How to eat for a less stressed life

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They say you are what you eat, and this is so true when it comes to our stress levels.

Not only is stress linked to serious physical health issues like heart disease, a poor immune system and digestive problems, but it plays a significant factor when it comes to our mental wellbeing.

You might not know this, but eating a balanced, nutritious diet isn’t only good for your body but it’s key for your brain, too.

Food can also affect our hormones, so eating well will help you to keep your cool and you’ll find that the more of the right stuff you eat, the less of the bad stuff you will feel.

We have had a look at some ideas that could help you get a better balance in your life and help the world to look like a better place.

Keep your blood sugar levels steady
This step is so important and can be done if you start to swap sugary and starchy foods for complex carbohydrates, protein and healthy fats as these are more satisfying and keep things balanced. Sweet potato and broccoli (complex carbs) with salmon (healthy fats and protein) make a great meal for lunch or dinner and will not only fill you up but also keep things steady so your stress levels don’t though the roof. Celery sticks with hummus, a handful of nuts, and a banana with some almond butter are all great snacks that will keep stress away, and if you start your day with porridge, you are onto a winner.

Get your B vitamins
You might not know this, but B vitamins are brilliant because they help your adrenal glands deal with stress. Luckily for us, they are everywhere and in everything from wholegrains, eggs and meat to nuts and seeds. If you can try to eat more of these wholesome, nourishing foods, your stress levels will thank you.

Make time for magnesium
Magnesium is great for helping your body to deal with stress, it is thought that a magnesium deficiency can be linked to anxiety. If you want to boost your magnesium intake, it’s pretty easy – just pile your plate with broccoli, eggs, spinach and pumpkin seeds and if you are worried you aren’t getting enough, take a supplement and let the goodness calm you down.

Cut back on stimulants
We do take them on board so easily, that we forget just how much stimulants can make our stress levels worse. If you love tea and coffee because it powers you up, that’s ok, but try to have just one or two cups a day, rather than ten.

Those energy drinks, even the sugar free ones, are full of nasties that can make you feel as if your heart is racing and your stress levels are off the scale, so cut them out.
If you find yourself needing a caffeine hit, get it the natural way and go for green tea instead – it contains a compound called l-theanine which helps you feel calmer, and the warmth will soothe you but your stress levels won’t go through the roof.

Keep hydrated
One of the best things you can do for your mind and body, is to drink plenty of water. We know we say this a lot, but that’s because it’s true. Starting the day with a cup of warm water and lemon can really help to kick start your system and clear away the toxins from the night before. Carry a bottle of water with you on the go (a reusable one of course) and fill it up when you are running low, adding lemon, lime and ice for taste. As well as a glass on your desk or at your workstation, also try out herbal and fruit teas as an alternative to the skinny, double shot, extra hot flat white that will set your nerves on edge and add to your stress levels.

Managing your diet is key to helping with stress, but if you’re feeling overwhelmed and things are getting out of hand, it’s really important to speak to someone or seek professional support, you don’t have to struggle alone.

Team Pure Beauty

How to get your life together this summer

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As we are fast heading to the longest day of the year, how are you feeling about your life?

Is everything great, or could things be just a little bit better?

A bit healthier?

More organised?

Could you sleep better and feel more energised?

Well, we have put together a few ideas that we hope will let you be the very best version of you, from dawn to dusk.

Nutrition
How often do you sacrifice meal planning and cooking from scratch, for taking shortcuts and getting take-aways? It is so, so easy to get caught up in the pressures of life and the demands of everyone around you, but the truth is that won’t do anyone any favours. But, we do get why it happens. The key is to figure out what to eat each week, ensure you have the shopping organised so that you can then cook recipes that don’t require a massive amount of preparation but taste great and are good for you.

Try to eat foods that nourish your body, support your life, and make you feel and look your best! Keep sugar and alcohol down and fruit and veg high.

Keep stress under control
Stress is totally debilitating, draining, and can have massive damaging implications on our health, energy, and ability to thrive. Let’s face it, stress can stop us from achieving lasting health and wellness, so it is important to look at how we deal with it so that we don’t burnout, or lash out. If we don’t monitor stress levels, we can age before our time, get sick more often than we should, and feel anxious all the time as hormones run rampant around in our bodies.

Think again about what you eat and drink. How much time you work and spend at your screens, and consider how best to get good sleep at night so you wake feeling rested. Make time for you and relax. If you are worried about your stress levels, speak to your family, friends or GP and get some support in place.

Exercise
We have said this before, but it is key to take exercise because it has so many amazing benefits. It’s a natural stress reducer, it gets the blood flowing through your entire body, including your brain, and this can help you focus, think more clearly and allow you to perform better. Exercise gives you glowing, healthy skin and can help improve your immune system.

We aren’t saying that you need to train for a marathon or start boxing for England, but find something you like doing and in time, you will love it and all that it brings to you.

