Why You Should Be Paying Attention to Amino Acids

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Photo by David Clode on Unsplash

Amino acids are the building blocks of the cells that make up your body – however, did you know they can also be good for your skin? Amino acids, which contain moisturising, anti-aging, and exfoliating characteristics, can aid with skin elasticity issues that arise as we age. Amino acids come in 20 different varieties, and they are useful for people of all ages and skin types. A more moisturised, youthful, and generally healthy appearance of the skin is achieved by using amino acids in skin care products that also encourage cellular repair and collagen formation. Here are five of our favourite products which harness the power of amino acids:

CACI – Amino-Lift Peptide Complex

This effective anti-ageing skin care cream contains powerful peptides, essential oils and amino acids that target expression lines and help to firm sagging skin. It can be used twice a day after cleansing to give visible results and as well as being packed with amino acids also contains basil oil, jojoba oil, grapefruit peel oil and a number of other other botanical ingredients which nourish and revive your skin. 

L’Oreal Professionnel Serie Expert Vitamino Colour 10-In-1 Multi-Benefit Leave-In Treatment Milk

Amino acids don’t just benefit your face – your hair can also benefit from using products which are infused with amino acids. This leave-in treatment milk from L’Oreal is a multi-benefit spray designed for coloured hair with 10 key benefits. It promises to help your hair to achieve shine, softness, smoothness of hair fibre and hydration, as well as offering protection against heat up to 230°c, detangling, anti-breakage, anti-split ends, anti-frizz and even facilitates blow-drying! 

Aromatherapy Associates Eye Zone Concentrate

The skin around the eyes is one of the thinnest areas of skin on your whole body, which means that it is more prone to premature ageing. This eye cream from Aromatherapy Associates combines powerful, bio-fermented actives, advanced amino acids and an effective pure essential oil blend to lift, tighten and contour the area around the eyes. It also contains rose, camomile and frankincense essential oils to soothe and protect for a radiant, youthful complexion. 

Dermalogica Active Moist

This moisture-rich product from Dermalogica combines the best of nature and science, containing a whole host of ingredients which are taken from natural sources. Silk amino acids help smooth and improve skin texture while natural botanical astringents lemon, ivy, watercress and burdock help to refine the skin. It also contains soothing extracts of lavender, mallow and cucumber to help provide deep-hydration.

Elemis Dynamic Resurfacing Serum

This resurfacing serum from Elemis is so powerful that it’s advised that you avoid sunbeds and always use an SPF while using the treatment! It’s created using a powerful combination of alpha-hydroxy-acids, selastin and patented Tri-Enzyme technology, as well as selected amino acids. This serum smoothes the skins’s surface, revealing a stunning complexion and also helps to reduce the appearance of pores and wrinkles.

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. 

Our Top Five Non-Greasy Skin and Haircare Formulas

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There are many reasons for opting for skincare formulas which are non-greasy. For some people, it’s the simple fact that their skin already produces too much oil and greasy formulas are simply not compatible with their skin type. For others, it may be an issue of sensitivity to certain ingredients such as certain oils which may exacerbate breakouts of spots or acne. And for some people, it is simply a sensory issue which means that formulas which are too heavy and greasy feel highly uncomfortable on your skin. 

All of these issues can also be worse depending on the season; wearing thicker formulas in spring and summer when it is hot can feel unpleasant at times. With this in mind, we’ve searched our stock to put together a list of five non-greasy products which are perfect for anyone who prefers lighter skin care:

Decleor Aloe Vera Sun Gel Cream SPF50

When it comes to skincare that feels heavy or greasy on the skin, suncreams are often one of the worst offenders. This Aloe Vera Sun Gel Cream from Decleor is a non-greasy gel which is enriched with aloe vera and sesame oils, to leave the skin feeling nourished and hydrated but fresh and light at the same time. The broad-spectrum SPF50 protects the skin from harmful UVA and UVB rays and it can be used on all skin types on a daily basis.

Medik8 Daily Radiance Vitamin C

If your skin is dry and lacking radiance you may find that many of the formulas designed to relieve this are thick and heavy. This Daily Radiance Vitamin C from Medik8 has a light, cashmere texture to deliver powerful antioxidant protection as well as broad-spectrum SPF 30 without any of the greasiness of other products. It’s enriched with hyaluronic acid and glycerin, which draws moisture into the skin leaving you with a brighter, more even complexion and skin which is protected from the future signs of ageing.

