The Secrets to Looking Flawless

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base, beauty, cells, comfort, complexion, dark spot, dead, dry, dry skin, face, flawless, flawlessness, foundation, harmful, hyperpigmentation, make-up, moisture, moisturiser, oil, Papaya Extract, perfect, perfection, pictures, primer, production, protection, rays, refine, sebum, skin, slough, smooth, social media, SPF15, sunburn, surface, texture

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Flawlessness. For some of us it may seem like the quest for a flawless complexion is never-ending, or worse, totally unachievable and everyone uploading their filtered snaps to social media can make you feel even worse about your own skin. There are, however, a selection of products which work hard with your skin to make it look flawless and finding the right combination for you can be like hitting a beauty goldmine. Here are five of our favourites for helping us achieve flawless skin:

Decleor Expert Dark Spot Corrector

Nothing screams IMPERFECT like dark spots and areas of hyperpigmentation. This preparation from Decleor is designed to hit the dark spots right where it hurts and even comes with a unique applicator to help reduce the appearance of dark spots within 14 days. Papaya extract is the main ingredient which helps to even out the skins tone and helps to fade surface pigmentation, leaving your skin looking foundation-fresh even without make-up.

Dermalogica SkinPerfect Primer SPF30

Primer is essential for achieving a flawless look as it manages to even out both the tone and the texture of your skin. It’s ideal for dry skin as well as skin which is prematurely ageing, and will not only perfect your skin, but will also keep your make-up in place for longer. It also contains an SPF30 to protect your skin from the sun’s harmful rays, stopping sunburn and skin damage in it’s tracks.

Decleor Intense Translucency Fluid

Decleor Intense Translucency Fluid works in three ways; firstly, it brightens and unifies the skin’s complexion, eradicating dark spots and giving you a more even skin tone. Second, it reveals the skin’s own radiance by helping to get rid of dead cells on the surface of the skin. Lastly, it gives the skin a huge boost of moisture, giving 8-hour comfort to the face. The overall effect is a restored glow and a consistent skin tone which looks as though you’re already wearing make-up, even with a bare face.

Dermalogica HydraBlur Primer

If you have drier skin, you’ll probably find that the average primer dries your skin out even more as most of them control oil production in the skin, not something which is an issue if your skin is already dry. This primer from Dermalogica is designed specifically for dry skin, and the lightweight, non-greasy formula powerfully hydrates and transforms skin into an even surface with a dramatic blurring effect.

Decleor BB Cream 24 Hour Hydration SPF15

Decleor has put a lot of work into this product, using a combination of plant-based skin expertise and extensive research and development into colour. The BB cream is a foundation/moisturiser hybrid, doing the jobs of both – flooding your skin with a full day’s worth of moisture while using tinted pigments to create a flawless base. It comes in three shades will refine your skins texture, attack blemishes and even protect you from the sun with it’s added SPF15.

Banish Your Pre-Holiday Skin Problems

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acne, ashy, beach, bikini, cellulite, confidence, control, decleor, dermalogica, dimpled, dry skin, Elemis, holiday, issues, mattify, oil, oily skin, pool, prep, problems, sebum, skin-confidence, smooth, stretch marks, swimming, swimming pool, tiger stripes, vacation

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Summer has officially started, now that we’re past the longest day, and for many of us that means that we can really start to look forward to our holidays. However, baring all on the beach or going make-up free can feel like a totally nightmare if you’ve got skin issues, so we thought we’d take a look at five common skin complaints and what you can do to clear them up before it’s time to jet off to hotter climes.

Cellulite

Probably the single most common issue for women to be worried about before sticking on their bathing suit is cellulite. As most of use know, cellulite is an area of fat cells which gives a dimply appearance – and most of us have it somewhere on our bodies! Elemis Cellutox Active Body Oil is a treatment oil which can be massaged into areas of cellulite to help to banish the build up of toxins which cause cellulite and give a more even appearance if used regularly.

Acne

Acne isn’t usually something whch is going to be cured overnight, but for many sufferers the thought of going bare-faced beside the pool is a massive no-no. Switching to the Dermalogica Clear Start system ahead of your holiday should help to get your skin under control, and using Dermalogica Breakout Control in the event of a breakout should help to give you skin-confidence.

Dry Skin

Nothing can ruin the look of a bikini worse than dry skin everywhere and ashy-looking knees and elbows! Nourishing your skin with a rich moisturiser before you go away will not only help to banish your dry skin, but it can also help to prep your skin for sun exposure, helping you to get a more even tan and avoid burning. Use Elemis Frangipani Monoi Body Oil for an intense burst of moisture with a scent which will make you think of a tropical island every time you use it!