So, grab your trainers, get some funky workout gear, a bottle of water, and let those feel good endorphins racing around your system, making you feel fab.

Just say no
This isn’t easy, as so many of us are people pleasers, but it is important to have boundaries in place so you are OK saying ‘no’. Yes, you want to be able to help others, but if you don’t put yourself from time to time, you won’t be able to help anyone else. Look at what you have to do day to day, work out what your priorities really are, and if you can’t take anything else on, don’t.

We hope you have a great summer and that some of these steps will ensure you are on the right path to being the best you.

Team Pure Beauty

Getting to grips with hyperpigmentation

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acne, age, age spots, antioxidants, appearance, bed, boosted, brighter, cleansing, clearer skin, clinically proven, concern, Daisy, Dermalogica C-12 Pure Bright Serum, Dermalogica Multivitamin Power Serum, Dermalogica PowerBright TRx, Dermalogica PowerBright TRx Treatment Kit, Dermalogica Pure Light SPF50, elasticity levels, Elemis White Brightening Even Tone Cleanser, Elemis White Brightening Even Tone Serum, fine lines, genetics, GP, happier, hormones, hyperpigmentation, inflammation, intensive approach, Jan Marini Age Intervention Retinol Plus Mask, Jan Marini Bioglycolic Bioclear Lotion, Kiwi Extract, light to dark skin, melanin, naturally illuminated, patches, peptides, pregnancy and skin injuries, reduces excess oil, removes impurities, retinol, Rice Silk, rosacea, self-conscious, smoother, softer, soothing agents, Sophora, sun damage, sun exposure, sunflower butter, travel-size, Vitamin C, winner, wrinkles

Hyperpigmentation occurs when there is the overproduction of melanin and results in patches of light to dark skin that and vary in size and shape.

Sun exposure, genetics, age, hormones, pregnancy and skin injuries or inflammation can all be contributing factors and while hyperpigmentation isn’t usually a concern, it can make people feel self-conscious.

While there is no cure, at Pure Beauty we stock a number of products that can help deal with hyperpigmentation but we do suggest that if you have any concerns about your skin, you check in with your GP.

Elemis White Brightening Even Tone Cleanser is great for uneven skin tone. It gently removes impurities and reduces excess oil so that skin is left brighter, softer, smoother and naturally illuminated. A complex of Daisy, Vitamin C, Sophora and Kiwi Extract have been blended to help deal with the appearance of hyperpigmentation and brightens the skin the natural way.

We also like the Elemis White Brightening Even Tone Serum. Daisy and Pea Extracts have been mixed with Vitamin C to helps to reduce the appearance of imperfections, and thanks to added Rice Silk, skin feels silky soft feel from the very first application. Clinically proven to reduce the appearance of pigmentation in just 28 days, if you have a big event coming up and want to look and feel great, this could be a winner for you.

For a more intensive approach, we like the Jan Marini Age Intervention Retinol Plus Mask. Used once or twice a week, retinol, peptides, antioxidants and soothing agents give skin a fresh polished look and helps to reduce the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, sun damage and hyperpigmentation. This can be used in conjunction with the Jan Marini Bioglycolic Bioclear Lotion, a multi-functional resurfacing solution containing three acids that help reduce the appearance of skin concerns including acne, hyperpigmentation, rosacea, fine lines and wrinkles.

We have said it before and we will say it again, but we love the Dermalogica Multivitamin Power Serum. Microencapsulated Vitamins A, C and E have been blended with Sunflower butter which all sink into your skin and help decrease fine lines and hyperpigmentation. Elasticity levels are boosted and the overall effect, when applied before moisturiser, is smoother, happier, clearer skin.

The Dermalogica PowerBright TRx range has been designed to brighten skin and even tone and is excellent for anyone dealing with hyperpigmentation. The Dermalogica PowerBright TRx Treatment Kit contains travel-sizes of all three products and can be a good starting point for anyone new to this brand. After cleansing apply the Dermalogica C-12 Pure Bright Serum and wait for a minute or two for the ingredients to absorb into the skin. In the morning, follow with the Dermalogica Pure Light SPF50 and use the Dermalogica Pure Night before going to bed.

For more information get in touch today and we would love to help.

