These Foods Can Help Beat Acne

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acne, anti-inflammatory, antioxidants, avocado, breakout, Broccoli, carbohydrates, Dermalogica Breakout Clearing Booster, Dermalogica Oil Free Matte SPF30, detoxifying, dry skin, Elemis Superfood Facial Wash, fats, fermented, free radicals, Greens, immune system, inflammation, kale, kimchi, minerals, Nettle, oil, oily fish, omega-3, prebiotic, probiotic, sebum, spinach, spots, spring greens, vitamins

Photo by Glen Carrie on Unsplash

Here at Pure Beauty, we believe in our products, but we’re also aware that some elements of healing need to come from within. We offer several acne-beating skincare systems, but making sure your diet is right for your skin can give your complexion an extra boost. With that in mind, we’ve got five food suggestions that you should think about adding to your diet if you’re an acne sufferer:

Kimchi

Kimchi is a Korean dish which is made from salted and fermented vegetables, such as napa cabbage and Korean radish. It’s an amazing source of probiotics, which help to control the bad bacteria in your skin which contribute to acne. Start your skincare routine with Dermalogica Foaming Wash, which will rid your skin of any external bacteria and combined with the probiotics in the kimchi, your skin will get an acne-beating boost.

Avocado

Avocado might seem like a bit of a ‘trendy’ ingredient right now, but it’s actually jam-packed with nutrients and good fats which are amazing for your skin. Acne can often be exacerbated by an underlying dry skin issue, which causes the skin to overproduce sebum. The good fats in avocado, though, help to hydrate your skin from within, eliminating dryness and calming the causes of acne.

Oily Fish

Everyone should try to get at least two portions of fish a week, including one of oily fish, for good overall health, but there’s also evidence to suggest that adding oily fish to your diet can help to eliminate acne. This is because it can lower inflammation in your body, and that may help keep acne away. Dermalogica Oil Free Matte SPF30 can also help to reduce acne-causing inflammation.

Leafy Greens

Leafy Greens are great acne-fighters for a number of reasons. Firstly, there’s evidence to suggest that more fibre in your diet can help to banish acne. Secondly, dark greens such as spinach, kale, spring greens and broccoli contain iron and a plethora of vitamins which bolster your immune system and help your body to fight unwanted bacteria. Dermalogica Breakout Clearing Booster will also help to kill off the same bacteria.

Nettles

You might think of nettles as the annoying things that sting your legs on a summer walk, but nettles have anti-inflammatory properties which make them an effective ally against acne. They’re also extremely detoxifying, thanks to high levels of antioxidants which protect the body from the over-production of free radicals – chemicals which can cause damage to proteins, fats, carbohydrates and DNA in the body. Elemis Superfood Facial Wash also contains nettle, which acts as a gentle astringent and has anti-inflammatory properties.

Find fabulous new habits in your forties

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age, bed, Binge drinking, body, boosts your mood, cancers, cigarette, critical, devices, diabetes, drinking, Eyes, fashion statement, fixed, forties, gambling excessively, get you down, good habit, GP, habits, happier, head in the sand, health checks, healthier, heart disease, hide, high cholestero, immune system, irritable, laughter, life, light emitting screens, melanoma risks, Menopause, midnight snacks, mind, miserable, moisturiser, money, outside, perfect, phones, power down, protect, reduce stress levels, reduces stress, risk factors, safe, seven hours, skin cancer, sleep, smile, smoking, snoozing, stop, sun damage, sun’s UV rays, sunnies, Switch off, tech, time, too late, vices, Victoria Beckham, wrinkles

When you get to your forties you may well find that the habits you have formed have been with you for years, but the reality is they might not be doing your mind or body very much good. No one is perfect, including us, so we’ve looked at easy ways to get happier and healthier as you sail through your forties.

Drop the vices
We all know that smoking and drinking isn’t good for us at any age, but this really is the time to try and get things under control. Binge drinking, midnight snacks, gambling excessively and lighting up one cigarette after another will be taking a toll on your health, and wallet. So look at what’s going on and make a decision to stop, and find something better to do with your time, and money.

Have health checks
Diabetes, high cholesterol, certain cancers and heart disease are all conditions that can be detected early through routine GP visits, so book in and get a clear bill of health. If things aren’t 100% good, it’s best to know what’s happening and trying to get it fixed because if you hide you head in the sand, things could get worse and then it could be too late. You might also want to keep a watch on the menopause at this stage in your life.