Oily Skin

Hot weather can really exacerbate the over-production of sebum so if you’re prone to oily skin, going on holiday can be a really worry for your complexion. Using Decleor 2 in 1 Purifying and Oxygenating Mask will help to deeply mattify your skin before you jet off, and packing Dermalogica Oil Control Lotion will give you the peace of mind of knowing that you have your skin under control.

Stretch Marks

Many women now embrace their ‘tiger stripes’ because they’re a totally normal part of being a woman, but for some of us, we still feel a little self-conscious about stretch marks. Decleor Sculpt Stretch Mark Restructuring Gel-Cream, when applied regularly, will to help prevent and reduce the appearance of stretch marks, giving you the confidence to bear-all on the beach.

Combatting the Symptoms of Hypothyroidism

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aching, ageing, bath, dark circles, decleor, dermalogica, Dermalogica Power Rich, Dermalogica UltraCalming Redness Relief Primer SPF20, Dermalogica UltraSmoothing Eye Serum, dry skin, Elemis, Elemis Absolute Eye Mask, Elemis Aching Muscle Super Soak, Eyes, fatigue, gentle, harmful, hydration, hypothyroid, hypothyroidism, joints, limbs, medication, muscles, pharmaceutical-grade, protection, puffiness, puffy eyes, rays, redness, repair, sensitive, serum, soak, sun, thyroid, thyroxine, tiredness, underactive thyroid, UVA, UVB

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Hypothyroidism, also known as an ‘underactive thyroid’ is a condition that occurs when the thyroid gland, located in the front of your neck, doesn’t produce enough thyroid hormone and causes your metabolism to work too slowly. Hypothyroidism is mostly seen in women between the ages of 40 – 50 and is seen in women ten times more often than men. It often occurs during the menopausal years and symptoms are often ignored during the early stages by both patients and doctors if the patient is at this age. There are many symptoms associated with hypothyroidism, and while taking medication and maintaining proper levels will help, some of the symptoms will persist. Here, we take a look at a few of them and how Pure Beauty can help:

Dry Skin

One of the single most common symptoms of an underactive thyroid is dry skin. As well as maintaining good levels of hydrating by drinking plenty of water, you should try to use a rich moisturiser like Dermalogica Power Rich, which is a pharmaceutical-grade formula, designed to give maximum levels of repair and hydration to depleted skin.

Facial Redness

As well as dryness, hypothyroidism can cause redness and tight-feeling skin, similar to the symptoms of rosacea. As well as feeling unpleasant, it can be tricky to hide without layers of heavy make up, which is why Dermalogica UltraCalming Redness Relief Primer SPF20 is a great product to help with this. As well as providing a sheer green tint to counter redness it also contains ingredients to calm and soothe the skin as well as protecting against skin-irritating UVA and UVB rays.

Fatigue

When your metabolism grinds to a halt, it can feel a lot like you’re wading through custard constantly, with fatigue dragging you down. We don’t have a magic trick to make you feel less tired other than getting a good night’s sleep and eating well) but we can recommend something to help with a tired complexion. Elemis Absolute Eye Mask will help to decongest, firm, tone and minimise dark circles, making you LOOK less tired, even if you don’t feel it.

Muscle and Joint Pain

Muscle and joint pain is hugely common with an underactive thyroid and when you combine this with tiredness, it can make you feel about 100 years old. Elemis Aching Muscle Super Soak

Is designed to be added to a hot bath to help you to soothe aching limbs, harnessing the powers of birch, juniper, clove, alpine lavender, wild thyme and blue chamomile, combined with sea salt to recharge mind and body.

Eye Puffiness

As well as dark circles around the eyes, hypothyroidism sufferers also suffer with puffiness around the eyes. This can be easily combatted by adding Dermalogica UltraSmoothing Eye Serum into your daily routine; it’s a highly active eye treatment which is designed to be used on even the most sensitive eyes, giving excellent results whilst being completely gentle. It’s perfect for getting rid of puffiness and will have you feeling yourself in no time.

Eat for the skin you are in

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a nutritional powerhouse, acne, age, almonds, antioxidant, Brazil nuts, candida, day, dry skin, eggs, firmer, flawless, formation of collagen, fresh fruit and vegetables, ginger, good fats, green tea, gut, healthy life cycle, lycopene, mackerel, menu, mushrooms, oats, olive oil, plumper, porride, production of hyaluronic acid, Relax, salmon, sardines, seafood, skin, soothes, sunflower seeds, UV damage, Vitamin E, wholegrains, youthful complexion

Just as there are certain beauty products that work best for different skin types, there are also foods that feed your complexion depending on what it needs.

The basis of a healthy diet is a balance of fresh fruit and vegetables, wholegrains, good fats and plenty of water are is good for us, you can then add certain foods to correct and enhance your skin depending on your specific needs.

