How to Handle Combination Skin

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We all know how difficult it can be to deal with skin issues such as dry skin, oily skin or aging skin. However, dealing with combination skin often means that you’re dealing with two or more of these problems at once, which can make skin care all the more difficult. Combination skin requires targeted products and sometimes more than one product in different areas of your face so that you can adequately deal with all of the issues at once. With that in mind, we’ve curated a list of products which are perfect for combination skin and should help you to bring all your issues into line.

Elemis Balancing Lime Blossom Cleanser

Cleansing combination skin can be particularly difficult because you have areas of dryness where flaky skin is an issue, as well as oily areas which need something a bit more potent to help control sebum overproduction. This cleanser from Elemis balances the skin by deep cleansing it, removing the build up of daily pollutants and getting rid of makeup. It contains extracts of lime blossom and vitamin A which will soothe your skin and helps to rid you of excess surface oil.

Decleor Ylang Ylang Purifying Night Balm

Often combination skin mains that your skin has an all over dryness problem, but will over-produce sebum in some areas to overcompensate, while other areas remain dry. This night balm from decleor is made from 100% natural ingredients and has a melt-in texture which will care for combination and oily skin. It’s a balancing product which will reduce inflammation, cure underlying dryness and prevent the skin from producing too much oil. You’ll wake-up with cleaner healthier and more radiant skin.

Elemis Hydra Balance Day Cream – Normal/Combination

Combination skin usually benefits from all-day moisturisation, which is why you need a product like this cream from Elemis. It’s an ultralight cream which provides hydration all day long and works with the skin’s natural moisturising factor to help maintain a balanced moisture level. It improves the texture of the skin, balances dryness, oiliness and soothes irritation.

Jan Marini Bioglycolic Bioclear Cream

This cream from Jan Marini combines glycolic acid, salicylic acid and azelaic acid to provide a dramatically smoother, clearer, more luminous complexion. It’s perfect for combination and dry skin and will help to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, while also dealing with redness, acne scarring, large pores and uneven texture. It’s also great for skin which suffers from acne, hyperpigmentation and rosacea and gives the skin a deep wash of moisture, which will balance dryness and redness.

Elemis Biotec Skin Energising Day Cream – Combination

This highly-scientific formula from Elemis harnesses patent-pending Bioenergy Complex, which is made up of encapsulated zinc and copper. It contains a trio of acids which help support combination skin for optimum skin function. It contains ingredients such as cold pressed desert date oil, which will balance the skin, control excess sebum while smoothing and hydrating the complexion, leaving it fresh and shine free. It can be used every morning and should be applied to cleansed skin.

How to eat for wellness in 2020

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a fruit and veg smoothie, avocado smash, bananas, blueberries, body, caffeine and fizzy drinks, calm, cancers, cereals, chocolates, Christmas, cocktails, crash and burn, curries, dried, dried fruit, drink more water, Eat breakfast, energy drink, faddy diet, feel better, five portions of fruit and vegetables, five servings, fresh, Frozen, fun, goal, healthy, heart disease, homemade date bars, hydrate, indulge, Iron Man, juiced, low impact exercise, marathon, mash, meat and dairy free, mind, nuts, pasta, plant-based, porridge with banana, rice cakes, rich food, run, sausage rolls, skin, slice of cake, soups, spice, strokes, sweet potatoes, swim, take away, tinned, varied diet, vegan diet, veggie, Vitamin C, wake up, well-balanced, White bread, wholegrain alternatives, Wholemeal toast with peanut butter

Too many sausage rolls eaten?

Too many cocktails drunk?

Too many chocolates picked from the box?

Christmas is a time for fun and we all like to indulge, but all that rich food and sugary drinks can play havoc with our waistlines as well as our skin, teeth and mood.
Eating a healthy, well balanced, varied diet is key for good health and well-being and it can also help keep things like heart disease, strokes and certain cancers away.
We aren’t going to tell you to try a faddy diet or starve yourself because that won’t do anything for anyone, but we do have some ideas of how you can change what you eat and drink, and feel better for it.

Eat breakfast
We know this isn’t for everyone, but eating breakfast is the best way to start your day. Don’t load up on cereals packed with sugar or knock back an energy drink when you wake up, because you will crash and burn. Wholemeal toast with peanut butter, a fruit and veg smoothie, porridge with banana and blueberries or avocado smash are all perfect morning starters and they will see you through the morning.

A starter for five
Old news maybe, but eating at least five portions of fruit and vegetables every day is the goal. It doesn’t matter if it’s fresh, frozen, tinned, juiced or dried, but get in the habit of having five servings and if you can go further, you are winning.

Drink more water
It’s clear… drink more water if you want to feel good. The advice is to drink between 6 and 8 glasses of water a day and this will impact you mind, body and skin. You might also want to cut the caffeine and fizzy drinks and switch to herbal teas which will help hydrate and calm you.

Keep snacks in your bag
Dried fruit, nuts, rice cakes, bananas and home-made date bars can be kept in your bag, car or desk drawer and not only will they fill you up, they are so much better for you than a bar of chocolate or slice of cake. Yes, have treats, but now and again and not every day.

