do give up, maybe speak to your GP or pharmacist and make sure you have the support you need. Yes, you can go cold turkey and place your bets on willpower, but with gum, lozenges and groups out there to help you quit, you don’t have to go it alone.

Good luck and well done for taking the first step towards being a better you.

Team Pure Beauty

Fake it at Pure Beauty

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50ml, Abyssinian and elderberry seed oils, ageing, amino acids, Anti-oxidant green tea, argan shell, away, broad-spectrum sunscreen, burning, cancer, citrus scent, clog, complexion, condition, dead skin cells, Decleor 1000 Grains Body Exfoliator, Decleor Gradual Glow Hydrating Body Milk, Dermalogica Sheer Tint, Dermalogica Sheer Tint with SPF20, DHA, dryness, Elemis Total Glow Bronzing Body Lotion, fake it, fantastic products, glow, gradual tan body lotion, grains, grapefruit essential oil, healthy, home, hydrating hyaluronic acid, impurities, light moisturiser, Light-diffusing Iron Oxides, lightly-tinted hydrating make up, long lasting hydration, looking healthy, luscious, luxurious, Magnolia Essential Oil, massaged, mino acids, narcissus bulb, natural tan, nourish, orange peel, patches, pearl sugar, prolong, protect, protects, Pure Beauty, rays, relaxed, risk, samples, showering, skin tone, smoother, softer, SPF20, streaks, sun, sun exposure, sun-kissed look, super smooth limbs, tan, tanning products, UV rays, vanilla extract, Vegetan™, Walnut Seed extract, wheat

For many of us, having a tan makes us feel good as well as looking healthy and relaxed. However, getting that bronzed body often means exposing our skin to the sun, and this isn’t great as the rays can lead to burning, ageing, dryness and even put us at risk of cancer.

We recommend using a broad-spectrum sunscreen every day, but if you would rather not run the risks of getting a full-on natural tan, at Pure Beauty we sell some fantastic products that will give you a glow but without putting in the sun hours.

Before you use any tanning products, make sure your body is free from dead skin cells as this can make products clog and cause streaks and patches, which you do not want. You can get super smooth limbs with the Decleor 1000 Grains Body Exfoliator and the 50ml option means you can do this at home, or away. Three sizes of grains have been mixed to create a product that helps take away not only dead cells but other impurities, so skin is left feeling like velvet. Grapefruit essential oil gives it a citrus scent, while pearl sugar, Argan shell and orange peel come together in a gel that gives you noticeably softer, smoother and more refined skin that is ready for tanning products to be absorbed.

The Elemis Total Glow Bronzing Body Lotion is a luxurious, gradual tan body lotion that moisturises your skin. It contains Vegetan™ which is naturally derived from wheat and this builds colour on the upper layers of your skin, so you have a healthy, sun-kissed look without sun exposure. Anti-oxidant green tea evens skin tone, and red algae extract aids long-lasting hydration, making this a popular product with our clients. Abyssinian and elderberry seed oils have also been added into the mix to condition the skin, which is left soft, smooth and glowing.

When you go out in the sun your skin gets dry but using the Decleor Gradual Glow Hydrating Body Milk can prevent this from happening. This a light moisturiser that not only gives your body a gradual tan but helps nourish it at the same time. Magnolia essential oil has been added to protect and soothe skin, narcissus bulb helps prolong your tan, and vanilla extract protects against external irritants. It’s the DHA, a sugar obtained by biotechnology, in this product that reacts naturally with amino acids in the skin that leaves you with a gentle top-to-toe golden glow. This is best applied after showering and exfoliating, and when you have massaged into your skin, let the formula soak in before dressing.

If you want to add a little daytime colour to your complexion, we would suggest going for the Dermalogica Sheer Tint with SPF20. This lightly-tinted hydrating make up product comes in light, medium and dark options and each one offers a healthy wash of colour, but the sun doesn’t need to get involved. The colour comes from light-diffusing iron oxides, and broad-spectrum sunscreens have been added to protect against UV rays. Nurturing amino acids, hydrating hyaluronic acid and luscious walnut seed extract are present and help improve the appearance of fine lines and add hydration.

