Easy ways to a coconut to your beauty regime

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4-in-1 treatment mist, Aloe Vera, balance, bergamot, broad-spectrum sunscreen, Camellia, citrus, coconut, coconut fans, coconut oil, coconut water, comfort, Dermalogica Intensive Moisture Cleanser, Dermalogica Super Rich Repair, dry skin, effective, Elemis Lime and Ginger Salt Glow, Elemis Skin Nourishing Shower Cream, Elemis Superfood Kefir-Tea Mist, evening primrose oil, face, ginger, hair, healthy-looking glow, heavy weight cream, hydration, infused, jasmine, kefir ferment, kind, light, lime, luxurious exfoliator, macadamia, Milk Protein, morning and night, murumuru seed butter, natural product, natural resilience, nourished, Oat Kernel, palmarosa, pollution, refresh, rooibos tea extract, salt, samples, satin soft, Shea butter, simple, soft, soothe, super-light, supple, Sweet Almond, tired skin, tropical, UV rays

We’re massive coconut fans here at Pure Beauty because it works for you on so many levels. This simple, but effective natural product is kind to your skin, and hair, and we think you’ll be surprised at just how many products come with the benefits of coconut one way or another.

Let’s great this tropical party started with the Dermalogica Intensive Moisture Cleanser. The beauty regime staple is great at cleaning away make-up and dirt, and thanks to coconut oil and murumuru seed butter the natural resilience of skin is boosted too. Extracts of citrus, palmarosa and jasmine have been added into the mix and help soothe and refresh tired skin, so it looks awake and lifted.

It’s the coconut and jojoba oils in the Elemis Daily Defence Shield SPF30 that leave skin protected as well as feeling nourished, soft and supple. Layered liberally every morning over your regular moisturiser, this super-light, broad spectrum sunscreen is a great way to keep UV rays, light and pollution from damaging your skin.

If dry skin gets you down, you might want to think about trying the Dermalogica Super Rich Repair. While this is a heavy weight cream, it doesn’t overload the skin but instead offers hydration thanks to shea butter, coconut oil and evening primrose oil. Used morning and night, after cleansing and toning, this cream could offer the comfort and love you have been looking for.

The Elemis Skin Nourishing Shower Cream might be rich in milk protein, but this isn’t the only reason this product looks after your limbs. Nourishing camellia, macadamia and jojoba oils have been combined with extracts of oat kernel, coconut oil and wheat germ to ensure you skin is satin soft and supple when you step out of the steam.

For something special this winter, why not try out the Elemis Lime and Ginger Salt Glow? We adore this luxurious exfoliator because it is packed with lime, ginger and salt which come together to stimulate, warm and tone the skin. The magic doesn’t stop there because a unique blend of bergamot, coconut and sweet almond oils have been added into the mix, so skin is left smooth, soft and smelling sensational.

We can’t go without mentioning the Elemis Superfood Kefir-Tea Mist. This super hydrating 4-in-1 treatment mist is infused with antioxidant rich rooibos tea extract and kefir ferment which soothe and brighten complexions. Organic aloe vera, coconut water and a natural prebiotic, balance the skin so it is hydrated, and you have a healthy-looking glow – what more can you ask for?

If you would like more information, samples, or advice on how to get your best skin ever, drop us a line or give us a call and we would love to help.

Team Pure Beauty

Are the foods you think are healthy really doing the job?

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It seems that every week the experts are telling us what to eat and drink to ensure we are in good health and living our best lives. The problem is, we can get information overload which means we don’t know what to do for the best, and often end up simply eating whatever we fancy.

We’ve had a look at some of the myths out there and hope it will help you work out what is good for you and what isn’t quite up there in the healthy stakes.

Granola makes a nutritious breakfast
Many of us think that granola and cereal bars are a healthy breakfast choice but this isn’t always the case. Yes, you can add granola to fruit and yoghurt, but these cereals often have extra added sugars, so it’s a good idea to check the label before you buy a new box. Grabbing a cereal bar on the go is easy, but do you really know what you are eating and how good for you it really is? One of the best things you can have for breakfast are eggs – be that boiled, poached or scrambled and having rye toast and avocado, will make things even better.

To juice or not to juice?
Fruit juice is considered to be a healthy way to increase your vitamin levels and clock up that all important five a day quota the world over. The reality is that the antioxidant, fibre, mineral and vitamin content of whole fruits are drastically cut when they are juiced. It’s so much better for you to eat fruits rather than to drink them, instead hydrate with water and have juice and smoothies now and again as a treat.

What’s the deal with honey?
Honey might be natural but sugar is sugar and nutrition-wise, agave, honey and maple syrup are no better than the bog-standard white stuff. You can eat it and enjoy it, but don’t over do it because your teeth and waistline won’t thank you.

