Why You Should Be Paying Attention to Amino Acids

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amino acids, anti-aging, appearance, astringent, basil oil, blow, body, botanical, breakage, building blocks, Burdock, cells, chamomile, cleansing, cucumber, detangling, drying, elasticity, essential, exfoliating, expression, Eyes, Frankincense, frizz, Grapefruit, hair, healthy, heat, hydration, Ivy, Jojoba oil, lavender, lemon, lines, Mallow, moisturised, moisturising, nature, oil, oils, peel, peptides, protect, protection, radiant, rose, sagging, science, shine, skin, smoothness, softness, soothe, split ends, useful, Watercress, youthful

Photo by David Clode on Unsplash

Amino acids are the building blocks of the cells that make up your body – however, did you know they can also be good for your skin? Amino acids, which contain moisturising, anti-aging, and exfoliating characteristics, can aid with skin elasticity issues that arise as we age. Amino acids come in 20 different varieties, and they are useful for people of all ages and skin types. A more moisturised, youthful, and generally healthy appearance of the skin is achieved by using amino acids in skin care products that also encourage cellular repair and collagen formation. Here are five of our favourite products which harness the power of amino acids:

CACI – Amino-Lift Peptide Complex

This effective anti-ageing skin care cream contains powerful peptides, essential oils and amino acids that target expression lines and help to firm sagging skin. It can be used twice a day after cleansing to give visible results and as well as being packed with amino acids also contains basil oil, jojoba oil, grapefruit peel oil and a number of other other botanical ingredients which nourish and revive your skin. 

L’Oreal Professionnel Serie Expert Vitamino Colour 10-In-1 Multi-Benefit Leave-In Treatment Milk

Amino acids don’t just benefit your face – your hair can also benefit from using products which are infused with amino acids. This leave-in treatment milk from L’Oreal is a multi-benefit spray designed for coloured hair with 10 key benefits. It promises to help your hair to achieve shine, softness, smoothness of hair fibre and hydration, as well as offering protection against heat up to 230°c, detangling, anti-breakage, anti-split ends, anti-frizz and even facilitates blow-drying! 

Aromatherapy Associates Eye Zone Concentrate

The skin around the eyes is one of the thinnest areas of skin on your whole body, which means that it is more prone to premature ageing. This eye cream from Aromatherapy Associates combines powerful, bio-fermented actives, advanced amino acids and an effective pure essential oil blend to lift, tighten and contour the area around the eyes. It also contains rose, camomile and frankincense essential oils to soothe and protect for a radiant, youthful complexion. 

Dermalogica Active Moist

This moisture-rich product from Dermalogica combines the best of nature and science, containing a whole host of ingredients which are taken from natural sources. Silk amino acids help smooth and improve skin texture while natural botanical astringents lemon, ivy, watercress and burdock help to refine the skin. It also contains soothing extracts of lavender, mallow and cucumber to help provide deep-hydration.

Elemis Dynamic Resurfacing Serum

This resurfacing serum from Elemis is so powerful that it’s advised that you avoid sunbeds and always use an SPF while using the treatment! It’s created using a powerful combination of alpha-hydroxy-acids, selastin and patented Tri-Enzyme technology, as well as selected amino acids. This serum smoothes the skins’s surface, revealing a stunning complexion and also helps to reduce the appearance of pores and wrinkles.

Five of the Best Products for Curly Hair

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all hair types, anti-humidity, coconut oil, coiled, conditioners, curly hair, defrays, diffuser, dry hair, dryness, flexible, flyaways, freeze, gels, GHD, glossy, hair, hair gel, hair products, healthier, heat, heavy, heavy creams, hydrated, L’Oreal, lightweight, mask, natural, naturally curly, non brittle, non-crunchy, nourish, nourishment, oil, repair, scrunching, serums, Shea butter, shine, silky, smoothness, spring, styling routine, technology, tongs, wet hair