Get to bed
Sleep is so important and if you don’t get enough, you can feel irritable, miserable and life can quickly get you down. You might however be finding that as you move through your forties, the ease at which you get to sleep, and the amount of time you actually sleep, will change. We would suggest you still aim to get at least seven hours of snoozing a night as this will enhance your immune system, reduce stress levels, and generally help you to cope with life better.

No tech at bedtime
Talking about sleep, the one thing we do suggest is that you don’t take your phones or devices to bed. Yes, they can help you keep connected with the world, but night time is when you need to switch off, so power down and leave those light emitting screens downstairs.

Keep sun damage away
We need to do this all of our lives, but it is critical in your forties to look after your skin if you want to keep your melanoma risks down, as these increase with age. The sun’s UV rays is one of the biggest risk factors you can control, so find a moisturiser that has sunscreen in it, and if you want to go one step further to both protect yourself from skin cancer and keep wrinkles at bay, use an SPF stand alone too!

Look after your eyes
Yes, celebrities wear sunnies all the time, but they are so much more than a fashion statement; they are a good habit to get into. So take Victoria Beckham’s lead (she’s in her forties and wearing it well) and put your sunglasses on not just in the summer, but every time you go outside, and keep your eyes safe.

Smile
Life can be hard in your forties as your kids move away and your parents fall ill, but getting into the habit of smiling and laughing during your day, can be a really good for you. Laughter boosts your mood, reduces stress, and smiling at a stranger could be the lift they also need in their day.

So, what new habits are you going to make, and which badies are you going to ditch to make your forties fabulous?

Team Pure Beauty

How to add citrus to your beauty routine

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100% natural, a natural source of vitamin C, accelerates cell renewal, anti-cellulite and body cleansing programme, appearance of ageing, bacteria, balance, Balm Mint, beauty routine, beeswax, bergamot, beta-carotene, blended, breakfast, breakout prone skin, bright, calm inflammation, Camphor, citrus fresh, citrus fruit, citrus fruits, citrus orange, clean, clear, cool, day cream, dazzle, Decleor Green Mandarin Glow Night Balm, Decleor Green Mandarin Sun-Kissed Glow Cream, Dermalogica Clearing Skin Wash, Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant, detoxify stimulate, drink, eat, educe inflammation, Elemis Cellutox Active Body Oil, Elemis Exotic Cream Moisturising Mask, energise, energy boost, enrich, essentail oils, eucalyptus, excess oils, fine lines, fresh fragrance, fruit, Ginkgo, goodness, gorgeous blend, Grapefruit, green mandarin, green tea, honey, immune system, key ingredients, lemon, lemon peel extract, lush, massaging, menthol, mimosa, mix, moisturises, natural, natural hyaluronic acid, nourish, powerful, protect, reduce, rejuvenate, rice enzyme powder, sad, Sea Buckthorn, Sea Fennel, sea-rocket, senses, seven days a week, sink in, skin, sleep, smooths, sun-kissed glow, Sweet Orange, tangy taste, Tea Tree, treat, uneven skin pigmentation, universal, vibrant appearance, vitamin-packed food, wrinkles, zest, zing

Citrus fruits have a tangy taste, fresh fragrance and vibrant appearance and this winning combo makes them a universal favourite. As well as being great to eat and drink, the goodness of citrus fruits are often used in beauty products.

We have had a look at how adding a little citrus to your beauty routine could add zest and zing to your skin.

The Decleor Green Mandarin Glow Night Balm is 100% natural and can really help to energise your skin and reduce the appearance of ageing. This really is a citrus packed dream as green mandarin, grapefruit, lemon and sweet orange essential oils have been blended with beeswax to offer an energy boost to your skin as you sleep.

It’s the lemon peel extract, a natural source of vitamin C, that helps to protect skin and reduce inflammation in the popular Dermalogica Clearing Skin Wash. This fabulous foaming cleanser clears the problem causing excess oils and bacteria on breakout-prone skin. Balm mint, eucalyptus and tea tree oils, plus menthol and camphor all come together with the lemon to clean and cool skin so it can settle and breathe.

Did you know that citrus can be part of an anti-cellulite and body cleansing programme? Well, it can with the gorgeous Elemis Cellutox Active Body Oil. A powerful mix of sea buckthorn and sea fennel extracts have been added to lemon and juniper essential oils to create a beauty routine staple you won’t want to be without. Massaging just a little of the oil into the skin will nourish, detoxify and stimulate. Regular use can help smooth cellulite, boost a sluggish system, lift lethargy and even help ease constipation when rubbed into the tummy and lower back.

