How to Perfect Your Problematic Pores

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AHAs, antioxidants, blackheads, blemishes, botanical, clarity, cleansing, collagen, corn granules, cruelty free, cucumber extract, dead skin, debris, decongest, elastin, enlarged, essential oils, excess oil, folk medicine, geranium, green tea, kaolin clay, lavender oil, lightweight, Matricaria flower extract, minimising, natural, natural clay, oil production, petitgrain, Pore, pores, reduce shine, skin cells, soothing, spearmint, spirulina extract, tighten, Vegan, visible, Witchhazel

Photo by MART PRODUCTION

In this modern age of blurring primers and photo filters, it’s easy to believe that the people you see online have skin which is completely devoid of pores. Therefore it’s no surprise that research has shown that almost HALF of women wish they could change the size of their pores. As your pore size is mostly a result of your genetics, you can’t permanently shrink them. However, you can minimise their appearance by keeping them clear of oil and debris and boosting your skin’s collagen and elastin. With this in mind, here are five products which will help you to achieve the pores of your dreams:

REN Clean Skincare Clarimatte Invisible Pores Detox Mask

As the name so expertly suggests, this thick, clay-based mask helps to detox the skin and make your pores less visible. Using purifying clay, it helps to draw out impurities, leaving skin deeply clean and hydrated, with a smoother and more refined texture. The vegan, cruelty free formula contains kaolin clay to absorb excess oil, spirulina extract which nourishes the skin and lavender oil for a fragrant and refreshing finish. 

Aromatherapy Associates Mattifying Purifying Facial Scrub

Skin which is oily often seems to go hand in hand with more visible pores, which is why Aromatherapy Associates created this mattifying, purifying facial scrub. It is designed to draw out and eliminate dead skin-clogging cells, using corn granules to gently buff away unwanted cells while natural clay draws impurities from deeper within pores. It also contains rebalancing essential oils of geranium and petitgrain to tighten and reduce shine, making it ideal for over-oily or combination skin. 

Dermalogica Micro Pore Mist

When it comes to minimising the appearance of pores, niacinamide is a hero. By controlling and lowering sebum, niacinamide prevents pores from getting caught with excess oil and dirt, thereby preventing them from stretching, and invariably leading to smaller pores, and that’s what you’ll find in this mist from Dermalogica. In addition, you’ll find cucumber extract, which refreshes the senses for a cool pick-me-up, as well as witch hazel, green tea and matricaria flower extracts, which all provide antioxidant benefits. 

Elemis Clarifying Serum

If your skin is prone to blemishes and blackheads, visible pores are often right there alongside them. Elemis Clarifying Serum is a lightweight, soothing serum clinically proven to reduce the appearance of blemishes, visible pores and blackheads in just 2 weeks. The magic ingredient here is boldo leaf extract, which has been used worldwide in folk medicine to help purify the skin. This botanical ingredient has been shown to visibly improve the appearance of pores and helps improve skin clarity for more even looking skin.

Medik8 Pore Minimising Tonic

The final product on our list, but by NO means the least effective, does exactly what it says on the bottle! Medik8 Pore Minimising Tonic is a purifying post-cleanse solution that works to keep pores clear and minimised over time. It utilises AHAs to control oil production and decongest the skin, allowing pores to shrink back to their original size. With a natural spearmint fragrance, the twice-daily tonic is a long-lasting solution to enlarged pores, leaving your skin looking smoother and more refined.

Starting College? These Products Will Give Your Teen Skin a Boost

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A-levels, AHI, antimicrobial, antioxidant, apple fruit, apprenticeship, bacteria, BHA, blackhead, blackheads, clarifying, clear skin, college, cowling clay, decongest, exams, excess oil, extractions, extracts, face mask, GCSEs, gel serum, Glycerin, glycolic acid, hormones, hydroxydecanoic, impurities, Lactic Acid, lysophosphatidic, mandelic acid, mango Steen, masks, oiliness, paws, poor refining, purify, radiant, raspberry, redness, results, Salicylic Acid, school, sebacic, sebum, serum, shine, sixth form, skin, skin care, skin issues, smoothness, soothing, spots, spots prone skin, sulphur, teenage, texture, university, visible paws

Photo by Max Fischer

With A-Level results out already and the impending GCSE results coming out next week, there are going to be a LOT of 16-18 year olds thinking about the next stage of their education, here in the UK. Whether you’re off to a new college, going into sixth form, embarking on a degree or even starting a work-based apprenticeship, we’re guessing that you want to put your best foot forward. With this in mind, we’ve put together a list of the best skincare for teen skin so that your face will be the last thing you need to worry about when starting your next adventure:

Dermalogica Blackhead Clearing Fizz Mask

This clay-based cleansing mask has an active fizzing formula which activates upon application helping to open pores, decongest skin and facilitate blackhead extractions. The clay absorbs excess oil and purifies the skin whilst apple fruit helps to hydrate the skin. It also contains sulphur, which provides anti-microbial benefits to help clear skin, making it the perfect way to cleanse and clear teenage skin. 

