Pure Beauty’s Newest Arrivals

Tags

28 day course, absorb, antioxidants free radicals, botanical oils, carrot extract, cleanse, cleanser, cleansing, customers, decleor, dermalogica, Elemis, Elemis micellar, environmental stress, exfoliate, exfoliating, fermented agave, fine lines, friendly, glycolic acid, green mandarin essential oils, healthy, juice, makeup, minimising, miracle, moisturising, natural fruit acid, natural sugars, new, newest, night, nourishment, oil, overnight, peel, pores, prematurely aging, Pure Beauty, radiant, rebalancing, redness, refined, sheer Glow, SLS, smooth, smoother, soothing, sulphate-free, suspended, texture, tired, up-to-date, Vegan, Vitamin C, wrinkles

Elemis Superfood CICA Calm Hydration Juice

Here at Pure Beauty, we love nothing more than shouting from the rooftops about the newest products to hit our shelves. We’re lucky in the respect that all of our brands are constantly innovating and inventing to add new and improved products to their ranges, which means that we’re able to then offer these to our customers. With this in mind, today we’re looking at 5 of the nearest products from Decleor, Elemis and Dermalogica to keep you up-to-date with the newest products available.

Decleor Green Mandarin Overnight Bi-Phase Peel

This overnight peel from Decleor is a 28-day course and should be used every night to achieve glowing and radiant skin. It contains soothing botanical oils as well as glycolic acid and natural fruit acids which exfoliate your skin overnight, leaving it looking smooth and radiant. After 28 days your skin will look less tired and it’s texture will be refined and renewed.

Elemis Superfood CICA Calm Cleansing Foam

This cleansing foam from Elemis is a micellar cleanser which means that particles of fermented green tea seed oil are spended in in kefir, fermented agave and biotransformed CICA to deeply cleanse the skin while calming redness. It contains moisturising elements which help to reverse dehydration, as well as minimising the appearance of pores and rebalancing the complexion. It’s a vegan friendly and sulfate-free formula which contains no parabens or SLS.

Dermalogica Biolumin-C Eye Serum

This serum from Dermalogica is formulated specifically for the delicate skin around the eyes and contains a huge boost of vitamin C which will dramatically brighten and visibly firm the skin. It’s perfect for normal, mature or prematurely aging skin and helps to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. It will hydrate and exfoliate the skin for a smoother complexion, as well as protecting against environmental stress.

Decleor Green Mandarin Exfoliating 2 in 1 Scrub Mask

This physical exfoliating product from Decleor is a bit of a miracle in a tub. It contains green mandarin essential oils and natural sugars which will exfoliate the skin, as well as carrot extract which gives an instant sheer tint and glow to your complexion. It contains antioxidants to protect against free radicals, while apricot and marula botanical oils provide nourishment to the skin.

Elemis Superfood CICA Calm Hydration Juice

This gel moisturiser from Elemis is a super hydrating juice which will hydrate skin and dramatically improve its texture. It’s a lightweight formula which layers well under makeup thanks to the fact that it absorbs so quickly, and is packed with antioxidants which will leave your skin with a healthy glow.

Bake a cake and be happy

Tags

baking, beauties, butter, cakes, caster sugar, chocolate, cloth, cocoa powder, cool, creations, crisp, cup cake, decorate, drizzle, dusted, eggs, even, fab, firm, free range eggs, golden brown, granulated sugar, grated orange, greased, icing, juice, kid, lemon curd, lemon drizzle, marzipan, minutes, mix, mixed, muffins, pale, paper cases, paste, pennies, pink, recipe, risen, roll out, sandwich, satisfying, self-raising flour, share, sift, slices of lemon, smooth, Special, sticky, Sunday afternoon, supermarket, topping, traditional, unsalted butter, wire rack, yellow Battenberg, zest

There is something relaxing about switching off, putting on your apron and baking a cake.

Yes, we know you can buy them for pennies in the shops, but making a batch of muffins or baking the perfect sponge is one of the most satisfying ways of spending Sunday afternoon and eating your creations is pretty special too.

We are big bakers here at Pure Beauty and today we are sharing a couple of our favourite tea time treats with you.

We have taken the traditional pink and yellow Battenberg and put a twist on it. This chocolate and orange version looks complicated but it is simply two flavoured sponge cakes cut into strips and wrapped in glorious marzipan.

