Essential Oils for You and Your Home

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Essential oils not only smell amazing, but they are totally natural and can be used on your skin, for your health and in your home.

You can create massage blends, inhalants, rubs, compresses, diffuser blends and cleaning products that won’t harm you, or the environment but could lift your mood and boost your senses.

We have looked at some of the most accessible oils out there and hope you’ll find one that suits you and fits into your lifestyle.

Lavender
This is one of the most universally loved essential oils and for good reason. This immune boosting powerhouse oil can be used as an antiseptic, antiviral, antibiotic and antispasmodic. It helps with sleep or anxiety issues due to its sedative properties. It can be used for treating burns and blisters, insect bites and stings. You can find it in most chemists and supermarkets, and a little goes a long way. You can help the whole family relax by adding a couple of drops to the bath, and if you dab on pillowcases, the heady scent could help ease you into slumber the natural way.

Eucalyptus
This is a super popular ingredient in chest balms and muscle massage oils because the natural menthol helps you to breathe easily and relax again. To make your own steam inhalation remedy, add one or two drops of oil to a bowl of hot water. Close your eyes, inhale deeply – draping a towel over your head to trap the steam – and say goodbye to your stuffy nose and painful sinuses. You can also add several drops to a humidifier to clear the air at home or work, but we would suggest you avoid direct use with babies and young children. You can add to a tissue or item of clothing to help keep your head clear and focus straight.

Tea tree oil
Tea tree oil is antiviral, anti-inflammatory, it can be used to deal with gingivitis and helps shake off dandruff. It is also a gentle way to treat acne and is less drying than more common chemical ingredients. Simply add a couple of drops of oil to half a cup of warm water, shake well and apply to your skin with a clean cloth and let the natural goodness soak in. Not only is it effective on your skin, but tea tree oil can also be used to purify your home and can be added to soap, shower gels and even your surface cleaners to give them a boost.

Lemon
It might be the middle of winter, but lemon essential oil can bring a little sunshine to your life whatever the time of year. Adored for its light clean scent, this essential oil is perfect for homemade cleaning products as it is naturally purifying and can clear away stubborn stains and freshen the air. You can use lemon essential oil to freshen up your fridge, clean your floors, put a little on the carpets in your car and it will make your bathroom smell so much better than ever before.

What’s your favourite essential oil and how do you use it everyday? Let us know, we are all ears and open to new ideas.

Team Pure Beauty

How to get better sleep in your life

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Sleep may seem like a bit of a waste of time because as you snooze you could be answering e-mails, doing work or swiping right, but if you don’t get enough rest, you won’t do any of these things very well.

Sleep not only refreshes you and let’s your body, brain and skin recover from the day, it can also help ease depression and anxiety, decrease the illness, help with your memory, improve your immune system, prevent weight gain and make you happier and more productive.

If you want to get more sleep, and better sleep, we have some ideas that might help.

Make exercise a priority
Regular exercise that’s part of your daily life really can help you to sleep. As well as reducing stress and relieving anxiety, exercise, whether it be cardio, strength training or yoga can improve your general wellbeing, boost your mood and help your body to wind down at the end of the day so you can sleep. We wouldn’t suggest a HIT workout at 9pm, but you might find that some gentle stretches in the evening, combined with meditation, will ease tension and get you feeling more rested.

Go for de-caff
Many of us drink caffeinated drinks as a way of staying awake and alert during the day, but the downside is that this can actually keep you awake at night. Try to stop drinking caffeine heavy coffee, tea and fizzy drinks six to eight hours before bed, sipping on water and herbal teas instead, and you will be glad you did.

Make a list
You might find that making a list of things to do the next day will stop things going around in your head when you do get into bed. Another way to end your day is to list three things you have been grateful for and this means you will see just what you have accomplished and how well you are doing in life which means there is no need to lie awake worrying.

De-stress in the evening
Having a warm bath, meditating or listening to a calming app while lying in bed are all gentle ways to get you in the mood for sleep. If you can turn off your daytime worries and switch into a more relaxed mode, it will help you to get ready for sleep.

Get into a routine
You might not think it but your body craves consistency, plus you’re more likely to get enough sleep if you schedule it in the same way you do with other important tasks in your life. Set a time when you turn off screens, have slot for taking a bath or shower and set your alarm for the next day, and if you can, get up at the same time everyday so you keep things in a pattern, even better.

Create a sleeping haven
Bed is not a place for paying bills, writing reports or watching scary movies, it is a place for peace, quiet and sleep. Have clean bedding, comfortable pillows, a decent mattress, make sure the temperature works for you, get soft lighting and black out blinds and make your bedroom a place you want to be in.