South Seas – Moorea Moisturiser

Dry skin doesn’t just affect your face; it can happen anywhere on your body and can be difficult to tackle. This moisturiser from South Seas is a non-greasy, lightweight formula to leave your skin feeling healthy and smooth. It is designed specifically to be used alongside a spray tan and for people who have very dry skin, and contains shea butter to deeply nourish, along with tiare flower and coconut to give you a fragrance which makes you feel like you’re always on holiday!

This Works Deep Sleep Night Oil

Finding a product which describes itself as a non-greasy oil may sound like something of an oxymoron, however this Deep Sleep Night Oil from This Works is a dry oil which is easily absorbed. It is formulated using oils of lavender, chamomile, vetiver, patchouly, and ho wood, which combine to create a delicately scented and relaxing oil which will lock moisture into your skin, soothe your muscles and calm your mind before bedtime. It’s perfect for use after a bath or shower and can be used daily to help relieve tension and stress.

Color Wow One Minute Transformation Styling Cream

Unless you have a hair type which is extremely dry or porous, some styling creams can feel slightly greasy and leave your hair looking slick and weighed down, rather than natural and weightless. This One Minute Transformation Styling Cream from Colour Wow is designed to banish frizz and refine texture without any greasiness. The formula revives shine and enhances the hair’s moisturisation, leaving dry, damaged hair smoother, more polished and looking healthier than ever.

The Benefits of Bamboo in Your Beauty Routine

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You’d be forgiven for thinking that all bamboo is good for is feeding pandas and propping up your sunflowers, but extracts from bamboo can actually be extremely beneficial to your skin. It is packed with antioxidants, is an anti-irritant and even has anti-inflammatory properties. This means that it helps to provide the skin with essential nutrients, while helping to calm down any signs of damage.

Bamboo is also an excellent source of silica, which is essential for maintaining a youthful complexion. It’s brilliant to use for all skin types as it helps to maintain the elasticity in the skin, by bolstering collagen production and preventing the ‘plumpness’ of your skin from depleting.

Here are some of our favourite bamboo-containing products:

Decleor 2 in 1 Purifying and Oxygenating Mask

This mask from Decleor uses the beautifully named ‘bamboo tears’ to cleanse and deeply mattify without dehydrating the skin. The mask can be used to both cleanse and exfoliate the skin, and contains Egyptian loofah fibres to gently eliminate dead skin cells, while spheres of white jojoba restore hydration and leave your skin feeling soft.

Elemis Daily Moisture Boost

Skin is rarely more vulnerable than it is directly after shaving, as the blades of a razor strip away the oils and protective layers of the complexion. Elemis developed this daily moisture boost especially for male skin and uses bamboo to assist in restoring elasticity, suppleness and essential nutrients stripped away during shaving. It offers a lightweight, fresh, non-oily formula which feels great on your skin and even offers defence from harsh external pollutants.

Dermalogica Antioxidant HydraMist

Another benefit of bamboo is that it stimulates the skin’s own hyaluronic acid production, giving increased hydration and elasticity while tightening and firming skin, which is why Dermalogica has used it in this hydrating mist. The mist also contains ingredients which inhibit the enzymes that contribute to the breakdown of collagen, leaving your face feeling properly hydrated and nicely plumped for a more youthful appearance.

Dermalogica Thermafoliant Body Scrub

This body scrub from Dermalogica is a little different to the other products on the list, because it uses the actual stem of the bamboo, rather than extracts. The bamboo stem helps to physically exfoliate the skin to refine skin texture and brighten tone. It also contains extracts of licorice, white tea, coffeeberry and chamomile, which infuse skin with vital antioxidants, while oils of tea tree and grapefruit peel purify and refresh.

