Get Your Toes Sandal Ready

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Let’s face it.

Your feet work really hard for you.

From the moment you get out of bed and make that first cup of coffee, to walking to work, running for the bus and then climbing the stairs back to bed, it’s all go for your toes.

The thing is, if you take care of your feet in-between salon pedicures, you can look sandal smart all summer long and we are going to show you how.

Soak Away
Why not set Sunday aside as a pamper night? Once you have switched off your phone and lit some candles and turned on your play list, fill a bowl with warm water and get ready to chill. Add a little of your favourite bubble bath or foot crystals (available in chemists and supermarkets) then let your feet soak for around 10 minutes and use this time to focus on you and your breathing. As your feet sit in the water, the skin will soften and your muscles will relax.

Exfoliate
With your skin nice and soft, rinse and dry them and then use an exfoliation product to get rid of the dead cells that can build up as a result of wearing flip-flops and padding around in bare feet when the temperatures rise.

Buff Up
For this step, we suggest you go back to basics and use a pumice stone as these can make a big difference to the way your feet look and feel. Very gently rub the stone over those stubborn areas where the skin is tough and problematic. If you do need an extra hand with this, then speak to your beautician the next time you are in the salon.

Tidy Up
There is no point in making sure your feet look good if your toenails leave a lot to be desired. As they will also be softer than usual after a warm water soak, this is the time to pay them some attention and we would suggest you buy some decent scissors just for the job. You need to cut straight across the nail, do not be tempted to go for a curve or to tidy up the corners, as you could cut too much away or end up with ingrowing nails – neither of which you want. Toes are ticklish, but needs must when it comes to beauty, so next take a clean file and make sure they are smooth and tidy with no sharp corners or jagged sides.

Moisturise
Just like other parts of the body, your feet need to be moisturised if you want them to be happy and healthy. Go for a foot cream which is rich in Vitamin E and contains peppermint, which is super cooling as this is a winning combination. Work the cream into the problem areas and let the goodness melt in.

Paint
Yes, this is the really fun bit. We love coloured toes but the key to a clean, slick finish is to either use separators or place a twisted tissue between each toe and this will protect against smudges. Whether you opt for rich red, a pop of pink or maybe a cool coral, add a clear finish and you will have happy feet and a smile.

Team Pure-Beauty

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Where a white shirt and shine

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aviator glasses, Back to Front, belt, block heeled sandals, boardroom, Bold Prints, bright colours, buttons, cashmere sweater, catwalk, clashes, clutch, comfort, Dark jeans, designer price, distressed jeans, dress, dress it up, Duchess of Sussex, flamingos, full skirt, High Street, killer heels, leopard print, look, love, Meghan Markle, messy bun, modern twist, monochrome outfit, neutral outfit, new look, occasion, or down, outfit, painted toes, palm trees, pencil skirt, pleated midi, pretty flats, Prince Harry, print, red heels, relaxed, shops, slim fitting capri pants, Statement accessories, style, style statement, Suits, tailored jacket, tassel earrings, tucked in, Victoria Beckham, vintage necklace, wardrobe staple, weekend vibe, white Givenchy shirt dress, white shirt, white shirts, white trainers

Ever since Meghan Markle stepped out with Prince Harry at the Invictus Games, the simple white shirt has been hot on the High Street as well as the catwalk.

We love nothing better than this wardrobe staple and once you have found a style that works for you, there are endless ways to dress it up, or down and get a look for pretty much any occasion.

Keep it Simple
Dark jeans, pretty flats and a loosely tucked in white shirt is a classic, but easy outfit that ticks all the style and comfort boxes.

Add a Skirt
Pairing your shirt with a high-waisted pencil skirt together with block heeled sandals and painted toes, you have a look that is straight off the set of Suits.

Back to Front
If you like to spice things up when it comes to fashion, wear your shirt backwards, leaving the first couple of buttons undone and you have a whole new look going on.

All White
You will notice the shops are full of white skits and we suggest going for a pleated midi with your shirt tucked in and adding a pair of killer heels and clutch for a style statement that means business.

Go for Bold Prints
A simple white shirt is the perfect blank canvas for a vibrant, bold print. You can be as daring as you like, opting for palm trees, leopard print or even flamingos because nothing clashes with a white shirt.

Black and White
Bright colours not your thing? Don’t worry. Adding slim fitting capri pants or a full skirt, a la Victoria Beckham, you will create a monochrome outfit that will never date.

Up Your Game
If you have an afternoon meeting, slipping a tailored jacket over your shirt will instantly up the ante and make you boardroom ready, in moments.

Accessorise
Statement accessories, such as tassel earrings, red heels or a vintage necklace are all you need to add a whole new dimension to a white shirt and otherwise neutral outfit.

Layer it Up
A pretty cami underneath your shirt or a cashmere sweater over the top, can totally transform your look and if you want an on trend look, wear it under a dress and add a wide belt.

