Five of the Best Ingredients for Youthful Skin

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acidic, acne, ageing, all skin types, allergic reactions, alternative, anti-aging, anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory, ayurvedic medicine, bakuchiol, blemish prone, breastfeeding, ceramides, Chinese medicine, collagen, combination skin, complexion, dark spots, dehydrated, delicate, dermatology, dry skin, dryness, eczema, epidermis, Eyes, fats, firm, firmer feeling, germs, glowing, healthy, humectant, hyaluronic acid, Indian Babchi plant, inflammation, leaves, lines, lipids, melanin, moisture, oceans, oil based, oily skin, pigmentation, plump, plumper, potent, pregnant, products, Psoriasis, rainforests, reinforce, retinoids, retinol, rosacea, seeds, sensitive skin, sensitivity, skin, skin barrier, skin care, skin cells, skin issues, smoother, sun damage, topically, useful, vitamin A, Vitamin C, water, wrinkles

Photo by Karolina Grabowska

Here at Pure Beauty, we’re well aware of how confusing skincare can feel. There’s a different product for every different skin issue and a wealth of ingredients which vary from things found in your pantry to things found in the deepest oceans or rainforests! Looking at ingredient lists often feels like trying to decipher an unknown language, but there are some key things that you can look for if you’re in the market for anti-ageing products. Here are five of the best ingredients for maintaining a youthful complexion:

Retinol 

Retinol is a form of vitamin A that’s suitable for the skin. It belongs to a group of vitamin A derivatives, known as retinoids. Retinol has multiple uses and can be used to combat conditions like acne and can target areas of pigmentation. It can also reduce signs of ageing and sun damage. Retinoids don’t work equally well on everyone. If you suffer from rosacea, eczema, or psoriasis, it’s probably best to avoid retinol since it can be too powerful on skin that needs a gentle touch – it can increase inflammation, dryness and sensitivity in already delicate complexions.

Try Murad Retinol Youth Renewal Serum

Hyaluronic Acid

Hyaluronic Acid is a humectant — a substance that retains moisture — and it is capable of binding over one thousand times its weight in water. This substance is naturally found in many areas of the human body, including the skin and eyes. Hyaluronic acid helps skin stretch and flex and reduces skin wrinkles and lines. Hyaluronic acid is also proven to help wounds heal faster and can reduce scarring. Allergic reactions to hyaluronic acid are rare, so that means whether you have oily skin, sensitive, dry skin, or combination skin, you have the green light to use hyaluronic acid products.

Try SkinCeuticals H.A. (Hyaluronic Acid) Intensifier Serum 

Vitamin C

Vitamin C can help keep skin looking plump and firm. This is because it’s highly acidic when applied topically and can help to promote collagen production and reduce the appearance of ageing skin. It also contains a property that inhibits the skin’s melanin production levels, two of the culprits that can lead to dark spots and hyperpigmentation, making it an absolute hero at giving you a glowing, healthy complexion. It’s usually found in oil-based products, so may not be ideal for acne and blemish prone skin, but it’s great for pretty much all other skin types. 

Try REN Clean Skincare Glow Daily Vitamin C Gel Cream

Bakuchiol

If you’re looking for an alternative to retinol that can be used on more sensitive skin, bakuchiol is a good place to start. Bakuchiol is found in the seeds and leaves of the Indian Babchi plant and has been used in traditional Ayurvedic and Chinese medicine for centuries. It also has calming anti-inflammatory and healing antibacterial properties and is even safe for use when pregnant and breastfeeding. It’s a potent-yet-kind ingredient which the British Journal of Dermatology found was just as effective as retinol and significantly less irritating, which is great news for anyone looking for an alternative.

Try Medik8 The CSA Bakuchiol Edition Kit

Ceramides

Ceramides are fats or lipids that are found in skin cells and make up 30% to 40% of your outer skin layer, or epidermis. Ceramides are important for retaining your skin’s moisture and preventing the entry of germs into your body. If your skin’s ceramide content decreases, which often happens with age, it can become dehydrated. Skincare products with ceramides will help reinforce your skin’s barrier and increase hydration, giving you plumper, smoother, firmer-feeling skin with fewer visible lines and wrinkles, as well as fewer signs of sensitivity.

Try Advanced Nutrition Programme Skin Moisture IQ

Five of Our Favourite CBD-Based Products

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AHA, ailments, anti-inflammatory, anxiety, balance, body butter, Booster, brightening, calm, cannabinol, cannabis plant, CBD, CBD isolate, CBD oil, chronic pain, clogged pores, coconut oil, complexion, congestion, customise, dry skin, dryness, eczema, essential oils, for strep spectrum, hemp seed oil, intensive, irritated, lavender, Neroli, nighttime routine, organic hemp CBD, potent, Psoriasis, self tanning, Shea butter, skincare, soothe, sublingually, uneven texture, uneven tone, Vitamin C

Photo on Unsplash

For quite a few years now, people have been coming around to the huge benefits that can be derived from using CBD oil. CBD oil is made by extracting CBD from the cannabis plant and then diluting it with a carrier oil like coconut oil or hemp seed oil. CBD can be found in a variety of products online and in stores, including dietary supplements, bath soaks, drinks, and food. It continues to gain momentum in the health and wellness world, with some scientific studies finding that it may ease symptoms of conditions such as chronic pain and anxiety. It’s no surprise, then, that many of our brands have also started to harness the power of CBD in their products; here are five of the best:

This Works Evening Detox CBD Booster + AHA Complex

This skin boosting product from This Works contains a combination of CBD oil and an AHA  complex to leave your skin looking clearer and calmer than ever before. You can use it as part of your nighttime skin care routine for a powerful boosting effect or on its own as an intensive application to help reduce hormonal breakouts, tackle uneven skin texture and tone, and help to deal with clogged pores and congestion.