Medik8 Surface Radiance Cleanse

While this product isn’t specifically for teen skin, it has properties which make it perfect for fighting several typically teen issues. It contains an exfoliating AHA/BHA complex of mandelic, lactic and salicylic acid as well as glycerin for a pore refining, deep cleanse. It’s infused with mangosteen and raspberry extracts to provide natural antioxidant protection and increase skin barrier function and thoroughly removes impurities to decongest the skin.

Skin Republic Spots and Blemish Mask

As you’ll know if you come here often, we at Pure Beauty love masks for their enhanced efficacy when it comes to reversing certain skin problems, and this one from Skin Republic is every teen’s best friend. Ideal for spot-prone skin, this calming face mask will reduce shine and redness, as well as tighten pores and eliminate spots without drying out the skin. With anti-bacterial and antioxidant properties, this effective mask will help keep skin clear and radiant.

Elemis Clarifying Serum

Teen skin is prone to spots, due to a combination of hormones and sebum production, but it’s also quite common for teenage skin to be sensitive and reactive, causing redness and worsening breakouts. Elemis Clarifying Serum is a lightweight, soothing serum clinically proven to reduce the appearance of blemishes, visible pores and blackheads in just 2 weeks. Skin is left looking calmer, clearer, more even with improved texture and smoothness.

Murad Outsmart Blemish Clarifying Treatment

Getting rid of stubborn blemishes takes dedicated products such as this clarifying treatment from Murad. It is a medicated lightweight gel serum that is clinically proven to reduce overall blemishes in just 1 week. Salicylic acid combines with lysophosphatidic, hydroxydecanoic, sebacic and glycolic acids in Penta-Acid Technology to clear skin of blemish-causing bacteria, oiliness and blackheads while minimising dryness and irritation, giving you the confidence to go back to school with clear skin. 

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. 

Back to school with Pure Beauty

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acne, apple, back, back to school, beauty routine, blackhead, botanicals, breakouts, bus passes, clean skin, cleanse, clear, complexion, dead cells, decongest, deep cleansing, dermalogica, Dermalogica Blackhead Clearing Fizz Mask, Dermalogica Foaming Wash, Dermalogica Hydrating Lotion, discomfort, dry, dry patches, easy to use cream, energise, essential oils, excess sebum, Eyes, face, ginger, goodness, Grapefruit, happy skin, homework, hot bath, kaolin clay, kit bag, lavender oil, lightweight, look and feel better, Meadowsweet, moisturiser, neck, New bags, orange peel, pamper, PE, pimple, protect, refresh, refreshing, revive, Salicylic Acid, sample, shiny pencil cases, skin, skincare, smart blazers, smooth, soak, spots, spotty skin, spray, squalane, Tea Tree Oil, teenage skin, tone and moisturise, Toner, top marks, washes away, young people

New bags, shiny pencil cases, smart blazers and bus passes are often top of the list when it comes to back to school preparation, but what about skincare. Getting young people into a beauty routine is a good idea and what better time than now to introduce them to something new for their skin?

Cleanse, tone and moisturise is a good place to start, so we’ll give you the low down on that first and throw in some added extra so you’ve got all bases covered and top marks will be scored.

Clean skin is happy skin, so we would suggest using the Dermalogica Foaming Wash for deep cleansing and purifying morning and night. Perfect for teenage skin that is prone to acne and breakouts, this doesn’t strip away essential oils but instead washes away nasties that don’t help the skin. Meadowsweet has been added to protect against excess sebum, salicylic acid gently exfoliates away dead cells and reduces inflammation ,while tea tree oil kills bacteria.

Next to come into play is the Dermalogica All Over Toner. This refreshing, toner contains an impressive twelve gentle botanicals that refresh, energise and revive the skin in one go. We love that orange peel and lavender oil have been added to soothe skin and when you spray it onto the face, neck and back, after cleansing, the goodness gets straight to work.

Some people think that spotty skin doesn’t need to be moisturised, but this isn’t the case as the right products help skin look and feel better. What you might have been looking for is the Dermalogica Hydrating Lotion. This lightweight, easy to use cream helps soothe the discomfort caused by breakouts, while hydrating dry patches. Apply after toning and let the ginger, orange and grapefruit soothe and protect the skin, while plant based squalane softens and nourishes it.

OK, what next?

Well, we all love a pamper, so when the homework has been done, why not try a hot bath and pop on the Dermalogica Blackhead Clearing Fizz Mask. As you soak your troubles away, the mask will decongest skin so it is clear and blackhead free. Things don’t stop there, as added kaolin clay absorbs excess oil and apple is on hand to hydrate.