Keep it Casual
For a more relaxed, weekend vibe, distressed jeans and white trainers with the shirt untucked, is a winning combo. Leave your hair in a messy bun, add aviator glasses and a cap and you are good to go.

If you want to go a little leftfield with this, we also loved the Duchess of Sussex’s white Givenchy shirt dress she wore at Royal Ascot this year. Understated yet elegant with a twist thanks to the floral embroidery and a skinny belt. This is a really easy look to recreate and can take you from the office to the bar by simply swapping flats for heels and adding a slick of red lipstick. New Look currently have a cute white shirt dress in stock that tootally looks the part, but without the designer price, and is worth trying on for size.

Team Pure-Beauty

Add a serum into your beauty routine

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acne or hydration, algae, anti-oxidant phenolic compounds, antioxidants, bathroom, beauty routines, brightness, bug bear, cleanse, clinically proven, collagen, concentrated blend, daily-use treatment oil, Dermalogica C-12 Pure Bright Serum, Dermalogica Phyto Replenish Oil, dewy, Dhatelo Oil, discoloration, dryness, elastin, Elemis Hydra-Boost Serum, Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream, Elemis Pro-Collagen Oxygenating Night Cream, Elemis Pro-Collagen Quartz Lift Serum, epidermis, face lifting effect, feel, fine lines, glowing complexion, hydrators, hyperpigmentation, Jan Marini Age Intervention Peptide Extreme, look, luxe product, mantra, morning and evening, next-generation, Orchid Flower and Chia Seed Oil, Padina Pavonica, peptides, perfect base, phytoactives, poten, proteins, quartz, radiant, Rhodochrosite, Rice Bran, Rice derived Phytic Acid, silky cream, skin care product, skin type ranges, sun shines, sunflower, talk, thirsty skin, tone and moisturise, uneven tone, UV rays, youthful, Zinc Glycinate

Cleanse, tone and moisturise is our mantra when it comes to beauty routines, but we think there is a place for a serum in there too.

Yes, it is another product for your bathroom, and they aren’t always cheap, but adding a serum into the mix could be worth it.

Just to get things straight, a serum is a skin care product you apply to your skin after cleansing but before moisturising to help tackle specific concerns such as fine lines, brightness, acne or hydration.

At Pure Beauty, we sell a range of serums across the skin type ranges and are sure we have something that will work for you.

Let’s start with one of our summer favourites, the Dermalogica C-12 Pure Bright Serum. This is a potent skin brightening serum that really helps with pesky hyperpigmentation and uneven tone. Used morning and evening, the blend of Oligopeptides, Rice derived Phytic Acid, Zinc Glycinate and Algae work on the pigmentation imbalance that can become more problematic when the sun shines and UV rays hit the skin. The silky cream is quickly absorbed into the skin, leaving the perfect base for your moisturiser and as well as brightening the skin, it will also help minimise discoloration and improve clarity

Next we want to talk about the Elemis Hydra-Boost Serum. This clinically proven hydrating serum provides all day moisturisation for thirsty skin. Quinic and Hyaluronic Acid plus Dhatelo Oil have been blended with Myrtle, which is super-rich in anti-oxidant phenolic compounds, and together they help maintain natural defence systems. Simply apply to cleansed skin before you moisturise and watch your skin come to life once again.

If you really need to rebuild and revitalise your skin, we would suggest trying out the outstanding Jan Marini Age Intervention Peptide Extreme. We love this concentrated blend of antioxidants, hydrators, peptides and soothing agents which not only deal with dreaded wrinkles, but also get to work on uneven texture and redness. Used morning and night, this luxe product will really make a difference to the look and feel of your skin making it appear firmer and more radiant thanks to the increased production of collagen and elastin.

If dryness is your bug bear, look no further than the Dermalogica Phyto Replenish Oil. This remarkable next-generation, daily-use treatment oil works on three levels:

Phytoactives from Camellia and Tamanu oils help restore the skin’s natural barrier.
Orchid Flower and Chia Seed Oil smooth dehydration lines and lock in moisture.
Sunflower, Rice Bran and Rosemary extracts create a shield against free radical damage.

The results are a dewy, glowing complexion free of the tightness and irritation dehydration can cause.

For a real face lifting effect, without going anywhere near a surgeon, the Elemis Pro-Collagen Quartz Lift Serum is perfect. Created from concentrated Padina Pavonica, Rhodochrosite, Quartz and Argan Oil, this special serum forms a network of proteins which deliver an immediate tightening effect to the skin. Organic Seaweed binds moisture in the epidermis so your skin feels firm and strengthened and because fine lines and wrinkles are smoothed, your look more youthful. For best results, use morning and night together with the Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream and Elemis Pro-Collagen Oxygenating Night Cream.

