How to look after your contact lenses

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aggravation, blinking, bowl, case, cataract surgery, cleaning fluids, cleaning solution, contact lens wearing, contact lenses, daily lenses, daunting, eye health, eye make up, eyelashes, fingers, gently, glassses, healthy, hold, hospital, hurt, index finger, infection, inside out, irritation, keep a steady hand, light, lower eyelid, mix, nervous, optician, pain, predicament, prevent infection, public places, redness, regular basis, repeat, safe routine, sleep, sleep wake, slide, squeeze, story, swap, swimming, tap water, thumb, uncomfortable, upper eyelid, vision loss, wake, walk away, wash and dry your hands

A recent story to hit the headlines was about a woman who was found to have 27, yes 27, contact lenses stuck in her eye. Ouch!

The 67 year was scheduled for cataract surgery but instead, a blue mass of lenses was pulled from her eye, unlike anything the hospital had seen before.

While this was an extreme case, it highlights the need for care to be taken when putting in and taking out lenses and for wearers to ensure they have a healthy, safe routine to ensure their eyes are well cared for.

To make sure you don’t end up in the same predicament, we have put together some top tips to help you get contact lens wearing right.

Seems so obvious, but always make sure you wash and dry your hands thoroughly before putting anything into your eyes or removing from them.

Try not to be nervous. Putting contact lenses in and taking them out might seem daunting but once you get the hang of it, it is pretty easy so take your time. The key to success is to keep a steady hand and if it doesn’t work first time, walk away and try later.

Before you put a lens in, make sure it isn’t inside out. To check this, place the clean lens on your finger tip and hold it up to the light. If it is the right way round it should look like a bowl but if the edges flare out, it’s inside out and needs to be adjusted.

To put the lens into your eye, hold your upper eyelid with one finger and then gently pull down your lower eyelid with your other fingers. This will stop you blinking and will stop your eyelashes getting in the way.

To take your lenses out, simply look up and carefully pull your lower eyelid down using your middle finger. Gently put your index finger to your eye and when you touch the lower edge of the lens, slide it down to the lower white area of your eye – note that this should not hurt. Finally squeeze the lens, very gently, between your thumb and index finger and finally take it out. Repeat on the other eye.

At this point, daily lenses can be thrown away, otherwise clean bi-weekly and monthly lenses as advised.

Remember, never use tap water to clean your lenses or their case. Use the recommend cleaning solution and following the instructions to the word.

Whatever is happening in your life, only wear your lenses for the time specified and don’t ever sleep in them or you will wake up feeling very uncomfortable.

As well as replacing your lenses to prevent infection, it is also important to use new cases and cleaning fluids on a regular basis.

We suggest that you don’t apply your eye make-up before putting contact lenses in, as this can sometimes cause aggravation and infection.

Contact lenses and swimming are not a good mix, so swap for glasses at the pool but make sure you take the same care taking them in and out as public places are full of bacteria and germs.

If there are any signs of pain, irritation, redness or vision loss, get in touch with your optician ASAP.

On this note, it is important to have regular checks with your optician so they can check on your eye health and ensure you are using the right lenses for you.

Team Pure Beauty

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Harnessing the Power of Apricots

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alcohol, antioxidants, Apricot, apricot kernel oil, apricots, balance, cleansing, cotton wool, dermalogica, Dermalogica Precleanse, Elemis, Elemis Pro-Radiance Illuminating Eye Balm, Elemis Soothing Apricot Toner, fatty acids, irritation, linoleic acid, mineral oils, moisturisation, natural, oil, parabens, pH, Quillaja Wood, saponins, SLES, sodium laureth sulphate, soothe, soothing, spritz, Sweet Betty flower, vitamin A

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The humble apricot might not seem like anything special but it actually contains a whole host of things which are incredibly good for us, which is why several of the products we sell contain some element of apricot in them. From antioxidants to all-natural moisturisation, we take a look at some of the best apricot containing products from Elemis and Dermalogica and exactly what they’re doing to keep you beautiful.

Elemis Soothing Apricot Toner

One of the things which apricot does best is soothing the skin and reducing irritation, which is why Elemis has based this toner on it’s properties. As well as containing apricot extract, the toner also contains Sweet Betty flower, which Tones, moisturises and re-balances precious pH levels without the use of alcohol and saponins from Quillaja Wood help to soothe and harmonise the skin. As will all Elemis products, this toner has no parabens, sodium laureth sulphate or mineral oils, which can damage the skin in the long run. Sweep it over the face with a cotton wool pad after cleansing the face, or use as a spritz when your face is feeling hot, dry or tight.

Dermalogica Precleanse

You may be asking “why do I need to PRE-cleanse my skin?”, but this precleanse from Dermalogica has been described as a wonder-product by professional dermatologists, beauty professionals and our customers alike. It dissolves oil-based make-up, sebum, sunscreens and environmental pollutants from skin’s surface, enabling skin to be thoroughly cleansed, all without compromising the delicate balance of natural oils which exist within the skin. It contains apricot kernel oil which not only helps soothe to irritation, nourish, and moisturize the skin, but is also an excellent source of fatty acids, Vitamin A and Linoleic Acid which help to reverse and combat the signs of ageing.

Elemis Pro-Radiance Illuminating Eye Balm

The eyes can be a really tricky area to deal with; the skin is very delicate and the whole area can be really sensitive, even if the rest of your face isn’t, however, they’re also one of the main areas where people report the early signs of ageing first. This means that a product which is powerful yet soothing and delicate is imperative, which is where this balm from Elemis comes in. As well as containing omega-rich apricot kernel oil which nourishes the delicate eye contour area, it also benefits from chamomile, arnica and bird of paradise flower, which reduce wrinkles, dark circles and puffiness. It’s free from fragrance and any irritating preservatives and is perfect for use on even the most sensitive of eyes.

