Five of the Best Ingredients for Youthful Skin

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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

These Foods Can Help Beat Acne

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acne, anti-inflammatory, antioxidants, avocado, breakout, Broccoli, carbohydrates, Dermalogica Breakout Clearing Booster, Dermalogica Oil Free Matte SPF30, detoxifying, dry skin, Elemis Superfood Facial Wash, fats, fermented, free radicals, Greens, immune system, inflammation, kale, kimchi, minerals, Nettle, oil, oily fish, omega-3, prebiotic, probiotic, sebum, spinach, spots, spring greens, vitamins

Photo by Glen Carrie on Unsplash

Here at Pure Beauty, we believe in our products, but we’re also aware that some elements of healing need to come from within. We offer several acne-beating skincare systems, but making sure your diet is right for your skin can give your complexion an extra boost. With that in mind, we’ve got five food suggestions that you should think about adding to your diet if you’re an acne sufferer:

Kimchi

Kimchi is a Korean dish which is made from salted and fermented vegetables, such as napa cabbage and Korean radish. It’s an amazing source of probiotics, which help to control the bad bacteria in your skin which contribute to acne. Start your skincare routine with Dermalogica Foaming Wash, which will rid your skin of any external bacteria and combined with the probiotics in the kimchi, your skin will get an acne-beating boost.

Avocado

Avocado might seem like a bit of a ‘trendy’ ingredient right now, but it’s actually jam-packed with nutrients and good fats which are amazing for your skin. Acne can often be exacerbated by an underlying dry skin issue, which causes the skin to overproduce sebum. The good fats in avocado, though, help to hydrate your skin from within, eliminating dryness and calming the causes of acne.

Oily Fish

Everyone should try to get at least two portions of fish a week, including one of oily fish, for good overall health, but there’s also evidence to suggest that adding oily fish to your diet can help to eliminate acne. This is because it can lower inflammation in your body, and that may help keep acne away. Dermalogica Oil Free Matte SPF30 can also help to reduce acne-causing inflammation.

Leafy Greens

Leafy Greens are great acne-fighters for a number of reasons. Firstly, there’s evidence to suggest that more fibre in your diet can help to banish acne. Secondly, dark greens such as spinach, kale, spring greens and broccoli contain iron and a plethora of vitamins which bolster your immune system and help your body to fight unwanted bacteria. Dermalogica Breakout Clearing Booster will also help to kill off the same bacteria.

Nettles

You might think of nettles as the annoying things that sting your legs on a summer walk, but nettles have anti-inflammatory properties which make them an effective ally against acne. They’re also extremely detoxifying, thanks to high levels of antioxidants which protect the body from the over-production of free radicals – chemicals which can cause damage to proteins, fats, carbohydrates and DNA in the body. Elemis Superfood Facial Wash also contains nettle, which acts as a gentle astringent and has anti-inflammatory properties.

National Vegetarian Week

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beans, beef, chicken, cookbooks, eggs, fats, healthy, kale, kidney beans, mince, National Vegetarian Week., nuts, oil, organic, pasta, pulses, rice, sauce, supermarket, supplements, Swiss chard, switch, tofu, tomato, Wholegrain bread

Did you know 16th – 22nd May is National Vegetarian Week 2016?

Whilst we often hear the word ‘vegetarian’ being used, what does it really mean?

Well, a true vegetarian is someone who doesn’t eat meat, poultry, game, fish or shellfish and instead eat a diet based on grains, pulses, nuts, seeds, vegetables and fruits.

Some people follow a ‘semi-vegetarian’ diet, which is primarily plant-based diet but includes dairy, eggs and fish on occasion, or in small quantities.

There are various reasons why people choose to be a vegetarian from animal rights and environmental concerns to religious beliefs and health issues.

Vegetarian diets tend to be naturally lower in saturated fat and cholesterol, and higher in plant nutrients than most meat-based diets and include:

• At least five portions of fruit and vegetables every day, more if possible.
• Wholegrain bread, rice and pasta, organic options are always preferable.
• Beans, pulses and other proteins.
• Dairy alternative products such as almond soya and rice milks.
• Unsaturated oils and spreads.
• At least eight glasses of water a day.

By understanding what makes up a healthy, balanced vegetarian diet, it is possible for your to get all the nutrients the body needs without adding in supplements.

Vegetarians can be low in iron, which isn’t great as this can cause anaemia and a weak nervous system. To get enough iron you need to eat a variety of:

• beans, lentils and peas
• nuts
• dried fruits such as apricots and raisins
• dark-green vegetables, such as broccoli, kale and spring greens
• whole grains, such as brown rice and brown bread
• cereals fortified with iron

Vitamin B-12 is also needed to produce red blood cells and prevent anaemia but is almost exclusively found in fish, meat, poultry, eggs, milk, and milk products. Fortified breakfast cereals are a readily available source of vitamin B12 and this is where taking supplements might be considered a good idea.

Omega-3 fatty acids are vital for heart health, but are mainly found in eggs and fish so add vegetable oils, chia seeds, ground flax seeds, and walnuts into your diet mix mix.

Getting started can be daunting but we have some tips to help you:

• Each week cut the number of meat meals you eat so you slowly move over to being a vegetarian. You might find before long you don’t miss meat and it is an easy switch.
• Add greens, such as spinach, kale and Swiss chard into your diet by adding into soups, salads, stir-fries and smoothies.
• Try your favourite recipes without meat. Make a vegetarian chilli by swapping the mince for extra kidney beans. Make fajitas using tofu rather than chicken and go for pasta with a thick organic tomato sauce packed with peppers rather than beef.
• Scan the Internet and library for vegetarian cookbooks and recipes.
• Check out ethnic restaurants and look in your supermarket for new ideas on what to cook and eat.

Regardless of whether you choose to be vegetarian, it’s always good to eat a variety of foods so why not cut out meat this National Vegetarian Week and see how you get on?