Photo by Vlada Karpovich

It wasn’t so long ago that the options for caring for naturally curly hair were pretty much limited to scrunching a bit of gel through after washing and leaving it to dry down to a slightly crunchy finish. Thankfully, the curly haired among us have made it known that they deserve far better when it comes to hair care in recent years and the curly girl revolution is well and truly underway. The rise in demand for dedicated hair products for curly hair means that many brands have risen to meet this, and we have a number of products on our shelves which will care for your curls better than ever before. Here are five of the best products to help you to look after your curly hair:

Color Wow Dream Coat for Curly Hair

If you’re sick and tired of the gels we mentioned above then this product from Color Wow will be a breath of fresh air for your hair. It’s a super-light, alcohol-free formula that delivers all the combined benefits of out-dated gels, serums and heavy creams, rolled into one. The product is enriched with powerful polymers that work to moisturise, condition and de-frizz curly locks whilst restoring bounce and ensuring flexible, non-brittle endurance and glossy shine. The results are waves and spirals that are perfectly bundled, hydrated and non-crunchy with supernatural shine.

GHD Curly Ever After Curl Hold Spray

Depending on your curl type, you may sometimes use tongs or a diffuser to ensure that your curls are uniform and properly coiled. This hold spray from ghd will deliver up to a 12 hour curl hold for a style that lasts all night. It contains the ghd heat protect system to form a protective thermal layer over the surface of the hair for smoothness and a healthier feel. ghd curly ever after spray is suitable for all hair types to maximise your heat styling routine.   

L’Oreal Professionnel Serie Expert Liss Unlimited Masque

Curly hair can often suffer from dryness, but the issue is that many conditioners are too heavy and will weigh your curls down completely. L’Oreal Professionnel Serie Expert Liss Unlimited Masque will nourish, repair and smooth your frizzy hair, working in minutes, leaving you with super silky smooth locks. This mask takes advantage of its key technology, Polymer AR to wrap the hair fibre with a special anti-humidity shield, keeping it smooth and glossy while stopping frizz in its tracks.

Nine Yards Twist N Shout Curl Revival Cream

Nine Yards Twist N Shout Curl Revival Cream is a lightweight cream that functions as a styling and caring product for a full curl comeback. This formula conditions and revives the natural shape of the curls by adding moisture to the hair. It contains natural shea butter and coconut oil to condition dryness and add a natural spring and shine to your curls.

Olaplex No.7 Bonding Oil

Olaplex is one of the biggest names in hair care right now, and this bonding oil is a saviour for those of us with a curly mane. This oil provides highly concentrated nourishment to help repair dry and damaged hair whilst improving manageability by minimising frizz and flyaways and providing heat protection up to 232°C. It’s suitable for all hair types and can be used on wet or dry hair, but it will revive and protect your curls without weighing them down. 

Five Products to Help Beat Summer Frizz

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anti-breakage, anti-frizz, argan oil, better blow-drying, Color Wow, concentrated, detangling, flyaway, frizz, frizzy, GHD, greasy, hair, healthy, heat, hot, humid, humidity, hydration, lightweight, multi-functional, Olaplex, serum, shine, sleek, smooth, smoothness of hair fibre, softness, split ends, summer, Sunflower Seed Extract, treatment, weighed down

Photo by Garon Piceli

Although it’s technically summer here in the UK, the weather has been pretty unpredictable. One minute, it’s warm and sunny and the next, the rain is pouring and the air feels thick and muggy. When your hair is dry, damaged, or chemically-treated, the outer layer of the hair strand becomes raised, as opposed to lying flat and smooth. During the summer, the hair often seeks moisture from the air around it, which is why humidity causes the hair to swell and turn frizzy. 

All of this is a recipe for disaster if you’re prone to frizzy hair, and short of wearing a hat until the crisper autumn weather arrives, you’re going to want to sort it out. That’s why we’ve curated this list of five products which are your best friend when it comes to beating the frizz, this summer:

Nine Yards Hair Down Anti Frizz Cream

This anti-frizz cream from Nine Yards can be used on both wet and dry hair, during styling, to keep the hair smooth and frizz-free. Ingredients include argan oil and sunflower seed extract to control flyaway hair, keep hair straight and give you a sleek finish without weighing your hair down or making it look greasy. 

