Advent Calendars Galore

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advent calendar, ark, candy canes, cheap and cheerful, chocolate gifts, Christmas, Christmas tree, Crafter’s Companion, dark and cold, December, Dermalogica Body Hydrating Cream (75ml), Dermalogica Daily Cleansing Shampoo (50ml) and the Dermalogica Multi-Active Toner, Espresso, family favourites, Frozen, glitter, good old days, grandma, hanging advent calendar, Hazelnut Slice, instructions, John Lewis, LEGO® City Advent Calendar, little beauties, luxe, luxurious options, milk and white chocolates, Nativity scenes, Olaf and friends, old school, Pure Beauty, robins, Salted Caramel Praline, Santa, shopping, sing along, snowboarder, snowy days, super-cute figure, Swizzels Sweets, Thornton’s Continental, Traditional Advent Calendar, uletide log fire, Viennese Truffle, Yankee Candle

With December just around the corner, for many there will be soon a reason to jump out of bed however dark and cold it is outside.

Long gone are the days when children would share one advent calendar. Today you can go from cheap and cheerful chocolate options to more luxurious options and there is an ever-growing amount of choice.

At Pure-Beauty we love nothing more than a present a day in the run up to Christmas and today we will share with you some of the best advent calendars out there.

For candle lovers out there, the Yankee Candle calendar is a must have. Behind every door is a special seasonally scented tea light as well as an extra treat for Christmas Eve. Light up the candle each day and enjoy with a glass of mulled wine and a mince-pie to really get in the spirit of things.

A popular choice for kids, big and small, is the LEGO® City Advent Calendar. Complete with six mini figures, including Santa, a grandma and a snowboarder, as well as Christmas tree with yuletide log fire, there is something fun to build every day in the lead up to the festivities. Be warned, these little beauties are going fast so if you want to join in the fun, get shopping ASAP.

You get an assortment of delicious dark, milk and white chocolates with the Thornton’s Continental advent offering. Espresso, Viennese Truffle, Salted Caramel Praline and Hazelnut Slice are just some of the rich taste experiences to be found inside this luxe option that can be enjoyed for breakfast! Well, it would be rude not to.

If you fancy some a little more rustic, how about making your own hanging advent calendar with a cute kit from Crafter’s Companion? Priced at £14.99 from John Lewis, you will get 24 blank card boxes, 24 metal binder clips, cool foil stickers, 3m of twin, 24 card frames, 24 printed paper strips, 2m of double sided tape as well as a set of instructions so you can make something totally unique.

As an alternative to chocolate gifts, why not wake up to Swizzels Sweets this December? Behind the 24 doors are an assortment of family favourites to delight all. Just remember to give those teeth a good clean before you leave the house and go to bed!

Olaf and friends are here again this Christmas, so if you can’t let Frozen go this one is for you. Each day you get a super-cute figure from the film as well as a back drop so you can recreate your favourite scenes and sing along to your heart’s content.

If you want to go old school, the Traditional Advent Calendar Company is for you. They have a comprehensive range of old-fashioned calendars with seasonal illustrations and glitter galore. Nativity scenes, robins, snowy days and stockings filled with presents are all there for the taking on these pretty calendars. Throw in some glitter and candy canes and you are back to the good old days of Christmas past.

You could also consider buy an advent candle and burn a little each day, or how about giving the one you love a trial product from Pure Beauty during advent to show how much you care? Wrap up gifts such as the Dermalogica Body Hydrating Cream (75ml), Dermalogica Daily Cleansing Shampoo (50ml) and the Dermalogica Multi-Active Toner and making a cracking start to Christmas.

All you need to do now, is decide which one is for you and of course, only open one door a day because Santa is watching who’s been naughty and nice.

Team Pure-Beauty

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Adapt your exercise routine for the winter

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5k charity run, accountability buddy, balmy summer evenings, bike rides, body temperature, bottle of water, bright trainers, clothing, cold wind, Corrie, December, dehydrated, ear phones, early evening darkness, effort, endorphins, enjoy, exercise, friend, go for it, goal, goose bumps, gym, H2O, hi-vis top, HIIT training, hot, ice cold water, interval cycling, ket, layering, lethargic, London to Brighton bike ride, motivation, online options, pact, partner, Pilates, pumping, quiet, refreshing, results, reverse, run, saf, shorts, sister, skin, skip, sofa, sweating, t-shirts, thermal, Thermal running tights, tired, train for a marathon, trainers, two litres, vest, warm t-shirts, well-lit route, winter months, work, work colleague, write down, Zumba

While you might feel like curling up on the sofa in your onesie and watching back to back Corrie, your mind, body and soul will thank you for keeping up with your exercise routine over the winter months.