Make switches
White bread and pasta aren’t going to really do much for you, so why not switch to wholegrain alternatives? Sweet potatoes are a brilliant source of vitamin C, so leave the mash for another day, and a bowl of berries will beat a bag of sweets any day.

Go plant based
This isn’t for everyone but cutting animal products out of your diet isn’t a bad idea. If a full vegan diet isn’t right, maybe think about being veggie or if this is still too much, go meat and dairy free a couple of days and week and let natural plant goodness fill your plate and your tummy.

Exercise more
We aren’t saying that you need to train for a marathon or become an Iron Man candidate but moving your body goes hand in hand with improving your diet. The weather might still be cold, but a run around the park will warm you up, a swim is a low impact exercise many of us can do and if you want to spice up your life, how about a salsa class with a friend? Don’t sign up for an expensive gym membership in January that you won’t use, but do look for something you will enjoy, because then you will want to do it, and you’ll be glad you did. Do remember, that going for a job doesn’t mean you can then eat a massive take-away, but you can make curries and soups from scratch that will nourish your body for longer.

Got a tip for us, let us know as we are all for a happier, healthier 2020.

Team Pure Beauty

Easy ways to relax at lunchtime

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Let’s face it, by this time of the year, many of us are often feeling exhausted and in need of a recharge. Long hours, tight deadlines and Christmas parties mean we are running on empty and finding ‘me time’ needed to get to the end of the week can feel impossible.

We are big believers that small things can lift your mood and increase your energy levels, so in the run up to the big day, let the card writing and present shopping wait, and do something for you at lunchtime instead.

Try Eyebrow Threading
Having your eyebrows shaped can change the way your face looks and the process means you sit down for just a while, not even able to look at your phone. Threading is an ancient Indian hair removal technique that is fast and convenient, it leaves no marks, isn’t messy and is like having a mini facelift. We admit that twisting cotton through the eyebrows can be eye-watering, but because it’s only ten minutes which will give you time to stop for sushi on the way back to work.

Have a Neck and Shoulder Massage
A half hour neck and shoulder massage can relieve stress, untie knots and leave you so much more relaxed. It’s fast and convenient and the delicate oils used will leave you feeling invigorated and able to make it to the end of the day. Walk to the salon and back and you’ll get an energy boost too.

Go for a Run
A run will get your heart rate up, more oxygen and blood will flow around your body and the resulting endorphins will lift your mood which means Dave in HR will seem like less of a pain. This is the ideal way to get outside and leave the stress of the office or shop floor behind you, so get your trainers on and start running.

Do a Little Yoga
Yoga is all about stretching, breathing, increasing muscle activation and a session in the middle of the day, will leave you feeling zen fresh for the afternoon.

Shake it Out
Dancing is a great way to shake away the stresses of the day, be that a bad boss, annoying colleague or difficult client. See if there is a class near your workplace and you will find that dancing away your lunch break will make you feel fab, and the afternoon will pass by in a flash as those feel good chemicals pump through your body.

Read a Book
OK, let’s take things down a little and go for a calmer option. Taking a book to a coffee shop and letting your mind escape to somewhere quieter is a real treat. Go alone, order something nice to eat and drink and just read a few chapters and you’ll feel those orders and accounts drop away.

Enjoy a Manicure
Want a quick make over for the office party? Why not head to a nearby nail salon for a manicure. Not only will you return to your desk refreshed, but your freshly polished nails will set off your outfit a treat but won’t break the bank! And if you feel like splashing out, have a pedicure done at the same time.

Have a Catch Up
It is the season to be jolly, so why not book in a few lunches before the office closes? Your midday break is a good opportunity to catch up and socialise, in person, with people you might not see that often and if you throw in the idea of Secret Santa then it’s a win, win!!!

Have fun!

Team Pure Beauty

When soap won’t cut it turn to Pure Beauty

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acne prone skin, ‘Wash your face with soap water’, balms, cleans, coconut, creamy, Decleor Bi-phase Caring Cleanser and Make-Up Remover, deep cleansing action, Dermalogica Intensive Moisture Cleanser, Dermalogica Precleanse, dirt of the day, dissolves, dry faces, easily rinses away, elderberry and starflower extracts, Elemis BIOTEC Skin Energising Cleanser, Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm, excellent products, excess sebum, floral water, fresh, glycolic acid, grandmothers, Jan Marini Bioglycolic Facial Cleanser, jasmine, layer up, light, lips, make-up, mantra, murumuru seed butter, non-irritating, nourishing, oomph, optimum performance, palmarosa, pampers, past generations, plant-based cleansing oil, plump, radiant, rebalance, removes make-up, results, revived, revolutionary formula, Rice Bran, rose, scientific blend of virgin botanical oils, soap free, soft, soothed, stubborn, sunscreen, surface oils and impurities, tired, trio of acids, ultra-clean, vitamin E oils, waterproof lip liners, waterproof make-up

‘Wash your face with soap water’ was often the mantra for our grandmothers, but today there are better, gentler ways to take the dirt of the day off your skin, so we’re going to look at some of the excellent products on the site that we think past generations would’ve approved of.

