Five Veganuary Skincare Swaps

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Photo by Ivan Samkov

January has long since been a time for new beginnings and setting intentions – the very first New Year’s resolutions were thought to have been made some four thousand years ago, by the ancient Babylonians! Since 2014, however, many people have been adopting “veganuary” as their new start, whereby they try to eat a vegan, plant-based diet for the whole of January. 

In fact, last year, over 600,000 people around the world signed up for Veganuary, and many more took part without doing the official sign up. For some, it’s just about diet, but becoming vegan usually means eradicating animal products from all areas of your life, including clothing and even skincare. With this in mind, we’ve put together a handy list of simple skincare swaps that you can make to ensure your skincare is vegan and cruelty free, for January and beyond:

Cleanser

There are a number of different animal-derived ingredients which can be found in cleansers, but with Evolve Organic Beauty you can be safe in the knowledge that ALL of their products are vegan and cruelty free. Evolve Organic Beauty Daily Detox Facial Wash contains natural sugars which cleanse away impurities, while organic aloe vera softens, leaving skin clean, smooth and supple. Natural goji berry extract and moringa peptides defend against pollution and help to rebalance the skin’s natural oil production. 

Toner

Many toners contain glycerin, and while glycerin can be vegan, it’s also often derived from animal fat extracts, which is cheaper. Elemis Balancing Lavender Toner contains only vegan ingredients, including extracts of lavender, sweet betty flower and saponins from quillaja wood to help to balance and soften the skin. It’s also a non-drying formula, unlike many toners, as it contains no harsh alcohols or detergents. 

Moisturiser

While there are MANY plant-based ingredients which are amazingly nourishing for the skin, some companies still rely on animal products like beeswax and lanolin. REN Clean Skincare Ultra Moisture Day Cream contains a natural blend of beech tree buds extract, which hydrates and improves skin texture, shea butter which softens and smooths skin and cranberry seed oil which replenishes with lipids and reinforces skin barrier, all of which are vegan and cruelty free. 

Serum

Another non-vegan ingredient which is commonly found in serums and other hydrating products is urea, which literally comes from animal urine – pretty nasty even if you’re NOT a vegan! Dermalogica Biolumin-C Serum contains ingredients which hydrate, brighten and firm the skin, all of which are vegan in origin. In fact, this powerhouse serum combines ultra stable Vitamin C complex with a bio-technology to deliver the natural power of Vitamin C where it’s needed most. 

SPF

Sun protection often contains a number of different ingredients, such as elastin, lanolin and stearic acid, all of which are animal byproducts. However, Medik8 Advanced Day Total Protect SPF30 is a completely vegan formula and offers Pollution Shield, anti-infrared, anti-blue light and anti-A.G.E technology alongside SPF 30 and 5* UVA protection all in a lightweight moisturiser. This nourishing day cream boasts a range of protective technologies and replenishes skin’s hydration levels to keep it looking healthy and young.

Free Dermalogica products from us to you

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At Pure Beauty, we really appreciate our customers and their loyalty, so at the moment to say thank you, we are giving away free Dermalogica trial sizes of products with all Dermalogica orders.

There is no qualifying spend for this offer, although there is a minimum order value which must be reached before you can go to the checkout.

As this great offer is exclusive to Dermalogica products, so we thought we would have a look at what you could buy in-order to then get something for nothing.

Healthy skin has to be clean skin and for this you need the Dermalogica Special Cleansing Gel in your life. This soap-free, foaming gel takes away the dirt of the day, and the dulling dead cells from the night before, but doesn’t harm your natural moisture balance. Suitable for everyone, Balm Mint and Lavender extracts calm and soothe complexions, while magical Quillaja Saponaria gently foams away make-up and harmful toxins.

You might not think you need to use a toner, but we would have to disagree on that. The Dermalogica Multi-Active Toner is made from skin loving Aloe, as well as soothing Lavender, Balm Mint and Arnica which together add hydration after cleansing. Free from artificial fragrances and colours, far from drying the skin (this is what many people from a toner) this unique blend of goodness will keep your skin smooth and refreshed and will help your moisturiser to work better too.

