Exercise Apps You’ll Love

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0-day beginner’s course, 30 minutes per day, 5k, abs, addictive, app, barre, beach holiday, board, body, boxing, cardio, chillout, community, competition, cycling distances, Daily Yoga, de-stress, determination, digital, downloading, downward dogs, feel good endorphins, finish line, fit, fitness studios, focus, four week to summer fitness programme, free trial, friend, From Couch to 5k, get fit, Gixo, Headspace, HIIT, important, intimidated, Judgement, kettlebell, mind, mindfulness, motivated, newbies, one stop, performance, personalised teaching approach, physical workout, progesss, running, Russian twists and reverse crunches, shop, Six Pack in 30 Days, speeds, start, Strava, strength routines, strong, Studio Tone It Up, sun salutations, sweat, three days a week, tip-top condition, tone, toned, total beginner, track, walking, warrior poses, wellness, wellness journey, willpower, work out, yoga, yoga and meditation

If you hate going to the gym and feel intimated by fancy fitness studios, why not jump on the digital bandwagon and get fit with an app?

OK, you will need a certain amount of willpower and determination, but free from judgement and competiton, by downloading an app, you can work-out when it suits you, wherever you like and you can often track your progress so you stay motivated too.

We have had a look at some of the best options out there to keep you in tip-top condition.

Gixo
Day and night, teachers are available on Gixo for 15, 25 and 40-minute sessions of running, walking, HIIT and strength routines that you can do without having to leave your living room. With no excuses about not being able to find time to get to the gym, you can try a free trial at home and then get to work with the ‘four week to summer fitness programme’ – what are you waiting for?

Daily Yoga
If you want something a little less intense and a bit more zen, then the Daily Yoga app offers over 100 yoga and meditation classes with plenty of poses to choose from. From sun salutations, warrior poses and downward dogs, you can chill out and tone up with this app and the meditation offerings mean this is a one stop de-stress and focus shop.

From Couch to 5k
If you haven’t heard of ‘From Couch to 5K’ where have you been ? This app is quite literally taking people from the comfort of their couch to the 5K finish line in weeks. It is perfect if you are a total beginner who wants to try running, but isn’t sure where to start. You only have to sweat for 30 minutes per day, three days a week for nine weeks to get to your target distance, and we think that you will be hooked on running before then! Why not get a friend involved and you can get fit, together?

Six Pack in 30 Days
Got a beach holiday coming up? Then you might want to strengthen your abs with ‘Six Pack in 30 Days’. No fancy gear is needed to do these ab workouts and the programme is suitable for total newbies. The app clearly shows you how to do classic core workouts like Russian twists and reverse crunches which will help you to work up a sweat, but make you look fab-tastic.

Strava
Not that exercise has to be a competition, but if you want to compare your performance with friends this app cold help to give you that extra push towards the finish line. Strava is a great way to keep track of running and cycling distances, speeds as well as endurance, and believe us, it can become as addictive as those feel good endorphins.

Studio Tone It Up
If community is important to you, then Studio Tone It Up could be what you have been looking for. Without leaving the house, you will be guided through workouts that will help to get your body toned and your mind strong. There’s a choice of yoga, cardio, barre, boxing, kettlebell, and more on offer and with new classes arriving every week, there’s no chance of getting board, just fit.

Headspace
Not everyone is looking for a physical workout, and if that is you, then how about trying the a wellness journey with the Headspace app? Start things off with a free 10-day beginner’s course that shows you the essentials of practicing mindfulness on a daily basis and with meditating known to help ease insomnia and increase productivity at work, you never know where this could lead.

Got an app you think we would like? Let us know about it and we will give it a go.

Team Pure Beauty

How to Avoid Winter Sniffles

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alcohol, antibacterial, asthma, colds, coughs, de-stress, decleor, dermalogica, diabetes, drink, eat, Elemis, flu, germs, green tea, healthy, Ill, illness, immune system, iron, protein, Relax, sleep, stress, vaccination, vaccine, virus, vitamins, water, winter

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Why is it that Mother Nature just doesn’t seem to get our memo at this time every year that we simply DO NOT HAVE TIME TO BE ILL?! Coughs and colds, aches and pain; they’re all enough to cause a serious slow-down at what is the busiest time of year for many of us, but we really don’t have the time (or opportunity) o take to our beds and sip Lemsip until we feel better. Here’s a few things that you can do to avoid all the usual nasties that are doing the rounds at the moment:

Eat Well

Making sure you get plenty of fruit and veg in your diet, as well as iron from meat or beans, will bolster your immune system and give it the best fighting chance of warding off viruses. We also recommend drinking green tea, which is great for your system in many ways, not least of all because the steam can help to physically clear germs away from your nose. Protein-rich foods are also best for giving your immune system a boost.