The cold wind and early evening darkness might not be as inviting as balmy summer evenings for a run, but we have had a look at how to keep fit and strong, however chilly it gets.

Don’t stop moving
In the summer, we tend to exercise before it gets too hot, so in the winter you need to reverse this and try to workout before it gets dark and your motivation is lost. Either go to the gym before work, run during your lunch hour or plan morning bike ride that will get those endorphins pumping around your body for the rest of the day.

Get the kit
By the end of your jog you should be sweating, but before you step out of the door the goose bumps will be there if you are only in a vest and shorts. The key to winter success when it comes to exercise clothing is layering. Thermal running tights, bright trainers, warm t-shirts and soft socks won’t just look cool, they will feel good against your skin and help regulate your body temperature. If you are exercising in the dark, go for a hi-vis top and even a head torch so you can easily be seen.

Go digital
If you really can’t get to grips with exercising outside in December, tap into online options. Whether it is HIIT training, Pilates, interval cycling or Zumba, there’s a wide range of sporting options that you can do at home, but you still need to put in the effort if you want to see the results.

Get a buddy
One way to ensure you get out and get going is to have an accountability buddy. If you know you’ll let someone else down if you don’t hit the gym, it’ll be harder to skip your workout. Whether it’s a friend, sister, partner, work colleague or neighbour, find someone with similar interests and make a pact to do this together.

Have a goal
Just as it can help having someone to work with, it is also motivating to have a goal to aim for. Whether you are going to complete a 5k charity run, train for a marathon or take part in the London to Brighton bike ride, write down your goals, put them somewhere you can see them and go for it.

Drink
Ice cold water is refreshing in July, but it is actually essential all year round. When you exercise it is really important to drink plenty of water otherwise you can end up feel tired, lethargic and dehydrated which will take away your motivation to get moving. Keep a bottle of water with you at all times, sip little and often and aim for at least two litres of H2O a day.

Be safe
Whatever you do, let someone know where you are going and when you plan to be home. If you are exercising outside after dark, choose a well-lit route, wear bright clothing and be wise when wearing ear phones in quiet areas.

Enjoy!

Keep your sweet tooth at bay

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banana, cake, chopped banana, cinema, coconut flakes, cravings, cream cheese, cucumber, December, delicious, dried fruit, eat, five a day, frozen berries, fruit kebabs, goji berries, good quality dark chocolate, Greek yogurt, healthy, hummus, January, kiwi, low-fat, mango, melon, nuts, oats, organic, peanut butter, popcorn, portion sizes, Pumpkin and sunflower seeds, Pure Beauty, refreshing, seeds, sliced apple and pear, snack, spinach, sugar, time, trail mix, work

December is a time when we sit back, enjoy life and over indulge. Sugar is on pretty served on tap over the festive period and now many of us are looking to make some sensible, healthy swaps.

This said, you don’t have to live on water and dry crackers to get healthy but we have to tell you, the only way to kick a sugar habit is to cut right back.

This won’t be easy but over time your body will crave sugar less and you will feel so much better.

We have had a look at some delicious alternatives to sugary snacks and drinks that will keep your cravings for the white stuff at bay.

Porridge with sliced fruit isn’t just a brain boosting breakfast but can also be a filling snack. Keep a stash at work and you won’t be tempted to reach for that chocolate cake.

If you want a healthy snack with a naughty edge, go for rice cakes with peanut butter and chopped banana.

Popcorn can be a great, healthy treat. We aren’t talking about the mega buckets at the cinema but instead fresh popcorn made at home with a sprinkle of cinnamon. Give it a go; we think you will like it, a lot.

Organic oatcakes with hummus and slices of cucumber make a protein packed snack that will keep hunger locked up until lunchtime.

Bananas are great on cereal and smoothies but peel and chop ripe ones into bite-sized chunks and you have crunchy treats that are full of Vitamins B6 and C, potassium, and a serving of fibre too. Frozen grapes are pretty good too.