Speaking of moisturisers, we love the Dermalogica Active Moist because it really does help you have better-looking skin. This lightweight, oil-free moisturiser simply sinks into normal and oily skin, offering it an invisible but effective barrier which prevents moisture loss and helps to blur those fine, dehydration lines.

As we are coming up to Christmas, you might want to add a little cheer to your skin, and the Dermalogica Charcoal Rescue Masque is the perfect way to do this. This relatively new, all-in-one treatment cleverly detoxifies, brightens and invigorates your skin so it looks fresh and glowing. The formula is fast acting and easily removed with warm water, and is the perfect way to rescue tired, lackluster, dull skin that might have been partying a little too hard!

We cater for all ages at Pure Beauty, so for the teens in your life, or anyone dealing with outbreaks, why not take a look at the Dermalogica Clear Start range? We are pretty impressed with the Dermalogica Pore Control Scrub, which as you would expect, washes away those clogging dead skin cells, while purifying the skin. Tea Tree Oil offers a natural antiseptic and antimicrobial that kills bacteria, and after the first use, skin is soothed and cooled thanks to added Licorice, Green Tea and Menthol.

If you would like more details about this offer, or the products we sell, get in touch today for expert advice.

Happy shopping.

Team Pure Beauty

Please note that the free Dermalogica trial sizes must be added to your basket at the time of ordering and cannot be sent after the order has been dispatched, for more details look at the website.

There’s an app for that

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Ever noticed how often you ask someone a question and they tell you ‘there’s an app for that’?

Increasingly people are turning to technology in all parts of their lives and while having some downtime away from screens is a good thing, apps can actually really help with the way you live, work, exercise and socialise.

We’ve had a look at some of our favourite apps that we think you might like too.

If you love journaling, you will adore Moodnotes. This cool app lets you jot down your mood and thoughts in an online journal that is easy to use and look cute. As well as tracking how you are feeling, with this on your phone you can learn healthy habits when it comes to thinking patterns and overtime, you can use it to help feel upbeat, more self-aware and it can be a way of taking control of your well-being.

Ever tried to get into your online banking or order your weekly shop and forgotten your password? Well, there’s an app for that. 1Password is free, easy to use and remembers all your passwords and keeps them safe and secure. All you need to remember is that one password and you’ll never be left scratching your head again.

If you struggle to come up with tasty meals, you need the Handpick app. By putting this ‘food discovery app’ on your phone, you will have access to a tonne of trending dishes and inspiring recipes that have been sourced from around the world, and web, that will change the way you cook forever.

Love yoga but never quite make it to your class, then you need Yoga 15 in your life. As well as a great website, the brilliant app teaches agility, balance, flexibility, focus, mobility, strength and relaxation. The easy to follow videos let you take things at your own pace and each one enhances your physical and mental well-being and means you can check out of your schedule for just a little while.

If you like your carpets to be clean and your work surfaces tidy but still want to hangout with your friends, you need Houseparty in your life and one your phone. This handy app opens in your smartphone’s camera and allows up to seven friends to join you, hang out and party on your own terms but without the mess or hangover.

Want to be down with the kids? Well then you need to download SNOW. This is a creative video messaging app that’s already been snapped up by over 100 million users around the world. You can use this app to send stickers and funny vid’s with live face effects to your friends during calls. You can send notes while chatting and invite friends to a group chat so you can catch up and share your secrets, well for 24 hours at least.

Nothing new about this one but we love the Calm app. Thousands of people around the world are benefitting from meditation and mindfulness thanks to this easy to use app. Listen in bed, on the sofa, even on the tube and learn how to bring your breath into the moment and how to keep a handle on your stressful thoughts.

Got an app you love? Let us know what it is.

Team Pure-Beauty

Take a digital detox

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Unplug.

Disconnect to connect.

Digital detox.

We’re pretty sure you’ve heard these terms being used a lot recently but doing this can be tough.

With so many of us being slaves to screens, living life through a lense and being online pretty much 24/7, stepping away from devices might seem impossible.

The truth of the matter is that sometimes it is exactly what you need to do in-order to reconnect with the real world.

It might seem scary to go digital free but it is pretty easy and we have broken it down to so you can give it a go.

Make a date
There is no point in deciding to go screen free on Monday morning when your schedule is busy and inbox is full. Go for a weekend or during a holiday and put it in your diary so you don’t forget or double book.