Get Plenty of Sleep

Sleep is when your body has the best opportunity to fight off germs because it’s not concentrating on doing all the other thinks like blinking anf thinking! This means that broken or missed sleep will leave your immune system at a real deficit because it’s not had a chance to work. If you’re struggling to drift off, try a de-stressing massage before bedtime.

Don’t Drink Too Much Booze

We know that’s a hard ask in the season of work dos, family gatherings and general festive merriment, but alcohol gives your immune system a real battering, leaving you susceptible to viruses and germs. If you’re out for the night, try alternating one alcoholic drink with one glass of water or soft drink to try to keep a handle on things.

Sanitize!

We know there’s a risk of looking a bit Howard Hughes if you wander around disinfecting things, but one of the most common ways to catch coughs and colds is through transferring germs from infected surfaces. Thi nk about machines at the gym, work phones, handles on the Tube – they’ve all been touched by a potential barrage of germs, so keeping a bottle of antibacterial hand gel in your bag is a really good defence against it all.

Don’t Forget your Flu Jab!

For many people, flu can be a few days for feeling absolutely rubbish, but if you’ve got a chronic illness such as diabetes or asthma, flu can hit you much harder than others. If you have a pre-existing illness or a compromised immune system, you’re probably entitled to a free flu jab at your G.P. surgery and we highly recommend that you go and have it. No-one needs flu at this time of year and it’s wise to do everything you can to avoid it.

Seasonal Focus: Almonds

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almond, base, brittle, carrier, chamomile, complexion, de-stress, Decleor Essential Cleansing Milk, Decleor Micellar Oil, Dermalogica Multivitamin Hand and Nail Treatment, dirt, dissolve, dryness, Elemis De-Stress Massage Oil, Elemis Hydra-Nourish Night Cream, geranium, hands, hydrate, hydration, impurities, lavender, linoleic acid, make-up, marjoram, massage, melissa, nails, neutral, oil, oleic acid, pores, radiant, rosemary, rosewood, stress, sweet, sweet almond oil, tighten, vitamin A, vitamin B1, vitamin B2, Vitamin B6, waterproof, well-balanced, Ylang-Ylang, youthful

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Using seasonal produce is a great way to ensure that the body gets what it needs when it needs it; things which appear at certain times often contain essential nutrients which are ideal for their season. Winter is the season for almonds, which are not only highly nutritious, containing essential fats, they’re also a fabulous ingredient in beauty products. Here’s our top 5 almond-containing products from Decleor, Dermalogica and Elemis.

Decleor Essential Cleansing Milk

Almond oil is an incredibly nourishing ingredient which infuses moisture into the skin, reducing tightness and leaving it feeling soft and supple. This cleansing milk from Decleor contains sweet almond oil, among other ingredients, to cleanse the skin, remove all traces of make-up and daily dirt, and tighten pores for a clearer, more radiant complexion.

Elemis De-Stress Massage Oil

Almond oil is both moisturising and very neutral, making it the perfect carrier oil for other combinations of fragrant oils for massage therapy. This oil from Elemis is designed to de-stress the muscles and combines rosewood, melissa, marjoram, geranium, rosemary, lavender and chamomile in an almond base for regenerative results.

Dermalogica Multivitamin Hand and Nail Treatment

The hands and nails benefit hugely from moisturising products as they often have to deal with the harshest elements, such as cold weather and washing dishes, which contribute to dryness. This non-greasy hand and nail treatment from Dermalogica is made on an almond oil base and helps to repair chapped hands and strengthen brittle nails.

Decleor Micellar Oil

Micellar oil is a revolutionary way to cleanse the skin, which uses the powerful combination of oil and water to work deep into the pores, dissolving and dispersing dirt and impurities and removing all traces of make-up. Almond oil ensures hydration and make-up melting power, and even works on waterproof cosmetics.

Elemis Hydra-Nourish Night Cream

Almond oil contains oleic and linoleic fatty acids, as well as containing vitamins A, B1, B2 and B6, all of which are essential for youthful, well-balanced skin. This night cream from Elemis is a rich formulation which works intensively while you sleep to deeply hydrate the skin, regulating skin hydration, and helping to maintain skin’s firmness. Geranium and ylang-ylang add to the sweet fragrance of the formula, reviving the senses and counteracting stress, anxiety and depression.

Replicate Your Spa Experience at Home

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beauty, body, calm, candles, de-stress, dead skin cells, Elemis Body Detox Skin Brush, Elemis De-Stress Massage Oil, Elemis Quiet Mind Temple Balm, essential oils, face, feet, fragrance, full body, hands, harmony, home, massage, mood, natural, neck, oil, Relax, relaxation, scent, Spa, tranquillity, treatment

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Having a spa day is great for mind and body but not always for your budget and although many people try to do it at home, their experience is often lacking that true spa feel. We’ve been taking a look at what most people love about their spa experiences and have put together a list of tips for you to use to make sure that your home spa experience is as accurate as you can make it.