Last but not least, if the pimple pops up after PE, a bottle of Dermalogica Breakout Clearing Booster in the kit bag will do the job. Salicylic acid has been added to get rid of bacteria and phytoplankton extract prevents the over drying that can happen with some harsher products. The best thing is that it works in 15 minutes, so by the end of lunch skin can be smoother and worries will be over.

Fancy trying a sample or two? Get in touch and we would love to help.

Team Pure Beauty

Wash away the day with Pure Beauty

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beauty bestie, beauty products, build-up, Chamomile Extract, clean and refreshed, clean skin, cleanse, cleansing action, clear away, Decleor Bi-phase Caring Cleanser and Makeup Remover, decongest, dehydrate, Dermalogica Precleanse, Dermalogica Special Cleansing Gel, dewy, dirt, Elemis Deep Cleanse Facial Wash, Elemis Rehydrating Rosepetal Cleanser, environmental pollutants, excess sebum, eye, eye area, front door, goodness, Grape Seed Extract, green tea, grime, healthy skin, help, hydrating, impurities, Jan Marini Age Intenrention Gentle Cleanser, Lavender Extract, make-up, melt, milk protein base, multiple, natural moisture balance, naturally-foaming Quillaja Saponaria, oak bark, Olive and Kukui oils, peppermint, plump, pollution, potent blend, professionals, purify, radiant, refreshed, remove make-up, removes, restored, revolutionary formulation, Rice Bran, Rose Petal Flower Water, scientific blend of virgin botanical oils, skin, skin pollutants, skin type, sleep, soap free foaming gel, soft, soothe, spearmint, sunscreen, sweat, tight and uncomfortable, ultra-clean, Vitamin E, Vitamin E and F, Waterproof mascara

From the moment you set outside your front door in the morning, your skin is hit by a deluge of dirt, grime, pollution and sweat, as well as your beauty products.

At the end of each day it is vital to clear away all of this, as well as your make-up, and we are here to help and ensure that your skin is clean and refreshed before you get into bed at night and go to sleep.

Whatever your skin type, you can rid it of impurities, without disturbing your natural moisture balance, with the Dermalogica Special Cleansing Gel. This soap-free, gel thoroughly removes the dirt you don’t want, and keeps the goodness you need, thanks to naturally-foaming Quillaja Saponaria. With added Lavender Extract mixed into the cleansing action, you are left with soft, clean skin whatever the day has thrown at you.

We don’t know about you, but some products actually dehydrate our skin, rather than hydrating it, which means it is left feeling tight and uncomfortable? We are pleased to say that this won’t happen with the Elemis Rehydrating Rosepetal Cleanser, which effectively removes make-up and the build-up of skin pollutants without taking away the moisture that keeps it looking plump and dewy. Vitamin E and F have been blended with Rose Petal Flower Water which together hydrate and purify even the most sensitive skin, leaving it restored, clean and radiant.

The Jan Marini Age Intenrention Gentle Cleanser is a mild, non-irritating formula which means it is perfect for sensitive skin, including the eye area. While it is gentle and non-foaming, thanks to Green Tea, Grape Seed Extract and Chamomile Extract, it gets to work on the dirt, but doesn’t take away the goodness even when used multiple times a day.

If you love your make up but you don’t want it to impact your skin, the Decleor Bi-phase Caring Cleanser and Makeup Remover could be your new beauty bestie. Created from a revolutionary formulation that is powered by a scientific blend of virgin botanical oils and floral water will cleanse, remove make-up (even stubborn waterproof types), soften, plump and soothe skin and help boost radiance. Phew, that’s a lot of goodness, so why not give it a go.

Want to take things up a notch or two when it comes to cleansing? If that’s the case then the Dermalogica Precleanse is the deep cleansing weapon of the professionals, and could be yours too. This fab product gives you ultra clean, healthy skin and works alongside your daily cleanser. Suitable for all skin types, Olive and Kukui oils melt layers of excess sebum, sunscreen, environmental pollutants and residual skin products that build-up during the day. Conditioning Rice Bran and Vitamin E not only nourish the eye area but are on hand to remove that annoying waterproof mascara that never wants to budge.

If you haven’t tried the Elemis Deep Cleanse Facial Wash yet, where have you been? This brilliant, fast-acting gel really is the ultimate daily cleansing solution for all skin types and it looks pretty slick too. A totally potent blend of Oak Bark, Spearmint and Peppermint has been added to a Milk Protein base and together the heady ingredients not only remove impurities but decongest the skin and leaves it clean, revived and totally refreshed.

Got a question, or want to try before you buy? Get in touch today and we can help with more info and send you some samples too.

Team Pure Beauty