The Dermalogica Intensive Moisture Cleanser is a light creamy product that cleans the skin as well as nourishing it. Perfect for dry faces it takes away dirt and make-up and thanks to lush coconut and murumuru seed butter skin gets stronger and is soothed as well as being refreshed thanks to palmarosa and jasmine.

If you are looking for something with a little oomph, look no further than the Elemis BIOTEC Skin Energising Cleanser. This offers optimum performance, because it is packed with a trio of acids mixed with an energising electrolyte solution and the results are explosive. The unique deep cleansing action reduces surface oils and impurities to rebalance your complexion leaving it fresh and revived.

The Decleor Bi-phase Caring Cleanser and Make-Up Remover is powered by a scientific blend of virgin botanical oils and floral water, and we love it. This revolutionary formula pampers the skin as it removes make-up (even stubborn, waterproof lip liners) and leaves it feeling soft, plump, soothed, and radiant.

For ultra clean, healthy skin we suggest the Dermalogica PreCleanse which is a fav of the pro’s. This plant-based cleansing oil breaks through the excess sebum, sunscreen, waterproof make-up, and residual products that build up during the day and make our skin look dull. Rice bran and vitamin E oils have been added to create a gentle blend that can be used around the eye area so that panda eyes in the morning will be a thing of the past.

Jan Marini Bioglycolic Facial Cleanser is totally soap free and leaves skin soft, smooth and more refined. It is non irritating, easily rinses away and because it comes with natural sorbitol from berries it leaves your skin soft and hydrated. This cleanser has added glycolic acid and the deep cleansing action makes it perfect for acne-prone skin, but don’t use this if you are pregnant or trying to conceive.

Balms aren’t just for your lips! The Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm dissolves the make-up, grime and pollution that can layer up and make us look tired. All skin types can benefit from the rose, elderberry and starflower extracts that have been mixed with delicate oils because together, they supercharge your complexion and leave it glowing.

If you have any questions about the best soap free products for you, let us know and we would love to help.

Team Pure Beauty

The Benefits of Bamboo in Your Beauty Routine

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antioxidant, Bamboo, bamboo tears, body, breakdown, brighten, chamomile, coffeeberry, collagen, complexion, Decleor 2 in 1 Purifying and Oxygenating Mask, defence, Dermalogica Antioxidant HydraMist, Dermalogica Thermafoliant Body Scrub, Egyptian Loofah Fibres, elasticity, Elemis Daily Moisture Boost, enzymes, essential nutrients, face, formula, fresh, Grapefruit, hyaluronic acid, hydrated, Licorice, lightweight, non-oily, plumped, pollutants, purify, refresh, Shaving, skin, stems, stripped away, suppleness, Tea Tree, texture, tone, white tea, youthful

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You’d be forgiven for thinking that all bamboo is good for is feeding pandas and propping up your sunflowers, but extracts from bamboo can actually be extremely beneficial to your skin. It is packed with antioxidants, is an anti-irritant and even has anti-inflammatory properties. This means that it helps to provide the skin with essential nutrients, while helping to calm down any signs of damage.

Bamboo is also an excellent source of silica, which is essential for maintaining a youthful complexion. It’s brilliant to use for all skin types as it helps to maintain the elasticity in the skin, by bolstering collagen production and preventing the ‘plumpness’ of your skin from depleting.

Here are some of our favourite bamboo-containing products:

Decleor 2 in 1 Purifying and Oxygenating Mask

This mask from Decleor uses the beautifully named ‘bamboo tears’ to cleanse and deeply mattify without dehydrating the skin. The mask can be used to both cleanse and exfoliate the skin, and contains Egyptian loofah fibres to gently eliminate dead skin cells, while spheres of white jojoba restore hydration and leave your skin feeling soft.

Elemis Daily Moisture Boost

Skin is rarely more vulnerable than it is directly after shaving, as the blades of a razor strip away the oils and protective layers of the complexion. Elemis developed this daily moisture boost especially for male skin and uses bamboo to assist in restoring elasticity, suppleness and essential nutrients stripped away during shaving. It offers a lightweight, fresh, non-oily formula which feels great on your skin and even offers defence from harsh external pollutants.

Dermalogica Antioxidant HydraMist

Another benefit of bamboo is that it stimulates the skin’s own hyaluronic acid production, giving increased hydration and elasticity while tightening and firming skin, which is why Dermalogica has used it in this hydrating mist. The mist also contains ingredients which inhibit the enzymes that contribute to the breakdown of collagen, leaving your face feeling properly hydrated and nicely plumped for a more youthful appearance.

Dermalogica Thermafoliant Body Scrub

This body scrub from Dermalogica is a little different to the other products on the list, because it uses the actual stem of the bamboo, rather than extracts. The bamboo stem helps to physically exfoliate the skin to refine skin texture and brighten tone. It also contains extracts of licorice, white tea, coffeeberry and chamomile, which infuse skin with vital antioxidants, while oils of tea tree and grapefruit peel purify and refresh.