5 Face Masks to Get Your Skin Through the Rest of Winter

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Photo by Chris Knight on Unsplash

We all know that January can be a gruelling time for you skin. It’s often the coldest month of the year which means that every time we go outside our is dealing with the elements – then we go back indoors and are faced with central heating, which is a bad combination for our skin. Combine this with shorter days and a tendency to want to hibernate, hardly anyone can ever say that their skin is at its best in January. Masks are a fantastic product for reviving the skin at this time of year and regular usage of a targeted mask can help to ensure that by the time spring comes around and the sun starts to peek through the clouds, your complexion will have a rosy glow that is rarely seen at the end of winter. Here are 5 of our best masks for nourishing the skin, to give you a great start to 2020.

Elemis Exotic Cream Moisturising Mask

This mask from Elemis is made from exotic ingredients and works as a hydrating and soothing treatment. It takes the purest part of the therapeutic plant extracts from mimosa, sea rocket, orange and bergamot leaves, enriching the skin and evening out skin tone. It can be left on overnight as a more intensive treatment and can even be used on dry hands and cuticles if they are suffering the same dryness as your face.

Decleor Neroli Bigarade Oil Mask

This mask from Decleor melts into a fine oil as you massage into the skin, allowing more of the active ingredients to be absorbed into your complexion. It contains extracts of wild pansy which encourages hyaluronic acid synthesis, giving you a plumped, smoother and more youthful complexion in just 10 minutes of use.

Elemis Exotic Frangipani Monoi Hair and Scalp Mask

It’s easy to forget about your scalp as it’s hidden beneath your hair, but many, many people suffer with dryness on their scalp as well as their hair, which is why Elemis invented this mask. It’s a 3-in-1 treatment that deep cleanses the scalp and hair, and can be used either in the shower or as an intensive overnight mask to revive the area. It removes build up and restores healthy looking shine while revitalising the scalp and hair

Elemis Fruit Active Rejuvenating Mask

If your skin is looking dull and tired, this rejuvenating mask from Elemis contains fruit extracts of strawberry and kiwi in a kaolin clay base, which will revive a sallow complexion. Apply to clean skin and leave on for 10 minutes, and your skin will look brighter and more radiant. It’s great for using while laying in the bath and Elemis tells us that it’s also great for smokers as it helps to enhance the circulation in your facial complexion.

Elemis Pro-Collagen Hydra-Gel Eye Masks

Darkness around the eyes is also a really common thing at this time of year, although many face masks aren’t suitable for use around the eyes. That’s why Elemis developed these eye masks which are formulated to instantly reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles around the eyes, giving the delicate area a deep wash of moisture which will get rid of dark circles and tighten the skin. Each individual mask contains potent plankton extract, leaving the skin around the eyes intensity moisturised and instantly hydrated.

How to waste less this Christmas

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Let’s face it, Christmas can be a time of waste.

With all the best intentions in the world, as we give and receive gifts, eat food, drink wine and generally have a good time, there will be things that get leftover and thrown in the bin which puts the environment on a high waste alert.

We aren’t saying don’t have fun and relax, but we are going to look at how you can enjoy Christmas without adding to landfill sites and blowing your carbon emissions out of the water.

Buy pre-loved
When buying gifts, you don’t have to get something that is bright, shiny and brand new. Spending an afternoon at antique markets and visiting charity shops is a fun way to find some really unique gifts that will be just as good, if not better, than something going to a new home for the first time. Books, soft toys, vintage clothes and china are all out there for the taking and you never know, you could spark nostalgia with the gifts you give this year and make someone feel really loved.

Think about gifts that keep giving
You don’t have to buy physical products. How about a pass to the local petting farm? A gym membership? A cookery course or an art class? These could really help someone out and they will know you have thought about them with your choice of gift, and of course an experience means no waste.

It’s all in the wrapping
Once you have a present, think about how you wrap it. If your sister is fashion mad, wrap that vintage scarf in the pages of an old copy of Grazia, for kids, use comics, and for your TV bonkers dad, the Radio Times covering his box of chocolates will be perfect. This means you recycle and cut down on glitter and ribbon that isn’t good for anything at all.

Be a smart shopper
We have all been there – the night before Christmas and the supermarket is carnage and not a lot of fun as people buy as much food as they can. Make a list of what you need, don’t go for the BOGOF offers and keep to a budget.

Don’t waste food
If you do over do it on the dinner front, don’t just put the remains in the bin. Veg and meat can be put in the fridge and eaten the next day, soups and curries can be cooked and frozen and if you have more than you need, make up parcels and give them to a local soup kitchen or shelter – someone will be very grateful you don’t bin what is probably great food.

Save power
We all love Christmas lights, but they don’t need to be on 24/7 for the whole of December and January. Put them on in the evening and turn them off when you go to bed. Use LED lights and go easy on outside decorations, as they can eat electricity and ramp up your bills as well as your emissions.