If you have any questions, would like to try some samples or simply need more details to make the right choice for you, get in touch today and we would love to help.

Team Pure Beauty

Give something back this Christmas

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addiction problems, appreciate, bed, big difference, books, cancer, carol singing, cause, charity shop, Christmas, Christmas cards, Christmas food, clean clothes, CLIC Sargent, CLIC Sargent nurse, clothes, coopers, Crisis at Christmas, delicious Christmas dinner, donating, expert advice, festive treats, Food banks, give back, health checks, homeless, hot shower, hot soup, https://www.salvationarmy.org.uk, hungry, in need, income, less, mental health, money, nutritious, pans, Salvation Army, shoes, streets., supermarket, thick coat, treatment, volunteer

Trainers for Steve, a new phone for Rosie and that much wanted laptop for Alice, Christmas is full of presents but how about giving something back to those less fortunate than you?

We have had a look at some of the good causes you can contribute to this Christmas, as well as looking at a few ideas that come from the heart, direct to someone who will really appreciate it.

Crisis at Christmas
For less than £30, you can ensure someone in need gets a place at the Crisis Christmas table this year. That cost will include a nutritious, delicious Christmas dinner, the offer of a hot shower and clean clothes to change into. There will also be a bed for the night if needed, health checks if people want them as well as expert advice on mental health and addiction problems.

Food banks
As you order your Christmas food, or stock up in the supermarket, why not add a few extras for those who can’t afford the cost of living. There are food banks up and down the country and by donating everyday items, as well as some festive treats, you could be making a big difference to someone in need.

Clic Sargent
Did you know that £10 could buy two story books that will help children understand cancer and treatment. £30 pays for a family to stay at a Homes from Home for one night, so they can be close to hospital and £50 (the cost of a computer game) could pay for a CLIC Sargent nurse to talk to a child about their cancer diagnosis and what treatment will be like. This could make a huge difference to an entire family for less than the cost of one meal out for you.

Charity shop drop
Don’t throw away the books, clothes and shoes you no longer need, give them to a local charity shop. You might not want that thick coat or set of pans, but a charity shop gives someone else the chance to buy something they can’t afford new, and the charity gets to generate an income for their cause too. Oh, and while you are there, you could buy your Christmas cards or odd present and give even more back.

Eating on the streets
No one knows the story behind people who are homeless, but we do know that everyone gets hungry. Yes, you can give someone money, but why not buy them a sandwich, some hot soup, plus a bottle of water, and you will know that they will have eaten something that day.

The Salvation Army
Did you know that the Salvation Army helps people across the UK and there are many ways you can be a part of their work? From cake sales with family and friends to trekking in Cambodia, as well as making donations rather than sending cards, there are endless ways you can help them to make life easier for someone in need.

Volunteer you time
Time is something we can all give, and volunteers at soup kitchens over Christmas are always needed. Many organisations offer a hot meal inside in the warm to people sleeping rough, so why not do some research and see what is happening in your area and how you could get involved.

Go carol singing
Maybe this is a little old-fashioned, but why not get together some friends, put on your hats and gloves and go out and sing carols to raise coppers (and more) for a cause that is close to your heart and your home.

Have a wonderful Christmas, but if you can, do something to make someone else’s just that little bit easier too.

Team Pure Beauty

Buy a charity Christmas card, change a life

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Alzheimer’s, cancer, celebrity, charity, Charlie Waller Memorial Trust., children, CLIC Sargent, deaf, dementia, depression, dream come true, gorgeous, help, holiday, life, London, London themed cards, Make a Wish, message, movie, National Deaf Children’s Society, organisation, polar bears, postbox, research, robin, robins, Santa, sheep in the snow, snowmen, society, suicide, support, understanding, young people

Whilst a text or email is enough for many, sending a Christmas card is still the traditional way to send love to those you care for.

Whilst you can go into any supermarket or chain store and pick up a great offer on a box of twenty cards, why not show your nearest and dearest you care as well as giving back to a charity close to your heart?

There are plenty of worthy organisations out there, so we have done some research and come up with what we think are the the pick of the bunch.

