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. 

How to eat for a less stressed life

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a handful of nuts, a poor immune system, adrenal glands deal, almond butter, anxiety, bad stuff, balanced, banana, better balance, blood sugar levels, boost, brain, Broccoli, caffeine hit, Celery sticks with hummus, coffee, complex carbohydrates, cuts, desk, digestive problems, dinner, eggs, energy drinks, feel, fruit teas, goodness, green tea, healthy fats, heart, heart disease, hormones, kick start, lemon, lime, lunch, magnesium, magnesium deficiency, meal, meat, mind and body, nasties, nourishing foods, nutritious diet, nuts, off the scale, overwhelmed, porridge, protein, pumpkin seeds, racing, running low, salmon, satisfying, seeds, serious physical health issues, snacks, soothe, stimulants, stress levels, struggle, sugar free, sugary and starchy foods, sweet potato, tea, warmth, water, you are what you eat

They say you are what you eat, and this is so true when it comes to our stress levels.

Not only is stress linked to serious physical health issues like heart disease, a poor immune system and digestive problems, but it plays a significant factor when it comes to our mental wellbeing.

You might not know this, but eating a balanced, nutritious diet isn’t only good for your body but it’s key for your brain, too.

Food can also affect our hormones, so eating well will help you to keep your cool and you’ll find that the more of the right stuff you eat, the less of the bad stuff you will feel.

We have had a look at some ideas that could help you get a better balance in your life and help the world to look like a better place.

Keep your blood sugar levels steady
This step is so important and can be done if you start to swap sugary and starchy foods for complex carbohydrates, protein and healthy fats as these are more satisfying and keep things balanced. Sweet potato and broccoli (complex carbs) with salmon (healthy fats and protein) make a great meal for lunch or dinner and will not only fill you up but also keep things steady so your stress levels don’t though the roof. Celery sticks with hummus, a handful of nuts, and a banana with some almond butter are all great snacks that will keep stress away, and if you start your day with porridge, you are onto a winner.

Get your B vitamins
You might not know this, but B vitamins are brilliant because they help your adrenal glands deal with stress. Luckily for us, they are everywhere and in everything from wholegrains, eggs and meat to nuts and seeds. If you can try to eat more of these wholesome, nourishing foods, your stress levels will thank you.

Make time for magnesium
Magnesium is great for helping your body to deal with stress, it is thought that a magnesium deficiency can be linked to anxiety. If you want to boost your magnesium intake, it’s pretty easy – just pile your plate with broccoli, eggs, spinach and pumpkin seeds and if you are worried you aren’t getting enough, take a supplement and let the goodness calm you down.

Cut back on stimulants
We do take them on board so easily, that we forget just how much stimulants can make our stress levels worse. If you love tea and coffee because it powers you up, that’s ok, but try to have just one or two cups a day, rather than ten.

Those energy drinks, even the sugar free ones, are full of nasties that can make you feel as if your heart is racing and your stress levels are off the scale, so cut them out.
If you find yourself needing a caffeine hit, get it the natural way and go for green tea instead – it contains a compound called l-theanine which helps you feel calmer, and the warmth will soothe you but your stress levels won’t go through the roof.

Keep hydrated
One of the best things you can do for your mind and body, is to drink plenty of water. We know we say this a lot, but that’s because it’s true. Starting the day with a cup of warm water and lemon can really help to kick start your system and clear away the toxins from the night before. Carry a bottle of water with you on the go (a reusable one of course) and fill it up when you are running low, adding lemon, lime and ice for taste. As well as a glass on your desk or at your workstation, also try out herbal and fruit teas as an alternative to the skinny, double shot, extra hot flat white that will set your nerves on edge and add to your stress levels.

Managing your diet is key to helping with stress, but if you’re feeling overwhelmed and things are getting out of hand, it’s really important to speak to someone or seek professional support, you don’t have to struggle alone.