If you have acne or blemish prone skin, zinc is your food friend as it helps reduce the production of oil and influence hormones. Pumpkin seeds are a fantastic source of zinc as are Brazil nuts, eggs, oats, mushrooms, ginger and seafood all of which are available in supermarkets and easy to add meals and snacks.

Omega-3 fatty acids are thought to help control inflammation so eating oily fish like salmon, sardines, and mackerel as well as flaxseed and walnuts can calm acne.

Acne is associated with candida. Eating raw garlic, which contains the anti-fungal natural medicine, allicin, alongside salads, steamed vegetables and eggs can help clear the gut ease the candida and in turn calm your skin.

A vitamin D deficiency can also lead to skin problems, therefore consuming beta-carotenoid foods like sweet potatoes, squashes and carrots can give you the A boost you need.

You can suffer from dry skin at any time of your life but adjusting your diet can help you get your glow back. A great place to start is with oily fish, like mackerel, which contain the fatty acids that nourish the skin and help lock in moisture. If you have dry skin and really want to benefit from your diet, also up you intake of magnesium as this fantastic mineral helps the body make the most of those essential oils.

Avocadoes not only taste great but they are packed with Vitamin E, a nutritional powerhouse when it comes to dry skin. Vitamin E can also be found in almonds, olive oil, sunflower seeds and peaches so it is pretty each to get it into your daily diet.

Green leafy veg are rich in Vitamin C and magnesium help with the formation of collagen and production of hyaluronic acid – both of which are vital when it comes to nourishing your skin.

As we age it shows on our face faster than anywhere else, but food can be the key to a youthful complexion. Let’s start with the simple tomatoe. Not only are they packed with the collagen building Vitamin C that makes your skin look firmer and plumper, they also contain lycopene, which protects the skin from UV rays and damage. Oats are great for your skin as the contain a natural plant chemical that helps prevent damage to skin cells and soothes irritation, so start your day with a bowl of porridge and beauty boosting blueberries and anti-ageing almonds.

Sipping green tea isn’t only a good way to relax for ten minutes, but it is full of the antioxidants that assist with a healthy skin life cycle. Not many people know this but you can dab cold green tea on your skin and use it as a fantastic antioxidant moisturiser.

We have mentioned, avocadoes, fish and nuts already but if you are looking at flawless skin at any age, put these on the menu and you won’t regret it.

Team Pure-Beauty

Common Beauty Blunders

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beauty, blend, blunders, decleor, dermalogica, dry skin, fake tan, foundation, gradual tanner, light, Mascara, moisturise, oily skin, sensitised skin, SPF, sun, Sun cream, sun damage, tan, Toner

Beauty is one of those thing which requires good habits and discipline (most of the time!) but there are a few beauty blunders which many of us commit without even realising it. We thought we’d take a look at some of these blunders to help you to realise where you’re going wrong and maybe help you to change the habit of a lifetime.

Pumping Your Mascara Wand

This one is SO common, but pumping your mascara wand is actually a bad idea and could be destroying your mascara way before the end of its normal shelf-life, as well as making it more difficult to apply. Pumping the brush will force air into the tube which will ultimately dry the mascara out, and the pumping action also forces too much mascara to cling to the brush. This means that when you apply it, instead of getting even coverage, it could clump to your lashes unevenly and will be tricky to remove.

Putting Your Make-Up on in the Wrong Light

The best place to apply your make-up is by natural light and is the only way to ensure that you get an even coverage which looks the correct colour for your skin tone. Standing under light bulbs, especially the fluorescent ones which many of us have in our bathrooms, will drastically alter how the tone of our skin appears as well as the pigment of our make-up. Try to place your mirror next to a window, or if it’s nice weather, sit on the patio to do your make-up! Also – BLEND, BLEND, BLEND (and don’t forget your neck)!

Not Using an SPF

We know that having a tan is what most people want and that many people will opt not to use an SPF because they want to get one, but it’s a bad idea in the long run. We all know the risks of failing to use a decent sun cream and yet it still gets forgotten. Do bear in mind that it IS still possible to get a tan whilst adequately protecting your skin, giving you a safe way to get a glow.

Using the Wrong Foundation

When choosing a foundation, it’s not just the colour which is important to consider but the actual consistency, also. Using an oil-based foundation when you have oily skin will have you looking like you’re melting by lunchtime whilst opting for dry powders on dry or sensitised skin will leave you looking flaky. Using a primer for your skin type will also help to achieve a flawless finish.

Heavy Fake Tan

Okay, so we know we’ve already lectured you about tanning and that we should be HAPPY when you opt for fake tan, but there are LIMITS to how brown you should go! If you’re naturally fair skinned and opt for a fake tan which looks like you’ve coated yourself in Cuprinol, you’re going to look ridiculous. Use a gradual tanner which allows you to build layers of colour, giving you a natural finish.