South Seas – Pineapple Express CBD Body Butter

This body butter from South Seas contains 100mg of organic hemp CBD as well as a combination of other ingredients which will deeply hydrate and repair your skin. It can be used to treat dry skin and is even suitable for use on skin which suffers from eczema and psoriasis. It is also a great moisturiser to use when prepping your skin for self tanning to ensure that you don’t get orange streaks and areas of dryness.

This Works Morning Expert CBD Booster + Vitamin C

Another skin booster from this works, this product contains one percent CBD and a massive 20% vitamin C for a potent brightening effect. You can use this booster to customise your morning skincare routine by combining it with your moisturiser for visibly smoother, brighter, and more radiant skin or simply use it alone as an intensive application.

South Seas – Pineapple Express CBD Drops

Everyone knows that beauty starts on the inside which is why we’ve included Southsea Pineapple Express CBD drops in this list. As well as being suitable for topical application or mixing with your favourite body lotion these CBD drops can also be taken sublingually. The drops are comprised of 600mg of organic, full spectrum CBD to give your body a natural anti-inflammatory and help to reverse the effects of a number of different ailments.

This Works Stress Check CBD Body Cocoon

The final product on our CBD list is this body cocoon from This Works. It contains shea butter, ylang ylang, neroli and lavender essential oils as well as 1125mg of pure CBD isolate per bottle. The lotion helps to maintain skin balance, calms and soothe irritated complexions and contains antioxidants which repair the ageing damage of environmental stress.

Hay fever – what you need to know

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allergic, Antihistamines, asthma, balm infused tissues, clothes, corticosteroids, dock, eczema, exposure, eye drops, GP, grains, hay fever, immunotherapy, inflamation, inside, itchy, medication, methods, mugwort, nettles, options, outside, pain, pollen, red eyes, resistance, running, shower, sinus, summer, sunglasses, swelling, Vaseline, weeds

Whilst many of us open our arms to the summer, for hay fever sufferer the warm, pollen filled days aren’t always smiled upon.

Itchy eyes, runny noses, coughs and sneezes are usually associated with winter colds and flu, but hay fever can bring summer misery and pain.

It is thought that around a quarter of the population suffers with hay fever. Men and women are equally affected, symptoms can start at any age, seriousness changes year to year and some people find it become less severe as they get older.

So, let’s start with the basics.

Basically, you will suffer with hay fever if you have an allergic reaction to pollen. Pollen is a fine powder that is released by plants as part of their reproductive cycle. The proteins in pollen can cause the eyes, nose, throat and sinuses to become inflamed, irritated and swollen.

The pollen forecast is usually given with the weather in the summer and this is how things tend to be described:

• Low is less than 30 grains of pollen per cubic metre of air
• Moderate is 30 to 49 grains of pollen per cubic metre of air
• High is 50 to 149 grains of pollen per cubic metre of air
• Very high is 150 plus grains of pollen in every cubic metre of air

In general, symptoms often start once the pollen count hits 50.

The main types of pollen people are allergic to are:

• Tree pollen which is released during the spring
• Grass pollen which is released at the end of spring and in the start of summer
• Weed pollen, such as dock, mugwort and nettles, tends to be released late autumn, but far less people react to this

The most common symptoms of hay fever are:

• Blocked, watery, runny nose
• Coughing
• Itchy, running, red eyes
• Constant sneezing

Other symptoms people experience include:

• Disrupted sleep and tiredness
• Earache
• Headaches
• Reduced sense of smell
• Sinus pain
• Sore throat
• Worsening asthma symptoms

It is worth noting that if you suffer from, or there is a family history of allergies, particularly asthma or eczema, you may be more susceptible to hay fever.

The obvious way to control hay fever is to avoid exposure to pollen but this really isn’t viable unless you stay inside with all windows and doors closed. Despite all the advances in modern medicine, to date there is no cure for hay fever. The good news is that in the most, symptoms can be relieved.

Over-the-counter medication from your pharmacist can be used for hay fever. Antihistamines can help prevent an allergic reaction from happening in the first place. It is a good idea to take these before your nose and eyes start to run and a regular dose will keep the drug in your system to fight off the pesky pollen. Corticosteroids can also be taken and these help bring down inflammation and swelling.

Eye drops and nasal sprays can help a blocked nose and itchy eyes so take them with you wherever you go along with plenty of clean tissues.

If your symptoms get too much then it it’s worth speaking to your GP, as you may require prescription medication. Some people choose to try a treatment called ‘immunotherapy’ which involves pollen exposure over time to build up resistance. This is done via an injection or pill in severe cases but it can take months or years to work so you will need to use other option to start with at least.

As well as medication, there are some easy steps you can take to help ease the pain of hay fever.

• Try to stay inside as much as you can when there is a high pollen count
• Wear sunglasses outside to stop pollen getting in your eyes – wrap around models are preferable
• Take a shower and change your clothes when you have been outside to remove the pollen on your body and wash your sunglasses too
• Apply a little bit of Vaseline at the bottom of your nose as this can actually trap pollen grains
• Try and have a good diet and add extra vitamins and local honey because whilst they won’t stop the allergic reaction they will help keep your immune system strong

Good luck and it you have top tips for living with hay fever, let us know.

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.