Get up and stop fretting
If you don’t fall asleep after 15 minutes, why not get up until you feel ready to drift off? Don’t turn on your phone or start answering emails, instead have a warm drink, read a book, do some yoga or meditation and try to set your mind free.

If you’re still having trouble sleeping, why not speak with your doctor and see if they can help you get back on track.

Team Pure Beauty

Clear your head with Pure Beauty

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body, bonfire night, boost, busy mind, calm, Camellia, cards to write, cared for, Christmas, cleared, crazy, daily shampoo, Decleor Satin Softening Dry Oil, Dermalogica Daily Cleansing Shampoo, Dermalogica Sleep Sound Cocoon Night Gel-Cream, Elemis De-Stress Massage Oil, Elemis Exotic Cream Moisturising Mask b, enrich, expensive, expertly blended, festive Frankincense, geranium, Halloween, head, lavender, marjoram, mask, melissa, melts, Mimosa and Honey Absolute, mind, moisture lacking, moisturise, nourishing, orange, painful tension, parties to attend, party season, Persian Silk Tree and Tamarind Seed Extracts, please, Presents to buy, Relax, revitalising gel-cream, rose, rosewood, school plays, shopping bags, shower, sinks, sleep, sleep better, softer, spirit, stressful, sulphate-free, therapeutic plant extracts, tired complexions, transforms skin, wash away, wows, Wu-Zhu-Yu

With Halloween and bonfire night over, we are now driving in the fast road to Christmas. Presents to buy, cards to write, parties to attend, school plays to watch and endless people to please, this might be a fun time of the year, but it can also be a pretty stressful, expensive one too.

We have had a look at some of the products on the Pure Beauty website that let you take time out and relax, so you can clear your head and focus on what is really important in life – you!

At Pure Beauty we love the Elemis De-Stress Massage Oil and for good reason. Pure essential oils of Rosewood, Marjoram, Geranium, Melissa, and Chamomile have been expertly blended to create an aromatherapy product that soothes a busy mind, melts the painful tension from carrying all those shopping bags and allows the body to relax. Simply warm a little oil in your hands and then massage into the skin using gentle, upward movements. Not only will this leave your skin feeling soft and cared for, but your head will be cleared and thanks to the Lavender, you may well sleep better too.

Taking the Dermalogica Daily Cleansing Shampoo into the shower in the morning is one way to wash away the blues and plan for the day ahead. This nourishing, sulphate-free, daily shampoo not only leaves you with super healthy, really shiny hair that wows during the party season, but thanks to the blend of essential oils that have been used, your senses will be invigorated too.

The Decleor Satin Softening Dry Oil has a subtle, delicate fragrance, that can help you switch off from the crazy Christmas world for a little while. Enriched with festive Frankincense, Camellia, Rose and Sweet Almond Oils, this easy to apply product simply sinks into your skin leaving your body and face feeling softer, and your mind feeling calm and clearer.

The Elemis Exotic Cream Moisturising Mask blends Mimosa and Honey Absolute, with extracts of Orange and Bergamot so not only does it moisturise and enrich your skin, it also gives you time to sit back and relax as the goodness gets to work. Excellent for moisture lacking, tired complexions, this mask will not only help you look good, but the therapeutic plant extracts used, will boost your spirit too.

Finally, we wanted to mention the Dermalogica Sleep Sound Cocoon. Relatively new to the site, this revitalising gel-cream, transforms skin and because of the blend of ingredients used, it can help you sleep better too. Smoothed over the face and neck before bed, the Wu-Zhu-Yu , Persian Silk Tree and Tamarind Seed Extracts add hydration, reduce signs of fatigue, and vitality will be restored too, so you will look great on that party dance floor.

For more details or to try samples, why not get in touch today and we would love to help.

Team Pure Beauty

Life is easier with happy hacks

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#embracehappy, anti-fungal, bacteria, bed, bottom, brush your teeth, buffet, bus, busy, cleanses, clothes, cold tap, Commuting, crisps, damage, detoxification, digestion, easy, end of the month, eye strain, gummy sweets, hard earned cash, head, health hacks, hot, immune boosting, irritation, jeans, kettle, love, lukewarm, M&Ms, meditate, party, Pinterest, read, spinning, stomach, teeth whitening products, train, water, yoga

In a world that is super-busy, never has it been so important to take care of ourselves been so important, but this isn’t always easy.

You might think that not removing your make-up or skipping that dentist appointment might not matter, but overtime these little blips add up and could actually be more damaging that you thought.

