How to have a very eco-Christmas

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A renewable Christmas tree, a trip to the beach, bean casserole, black bag open, bows, box of chocolates, brand new, brown paper, bubble and squeak, buying, carbon footprint, carnage, check it twice, Christmas, Christmas cards, Christmas Day, Christmas tree, Christmas-tree hire service, comfort zone, compost, cuts down, December, do it yourself, e-cards, eco-conscience, environment, fake tree, family and friends, farms, festive season, future generations, garden, garden centres and nurseries, gesture, gift from the heart, glass, glitter, glittery paper, Go meat free, green, happy, hurtle, kinder, leftovers, local farms and butchers, local food bank, local landfill, make a list, millions, money, new trend, nut roast, omelette, organic and free-range options, pair of socks, planet, plant, Plastic, post vans, Recycle gifts, resolutions, ribbons, Santa, shiny, soup kitchen, spicy sweet potato wedges, stop and think, stylish, super simple, supermarket, tat, thrown away, tinsel, trees, vegetarian and vegan recipes, walk in the park, waste, wrapping paper, wrapping up

As we hurtle our way towards the festive season, now is the time to stop and think about what you are buying, and why you are buying it. Yes, we all want to have a great time with family and friends, but to do this there is no need to buy tinsel and tat that will take the local landfill to bursting point.

We have some top tips on how you can be kinder to the planet and look out for future generations while still raising a glass (not a plastic one) with your nearest and dearest this Christmas.

A renewable Christmas tree
You read it right. Millions of Christmas trees are bought every year and that’s a lot of waste! Other options include going for a fake tree – but if you do this, pack it up and keep it for years to come. A new trend being seen in farms, garden centres and nurseries is one where there is a Christmas-tree hire service, so you collect, use and return! Or you can do it yourself and buy a rooted tree that you then plant in the garden after Christmas and bring back out from the cold for the next few weeks.

What about cards?
An unbelievable number of Christmas cards are thrown away each year, so let’s put a stop to that. You can either use ones from years gone by, make your own (leave the glitter out of the equation) or you can send e-cards which cuts down your carbon footprint as well as saving trees and money, oh yes and the fumes of the post vans that deliver them!

Recycle gifts
Years ago, no one would have thought about doing this, but if you have goodies that are brand new that you didn’t want, dust them off and wrap them up for someone else – they will be happy and so will your eco-conscience.

Wrapping paper
Speaking of wrapping up, this is a good one to thing about as all that shiny, glittery paper isn’t up too much for anything other than ripping up come Christmas Day. If you can, save paper each year and bring it out next December, giving it a gentle iron if need be. You can also go for brown paper, draw on bows rather than using ribbon and keep things super simple but stylish and environment loving.

Give away your time
Why spend money if you don’t have to? Instead, give a gift from the heart and do something nice for someone instead of giving them another pair of socks or box of chocolates. You could create some pretty cheques and make them out for something like a walk in the park, a trip to the beach, or an hour of gardening once a week and use this as a lovely gesture of showing how much you care.

Go meat free
This idea seems alien to some, but even if on one day you look at creating vegetarian and vegan recipes, it could make a difference if everyone did the same. We aren’t talking about an omelette or nut roast, but instead look at a tasty bean casserole, spicy sweet potato wedges or bubble and squeak – it might be out of your comfort zone, but it could lead to some pretty special resolutions come 31st December. When you do eat meat, go for organic and free-range options, and if you can, support your local farms and butchers – not just at Christmas, but all year round.

Don’t over buy
You know what we are talking about here. The day before Christmas and the supermarket is carnage as people stock up as if the world is going to end, whereas you’ll find somewhere open on the big day if you run out. Just like Santa, make a list, check it twice and this year, be nice rather than naughty and keep to it! If you have leftovers, see what you can freeze, donate some to an elderly neighbour, local food bank or soup kitchen and then compost any other waste.

Recycle
We know the temptation is to keep a black bag open and on the go come Christmas morning, but rather than chucking everything in the bin, have fun as you open presents and cook dinner, and sort things into recycling as you go to keep things green.

You see, it’s the small things that can really have a big impact, so go forth and enjoy the festivities but keep the planet in mind whenever you can.