Olaplex No.6 Bond Smoother

Olaplex No.6 Bond Smoother is a leave-in reparative styling cream which strengthens, hydrates, moisturises and speeds up blow dry times while smoothing and eliminating frizz and flyaways for up to 72 hours. It is highly concentrated and doesn’t weigh hair down, and you only need to use a few drops, once every three days, so a little of this formula goes a long way!

Color Wow Dream Coat Supernatural Spray

This spray from Color Wow has been specifically formulated to control hair when the humidity is high. Unlike typical treatments, this lightweight spray guarantees not to leave hair greasy or weighed down, leaving you with  enviably smooth tresses that are free from frizz for days. It should be applied on damp hair and activated by blow drying, to give you a home  humidity-proofing treatment that protects hair for up to 72 hours.

GHD Dramatic Ending Smooth and Finish Serum

GHD hair tools are famous for giving a finish which is second to none, so it stands to reason that they would release products which are equally as effective. GHD Dramatic Ending Smooth and Finish Serum is a lightweight serum that instantly smooths and adds an extra boost of shine. It can be used in all hair types and works to maximise sleek styles by helping to eliminate frizz and quickly delivering healthier-looking hair.

L’Oreal Professionnel Serie Expert Vitamino Colour 10-In-1 Multi-Benefit Leave-In Treatment Milk 

This multi-benefit spray from L’Oreal doesn’t just help to combat frizz – it performs no fewer than TEN functions, to get your hair looking its best. As well as being an anti-frizz treatment, the treatment milk promises to give your hair protection against heat up to 230°C/450°F degrees, shine, softness, smoothness of hair fibre, detangling, better blow-drying, hydration, anti-breakage AND anti-split ends! We honestly don’t know if we’ve ever met a harder working product than this one. 

Helpful hacks to better sleep

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alarm clock, bedside table, big meals, body, books, brain, caffeinated drinks, calm, changing your diet, clean, clear space, covers, curtains, dark, diet, dozed off, e-reader, elements, fuelling up, Get into a routine, giving up booze, glare, good night’s sleep, GP, heat, holistic, hot chocolate, impact, improve, internal body clock, laptop, learning simple relaxation techniques, lie-in, lumpy, mattress, meditating, New Year’s Resolutions, old, positive step, quiet, Relax before bed, relaxing, rest, run, sleep, sleep diary, sleeping troubles, sugary snacks, tablet, teeth, TV, underlying issue, veganism, warm bath, Watch what you eat, woke, yoga

All these New Year’s Resolutions are great, and while giving up booze, changing your diet and taking more exercise are a positive step, they can all have an impact on your
sleep habits.

As we change the various elements of our lives, our sleep can improve in the long run, but adapting to a new way of doing things takes time. We have had a look at how you can get a good night’s sleep and bring a holistic change to your life in 2020.

Watch what you eat
You might be trying out a new diet or trying out veganism, but if you don’t eat enough during the day, or are fuelling up on the wrong things late in the evening, this could impact how you sleep. Don’t have caffeinated drinks before bed (remember hot chocolate might not be a sleep choice after all), steer clear of big meals later in the day and try not to have sugary snacks before bed as this can play havoc with your body, and teeth. If you are hungry, a banana or handful of nuts with a mug of warm water and lemon can help give you the balance you need.

Get into a routine
It is really important for you to stick to a bedtime routine, not because you are a child but because this will help both your brain and internal body clock find a new schedule every night. Try to go to bed at the same time each night and while a lie-in at the weekend is nice, just don’t over do it as that evening could spell sleeping troubles.

Relax before bed
While you might want to fit in a run at 9pm, it’s relaxing in the evening that will prepare you for bed and sleep. Taking a warm bath, learning simple relaxation techniques, doing some gentle yoga stretches and meditating are all calm, easy ways to help you unwind and get ready to rest.

Detox your bedroom
If you want to get to sleep, and stay asleep, your bedroom needs to be a quiet, clean, clear space that you want to spend time in. Chairs laden with clothes, shoes on the floor, dirty cups and glasses on the bedside table and endless open beauty products are not conducive to rest. This weekend, why not have a really good clear out, hoover and dust, set the radiator to the right heat, ensure the curtains are dark enough and see if this makes a difference for you. This is also the time to check out your mattress and make sure it is working, because if it is old and lumpy that is how you will feel when you wake.