Team Pure Beauty

5 Gifts to Buy Your Menopausal Friend

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abrasions, aching, ageing, antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, Arnica, Australian teat tree oil, Birch, Camphor, Chinese hibiscus, dark circles, dermalogica, discomfort, Elemis, fatigue, gelm tired, healing, hormones, hot flush, hydration, inflammation, legs, lipid barrier, memory loss, Menopause, menthol, multivitamin, muscles, periods, skin, sleep, stem cells, sweet iris, thinning, tiredness, Toner, witch hazel, woman, women

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The menopause is something that happens to every woman at some point in their lives and while many of us are pretty grateful for the lack of periods each month, some of the accompanying side effects can make us feel truly lousy. Hot flushes, memory loss and sleep disturbances are just a few of the undesirable symptoms of the menopause and if you have a friend who’s going through it, you might want to buy them a gift to help them through this awkward time. We’ve put together a list of five gifts that we think would be perfect for your menopausal friend to make her feel a little better:

Elemis Anti-Fatigue Eye Gel

If your friend is struggling with sleep (insomnia and night time waking are super common during the early stages of the menopause), there’s a good chance she’ll have dark circles around her eyes, which will be reminding her of her issue every time she looks in the mirror. This gel from Elemis is designed to refresh and cool the delicate eye area, tightening the skin and reducing dark circles, making the perfect gift for someone who’s lacking sleep.

Dermalogica UltraCalming Mist

Hot flashes and dry skin are two of the most common symptoms of the menopause and this spray from Dermalogica can help to tackle both of them. This soothing toner that provides critical hydration while helping to relieve and defend against inflammation, whilst relieving inflammation and discomfort, helping skin recover from damage and lipid barrier breakdown.

Elemis Tea Tree S.O.S. Spray

As we get older, our skin thins which means that not only is it easier to get an injury, it often takes longer to heal. This spray from Elemis is make from purified water and Australian tea tree oil, which is a natural antiseptic, anti-fungal and antiviral and can be sprayed directly onto cuts and abrasions to help with the healing process.

Elemis Instant Refreshing Gel

Another common symptom that menopausal women report is aching muscles and joints, as well as muscle tension and fatigue. As well as recommending a menopause-specific multivitamin, we also suggest that you use this gel from Elemis on your achy areas. It contains soothing extracts of arnica, birch and witch hazel, with cooling camphor and menthol, which combine to relive tired legs and muscle tension and can even be applied over tights!

Elemis Pro-Definition Day Cream

Elemis created this day cream just for menopausal women – it helps support skin that has begun to sag and lose definition, and leaves skin feeling more dense and resilient. It contains stem cells from sweet irises and Chinese hibiscus which stimulate the production of collagen and restore the look of skin’s vitality. Skin feels moisturised and revived all day long.

Five Things Which Could Be Making Your Hair Greasy

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beauty blenders, body brushes, brush, brushing, build-up, clarifying, comb, conditioner, Dermalogica Daily Conditioning Rinse, dry shampoo, ends, grease, greasy, hair, hormones, knots, knotty, lank, midsection, mild shampoo, moisturiser, oil, oil production, over-brushing, over-washing, products, residue, roots, scalp, sebum, shampoo, wash, washing

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When you’re a teen, you have this vision that adulthood will be a time of clear skin and perfect hair, so it can be a major disappointment to get way into your adult years and still be dealing with issues like adult acne or lank locks. Some people say that hormones contribute to greasy hair but there are also a few other things that you could be doing which is exacerbating the problem. Read on to see where you might be going wrong:

Too Much Washing

Just like if you have an oily face, the problem can be that you’re trying to keep it too clean and your body is pushing back by over producing the oils that you’re stripping away. If you’re a daily hair washer because you’re trying to combat grease, try cutting back to 2-3 times a week. The first week might be a “wearing a hat or staying indoors” kinda week while your stressed-out scalp adjusts, but it will eventually reset itself and work with your new, less intense, hair washing regime.

The Wrong Conditioner

Again, just like with your facial moisturiser, some people need something lighter and some need something more intense. If you have greasy hair, you really don’t need a super-heavy conditioner, and taking the product all the way up to your roots is another big no-no. Use Dermalogica Daily Conditioning Rinse just on the ends and midsection of your hair to keep it soft and manageable without adding to your grease problem.

Wash Your Brushes!

Okay, we know we’re really stretching this “your scalp is just like your face” analogy, but in the same way that you wouldn’t use dirty body brushes, make-up brushes and beauty blenders, you shouldn’t be using a dirty brush on your hair. Not only do they collect grease and bacteria, they could also be harbouring build-up of old products, so dragging that whole mess through your hair day after day is doing you no favours! Use a comb or your fingers to pull any old hair out of the bristles and then wash it thoroughly with a mild shampoo to get it back to best.

Brush it Less

While we’re on the subject of brushing, you probably need to do it less if your hair is greasy. Greasy hair happens as a result of your scalp producing too much sebum and brushing too much can actually stimulate this oil production. Try to brush your hair once a day ONLY, and if you really need to brush it more than that try to just brush the ends to keep it knot-free.

Use a Clarifying Shampoo

When you’re prone to greasy hair, it’s tempting to use a lot of different products, like dry shampoo, which improve the appearance of greasy hair even for the short term. However, these products tend to build up on your hair and the overall result makes lank hair look even more lank. Try to use a clarifying shampoo which will properly rid your hair and scalp of any residue from products to make sure that your hair and scalp have a proper chance to breathe and reset themselves.