Team Pure Beauty

Buy your holiday essentials at Pure Beauty Online

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50ml option, all skin type, Aloe, Arnica, Australian tea tree oil, away, Camphor, ccelerate cell renewal, cleanses, cuts, Davos, Decleor Smoothing and Cleansing Mousse, deeply relaxing scent, Dermalogica Multi-Active Toner, Elemis Instant Refreshing Gel, Elemis LIFE ELIXIRS Sleep Perfume Oil, Elemis Tea Tree S.O.S. Spray, feel, fungal feet infections, Ginkgo and Oatmeal, green tea, hand luggage, holiday, holiday essentials, home, hydration, lavender, look, menthol, mid-flight, mind and body, mint, moisturises, muscle tension, natural, neck, Papain, plumps, pure beauty online, pure essential oils, refreshed skin, rice-based powder, rich concentrated triple-action cleanser, Salicylic Acid, shoulders, sleep, Spain, spots, spray, struggle, tired legs

A week in Wales, sightseeing in Spain or dancing the night away in Davos, all mean one thing – travel beauty essentials are needed.

At Pure Beauty Online, we sell a range of fantastic products that you can pack up and take away with you to ensure you look and feel great all holiday long.

Let’s start this holiday party off with the Decleor Smoothing and Cleansing Mousse. This 3-in-1 mousse cleanses, plumps and moisturises all skin types. This popular product now comes in a 50ml option that is perfect for taking on a weekend away and easily fits in your travel bag. The rich concentrated triple-action cleanser comes with a mix of powerful, but gentle active ingredients that leave your skin feeling beautifully clean and smooth.

If you like to keep things natural, even when it comes to medical matters, we have a feeling you will like the Elemis Tea Tree S.O.S. Spray. This clever spray contains Australian tea tree oil which is full of anti-bacterial and antiviral properties. You can use it to treat fungal feet infections, spray onto cuts and nasty insect bites, it is good for dealing with spots and is pretty much the ultimate beauty travel companion.

Whether you want to keep things cool morning and night, or need a skin refresh mid-flight, the Dermalogica Multi-Active Toner does the job and does it well. Packed with aloe, lavender, mint, and arnica this toner can be used on all skins types and gives an added level of hydration that we often need when we are away.

While you can’t carry this one in your hand luggage, the Elemis Instant Refreshing Gel is a total travel winner. This gel is perfect for tired legs as well as muscle tension around the shoulders and neck – something you can get on even the shortest flights. Arnica, birch, and witch hazel have been mixed with cooling camphor and menthol and together they make a magical mix that you will want to use at home, and away.

We are currently stocking the Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant Travel, but don’t leave it in your basket for too long as it is a limited-edition option that’s only available for a short time. This unique comes in the form of a rice-based powder that activates when mixed with water, at which point papain and salicylic acid come together to smooth the skin and accelerate cell renewal. This can be used every day and thanks to a blend of green tea, ginkgo and oatmeal, complexions are calmed, inflammation is eased and you’re left with clear, refreshed skin which is exactly what you want.

If you struggle to sleep when you are away, then why not take the Elemis LIFE ELIXIRS Sleep Perfume Oil on holiday with you. Made from a mix of 13 pure essential oils, including elemi, patchouli, and palmarosa, this gorgeous oil helps restore your mind and body. Things don’t stop there as the deeply relaxing scent will help you drift off to sleep so you wake the next day feeling refreshed, restored and ready for fun.

If you are not sure what products would best suit you this summer, get in touch and we would love to help find something that is perfect for you and your trip.

Team Pure Beauty

The Beauty of a Good Education

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abrasions, acne, anti ageing, anti-bacterial, anti-viral, bacteria, base, breakout, brighter, Calming, clean, clear, college, complexion, cuts, dermalogica, Dermalogica All Over Toner, Dermalogica Breakout Control, Dermalogica UltraCalming Redness Relief Primer SPF20, Elemis, Elemis Tea Tree S.O.S. Spray, Elemis White Brightening Even Tone Cleanser, formulation, foundation, illuminated, impurities, mattified, mattify, oil, over-sensitised, primer, redness, school, sebum, sensitised, sensitive, September, skin, smoother, SPF, spot, spots, student, study, sun, teenager, Toner, university

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It’s the end of August which means that Autumn is on it’s way, school will be restarting again soon and the lazy summer days will be replaced with routine and structure, especially for those in education. Whether you’re starting a new school, college or university, you’ll want to be doing so with the best skin possible, so we’re going to show you five products which can help:

Dermalogica UltraCalming Redness Relief Primer SPF20

Sensitised skin can be difficult to control, and many products will add to the problem. This primer from Dermalogica is designed to minimise redness, mattify the skin by controlling sebum production and provide a good base on which to put make-up, giving you the confidence of knowing that your foundation will stay in place all day. It contains a green tint which counteracts redness and an SPF which protects the skin from the sun’s harmful rays.