Team Pure Beauty

Easy ways to add a little exercise into your life

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abs, ankle, arms, ballet, body, breathing, bright, build, cardio exercise, cardiovascular health, cool down, coordination, crunches, decent trainers, exercising, focus, foot, friends, gentle jogging, good shape, group hug, gym, happy, heart healthy, heart rate, Heel raises, injuries, intense cardio training, itness levels, jog, joints, lesson, low impact, low risk, meditative elements, mental wellbeing, muscle flexibility, muscles, neck, OTT, Pilates, pressure, right track, rope, salsa, schedule, serious, social element, Speed walking, sport, still mind, still your mind, strengthen, stretch out, summer, supple, sweat, swim, tai chi, time, together, warm up, water, work out, yoga, Zumba

We know that exercising can impact all areas in your life, for the better, but we also know that getting time to actually do it can be hard. We’ve had a look at how you can fit just a little bit of workout time into your schedule so you feel bright and happy all day long.

Jog on
If you’re not keen on intense cardio training but would like to break out in a slight sweat, then how about some gentle jogging? This exercise helps to strengthen your entire body and keep you in good shape, without putting huge pressure on your joints. We do suggest that you invest in some decent trainers, take water with you, and always warm-up and cool down to prevent injuries.

Speed walking
Taking it down another notch from jogging, we have speed walking. You might not know this but a brisk walk can help build your cardiovascular health and can also boost your mental wellbeing. This really is a low commitment exercise that anyone can fit into their day, and if you have a dog, even better as they need their walk and you can get fit together!

Yoga
As well as keeping your heart healthy, it is also important to ensure you have muscle flexibility and a still mind, and yoga can do this for you. Yoga, as well as tai chi and Pilates, engage your muscles so they stay healthy and you also have the meditative elements that still your mind, allow you to focus on your breathing and bring down your anxiety.

Crunch it out
If you want to work on your abs without going OTT in the gym, simple crunches are the way to go. Crossing your arms across your chest while doing these exercises can help you to avoid pulling on your neck and causing injury. If you aren’t quite sure how to get this right, ask a PT and they will be only too happy to assist so you know you are on the right track.

Shake it out
Dancing is an amazing way to keep fit, stay healthy and make friends. Zumba, ballet, salsa, and tap are just some of the options out there and not only will taking part make you feel good but because of the social element, you will feel like you’ve had a group hug at the end of the session.

Go for a swim
We often think about swimming in the summer but this is a great cardio exercise that will benefit your health and mental well-being all year round. As swimming isn’t dangerous for joints and muscles, it’s something many of us can enjoy, and if you are serious about your strokes, book in a lesson or two and really make this sport work for you.

Raise your heals
Heel raises, which involve deliberately lifting and lowering your heels off the floor, can help to address weakness, balance, range of motion, and coordination of the foot and ankle. This might seem like a really simple move, but it goes a long way to stretch out those muscles and keep you supple.

Skip away
A rope and a little space can really get your heart rate up and those feel-good endorphins pumping! You don’t have to do it for ages, and while you’ll be surprised at how hard it is when you start, build it up over time and your fitness levels will boom.

Team Pure Beauty

How to look after your mental health at work

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11am sugar crashes, admin, banter, boring, chocolate, company, confidence, decade, desk, disheartening, eating regularly, emotionally resilient, engage, error, exercise, fridge, good diet, gossip, hangover, happy, HR, HR department, HR reviews, importance, lifestyle, list it, look after, lunch, manageable plan, manager, mental health, mental health win, moderate your alcohol intake, Negative thoughts, office, opportunities, overwhelmed, own up, Own your mistakes, perspective, physical health, potential, practical steps, pressure, pressurised role, prioritise, reassure, removed, responsible, right, roles, simple, snacking, staff management, stress and worry, stretching, suffer, take a break, Talk it out, to do list, trainers, trouble, water, work, work can be demanding, workstation

There is no denying that the world of work can be demanding. Admin, staff management, endless meetings, and HR reviews can add to the pressure of an already pressurised role, and if you aren’t careful, your mental health can suffer.

We’ve had a look at what you can do to keep up with the to-do list and ensure your mental well-being is taken care of too.

Enjoy your work
We know that you can have everything from a job, but doing something you hate is not only boring but disheartening and can take away your confidence. As we approach the end of this decade, ask yourself whether you really do like what you are doing, or if there is something that you’d rather do. See if there are any other roles in the company you work for that may be a better fit for you, or keep an eye out on other opportunities out there that will match all your needs.

Talk it out
If something isn’t right at work, then talk it over with the right person, but don’t gossip. We all engage in a little kitchen banter but things won’t change if you don’t let a manager or the HR department know what is happening. You might find that your issue has been mentioned before and that there is something that can be done not only to help you but to make things better for everyone and that has to be a mental health win.

Take a break
You might think that you can’t take a break, but you need to. Getting up, walking around, having a glass of water and stretching might sound simple, and they are, but doing this each hour is a good idea and can take the edge off things.