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

Say ‘NO!’ to Shine

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acne, acne prone, acneic, Balm Mint, blackheads, Camphor, cause, central heating, Cornflower, decleor, Decleor Velvet Mattifying Fluid, dermalogica, Dermalogica Clearing Mattifier, Dermalogica Matte Moisturiser SPF15, Dermalogica Oil Control Lotion, Dermalogica Oil Free Matte SPF30, grease, greasy, hormones, irritation, make-up, matte, mattifying, microsponges, moisture, moisturiser, oil, oil free, oiliness, oily, over-production, over-stimulation, pores, Pro-Vitamin B5, root cause, Salicylic Acid, sebum, shine, shiny, skin, SPF, SPF15, SPF30, spots, target, teen skin, teenage skin, winter

Image: StockSnap_8NK7QTGQY8 (CC0 License)

You may think that Summer is the prime-time to be worrying about shiny faces, what with the heat making you sweat, but if you suffer with over-production of sebum then winter can provide it’s own challenges. Constant changes of temperature, drying central heating and lack of sunlight can all conspire to make your skin create it’s very own oil slick, so we thought we’d showcase five of our best products to help you fight the shine

Dermalogica Oil Control Lotion

When we, here at Pure Beauty, read the description of this featherweight lotion, we weren’t quite sure we’d read it right, but yes, it actually contains microsponges! The particles are super absorbent and mop up excess sebum from your skin, and the lotion is suitable for people with oily, breakout-prone and acneic skin. Salycilic acid clears blocked pores while camphor, balm mint and cornflower reduce inflammation, attacking the root cause of sebum overproduction.

Dermalogica Clearing Mattifier

This incredibly potent lotion contains a multitude of hard-working ingredients which combine to perform a number of different functions. It’s a medicated, topical treatment which can be applied directly to an area of excess shine or breakouts and uses green tea, vitamin A, yeast extract, grape seed extract and pro-vitamin B5 (amongst other things!) to keep your skin totally clear and mattified.

Decleor Velvet Mattifying Fluid

Decleor have developed this fluid which attacks the problem of oiliness by increasing the amount of oxygen that the skin can absorb. This improves performance on a cellular level, rejuvenating your skin and discouraging the production of sebum as an overcompensation. It’s a really lightweight fluid which literally mattifies your skin upon touch and continues working all day to keep it look fresh.

Dermalogica Oil Free Matte SPF30

Keeping oily skin protected from the sun can be really tricky because so many sun lotions are oil-based and add to an already shiny face, making wearing make-up almost impossible. This lotion from Dermalogica is not only completely oil-free, but it also contains a broad-spectrum, high SPF to fend off the sun’s harmful rays whilst helping to prevent shine, regulate oil production and soothe inflammation.

Dermalogica Matte Moisturiser SPF15

This matte moisturiser from the Clear Start range is designed specifically for teenage skin, moisturising the skin from deep with, clearing excess sebum and targeting the cause, as well as helping to reduce inflammation and breakouts. It contains a light SPF for added protection and can be used in conjunction with the rest of the Clear Start range to keep teenage skin well under control.

Help! It’s Hayfever Season

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Decleor Dark Circle and Eye Wrinkle Eraser, Decleor Harmonie Calm Relaxing Milky Gel-Cream for Eyes, Dermalogica Soothing Eye Make Up Remover, Dermalogica Soothing Shave Cream, Dermalogica Stress Relief Treatment Oil, hay fever, heyfever, irritation, itchy eyes, pollen local honey

It’s that time of year again where eyes are red, noses are streaming and everyone is slightly cheesed off. No, we’re not talking about England being knocked out of the Euros, we’re talking about hayfever season! Of course, there’s lots of things you can do to help with hayfever, such as the obvious antihistamines and the less obvious local honey, but there are also several products from Dermalogica and Decleor which can help with the less-than-desirable symptoms and side effects. Here’s a few of them –

Red, itchy eyes

One of the first places to suffer with hayfever is the eyes – constant watering and irritation can leave you feeling as though someone has rubbed sand on your eyeballs. Wearing make-up can often make things worse, but many women feel naked without it, especially when they’re already feeling run down. Make sure you use a gentle, soothing eye make up remover such as Dermalogica Soothing Eye Make Up Remover to remove all traces and give your eyes a chance to calm down and then apply Decleor Harmonie Calm Relaxing Milky Gel-Cream for Eyes to reduce redness and irritation.

Sore skin

Constantly wiping your nose with tissue when its running can leave the skin red raw and feeling very sore. Using a layer of petroleum jelly under your nose will stop the moisture from chapping your skin and treating it with a layer of Dermalogica Soothing Shave Cream can also help. Although it’s designed for shaving, the chapping effect is very similar, so a layer of this super soothing cream can really reduce irritation and redness.

Tiredness

Another, less talked about, symptom of hayfever is fatigue. Sleep is very often disturbed during hayfever season because breathing is blocked and the body is under duress during the day, which all adds up to feeling like you’ve no energy. Lack of sleep can lead to dark circles under the eyes, so it’s wise to opt for a product like Decleor Dark Circle and Eye Wrinkle Eraser, which can reduce the appearance of dark circles and keep your eye area looking refreshed.

Stress

The problem with hayfever is that, unlike having a cold, it can last for months and by the end of hayfever season we’re feeling more than a little stressed out. Massage is a great way to help to relieve stress and Dermalogica Stress Relief Treatment Oil is perfect for keeping the skin soft and supple, as well as soothing the sense with its unique blend of aromas. Lavender, Sandlewood and Orange aide relaxation and help to increase your sense of well-being.