Recycle
The tree, decorations, wreaths, cans, foil, bottles, plastic and food are all recyclable. It might seem like a pain, but if we all do this it does make a difference. Also, if you have gifts that aren’t for you, why not give to someone who would like them, take them to a local hospital or donate to a charity shop or library. You might not want it, and you might not want to offend the recipient by asking for a receipt, so do something for someone else and you will be glad you did.

Got a create less waste tip? Send it our way, we are all ears.

Team Pure Beauty

Distract Yourself During Dry January!

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adult college, ageing, bath, body, Christmas, conditioning, cookery, December, dry January, excess, excesses, face mask, January, language, languages, learn, learning, mind, nail, nails, process, relaxing, rest, skill, sleep, treatment

Photo by Yuri Efremov on Unsplash

January is here and after the excesses of last month, many of us are opting for a dry January (i.e. no alcohol!) to try to give our bodies as chance to recover and start the new year off right. However, for some of us, a glass of wine in the evenings is our main way to wind down after a long day, so what do we do to relax and distract ourselves during dry January? We’ve got five ideas:

Get a Hobby

January is a great time to start a new hobby; it’s miserable outside anyway, so unless your hobby is gardening, it’s a great excuse to stay indoors! It’s a known fact that mental stimulation helps to keep your brain active and slows down the ageing process, even helping to halt the onset of Alzheimer’s, so a hobby will benefit both your mind and your body.

Get Some Extra Sleep!

So many of us stroll through life feeling totally fatigued, yet when it comes to it, we stay up to watch just one more episode of whatever show we’re into at the time instead of getting some sleep. Allowing yourself to get regular early nights will not only have massively positive effects on your body and its ability to heal itself, it’s great for your mental health too, especially when you wake up feeling rested.

Learn a Skill

Is there something you’ve always wanted to learn? A new language? A new style of cooking? January is a great time to take the bull by the horns and learn a new skill, so why not take a look at what your local adult college has to offer?

Pamper Yourself

Cold nights, long evenings spent at home – has there ever been a better time to pamper yourself a little? Instead of reaching for a glass of wine, have a relaxing bath, use a face mask, and treat yourself to a conditioning nail treatment. Indulge yourself at least once a week and your stress levels, as well as your body, will thank you for it!

Do Some Reading

So many of us have fallen into the pattern of work, home for dinner, kids bedtime routine, collapse on the sofa to watch the telly or stare at your phone screen and we then say “I never have time to read a book”. Often, finding time is just about having a re-shuffle, and if you really want to fine the time, you’ll put down the smartphone or switch off the TV!

How to Beat Blue Monday

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With the 21st January, aka Blue Monday fast approaching, some of you might be feeling a little below per right now. It is cold outside, it’s still ages until payday and those resolutions that seemed like such a good idea on 31 December have been long forgotten, all of which can make you feel a bit miserable.

Fear not, it’s all doom and gloom. While can’t turn up the temperature or give you a winning lottery ticket, we do know that what you eat and drink can help ease the blues and beat the anxiety that makes life a little harder in the bleak mid-winter months.

Drink water
Yes, this one again. If you don’t keep hydrated you won’t feel at your best, your concentration will lapse, you may get headaches and you might also feel constipated and none of these things will help your mood. Cut down on fizzy drinks and high sugar squashes, and instead drink water with ice and add slices of lemon and cucumber to liven things up a little and keep a bottle on your desk and in your bag so you can sip during the day.

Keep an eye on caffeine
We know many people love a coffee first thing and a tea break mid-afternoon, but both of these drinks contain caffeine which might not help you if you are feeling blue. Caffeine is a stimulant and one which will give you a burst of energy at first, but then when you come down the other side it could make you feel anxious, depressed and disturb your sleep, especially when drunk before you go to bed. We don’t suggest you stop having your daily fix suddenly, as this could lead to nasty withdrawal symptoms, but it might be a good idea to start cutting back on tea, coffee, chocolate, cola and energy drinks and think about switching to decaf versions or opting for herbal teas which are caffeine free but mean you don’t miss out on a soothing hot drink.

Look after your tummy
You might not know this, but your tummy reflects your emotions so if you are feeling anxious and worried, your gut may suffer too. To help with healthy digestion, it is important to eat plenty of fibre which means loading up on wholegrains, beans, pulses, live yoghurt and you might want to consider taking a probiotic too.

Get your fruit and veg in
Eating a variety of coloured fruits and vegetables every day means you’ll get a good range of nutrients including the minerals, vitamins and fibre needed to keep you physically and mentally healthy. You might be interested to know that fresh, frozen, canned and juiced fruits and vegetables all count towards your five a day and if you are worried about portion sizes, one portion is about a handful.

Remember to eat protein
Protein is packed full of the amino acids that make up the chemicals your brain uses to regulate your thoughts and feelings, and it also keeps you feeling fuller for longer so you are less likely to reach for the mood interrupting sugary snacks later on. Lean meat, fish, eggs, cheese, beans, lentils, soya products, nuts and seeds are all good protein sources and it is pretty easy to fit them into every meal – so make sure you do.