We know that eating vitamin-packed food is good for our immune system but using those same ingredients on our skin can be positive too. This is where the Decleor Green Mandarin Sun-Kissed Glow Cream comes into play. This lush day cream moisturises the skin, helps ease fine lines and wrinkles gives you an even sun-kissed glow. This is thanks to a gorgeous blend of citrus essential oils, natural hyaluronic acid and beta-carotene which together re-energise tired-looking skin. Not only does simply sink into your skin and leave it looking great but with green mandarin, grapefruit, lemon and orange oils being part of the mix, it makes you smell amazing too.

Grapefruit is often eaten for breakfast, but it is one of the key ingredients in the Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant. This unique rice enzyme powder smooths the skin, accelerates cell renewal and is gentle enough to be used seven days a week. Grapefruit is part of the skin brightening complex together with aspergillus, liquorice and bearberry which come together to balance uneven skin pigmentation. We love that green tea, ginkgo and oatmeal have been added to help to calm inflammation so that skin is clear, bright and citrus fresh.

If your skin is feeling sad, why not treat it to a session with the Elemis Exotic Cream Moisturising Mask? Mimosa and honey have been expertly blended with extracts of sea rocket, bergamot and citrus orange which together moisturise and enrich the skin. Using for ten minutes twice a week or leaving on overnight will rejuvenate your skin and dazzle your senses.

If you need a little citrus in your life, get in touch and let’s see what would work for you.

Team Pure-Beauty

Tips for trying a vegetarian diet

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absorption of fat-soluble vitamins, anaemia, avocado, ‘bad’ cholesterol, body growth, brain function, bright, brown pasta, buckwheat, bulgur, calcium, cell membranes, cleaner eating, Convenience foods, dairy products, diet, dried fruit, egg yolks, eggs, energy sources, fat, flaxseed oils, fortified breakfast cereals, fortified soya milk, free from meat and fish, fruit and vegetables, GP, green leafy vegetables, happy vegetarian, health, health food shop, healthy, heart, heart disease, immune system, iron levels, key nutrients, metabolism, nuts, oats, olive, oxygen, protein, pulses, Quorn, red blood cells, reproductive health, salt, seeds, Starchy carbohydrates, strokes, sugar, suitable for vegetarians, supplements, tofu, trend, unsaturated fats, Vegan, vegetarian, vibrant mix, Vitamin B12, waistline, wholemeal bread, Yeast Extract, zinc

While the current trend might be to go vegan, for some people, becoming a vegetarian is the first step to cleaner eating.

A diet free from meat and fish can be a good move, you need to make sure you are still eating key nutrients, so we have some tips on how to be a healthy, happy vegetarian.

Protein is needed for body growth and repair, and good vegetarian options include pulses, nuts, seeds, eggs, dairy products, tofu and Quorn.

Starchy carbohydrates are great energy sources, and you can find these in wholegrains, such as wholemeal bread, brown pasta, buckwheat, bulgur, and oats.

Unsaturated fats are another energy source and you also need them for building cell membranes, brain function, and for the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E and K). Olive and flaxseed oils are one source, together with nuts, seeds, and of course super tasty, very versatile avocado.

We all need iron for healthy red blood cells and to carry oxygen around our bodies, and is key for children, teenagers and women. Low iron levels can lead to anaemia so try to include egg yolks, pulses, dried fruit, green leafy vegetables, and fortified breakfast cereals in your daily diet.

Zinc is brilliant at supporting your immune system and for reproductive health. Go for seeds, pumpkin ones are good, nuts, green leafy vegetables, pulses and wholegrains, you can get your fix.

You really need Vitamin B12 as a vegetarian as it helps your metabolism and can prevent B12 anaemia. Eggs and dairy products, yeast extract, fortified soya milk and breakfast cereals are all ideas to consider.

Omega-3 fatty acids are the healthy fats that lower levels of ‘bad’ cholesterol and thus reduce your risks of heart disease and strokes. We tend to get this nutrient from fish, but vegetarians can get them from seeds (especially flaxseeds), or vegetarian supplements, so ask your GP or health food shop staff about the options.

So, how do these fit into your diet? Each day aim to get:
At least five servings of fruit and vegetables, but go for more if you can and aim for a bright, vibrant mix.
Three to four servings of starchy carbohydrates
Two to three servings of protein, such as pulses, nuts and seeds and, the same with dairy, plus a little oil or butter.
At least one type of food fortified with vitamin B12, such as yeast extract or cereal.
Do the same as above with Omega 3, or take a supplement.