Elemis Tea Tree S.O.S. Spray

This S.O.S. Spray from Elemis might not be a lifesaver, as such, but it’s definitely a SKIN saver – the cooling teat tree will help to soothe over-sensitised skin while the anti-bacterial properties will kill spot-causing bacteria, helping you to cut the cause of breakouts before they even occur. It can be sprayed directly onto the face to help speed up the healing process if you’ve already had a breakout, and can even be used on other cuts and abrasions for an antibacterial and antiviral barrier.

Dermalogica Breakout Control

If your skin is prone to acne or hormonal breakouts, it can be tricky to know when breakouts are going to happen and treat them before the fact. This lotion from Dermalogica is a fast-but-gentle formulation which is designed to target the bacteria which causes breakouts to halt them in their tracks, and contains natural sponges to absorb sebum which can make the skin oily. It contains soothing ingredients which help to calm the skin and reduce sebum production and is gentle enough to be used daily, under your normal moisturiser.

Elemis White Brightening Even Tone Cleanser

Keeping your skin super clean is the first step to staying breakout-free but that can be tricky as some cleansers irritate the skin and make spots worse. This cleanser from Elemis has been designed for daily use and gently removes impurities, reduces the appearance of excess oil and reveals a super-clean and mattified complexion. Skin is left smoother, brighter and naturally illuminated, as well as being clean and clear.

Dermalogica All Over Toner

This toner is the perfect product for keeping in your school bag as it provides a much-needed spritz of cooling toner, right when your skin needs it the most. It calms redness, kills spot-causing bacteria and helps to keep spot and acne prone skin under control. It’s perfect for teenage skin and can either be sprayed directly onto the face, or wiped onto problematic area with a cotton pad.

What’s in your first aid box?

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adult, anti-bacterial gel and wipes, Anti-travel sickness tablets, Antihistamine cream, asthma, colds, coughs, cuts, doctor, eczema, first aid, grazes and minor burns, Ibuprofen, infant, information, medical, migraines, pain relief, Paracetamol, plasters, safe

Falls, bee stings, burns and allergic reactions are all common accidents that can happen at anytime in the home. Don’t be caught short when disaster strikes, instead be ready to deal with whatever comes up by having a first aid kit handy.

Putting a kit together isn’t hard and doesn’t have to be expensive. You don’t have to have a pre-made kit, it is more of a case of collecting the basics and putting them in a safe, marked container, such as a plastic tub, tool kit or tote bag. Make sure this is sealed and placed somewhere, dry safe and out of the reach of young children.

Items to add to you kit include:

anti-bacterial gel and wipes
alcohol-free cleansing wipes
antiseptic cream
bandages (sterile)
clean scissors and tweezers
disposable sterile gloves
distilled water for cleaning wounds
eye wash, bath and drops
plasters (various sizes and shapes)
safety pins
small, medium and large sterile gauze dressings and a couple of sterile eye dressings
tape and safety pins
thermometer (preferably digital)

As well as the basic first aid materials, it is also a good idea to add medicines to your supplies so you can deal with minor illness. Whether it’s colds and coughs or tummy bugs and temperatures, being prepared is always a good idea:

Anti- diarrhoea tablets and rehydration salts are useful to have at home and are unable to go to the shops.

Anti-travel sickness tablets and bands are a good idea if you, or one of your family, suffer from travel sickness.

Antihistamine cream and tablets for allergic reactions and bites.

Antiseptic cream for cuts, grazes and minor burns.

Keep cold and flu powders and tablets to hand so you can get to work on bugs when they start, but follow the dosage at all times.

Cough medicines can be a real help, especially at night.

Ibuprofen can be used for pain relief and to reduce a fever. There are adult and child versions so ensure you stock what you and your family need.

Paracetamol is good for mild to moderate pain and again, you can be infant versions as required.

Vapour rub is great for treating colds and sore chests. As well as rubbing into the chest and back, people put it on the soles of their feet and wear socks as they say this helps with coughs too.

Remember to be prepared if you have ongoing medical conditions such as migraines, asthma or eczema and ensure those medicines are kept in a safe place.

Keep your medicines in their original, labeled packaging with the information leaflets and check the use-by dates on a regular basis.

With all medicines, whether they are over the counter, or prescribed by a doctor, it is important to always read the patient information leaflet that comes with your medicine.

If you have any questions, ask your GP or pharmacist for advice.