Is coconut oil a healthy fat?
Unless you have been hibernating, you will probably be aware that coconut oil has been hailed as a ‘healthy choice’ in the kitchen. Yes, it has good points, but coconut oil is still high in saturated fat and it’s the unsaturated varieties that will do more for you in terms of health. Olive, rapeseed and sunflower oils all help to support heart health and they provide us with energy, while strengthening our immune systems too.

Red wine boosts health
Many of us do think that red wine is good for us because of the antioxidants that help fight disease. Yes, there is an element of truth here, but it still contains sugar and can make you feel lethargic and hungover, so don’t knock it back to excess because that will undo any good you have done!

Dark chocolate vs milk chocolate
How many times have you read that eating dark chocolate is good for you??? Well, it might help lower blood pressure but it won’t help with any weight loss as it is still pretty calorific. A little bit of what you fancy is true, but munching a family bar thinking your heart will benefit, might not be quite right so stick to a couple of squares.

Only fresh foods are good for you
We aren’t sure where this comes from, but you can eat frozen and tinned fruit and vegetables and still get the same nutritious benefits you will find in the fresh alternatives, sometimes even more. This is the case because the process of canning and freezing preserves most nutrients and antioxidants, so when you eat them they are still packed with essential vitamins and minerals. One thing to watch out for is tinned fruit that comes in sugary syrup, go for natural juice every time and if you rinse before you eat, even better.

Team Pure Beauty

The simple guide to happy hair

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bacteria, brittleness, brushes, Busy lives, central heating, chop, coconut oil, cold winter months, combs, conditioner, conditioning mask, damage, damp cloth, dandruff, dark brown sugar, deep-cleansing shampoo, drink lots of water, dry naturally, drying, extreme cold, feeling lighter, germs, hair glossy, hairdresser, hairdryers, healthy, heated styling tools, heavy, homes, hydrated, ingredients, locks, longer styles, looking better, lotions and potions, massage, product build up, product residue, regular products, scalp, silicon heavy product, six to eight weeks, skin, snow, split ends, springtime ready, straighteners, super-stylish bottle, tongs, trim, warm water, week, work

Springtime is typically when we spruce up our homes and gardens, but it’s a great time to tackle our locks, too.

The wind and snow of the cold winter months, can cause drying, split ends and dandruff as well as product build up and a lack of bounce and shine.

We have put together a simple, but effective, plan to get your hair glossy, healthy and springtime ready.

Go for a chop
Before you do anything else, book in with your hairdresser and have a decent cut. Busy lives, and longer styles, can mean we leave having a cut for months, but this won’t do you any favours. A trim every six to eight weeks will not only leave your hair looking better and feeling lighter, but it strengthens it so you are less likely to have to deal with split ends and breaking due to brittleness.

Ditch the build up
Product build-up can leave hair looking lank and dull – the opposite of what we want if we are spending hard-earned cash on lotions and potions. Many people don’t know this, but silicon heavy products can, over time, cause build up on the hair shaft which can make it look and feel heavy. To bring your hair back to life, go for a deep-cleansing shampoo and conditioner, something different to your regular products, and wash two or three times a week and let it dry naturally whenever you can.

Put a mask on it
Once a week we suggest that you put a conditioning mask on your hair and let the ingredients get to work. There are some great options on the market, or you can keep things simple and massage coconut oil straight from the pot into your hair and you will feel a difference in no time at all.

Go for the scalp
Winter isn’t just hard on our hair, your scalp is constantly exposed to extreme cold outside then the warmth of central heating inside which can make skin dry and cause flaking. To combat the impact of the winter, mix two tablespoons of dark brown sugar, two tablespoons of fine oats and a tablespoon of olive oil together and massage into your scalp before washing away with warm water and shampoo.

Turn the heat off
We know you love them, but heated styling tools cause all manner of damage to your hair, so why not just turn them off for a week or two and let your hair dry naturally. Put hairdryers, straighteners and tongs away but before you do, give them a clean with a damp cloth to take away product residue as well as bacteria and germs, and this goes for your brushes and combs too.

Go H2O
We say this a lot but drink lots of water. As well as being great for your skin, it helps your hair, too. Buy yourself a super-stylish bottle and take it with you wherever you go to ensure you and your hair are totally hydrated all the time.

We hope these tips get your hair look great all summer long.

Team Pure-Beauty

Eating for Beauty

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alpha lipoic acid, anti-inflammatory, antioxidants, avocado, beauty, cocoa powder, coconut, coconut oil, collagen, Decleor Lift Wrinkle Filler, Decleor Protective Hydrating Milk SPF30 Body, Dermalogica Skin Hydrating Booster, diet, dry, dryness, eating, fish, flaxseed, food, full, fullness, hyperpigmentation, oily, omega-3, plump, polyphenols, pomegranate, sallow, skin, SPF, sun

Keeping your skin in great condition doesn’t have to be a full-time job, providing you follow a targeted skincare regime for your skin type. There are also things that you can do from within to help your skin to look its best, such as adding certain foods to your diet. Here, we take a look at what you should be eating, based on your specific skin need.