If you would like more information about serums or if you would like to try a sample, get in touch today and we would love to help.

Team Pure-Beauty

Wear pink with confidence this spring

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Look through any magazine and you will see that pink is everywhere.

If you’ve wondered whether this is the colour for you, the answer, this season at least, is… absolutely!

From the palest blush to honey hues and bright splashes, this sugary shade is here for spring, and beyond, and we have looked at how you can make it chic not shiny.

Go for a coat
If you want to make a statement with pink, go for a coat. Whether it’s a ruffle hem cape, silk bomber jacket, fitted Chanel-esque blazer or even a lightweight puffa, it will be a wardrobe staple. These are perfect all great trans seasonal items and can be worn with jeans and boots while it is still chilly, but pop over a dress and flats later in the season and you will still be on-trend.

Wear the jeans
From the catwalk to the High Street, there are some pretty pastel jeans on offer and they can be the perfect way to add a flash of pink into your day. Team with a navy long sleeve tee or an oversized sweatshirt in grey and silver trainers for a weekend look that will work all spring long.

Blouse it
An easy way to add pink into your office or evening outfits is to wear a soft pink blouse which will take the edge off black trousers but still look professional. It you get the right shade for you, it will reflect onto your face and give you a healthy glow.

Look at your feet
You might not have thought about wearing pink shoes but this is a brilliant way to start your fashion adventures in pink. Metallic pink loafers worn with a dark grey pencil skirt is a killer office look and you can inject energy into your gym kit by matching steel leggings with cerise trainers.

Accessorise the pink way
Pink accessories are an easier way to buy into this look before you really invest. Sunglasses, gloves, pumps, heels, scarves and bags are all the perfect way to add a pop of pink into your wardrobe and once you feel comfortable with this, you can go bigger.

It’s all in the make-up
Adding pink to your beauty bag is a great way to update your look. Swap your bronzer for a cream pink blush and apply to the apples of your cheeks, for a fresh, spring look. Experiment with lipsticks and go for a pink that adds warmth to your skin and brings your eyes alive. A bright, vibrant nail varnish can totally change your look and worn on your toes with white gliders is a winning look that never dates.

We hope we have convinced you that pink can work in any number of ways and you now feel brave enough to take the plunge.

Unplug and live life

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Sunday 25th June marked National Unplugging Day, the third of its kind in the UK and something we think will grow and grow as more and more of us question just how much time we spend online.

National Unplugging Day is a day all about breaking free from technology and having fun with family and friends away from the screens and gadgets many of us use for more than eight hours a day.

Taking a break from social media is easier said than done as it is part of everyday life, but we have some ideas that might work.

Rather than starting your day checking Facebook, why not kick it off with a decent breakfast, yoga session of do a little meditation. Concentrate on you first thing, then worry about how many ‘likes’ you’ve had over night.

Go old skool and rather than buying the latest novel on your Kindle, got for the paperback and read it on the train or bus and we think you’ll become so absorbed you’ll forget to check your phone.

One day a week, maybe a Sunday, turn off all devices and have a totally unplugged day. Meet friends (no selfies over lunch), go to the gym, have a bike ride, visit a museum – the ideas are endless and none of the require technology.

Pick a sport, any sport but one that means you can’t look at your phone. Tennis, badminton and netball are all fast paced and need 100% focus, so unlike golf or running, you can sneak a peek at Snapchat every now and again.

Turn apps off. Remember the days when a phone was a phone? Go back to those times and take social media off your mobile and limit the amount of time you can check on what your boyfriend had for dinner or where the girls are planning to go at the weekend. The end of apps doesn’t mean the end of the world!

If you do work at a computer, turn the Wi-Fi off and simply concentrate on your ‘to do list’. OK, you might need to do some research for a presentation or look at stats for a report but other than that, leave social media behind and you will be amazed at how much you get done.

When you do leave work, really make sure you leave it behind. Turn on your email “out of office”, don’t divert works calls to your personal mobile, and don’t check emails until you return to your desk. Very little is so urgent that it can’t wait, even if you are the Prime Minster it seems!

Be in the moment. Rather than head down and eyes on the screen, you will get so much more from life by actually living it. Go for a walk but don’t take Google maps. Get on a train and see where it takes you, without looking at a travel and rather than sending your flatmate a text, leave them a note, go on, give it a go.

Don’t only ban tech from the bedroom, also give it a bedtime! Agreeing that you will turn of the screens an hour before you hit the sack will mean you and your brain start to slow down and turn off and really get some decent rest.

Buy an alarm clock. Out of touch we know, but if you wake up to the alarm on your phone or iPad, chances are you will check them before you go to sleep or if you wake up in the night. If they aren’t around, you can’t look and won’t get distracted for hours.

We aren’t saying do all of these tomorrow, but over time just watch how long you spend plugged in and think about what life might be like if you were unplugged.

Team Pure Beauty