CLIC Sargent is the UK’s leading cancer charity for children, young people and their families. They provide support to help people cope with cancer and get the most out of life. From diagnosis onwards, this great charity helps deal with the impact of cancer and its treatment, life after treatment and, in some cases, bereavement. From sheep in the snow to contemporary candles, they have a gorgeous selection of cards to choose from.

‘Hounds for Heroes’ is a brilliant organisation that not many people know about. The team provide specially trained assistance dogs to disabled and injured personnel from the UK Armed Forces and the Emergency Services. They are based in Hampshire, where the puppies are put through their training before they go onto offer the companionship and love that can be missing when someone becomes disabled.

The National Deaf Children’s Society is dedicated to creating a world without barriers for deaf children and young people. This charity believes every deaf child should be valued and included in society and have the same opportunities as everyone else. Their cute cards feature Santa and polar bears, robins and snowmen and as you pop your cards in the postbox you know the profits are going to a great, life changing cause.

You cannot help but notice more and more media coverage about Alzheimer’s and you might even know someone who is suffering from it. The Alzheimer’s Society is a key organisation that campaigns for better quality of life for those with dementia and greater understanding of the condition. They are involved with research as well as support and are really getting the message out there so people know where they can get help.

A less well known, but still very worthy cause, is the Charlie Waller Memorial Trust. The Trust raises awareness of the symptoms of depression and believes early identification and improved treatment can help reduce suicide numbers and ensure sufferers receive the care they needed and deserve. We love their London themed cards and found their website, pretty impactful.

Last but no means least, is Make a Wish. We have a soft spot of this charity, which makes magical wishes come true for children and young people with life-threatening illnesses. From walking with dinosaurs, going on a brilliant holiday, meeting a celebrity or making a movie, this is where lives are changed and memories are made. Their robin on a pot card is as traditional as it gets, but it is Santa dressing the Christmas tree has stolen our hearts.

Remember, if can change in a moment so support a charity and change a life this Christmas.

Team Pure-Beauty

 

How To Deal With Sunburn

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after sun, burn, cancer, damage, holiday, inflammation, skin, SPF, summer, sun, sun burn, sun damage

Okay, so we’re aware that there’s scarcely been any sunburn-worthy weather here in the UK, despite it being well into June, but nevertheless it’s always good to know how to deal with sunburn if and when it happens. Avoiding sunburn altogether with a high-SPF is obviously the best thing to do, as just 5 cases of sunburn in a lifetime increases the risk of skin cancer by up to 80%, but if it does occur, we’ve got some tips on how to soothe and repair your skin.

Get out of the sun

It may seem like a no-brainer that getting out of the sun when you have sunburn is the first thing to do, but it’s amazing how many people will continue on their slavish quest for a tan by remaining in the sun, even when they’re burnt. In fact, remaining in the sun is not going to improve your chances of getting a tan and will just continue to do damage, both on a surface and a cellular level and your skin can only start to repair itself when you get into the shade.

Take an anti-inflammatory

Providing you aren’t asthmatic or allergic to ibuprofen, taking an anti-inflammatory can really help to reduce the discomfort of sunburn, and reducing the inflammation with obviously also help your skin to transition to the healing period.

Drink plenty of water

When your skin is burnt, it immediately starts to draw moisture to the site of the burn to try to cool and soothe the skin, so that the healing process can begin. This means that your body will need additional moisture to keep up with the demand, so staying hydrated with plenty of water is a must. It’s also wise to try to avoid alcohol at this time as it will dehydrate you and stunt the healing process greatly.

Moisturise

Using a dedicated after sun product, such as Decleor High Repair After Sun Balm for the Face and Decleor Soothing After Sun Milk for the Body will help greatly with the healing process as they contain several ingredients which will help to replenish the skins natural protection. Both products will also help your skin to develop a deep, even and lasting tan once your sunburn has healed.

Refrigerate Your Products!

This may seem like an odd suggestion but keeping your after sun and moisturiser in the fridge will not only feel great but it will help the healing in the long run. Part of healing a burn is helping the skin to return to its normal temperature as burns can continue to be hot for sometime after the initial exposure, so applying a cold balm to the skin will be hugely beneficial.