Ingredients:
225g self-raising flour
1 tsp baking powder
225g caster sugar
225g butter, softened
4 large free range eggs, beaten
2 tsp finely grated orange peel
1 tbsp orange juice
1 tbsp cocoa powder mixed into a paste with 1 tbsp hot water
4 tbsp apricot jam, warmed
450g good quality marzipan

To start, pre-heat your oven to 180C/160C fan/Gas 4.

Sift the flour and baking powder into a large bowl then add the sugar, butter and eggs and beat until the mixture is pale, smooth and creamy. Divide the mixture into two bowls then fold the orange rind and juice into one and the blended cocoa powder into the other.

Spoon the mixture into two separate square cake tins and level the surface, make sure they are greased and we go for an 18cm tin.

Bake for 25-30 minutes until the cakes are risen and firm to the touch.

Cool for 5 minutes then place on a wire rack and leave to totally cool.

Trim the edges from each cake then cut each cake into four even-sized strips. Use a little of the jam to sandwich two of the chocolate strips of cake with two of the orange strips and this will create one chequered effect cake – it looks pretty fab!

Roll out half the marzipan on an icing sugar dusted surface and create an 18 x 30cm rectangle. Brush the top of the cake with jam and press this gently onto the marzipan. Brush the other sides of the cake with jam and wrap marzipan around all of the cake and crimp along the top edges of the cake with your fingertips – have a clean cloth ready for sticky fingers.

Repeat to make a second cake and serve with tea.

If you are more of a cup cake kind of kid, then how about these lemon drizzle beauties? For a dozen you will need:

175g unsalted butter, softened and at room temperature
175g golden caster sugar
175g self-raising flour
1 teaspoon of baking powder
3 large free range eggs
2 tablespoons of lemon curd
If you want to add the topping, you will need:
100g granulated sugar
The juice and grated zest of one, organic lemon – they taste the most zingy – and slices of lemon to decorate

To make you will need to preheat your oven to 180C / Fan 160C / Gas Mark 4 and line a 12 hole muffin tray with paper cases.

Put the butter, sugar, flour, baking powder and eggs in a bowl and whisk until pale and creamy then gently fold in the lemon curd.

Put the mixture into the muffin cases and bake for 15-20 minutes until the cakes have risen and are golden brown.

Whilst the cakes are baking, mix the granulated sugar and lemon juice and zest together and drizzle a little on each cake a couple of minutes after they have come out of the oven, put a slice of lemon on each one, then leave to cool so the topping goes crisp and enjoy at any time of the day.

Got a recipe you love? Send it our way and we might share with everyone else.

Team Pure Beauty

Get your family healthy

Tags

adults, attitudes, banana, brain, calcium, calorie, cereal, comfortable, eat, familiy, fruits, healthy, holiday, juice, lunch boxes, milk, organs, patterns, peas, porridge, processed foods, promote, running, salad, scratch, smoothie, take-aways, tummy, vegetables, vitamin, walking, water, weight

Growing up in the 21st century often seems to be more about iPads, junk food and computer games than the great outdoors and being active, but it doesn’t have to be that way.

As parents we all want the best for our children and getting them off the sofa, eating well and actually moving is key to this.

As there is less time, and resources, at school for PE and games, this is falling more at the feet of families but that is no bad thing. As well as being great fun it is also the chance to spend quality time together and bond.

We have put together some easy steps so you and your family can get fit and healthy.

Eat a Variety of Foods
We hear it all the time but it is vital that you and your family eat a well balanced diet so you body has the nutrients it needs to work well. Cut down and processed foods, take-aways and try to cook from scratch when you can. If you prepare meals together and eat together, this can really help promote healthy attitudes and patterns. Aim for at least five servings of fruits and vegetables a day, this can include:

At breakfast chop four large strawberries on porridge or have a vitamin rich green smoothie
Include six baby carrots, slices of red pepper and a banana in lunch boxes
Snack on an apple, some nuts or blueberries
At dinner include broccoli (about 2 big spears), a cup of salad, or a serving of peas and sweet corn.

Drink the healthy way
Try to limit fizzy drinks, juices and squashes as they adds calories and no real or important nutrients.

When you’re really thirsty, water is the best option. Not only does it stop you feeling thirty, it prevents you from feeling light headed and keeps your organs, including your brain, healthily

Children also need calcium to build strong bones, and milk, cheese and yogurt are good diary options and leafy greens, seafood and legumes are also calcium sources.

Listen to your body
Some parents might think about this but it is key to talk to children about what it feels like to be full. Don’t make it an issue but do point out how your tummy feels when it is comfortably full and when it is too full. Sometimes, children and adults don’t know when to stop eating and over time this can lead to health problems including weight gain.