Look at your lifestyle
We spend a lot of time at work and if you want to be more emotionally resilient, you do need to look after your physical health. A good diet and eating regularly will allow you to focus and stop the 11am sugar crashes that leave you snacking on chocolate. Keep water on your desk or workstation, and try to moderate your alcohol intake in the evenings as you will feel less like working when you have a hangover. Oh, and you might not feel like chucking on your trainers, but exercise can help you get rid of stress and worry, so find something you like and do it.

Own your mistakes
If you make a mistake at work, ignoring it won’t make it go away but could make it worse and get you into real trouble. If an error has been made, own up, look at what can be done and show those you work with that you can be responsible and have potential.

Think about it in another way
Negative thoughts can get us down and when that happens even someone taking your lunch out of the fridge or using all the printer paper, can mean things get blown out of proportion. Go to someone you trust, but that at work, or out, and they could help you see things from a different perspective, or reassure you that it will be OK. Often when we set our cards out on the table as we see them, someone removed from the office may be able to offer practical steps you can put into place to make changes that will make you happy.

List it
If you feel overwhelmed at work, it’s hard to know where to start – so often you don’t do anything at all. An easy way to stop overwhelm is to make a list of everything you need to do, then prioritise by urgency and importance. If you can turn your worry into a manageable plan, you can feel calmer and in control again.

If you do all of this and work still feels too much, ask for help.

Team Pure Beauty

Why hydrated skin equals happy skin

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acne, ageing and environmental elements, an antioxidant shield, antioxidant rich day cream, balanced and supple, bodies, brains, Broccoli, Camellia, chia seeds, cool blend, daily intake, Decleor Essential Tonifying Lotion, deeper, dehydrated, delicate, Dermalogica Hydrating Lotion r, Dermalogica Phyto Replenish Oil, drink water, dryness, Elemis Hydra-Balance Day Cream, Elemis Superfood Facial Oil, Eyes, flax seed, game changer, good shape, green tea, grey and tired, happy, healthy, highly concentrated plant-based superfoods, hydrate, hydrated, impurities, issue, Jan Marini Transformation Eye Cream, lines, lower eyelids, macadamia, moisture, natural barrier, natural ingredients, natural moisturising factor, natural pH levels, neroli oil, NMF, normal skin, oleic, orchid flower, pores, radish, refreshed, restore, revitalised, Rice Bran, rosemary extracts, saggy, secret, simple, smooth, soften, solve, soothes discomfort, spots, sunflower, superfoods, tamanu, tender, thin, tight, twice a day, ultra-light, visible dehydration lines, Why hydrated skin equals happy skin, working, young skin

The secret to happy skin is a simple one; hydration.

Just like we need to drink water to keep our bodies and brains working properly, our skin needs a daily intake of moisture to keep it healthy and in good shape. As well as skin looking grey and tired, a lack of hydration can make it feel tight, lines look deeper and cell turnover can slow down.

At Pure Beauty we sell a range of fantastic products that keep your skin hydrated and happy, so let’s see what might work for you.

We know that ageing and environmental elements can lead to dryness and dehydration, but the Dermalogica Phyto Replenish Oil uses nature to help solve this issue. First of all, camellia and tamanu oils help restore the skin’s natural barrier, then orchid flower and chia seeds sweep in and smooth visible dehydration lines and lock in moisture. If this wasn’t enough, sunflower, rice bran and rosemary extracts create an antioxidant shield against the free radicals that can do so much damage. This all means you are left with happy, hydrated skin!

You might think that a toner will dehydrate your skin, but this isn’t true. Using the Decleor Essential Tonifying Lotion twice a day balances the skin’s natural pH and leaves it refreshed, revitalised and hydrated. Green tea gently removes impurities and tightens pores, while Neroli oil protects, repairs and fights dehydration.

Even normal skin can become dehydrated and that’s when the Elemis Hydra-Balance Day Cream comes into play. This ultra-light, antioxidant rich day cream gives normal and combination skin ongoing hydration, so it is balanced and supple. It works with the skin’s natural moisturising factor (NMF) to help maintain a balanced moisture level and used morning and night can help you get the skin you love and deserve.

Even young skin can become dehydrated, and even more so if acne and spots are on the scene. We love how the lightweight Dermalogica Hydrating Lotion really helps dehydrated, breakout-irritated skin that is tender and sad. The sheer, easy-to-apply formula soothes discomfort and hydrates thanks to a cool blend of natural ingredients that work with nature, not against it.

The skin around the eyes is super delicate and thin, so it can soon look sad and saggy when dehydration hits. If this sounds familiar to you, we joke not when we say that the Jan Marini Transformation Eye Cream is a game changer. The clever complex visibly improves skin texture and restores hydration around eyes, while helping prevent future damage. When used sparingly morning and evening on the lower eyelids and across the brow bones, this cream can make big changes.