Go screen free
Whether it’s a TV, laptop, tablet or e-reader, the glare of a screen in the bedroom isn’t going to do you any sleep favours. Keep screens out of the bedroom, get an alarm clock, read real books and you might be surprised how going screen free can help you sleep better.

Keep a sleep diary
If you find that you are doing everything right, but still can’t sleep, try keeping a diary so you can see what is happening. Note down what times you go to bed, what you did before you jumped under the covers, what you ate that day, when you dozed off (if you can remember) and what time you woke up in the morning. This might help you discover what is keeping you awake.

If you’re really struggling, maybe speak to your GP and see if there is an underlying issue they can help you with.

Team Pure Beauty

Have Yourself an Oil-Free Christmas

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all skin types, bisobolol, broad spectrum, Burdock, complexion, Dermalogica Active Moist, Dermalogica Oil Free Matte SPF30, dry, dryness, face, Green Tea extract, heat, holiday, inflammation, Ivy, Jan Marini Daily Face Protectant SPF30, Jan Marini Physical Protectant SPF30, lemon, oil, oil free, oily skin, overproduction, sebum, skin, smooth, soothe, sun, sun protection, UVA, UVB, Watercress, winter

Photo by Malvestida Magazine on Unsplash

If you suffer with oily skin, this time of year can play absolute havoc with your complexion. Between central heating, too much food and drink during Christmas parties and the cold weather, skin which already over produces oil can go into overdrive. The best way to combat this is to invest in some good oil-free products which will help keep your skin in great condition without exacerbating any overproduction. Here are four of our favourite products which are completely oil-free but will give your skin a real treat during the festive season.

Dermalogica Active Moist

Although many people with oily skin shy away from moisturiser, it can actually be even more essential to moisturise oily skin, as the oiliness can be caused by an underlying dryness problem. This moisturiser from Dermalogica is lightweight and oil-free, and absorbs into the skin without leaving a slick on the surface. It creates an invisible barrier which stops your skin from losing natural moisture and can help to create a smooth base for your makeup. It contains natural extract of lemon, watercress, burdock and ivy, which are all astringent and will help to keep oil at bay. Soothing extracts of lavender, mallow and cucumber will deeply hydrate your skin. It’s perfect for skin which creates excess oil and helps to hydrate without leaving the skin feeling greasy.

Jan Marini Daily Face Protectant SPF30

We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again; even if you live in the UK, you still need a daily SPF on your face to protect yourself from the sun’s harmful rays, otherwise they will exacerbate the signs of aging. This daily-use face protectant from Jan Marini is SPF30 and will provide your skin with a water-resistant broad-spectrum protection against UVA and UVB rays. As well as this, it will help to control the oil production in your skin while providing advanced hydration, allowing you to give you a skin a wash of moisture and daily protection without any additional oil which could exacerbate sebum production.

Dermalogica Oil Free Matte SPF30

This product from Dermalogica is a truly multifunctional formulation. As well as providing lightweight ultra sheer broad spectrum sun protection, it also helps to regulate oil production within the skin, preventing shine and soothing inflammation. It contains advanced oil absorbers which help your skin to have a matte finish all day long, but doesn’t leave the same powdery residue that other oil absorbing products might. It contains green tea leaf extract, a powerful antioxidant which helps to soothe inflammation and can rid your skin of the underlying causes of overproduction of oil.

Jan Marini Physical Protectant SPF30

This sunscreen from Jan Marini is so much more than just sun protection and is actually a bit of a miracle product in a bottle! The weightless formula contains a universal tint and microscopic oil absorbing particles which will leave your skin with a sheer matte finish all day long. It contains green tea extract and alpha bisabolol, which give enhance antioxidant properties while soothing and calming the skin. It’s suitable for all skin types and is water resistant for up to 80 minutes, making it the perfect product to take on holiday with you.