We have put together some really easy health and wellbeing hacks that won’t eat into your day but will make a big difference to your life in the long run.

While many of us reach for the caffeine first thing, a mug of lukewarm water with lemon and cayenne pepper (we know) is way better. This creative combo wakes up your organs and both lemon juice and cayenne pepper have anti-fungal, immune boosting, detoxification properties that you will love more than the taste. Lemon juice also naturally helps with digestion and drives away bacteria and cleanses the system. What are you waiting for, put the kettle on.

We know that snacks like crisps, M&Ms and gummy sweets aren’t good for us but it is better to have a few rather than the whole lot. Why not put small portion into plastic bags and keep ONE in your desk drawer to curb that 4 p.m. craving?

The 5/7 diet is pretty popular and can be effective, but do you know about the 20/20/20 rule? If you stare at a computer all day and want to reduce eye strain and irritation, take 20 seconds to look at something 20 feet away every 20 minutes. Go on, we dare you.

The buffet at a party can be a real draw, especially after a drink or two. To stop the damage to your waistline before it starts, eat a plate of raw veggies before you leave the house to give your stomach a head start and allow yourself to feel fuller for longer.

If you are an habitual class dodger, book your yoga or spinning session in advance. The thought of being charged and wasting your hard-earned cash could be enough to make you get up and go.

Looking for inspiration for changing your home? Don’t splurge on magazines which will be out of date by the end of the month, instead make Pinterest your friend…you won’t regret it.

Commuting by bus or train needn’t be a headache. Use this time to meditate, do an online shop, read or catch up on emails.

If you want a few extra minutes in bed, layout your clothes the night before. From pants and socks to jeans and glasses, get your look sorted before you go to sleep and life becomes instantly easier.

Feeling hot? Run your wrists under the cold tap for a minute and you will soon start to cool down.

We are constantly seeing scary stories about teeth whitening products so why not take away the risk and use banana peel instead? You have read right, banana peel can whiten your teeth! Take some peel and rub it around your top and bottom teeth for around a minute, and leave it on your teeth for a further 10 minutes. Then, brush your teeth and after doing this a couple of times a week, you will start to see a shiny difference.

Put a motivational meme on your phone and computer, it will work, #embracehappy

Got a hack you love, let us know so we can put it to the test.

Team Pure-Beauty

Easy way to meditate

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There is no getting away from the fact that modern day living is stressful, and seems to be getting more so.

Whether you’re commuting on a packed train into the city, constantly trying to meet deadlines at work, or bringing up small children, pressures can mount up and getting time to unwind can be tricky.

However, relaxing is key if you want to get the balance right and whilst we all do that differently, something we can all incorporate in our lives is meditation.

The word meditation, comes from two Latin words: meditari (to think, to dwell upon, to exercise the mind) and mederi (to heal).

Meditation is a mind-body practice that can help improve anxiety and reduce symptoms of stress, leaving you feeling calmer and more in control. It isn’t just about focusing your mind but also looking at what’s going on inside you, so you can really start to understand yourself and the triggers that make you anxious.

There are various types of meditation with many coming from ancient religious and spiritual traditions but the two most common forms are mindfulness and transcendental meditation.

Mindfulness meditation is about focusing on your breathing and transcendental meditation involves repeating a mantra.

To feel the benefits of meditation you can start with as little as five minutes a day and build from there.

You can attend a group or class, which can be helpful when you are getting started, but we have some tips to get you started on your own.

Do it anywhere. Sitting, standing, lying down, on the train, or walking but the key is to be comfortable and focused. Find a chair you really like, sit on the floor with cushions, lie on the grass in the park – the choice is yours but make it work for you.

When you meditate, go distraction free. Turn off all devices, leave your phone in another room and try to make your space as tranquil as possible.

Be open-minded. Meditation works best when you have an open attitude as this makes it easier for thoughts and feelings to flow and for you to relax.

Breath. Once you are comfortable and ready, start to feel your breath as it comes into your body, through your nose and into your lungs. Count one on your first breath and two as you breathe out. Repeat to 10 and start again.

Scan you body. As you progress and are following your breath, start to focus your attention on your body, one part at a time. Start at the top of your head, down to your nose and chin. Feel the breath in your chest, your stomach and your legs. Move to your ankles, toes and finish with the soles of your feet. How do those feel?

Don’t worry you’re doing it wrong. There’s no perfect way to meditate, just do it and be happy you’re doing it.

Smile. Sounds funny we know, but when you’re finished, smile. Be grateful you had this time to yourself and you took time out for you.

Meditation isn’t always easy and it takes time and commitment, but the benefits can be amazing, so why not start today?