Go for a balanced diet full of variety. Some of us fall into the habit of eating the same foods day in and day out, but you need to eat a variety of foods to avoid missing out on vital nutrients. Really embrace fruit and vegetables, eat them raw, blend in smoothies and add spices and lentils to make tasty, filling dinners.

Bread and pasta are good sources of starchy carbohydrates, but they can fill you up before you get all of the other nutrients you need.

Cheese is full of protein and calcium, but it’s also high in fat and salt, so just watch how much you eat.

Convenience foods might say they are ‘suitable for vegetarians’, but they can still be high in fat, salt, sugar and additives, so eat in moderation. The same goes with fast food and take-aways.

Being a vegetarian can be great for your health, heart and waistline, as well as the environment, so enjoy the adventure and find the foods that make you happy.

Team Pure Beauty

Natural ways to deal with a cold

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antioxidants, antiviral properties, Apple cider vinegar, bathtub, body, chest, children, cold, cold causing bacteria, cold symptoms, coughing, drink, ease the pain, Epsom bath salts, essential oils, fluids, forehead, gel, gentle, germs, ginger, headache, help, honey, hot water, immune system, incubate, infants, low immune system, milk, natural decongestant, natural healing, natural mineral, natural products, neck, nose, nursery rhyme, over-the-counter medicines, PH levels, raw and organic honey, re-balance, recovery, remedies, rest, sick, sleep, sneezing, sniff, soaking, spoonful, sugar, super green smoothies, symptoms, throat, under the weather, vapour, warm water, warming vegetable soups, wash your hands, weak

When your nose is running, your throat is on fire and you can’t sleep for coughing, being told you just have a cold is little help.

People with a weak, low immune system as well as infants and children, are most prone to catching a cold and the most common kind is known as the ‘rhinovirus’.

When you contract a cold, for the first day or two you will feel fine, but the germs that escape your immune system, start to incubate and replicate in your body. Around day three, you will start to sniff and feel congested and this will be followed by a runny nose, headache, sneezing, as well as muscle aches which will all get worse, before they get better. After about a week, things will ease up and symptoms will disappear so you feel human again.

Most people find over the counter medicines, as well as lots of fluids and rest, help them to feel better, but natural products and remedies can help ease the pain, and we have had a look at a few ideas you might want to try if you do get sick.

A spoonful of honey
The nursery rhyme suggests that a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down, but we think that should be honey. Whether you take it straight from the spoon, add it to hot water or milk, honey is well-known for having natural healing and antiviral properties and can be a gentle way to treat a cold and sooth a nasty sore throat. It is thought that the antioxidants help the immune system deal with a virus or cold causing bacteria, and it is believed to be even more true of raw and organic honey.

Epsom bath salts
This might seem old fashioned, but adding one mug of Epsom salts to a bathtub of warm water and soaking in it for around 20 minutes, can help you feel soothed when you have a cold. Keep the water as hot as you can, and it is thought that this natural mineral will go some way to easing those uncomfortable muscle aches and also help you to sleep which can in turn lead to a faster recovery.

Apple cider vinegar
Mix one tablespoon of apple cider vinegar with a glass of warm water and then drink it down, adding some honey to taste. Drinking this mixture two or three times a day, can help to re-balance your body’s pH levels making it harder for the virus to survive.

Essential oils
Mixing a few drops of peppermint and eucalyptus essential oil together and applying a little to your chest, neck, and forehead, can help when you have a cold and are feeling under the weather. You can also put this blend into your bath, or add to a bowl of hot water and breathe the vapour in through your nose and benefit from this natural decongestant!

Go for ginger
Sipping ginger infused water, with a teaspoon of honey, might sound like a basic approach, but it’s a popular one that works. The reason ginger offers relief from cold symptoms, is that it warms up the body, the potent natural anti-inflammatory properties sooth and it’s spiciness helps to clear congestion. Simply crush up a thumbnail of ginger and let it seep in hot water for five minutes before straining and then adding to honey in a new cup. You can also add ginger to warming vegetable soups and super green smoothies and let all that natural goodness help your body bounce back from the germs that are attacking it.

So, wrap up, eat well, drink plenty of water, wash your hands often, carry an antibacterial gel in your bag, and if you do get sick, try some of these ideas to help you on your road to recovery.

Team Pure Beauty