Set the time
If you are permanently glued to your screen, going cold turkey for a week might not work for you. Just like a New Year’s resolution, you need to make this achievable so that you keep going and succeed. Go for a balance between realistic and challenging, which could be an hour without emails, turning your phone off at 8pm or only playing computer games at the weekend. You want it to make a difference to your life, in a good way so you can feel the benefits.

Set boundaries
We set boundaries for so many things in life, why not do the same with digital devises? Think about exactly what you want to cut down on, not just during a detox but also in life generally. Is it the volume of junk and joke emails, the constant stream of TV in the house or your over use of social media? If you think about this to start with you will soon see a way out of life glued to a glowing screen.

Plan something special
Taking a break from all things digital means you are free to return to real life. Spend time with family and friends and really focus on the here and now. During your break maybe plan to have a meal with your partner, go for a walk with the kids, play tennis or have a facial – all without checking your phone every five minutes.

Get outside
We aren’t talking about walking around the shoppings or sitting in a pub garden, but really going outside and taking in the beauty of your surroundings. Spending time outdoors – whether it is going for a jog, having a game of rounders or a picnic on the beach – is good for the soul and will help you detox on many levels. Good old-fashioned fresh air and sunshine stimulate Vitamin D and being at one with nature will take away stresses and make you feel happier and calmer.

Go old school
Cast your mind back to your childhood and bring out the board games, packs of cards, books and even colouring books and remember just how simple life used to be.

Eat well
A digital detox is also a great opportunity to prepare and eat healthy, wholesome food. A seasonal salad with sweet potato wedges, fresh fish, green smoothies, humus, fruit salads and iced water are all fantastic options that will leave you feeling satisfied and cleansed.

Learn
After your digital detox don’t run to your iPhone or add a clever status on Facebook straight away, but instead take time to think about how you have felt whilst free from the shackles of screens.

• What did you learn?
• What did you like?
• What did you miss and why?
• When will you do it again?

We are pretty sure that after a little time out you will start to see that too much screen time could be stopping your from being your best you.

Plan a regularly digital detox – weekly if you can – and you’ll be amazed at how different you’ll feel.

The truth about mindfulness

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Mindfulness has become a bit of a buzzword over the past 18 months, but what’s it all about?

In a nutshell mindfulness a very simple form of meditation that focuses your attention on your breath as it flows in and out of your body.

The conscious focusing on each breath allows you to observe your thoughts as they pop into your mind and, little by little, let go of them.

In time your thoughts come and go as if they are not your thoughts and you come to see that thoughts and feelings (including negative ones) are transient. They come and they go, and you have a choice about whether to act on them or not.

Mindfulness is about very much about observation without criticism and allows you to be as kind and compassionate with yourself as you are with others.

When you are feeling unhappiness or stressed, mindfulness allows you to catch the negative thoughts and deal with them before they start to spiral into depression. It is a great way to give you control of your life, in a positive way. In the long-term mindfulness can impact mood as well as happiness and well-being.

Studies have shown that mindfulness can help prevent depression as well as positively influence day-to-day anxiety, stress, depression and irritability so that when they arise, they leave more easily.

Despite the benefits, some people still aren’t convinced so we thought we would set the record straight so you know exactly what it is all about:

Meditation is not a religion.

You don’t have to sit cross-legged on the floor to meditate, but you can if you like. Whether it is on a bus, in your bed, on the floor, in the library or at you desk, it is possible to meditate pretty much anywhere.

Mindfulness needs patience and persistence but doesn’t have to take up a lot of time. Just ten minutes a day can really help you reassess and actually free up time because you are letting go of negativity.

Meditation is not complicated and there is no success or failure. At times meditation might feel difficult but it is part of a learning process that will help free your mind and emotions.

Meditation is not about accepting the unacceptable but about taking a wiser, clearer view of the world. In time it will give you greater awareness, clarity and compassion.

The simplest way to start is to find a comfortable spot and sit so that you can feel (some say follow) your breath as it goes in and out. To start with, your attention will wander but when you notice this, return your attention to the breath and carry on.

They say practice makes perfect and this is certainly true of meditation. Before long you will be a natural and will reap the benefits without even realising it.

Let us know how you get on.