How you can scrub up well with Pure Beauty

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arms, beauty regime, black tea, blackcurrant, breathe, calloused skin, chamomile, cleanse your skin, coffeeberry, complexion, concentrated glycolic acid, Decleor Double Radiance Scrub, Dermalogica Thermafoliant Body Scrub, dulling, ease tightness, Elemi, Elemis Energising Skin Scrub, Elemis Sea Lavender and Samphire Salt Scrub, Elemis Superfood Blackcurrant Jelly Exfoliator, essential moisture, even tone, exfoliating particles, face, facial hair, fruit extracts, gel, gently exfoliate, glow, hydrate, Indian bamboo stem, Jan Marini Bioglycolic Resurfacing Body Scrub, Lactic Acid, Licorice, limbs, lush, Marine Phytoplankton, men, micro-circulation., milky scrub, nasty, Natural essential oil, natural oils, natural scrubbing particles, natural sea salt, Nordic bilberry, Papain, polishes, prebiotic, prevent ingrown hairs, pure, purified, radiance revealing treatment, red, refreshed, removing dead cells, resurfaces, revitalising facial scrub, rich, rough, samphire, saro, scrub, sea lavender, sensitive, Shaving, silky soft and smooth, skin, skin’s natural defences, smooth, smoother, softer, Tea Tree, Vitamin E base, warming sensation, white tea

You might think that using a scrub on your skin isn’t for you, but how about if we said it could be the best thing you could introduce to your beauty regime?

Far from making your skin red and sensitive, the scrubs we sell today can help to smooth your face as well as your limbs, back, and arms. They work to even tone and bring your complexion back to life so you look, and feel fabulous.

Let’s start things off with the lush Elemis Superfood Blackcurrant Jelly Exfoliator. This revitalising facial scrub is rich in fruit extracts which gently exfoliate the skin, leaving it smoother, softer and hydrated. Nordic bilberry and black tea have been blended with blackcurrant and a prebiotic, which ease tightness, but those precious natural oils we need to so much, are left safe. To use, cleanse your skin then gently massage the exfoliator in light circular motions and as you add water the gel will transform into a milky scrub that can be washed away with warm water and a cleansing cloth.

The Decleor Double Radiance Scrub is a two-in-one mask exfoliator that is perfect for removing dead cells from your skin so it can breathe once again. Three natural scrubbing particles have been mixed to create something that is more than an exfoliator; this is a radiance revealing treatment and it really works! Natural essential oils of saro and elemi have been added to boost the skin’s natural defenses well as to activate micro-circulation. The outcome clean skin that is re-energised, detoxified and radiant.

The Dermalogica Thermafoliant Body Scrub dissolves those nasty, dulling dead skin cells, hydrates, and delivers vital antioxidants leaving skin purified and refreshed. It’s the Indian bamboo stem that takes away dead cells while papain and lactic acid dissolves them. As you wash away the suds, natural sea salt revitalises and hydrates the skin while licorice, white tea, coffeeberry, and chamomile infuse it with vital antioxidants. Add tea tree and grapefruit oils into the next and you have clean, pure, refreshed skin once again.

Men can also benefit from these products and the Elemis Energising Skin Scrub is popular with our clients. Marine phytoplankton has been added to a rich vitamin E base to create a scrub that resurfaces, polishes and brightens the skin. It also helps lift facial hair before shaving to prevent ingrown hairs and blemishes. From the very first use, the skin is left feeling smooth, refined and deeply cleansed and essential moisture is locked in for added hydration.

You don’t often think about scrubs being warming, but that’s very much at the heart of the Elemis Sea Lavender and Samphire Salt Scrub. Created from a blend of sea lavender, samphire and sea salt, the skin is left feeling silky soft and smooth and thanks to the Zeolite base, you are left with a gentle warming sensation. When you massage the scrub, it becomes a rich foam that buffs away rough areas and dead skin cells. Sea salt particles provide natural exfoliation, whilst the lavender and samphire help soothe and hydrate for a healthy, all-over glow.

We can’t go without mentioning the Jan Marini Bioglycolic Resurfacing Body Scrub. A combination of concentrated glycolic acid, exfoliating particles, and botanical extracts come together to create silky smooth skin. If you suffer from rough, calloused skin or have trouble areas on the backs of your arms and legs, this scrub can offer immediate relief with progressive improvements being seen over time.

For more details about these products, or any of our other lines, get in touch and we would love to help you get your beauty regime right.

Team Pure Beauty