Limit screen time
This term that is banded around a lot, but does it actually mean? Quite simply screen time is the amount of time spent watching TV or DVDs, playing video games and using a smart phone, tablet or a computer. The more time you spend sitting-down doing these activities, the less time you are being active doing things basketball, bike riding and swimming. Try to reduced screen time, not counting computer use related to school and educational activities, and look at other ways to spend time together.

Get moving
Whilst getting your offspring out of the house might feel like a struggle, it is well worth the battle. We all know how hard to can be to go back to the gym after a break, and it can be just the same for children. Find something that is relatively easy to pick up, that is fun and where you can offer encouragement. Go to the park for a run around, join a local football team, try a trampoline park or go for a bike ride together? The more you do it, the more they will enjoy it and want to take part.

Active family holidays where you are walking, cycling or boating are not only good for all of you but also create fun memories that will last forever.

Being a fit, healthy family opens up many choices for all of you and will hopefully lead to a long, healthy and happy life together.

Healthier Christmas Treats

Tags

berries, Christmas, clementine, cookie, enjoy, fruit, hips, honey, ice, juice, light, mince pies, oven, pears, porridge oats, smoothie, spice, vanilla extract

Christmas is generally the one time of year when people don’t worry about fat content and calorie counting.

However, overindulging is easy and can quickly undo all the healthy living you’ve done during the year.

We have got some healthier treat options that taste great but won’t leave you feeling guilty as you loosen your belt in January.

Cute Christmas cookies
We all love to dip into the biscuit tin at Christmas but the chocolate chips, cream fillings and icing make it dangerous territory. These treats taste as good as they look without the need for extra sugar.

Ingredients

100g/3½oz soft unsalted butter
60g/2¼oz soft brown sugar
One large egg
Two teaspoons of vanilla extract
275g/9¾oz plain flour plus extra for dusting
One teaspoon of ground cinnamon
One tablespoon of finely chopped peel
A handful of halved blanched almonds (these are optional)

Method
Preheat the oven to 180C/160C Fan/Gas 4.
Line a baking tray with greaseproof paper.
Cream the butter and sugar together until pale, light and fluffy then add the egg and vanilla extract and beat again.
Mix in the flour, cinnamon and peel until you have a dough.
Roll the dough out on a floured surface to a thickness of around 1cm.
Using Christmas cookie cutters cut the dough and place onto the baking tray.
Decorate with the almond halves and then bake for around ten minutes until they are a lovely golden-brown.
Leave for five minutes then more to a rack to cool before eating!

Light mince pies
We all love mince pies but many come packed with extra sugar and stodgy pasty. This recipe is easy to make, tastes great but is as light on the lips as it is on the hips.

Ingredients
5 sheets of filo pastry
25g/1oz unsalted, melted butter
150g/5½oz mincemeat – find an organic one with lots of fruit or make it yourself
125g/4½oz ripe, chopped pears (you can use tinned)
50g/1¾oz chopped clementines
2 teaspoons of cornflour

Method
Preheat the oven to 200C/180C Fan/Gas 6.
Brush 12 muffin tins with melted butter.
Mix the mincemeat with the pears, clementines and cornflour in a bowl until the cornflour has dissolved.
Brush the first sheet of pastry with melted butter and place another sheet on top, brush again with butter. Add a 3rd sheet of pastry and once again brush with butter. Cut the pastry stack into 12 pieces and then press a piece of filo into each compartment of the muffin tin.
Divide the mincemeat between the pastry lined cases.
Butter the remaining sheets of pasty and cut each piece into six. Scrunch up the pieces and put one on top of each mince pie making the perfect festive hat.
Cook for around 15 minutes or until the top is golden and crisp but be careful not to burn as it is a delicate taste.
Remove from the oven and cool for 10 minutes before placing on a rack then enjoy with crème fresh.

Christmas smoothie
With champagne and coctails flowing freely, sometimes it is nice to refresh with something non-alcoholic. This Christmas smoothie not only tastes lovely but is bursting with goodness.

Ingredients
180ml/6fl oz clementine juice
40g/1½oz porridge oats
320g/11oz blueberries (fresh or frozen)
2 ripe peeled pears
1 tablespoon of honey
½ teaspoon of mixed spice
Handful of ice cubes

Method
This is super-simple given how amazing it tastes.
Soak the oats for 20 minutes before you make the smoothie.
Place all the ingredients in a food mixer and blend together.
Add ice to glasses, pour and drink.