We can’t go without mentioning the fabulous Elemis Superfood Facial Oil. A blend of highly concentrated plant-based superfoods are packed into this beautiful bottle, and means your skin is deeply nourished and hydrated after the very first application. Broccoli, flax seed and radish soften and smooth the skin while macadamia, oleic and poppy seed oils nourish and moisturise. The results are a healthy, radiant glow like no other.

If you would like more help on happy, hydrated skin, get in touch and we would love to see what could work for you.

Team Pure Beauty

Spot the clear skin

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acne, acne treatments, alcohol, antiseptic, bacteria, benefit, blemishes, breakout prone skin, breakout-irritated skin, bright, calm, Camphor, chemicals, clay, clean, clear away, confidence, cool, cover up, Dermalogica Clearing Skin Wash, Dermalogica Hydrating Lotion, Dermalogica Overnight Clearing Gel, Dermalogica Sebum Clearing Masque., easy-to-apply formula, Elemis Balancing Lavender Toner, Elemis S.O.S. Emergency Cream, eucalyptus, excess surface oils, feel, gentle foaming cleanser, ginger, Grapefruit, green tea, happy, heal, hyaluronic acid, inflammation, Jan Marini Bioglycolic Bioclear Cream, lavender, lightweight, look, magic wand, menthol, mint, nourish, oat, oil absorbing, orange, overnight, pain, PH levels, premature ageing, problem areas, rebalance, redness, repairs, rosemary, Safflower Oil, saponins, scars, sheer, skin, skin congestion, sleep, soothe, spots, squalane, Sweet Betty flower, Tea Tree, throbbing, Toner, yeast, zinc

If you have ever suffered from acne and spots you know it can be a total pain on many levels. From the redness and throbbing, to scars and cover up, blemishes can impact not only how our skin looks, but how we feel.

While we don’t have a magic wand, we wish we did, but at Pure Beauty we sell a range of first-class products that will help to calm, nourish and soothe your skin and help you to feel happy and confident about your complexion once again.

If you love your current products but need a little extra spot blasting care, we would suggest the Dermalogica Clearing Skin Wash. This gentle foaming cleanser is the perfect way to take control of breakouts and excess surface oils and has been created for breakout prone skin. Antiseptic extracts of mint, eucalyptus and tea tree come together to clear away bacteria, while menthol and camphor cool the inflammation of spots. The great thing is, the skin is left clean and bright and you know you are doing the best for your skin.

Your skin repairs as you sleep, so why not boost your love for it by using the Dermalogica Overnight Clearing Gel. This gel has been created to help clear skin congestion and help prevent future breakouts, which can only be a good thing. It is suitable for acne and breakout-prone skin and can be applied to problem areas and green tea, hyaluronic acid, rosemary, zinc, and yeast will heal your skin overnight.

All skin can benefit from using a toner and the Elemis Balancing Lavender Toner is good if you do have blemishes. This product not only tones the skin but also helps rebalance the pH levels without the use of alcohol or harsh chemicals. Extracts of sweet betty flower and saponins balance and soften the skin, while lavender helps reduce acne inflammation.

The Dermalogica Hydrating Lotion is a lightweight moisturiser that helps dehydrate, breakout-irritated skin feel better. As part of the ‘Clear Start’ range, this sheer, easy-to-apply formula helps soothe discomfort and is easier on the skin that some acne treatments. Moisturising, squalane softens and nourishes while ginger, orange, and grapefruit soothe and protect.

As the name suggests, the Dermalogica Sebum Clearing Masque is a clay masque and one that helps clear breakouts and also helps minimise premature ageing – winner! Oil-absorbing clays help to detoxify skin while salicylic acid clears the pore congestion which can really impact complexions. This can be used up to three times a week and with oat, safflower oil and niacinamide, your skin will feel soft, smooth and free from irritation.

Acne can leave scars, but the Jan Marini Bioglycolic Bioclear Cream can help. This multi-functional resurfacing cream comes with a combination of three acids that together address the appearance of acne scars, pigmentation, rosacea, fine lines, and wrinkles. For best use, cleanse your skin thoroughly before applying, then apply a thin layer to your face. Do note that excessive drying of the skin can happen, so start with one application daily and gradually increase to two or three times daily. All skin is different, so see how it goes and do what is best for you.

One final idea we have for you is the Elemis S.O.S. Emergency Cream. This is a gorgeous, intense moisturiser created to restore hydration levels, whilst repairing and de-sensitising blemish prone, dry or sensitive skin.

If you have any questions or would like to try some samples to see if they suit your skin, get in touch, and we are here to help.

Team Pure Beauty