Lighting

Trying to lay back and enjoy a relaxing face mask is no good if you’ve got bright overhead lighting going on, so adjusting the lighting is essential for a relaxing environment. Candles give the best lighting as it’s natural and calming, but if you don’t fancy having open flames around you you could try some battery-powered tealights which give off a really similar light to proper candles without the risk!

Fragrance

Smell is one of the most powerful senses and as well as being able to evoke strong memories and emotions, it can dictate mood and energy. If your house doesn’t smell fabulous when you indulge in a home spa day then it’s much harder to get yourself into the right head-space. Invest in an oil burner or some wax melts in a fragrance which promotes relaxation and also apply some Elemis Quiet Mind Temple Balm to your temples to promote harmony, tranquillity and relaxation.

Tools

Think about the treatments you intend to give yourself and whether there are any tools that you’ll need to do so. Obviously a fluffy robe and slippers are an absolute must, and you may want to lay an old, clean sheet over your bed to protect your bedding from any oils. Using an Elemis Body Detox Skin Brush to thoroughly remove dead skin cells and improve circulation is a great way to start your home spa experience and will make your skin more receptive to any other products you choose to use.

Treatments

Unless you have a willing spa partner, you’ll have to think about what you’re actually able to achieve by yourself. Obviously it’ll be impossible to give yourself a full body massage (unless you’re SUPER bendy!) but massaging smaller areas such as your own hands and feet, neck, face and calves is much more achievable. Invest in some Elemis De-Stress Massage Oil to help you to release tension and feel thoroughly revitalised.

Pick Your Moment!

Finding time for yourself can often be tricky but planning your home spa day is all about timing. Try to do it when you won’t have people walking in and out of your room asking for pairs of clean socks or where their homework has disappeared to, make sure the dog has been walked and you aren’t waiting for a parcel to be delivered otherwise it will all make it so much harder to get into a relaxed and serene mood.

The Best Revenge is Perfect Skin

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botanical, break-up, buff, cell renewal, chamomile, clean, clove, crying, de-stress, detox, Elemis Absolute Eye Mask, Elemis Aching Muscle Super Soak, Elemis Body Detox Skin Brush, Elemis De-Stress Massage Oil, Elemis Dynamic Resurfacing Night Cream, engorged, essential oils, exfoliate, geranium, juniper, lavender, marjoram, massage, melissa, moisture, moisturise, muscle, natural, night cream, oil, oils, organic, puffiness, puffy, rosemary, rosewood, senses, soak, soothe, soothing, stress, thyme, yes

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A break-up, especially if it’s a bad one, can wreak havoc on your health and appearance – time spent crying into a pillow, eating comfort food and re-watching Bridget Jones’ Diary is never good for your complexion. However, everyone knows that the best way to get over a break-up is to move on, looking FAB-U-LOUS whilst doing so, so we thought we’d take a look at some products which will help you to go from sad-sack to bounce-back in no time at all.

Elemis Absolute Eye Mask

When you spend a lot of time crying, the tissue around the eyes ends up literally engorged with extra moisture, leaving your eyes looking puffy and red, so you’re going to want to use something to take that puffiness away. Elemis Absolute Eye Mask is applied around the eye contour and removed after ten minutes, during which time it hydrates, nourishes and revitalises the delicate eye area, banishing swelling and redness for good.

Elemis Aching Muscle Super Soak

Let’s face it, spending hours and hours crying and feeling upset can be utterly exhausting and by the time the tears have passed, you often feel like you’ve run a marathon. Treating your body to a revitalising soak in a botanical bath is a must, and this muscle soak from Elemis is the perfect product. It contains rosemary, juniper, thyme and clove to soothe the muscles, stimulate circulation and lift your mood.

Elemis Body Detox Skin Brush

Giving your body a thorough exfoliation is a brilliant way to feel fresh and new, as well as helping to slough away dead skin cells and reveal the new cells beneath. This brush from Elemis is designed to disperse cellulite, buff the skin, stimulate circulation and new cell growth and just generally help you to scrub your way to glowing skin.

Elemis Dynamic Resurfacing Night Cream

Sleep is an excellent tool against dull, ageing skin and bolstering your defenses is always a good thing. Using this night cream from Elemis will actively resurface your skin while you sleep by stimulating the skin’s cell renewal, uncovering younger looking skin and ridding your face of lines and imperfections.

Elemis De-Stress Massage Oil

Massage is the ultimate way to relax and this oil from Elemis has been specially designed to help to melt away your stress. A combination of rosewood, melissa, marjoram, geranium, rosemary, lavender and chamomile form a unique blend which will unknot tight muscles, deeply moisturise the skin and soothe your senses, leaving you feeling more relaxed and ready to move on with your life.