Acne

Acne responds well to increased doses of vitamin A because this is the thing which helps to regulate the life cycles of your skin cells. In acne, dead skin cells combine with sebum to form the comedogenic plugs which look unsightly. Foods such as sweet potatoes, apricots and mangoes contain all the vitamin A you need, which you can combine with using Dermalogica Clear Start Breakout Clearing Kit to keep breakouts under control.

Hyperpigmentation

Hyperpigmentation usually happens to slightly older skin and can give your skin the appearance of being aged before its time. Foods which are green, such as broccoli and kale contain high levels of alpha lipoic acid (ALA) which is a potent fat-and-water-soluble antioxidant and anti-inflammatory, keeping hyper-pigmentation at bay.

Dryness

Using a moisturiser such as Dermalogica Skin Hydrating Booster to combat dryness is a no-brainer, but sometimes dryness has an underlying dietary cause which can be tackled, too. Often, dryness can be caused by a lack of essential fatty acids and omega 3 in the diet, so adding things like nuts, oily fish, coconut oil and avocado will help your skin immensely.

Lacking plumpness

Free radicals in your system can dull your skin reduce collagen production, which will leave your skin looking sallow and lacking fullness. Adding berries to your diet is a good idea to combat this as they contain antioxidants which will ward off any nasties, while a good plumping cream such as Decleor Lift Wrinkle Filler will target any deeper lines which may have formed.

Sun exposure

We all know that too much sun isn’t good for us, but that doesn’t stop us from wanting to get out in the warmth and soak up a few of those rays while they last. Adding more polyphenols to your diet will actually increase your skin’s natural defences against harmful rays, which will help your sunscreen to do an even better job, so adding pomegranate, cocoa powder and flaxseed is good if you plan on a spot of sun-worshipping.

Healthy summer snacks

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almonds, baking tray, banana, BBQ, Cinnamon, coconut oil, coconut water, dates, drink, food processor, fridge, fruit, golf ball, honey, ice, iced water, jugs, lemon and cucumber, maple syrup, oats, organic, organic coconut oil, palms, raisins, salt, smoothie, summer, teaspoons, treats, vanilla, vegetables

For many of us the summer is all about alfresco eating, ice cream and BBQs. Whilst these are all fun, the sugar and calories can soon add up especially if you add wine into the mix.

We have put together some great, easy to make recipes for snacks that will keep you fuller for longer and won’t cause a sugar crash that will leave you feeling lethargic and sluggish.

Oat and date cookie balls are easy to make, tasty to eat and make a brilliant alternative to processed biscuits.

Ingredients for 15 balls

• 1 cup organic oats
• ¼ cup of good quality maple syrup
• ½ cup organice raisins
• ½ cup organic pitted dates
• 1 tbsp. melted organic coconut oil
• 1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
• 1 tsp. ground cinnamon
• A pinch of salt

Method

• Place the dates, cinnamon, coconut oil, maple syrup, oats, salt and vanilla into your food processor and mix together. Once you have combined the ingredients add the raisins, gradually, until you have a solid mixture.
• Take the dough out of the blender and put into a bowl.
• Roll tablespoon size balls of dough between your palms into golf-ball-size treats.
• Put the treats into the fridge for one hour to set, then place in a sealed tin and eat within 48 hours.

Banana and Mango Smoothie
Forget sugar ice-lollies and cool down with a vitamin packed, super-easy to make smoothie.

Ingredients:

• 1 medium mango
• 1 banana
• 500ml coconut water
• ice cubes

Method:

• Cut the mango down either side of the stone, then peel and cut the flesh into medium size chunks.
• Peel and chop the banana.
• Put all the ingredients into a blender and process until smooth and thick.
• You don’t have to drink this straight away but if you do place it in the fridge, ensure it is covered and drunk the same day.

Almond Butter
Nuts are packed with goodness and making your own almond butter will give you a snack you can eat with apples and carrots, pitta and rice cakes. It can be added to smoothies or simply eaten from the jar with a spoon (clean one of course)!

Ingredients:

• 300g of good organic almonds with the skin on
• Organic honey – local if you can source it

Method:

• Heat your oven to 190C/170C fan/gas mark 5.
• Spread the almonds across a baking tray and roast for 10 minutes.
• Remove from the oven and allow them to cool for a further 10 minutes.
• Put the almonds into a food processor and blend for around 10 minutes. You will need to stop every so often to scrape the mixture from the sides of the blender.
• Be patient as it takes a few minutes for the oils in the almonds to be released and this can be longer if you have an older blender. To start with, you will get a very dry, almost dust-like consistency. The fibers will eventually break down and once this happens you can add a couple of teaspoons of honey for taste if you want to.
• Place into a sterile jar and keep sealed in the fridge for up to a month, although we doubt it will last this long.

Also remember to keep your fridge stocked with fresh fruit and vegetable and make up jugs of iced water with lemon and cucumber to stay refreshed all day long.

Happy snacking and do let us know about any ideas or recipes you enjoy.