For an on the run snack that is as easy to make as it to eat, go for homemade trail mix. Throw together coconut flakes, dried fruit, goji berries, raw ruts and seeds and you have an instant, delicious snack that will keep you away from the vending machine. Just watch portion sizes.

Keep a stock of frozen berries in the freezer and add them to low-fat Greek yoghurt for an evening treat. This tastes great but it’s low in sugar and high in protein so will keep you fuller, for longer.

Chunks of melon, strawberries and grapes make tasty fruit kebabs and top up that all-important five a day quota.

Pumpkin and sunflower seeds with a handful of nuts are a cracking combination.

For a real taste bud tingle go for an ice-cold smoothie packed with mango, banana, kiwi, cucumber, spinach, a splash of coconut milk and a little lemongrass. Delicious and refreshing.

Low fat milk with a little honey can give you the sweet hit you need without blowing the plan out of the water.

For a sugar free savory winner, how about sliced apple and pear with a layer of low fat cream cheese?

If you are having a bad day and only chocolate will do, we will let you have a square or two of good quality dark chocolate, but don’t eat it all.

Got a winning combination? Let us know what healthy snacks work for you.

Team Pure-Beauty

Autumn fashion the weather way

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Accessories, arm, bag, biker, bling, cardigans, case, cases, chic, clutch, coat, December, demin, earrings, edge, fashion, glittery accessories, jacket, lash lengthening mascara, midi skirt, mini break, navy, October, on trend, oversized, pixie, points, rain, scarves, shadows, sheepskin, sophistication, style, sun, sunglasses, tote, UV, weather

We don’t know about you, but it seems like the weather is still pretty mild for mid-October?

One minute it is almost balmy, the next there is rain pelting down on your freshly made up face.

With this in mind, knowing what to wear so we aren’t too cold or too hot is a bit tricky.

“I keep my umbrella and sunglasses with me at all times, together with a pair of gloves.”
Joanna

“I am still wearing my maxi-dreses in October but add a demin jacket when the sun goes in.”
Tina

“It am still in flip flips and have a regular manicure. I’m just not ready to get out the winter boots.”
Maria

With this in mind, we have put together a few ideas for the perfect autumn transitional wardrobe.

Jeans are a staple for pretty much everyone. Dark denim can be dressed up with a crisp white shirt and boots for work and a simple, black t-shirt and Converse trainers make skinnies the right side of casual for the school run. Find a brand that works for you, get your size right and mix fitted with boyfriend styles and you will never struggle with jeans again.

Layering is at is most useful between October and December. Stock on staples such as long-sleeved, cotton tops, pretty vests and fitted cardigans in neutral tones and you can adapt your look as the weather changes.

We aren’t yet really in the realms of heavy winter coats, but chilly mornings and early evening shadows, mean that for many, a jacket is a must. Go for a structured denim or leather jacket that is easy to carry over your arm but will keep you warm once the sun goes in. If it’s rain that catches you out, there are some pretty smart shower resistant coats that look smart and keep your dry.

What to wear on your feet? A pair of silver ballet pumps or snake print trainers, make the perfect autumn footwear. They can be worn with jeans for coffee with the girls, add a little sophistication to a midi skirt and give an edge if having an early evening drinks.

If you are thinking boots, invest in a pair in either black or tan and go for a heel if you are up to the challenge. Long or short work well, pixie and biker are both in the shops and on trend. Shiny metal hardware adds an extra statement and if it is really cold, consider sheepskin – you know what we are talking about.

Accessories really make an outfit work as the seasons change. Pretty scarves, waterfall cardigans, cute earrings and a splattering of bling can totally change any look in seconds. Flick through a few magazines or scroll Pinterest and you will soon find looks something that will work for you.

Never leave the house without a pair of sunglasses. They add an instant touch of chic even if you are going to the supermarket. You don’t have to spend a fortune, but got for a dark, over sized pair that offer adequate UV protection and keep them in a case to prevent scratching.

Your bag can seriously make or break your outfit. There are some fantastic totes in the shops this autumn in rich navy and reds that add an instant look of glamour to even the plainest pair of jeans and pumps. For evenings, go for a minimal clutch with a little glitter for extra style points and if you are going on a mini break, wheeled cases are the way to go.

Add some lash lengthening mascara, a swipe of plum lipstick and a smile and you are ready to go come rain or shine.

Team Pure-Beauty