Eat the right fats
We know we are told fats are bad and to be avoided at all costs, but this isn’t true. Try to avoid ‘trans fats’ or ‘partially hydrogenated oils’ and instead eat fatty acids, such as omega 3 and 6 as these are good for your brain function and mental health. Healthy fats can be found in oily fish, nuts (almonds and walnuts are a good choice), olive and sunflower oils, seeds (such as sunflower and pumpkin), avocados, and eggs all of which are tasty and easy to eat!

Eat on a regular basis
Now is not the time to skip meals as this will lead to a drop in your blood sugar levels and that can make you feel tired and irritable. Try to go for small, regular meals throughout the day, adding in healthy snacks, and always eat breakfast as this will set you up for the day. Wholegrain bread and pasta, brown rice, cereals as well as nuts and seeds are all a good idea but keep away from sweets, biscuits, sugary drinks, and alcohol as these won’t do your mood any favours.

Whatever you eat and drink make the sensible choice and we wish you a very happy, healthy 2019.

Team Pure Beauty

Give your body some TLC this January

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all skin types, beauty staple, body, cellulite, Clary Sage, cocktails, damp skin, dead skin cells, Decleor Gradual Glow Hydrating Body Milk, Dermalogica Conditioning Body Wash, Dermalogica Daily Cleansing Shampoo, Dermalogica Daily Conditioning Rinse, Devils Apron Seaweed, drinking lots of water, dull, eating a healthy diet, elbows, Elemis Body Detox Skin Brush, Elemis Cellutox Active Body Oil, Elemis Devils Mint Body Scrub, entle circular motions, eucalyptus, exfoliate, feet, glow, hair, healthy hair, healthy-looking, heart, indoors, January, juniper, knees, lavender, layers, lemon, light, light moisturiser, lymph flow, Magnolia Essential Oil, melting texture, mince pies, mind, natural, natural cactus bristles, natural moisturisers, orange, pale, paler, peppermint, Pigs in blankets, powerful blend, purify, Sandalwood, satin soft, Sea Buckthorn, Sea Fennel, sensory overload, shiny hair, shower, silicon-rich sea plant particles, silky, smooth, sparkle, sunglight, Tahiti, taking regular exercise, tan, Tea Tree, toxins, vanilla, vibrant

Mince pies, pigs in blankets, cocktails and cakes are all part of Christmas and taste great, but they can take a toll on your body as does the cold weather and central heating.

This January, as well as eating a healthy diet, drinking lots of water and taking regular exercise, you can help bring your body back to its best with the help of these products from Pure Beauty.

At this time of year, we can be on total sensory overload, so we suggest trying the Dermalogica Conditioning Body Wash which conditions your skin, quietens your mind and generally soothes you as you shower. Suitable for all skin types, Tea Tree, Lemon, Eucalyptus and Rosemary essential oils gently purify without stripping your skin’s own natural moisturisers while Sandalwood, Lavender, Orange and Clary Sage moisturise your skin and leaves it smooth and silky.

If it is cellulite you are worried about, you aren’t alone, but the Elemis Cellutox Active Body Oil could help. A powerful blend of Sea Buckthorn, Sea Fennel, Lemon and Juniper essential oils come together to nourish, detoxify and stimulate and is a great way to get your skin in good condition and rid your body of toxins. We suggest you use it before 7pm, and rub a little into problem areas and you will find that over time your skin will be smoothed and satin soft.

Reduced sunlight, lots of layers and time spent indoors means our skin is paler that pale at this time of year, but you can change that with the Decleor Gradual Glow Hydrating Body Milk. This light moisturiser not only nourishes your skin but also gradually tans your body so you have a beautifully natural golden glow. Extracts of Vanilla from Tahiti have been infused with Magnolia Essential Oil to offer a light, melting texture that smells great and sinks into your skin. Give it a go, we think you will like it, a lot.

Just as winter can dull your skin, it can also take the sparkle out of your hair, but fear not, the Dermalogica Daily Cleansing Shampoo is here to help. This sulphate-free, great smelling shampoo can be used every day and will leave you with healthy looking, shiny hair from the word go. For the best results, use with the Dermalogica Daily Conditioning Rinse and you will have your most vibrant, healthy hair, ever.

If you want your skin to look good, you need to exfoliate and what better way to do this than with the Elemis Devils Mint Body Scrub. Packed with silicon-rich sea plant particles, Devils Apron Seaweed and Peppermint Essential Oil this scrub washes away the dead skin cells that build up over time, and instead leave your clean, soft and more receptive to your moisturiser. Apply with gentle circular motions to damp skin when you are in the shower or bath, pay extra attention to feet, knees and elbows and watch as your skin comes alive once again.

Why not really get to work on those stubborn areas with the Elemis Body Detox Skin Brush? Made from natural cactus bristles, this effective beauty staple can help to reduce the appearance of cellulite because it works at improving your circulation as well as softening your skin and taking away dead cells. The brush can be used every day on dry skin and as you work upwards from your feet, towards your heart, lymph flow will be stimulated and your skin will be invigorated.

If we can help with any of these products, get in touch today and we will make sure we find something that will work for you and your body in 2019.

Team Pure Beauty