Ingredient Focus: Linoleic Acid

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acid, barrier, brightening, cacay oil, collagen, Dermalogica Melting Moisture Masque, Elemis Exotic Frangipani Monoi Body Cream, Evolve Organic Beauty Superfood 360 Serum, fatty acids, free radicals, hyperpigmentation, ingredient, irritants, lipid, luminosity, Medik8 C-Tetra Luxe, Medik8 Lipid-Balance Cleansing Oil, moisture, oil, oils, omega, omega 6, red ginseng, rejuvenation, serum, skin, skin protection, skin tone, smoke, soft, squalene, superfoods, supple, texture, vitamin, Vitamin C, Vitamin F, wrinkle depth

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Here at Pure Beauty, we make it our business to know exactly what’s in the products we sell so that we can make targeted recommendations for our clients’ skincare needs. One ingredient we’ve seen popping up a lot lately is linoleic acid, also sometimes referred to as vitamin F. Linoleic acid is actually an essential fatty acid, which means it’s essential for human health but isn’t created by the body.

Linoleic acid, or vitamin F, provides moisture and plumpness without making the skin feel heavy or weighed down. It fortifies the skin’s barrier, helping to fend off UV rays and air pollutants such as smoke, both of which cause free radical activity that can result in wrinkles and signs of ageing. It also lightens sun induced hyperpigmentation, making it an excellent all-rounder in the skincare game. It’s found in a number of naturally occurring oils, such as sunflower seed oil, hemp oil, grapeseed oil, and prickly pear seed oil.

With this in mind, we’ve put together a list of some of our favourite products which contain vitamin F. 

Medik8 Lipid-Balance Cleansing Oil

Oils are perfect for cleansing the skin as they can melt away dirt and make-up without stripping away the skin’s own barrier. This cleansing oil from Medik8 features an optimised ratio of essential lipids to replenish the skin’s natural defense barrier. This leaves the complexion soft, supple and protected from everyday irritants. The Omega-6 (yet another name for linoleic acid!) helps to rebalance the skin’s lipid levels to encourage a healthy complexion. 

Dermalogica Melting Moisture Masque

This mask from Dermalogica starts as a balm but melts to become a highly hydrating oil for your face. Activated by skin’s natural heat, this luxurious mask delivers a satisfying melting sensation as it penetrates skin’s surface layers to deeply nourish and rehydrate. As well as containing linoleic acid, which helps protect against skin-damaging free radicals for healthier-looking skin, it also contains micro-algae. This marine algae contains hydrating properties which help soothe and protect skin against the drying effects of pollution

Elemis Exotic Frangipani Monoi Body Cream

It’s not just the skin on your face which benefits from the use of linoleic acid. This body cream from Elemis contains sesame oil which is hugely rich in linoleic acid and antioxidants, and has a well-balanced lipid profile, providing excellent emollient and skin softening properties. The unique infusion of exotic Tahitian monoi oil, a blend of tiare flowers soaked in coprah oil, is fragranced with frangipani flowers to leave skin feeling beautifully soft, supple and delicately scented.

Evolve Organic Beauty Superfood 360 Serum

This lightweight serum from Evolve Organic Beauty is pretty unique in that it can be used by all skin types and ages! The formulation is packed with highly effective natural superfoods which deliver comprehensive skin protection and rejuvenation benefits including improvement in skin tone, wrinkle depth, texture and luminosity. The linoleic acid contained is sourced from cacay oil, obtained from the seeds of a majestic Amazonian tree. Cacay oil is also packed with bio-retinol to support the skin barrier layer and to lock moisture into the skin.

Medik8 C-Tetra Luxe

The final product on our linoleic list is this lipid Vitamin C enhanced radiance serum from Medik8. As well as being packed with vitamin F and C, it contains vitamin E, which protects the skin from free radicals as well as optimised red ginseng, which boosts the serum’s brightening powers while stimulating collagen production. It’s also got a dose of squalane, which  helps to restore the skin’s natural defensive barrier while deeply hydrating the skin. What more could you ask for?!

Pumpkins Aren’t Just for Halloween!

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acerola cherry, antioxidants, Australian caviar lime, avocado, Broccoli, cleansing, complexion, cranberry, dermalogica, Dermalogica PowerBright Overnight Cream, Dermalogica Rapid Reveal Peel, dry skin, Elemis, Elemis Superfood AHA Glow Cleansing Butter, Elemis Superfood Facial Wash, epidermal cell, extracts, fatty acids, fermented, kale, Lactic Acid, luminosity, mattifying, microbiome, moisturiser, Nettle, nourishing, oat kernel flour, oily skin, plant enzyme, prebiotic, pumpkin, pumpkin enzyme, pumpkin seed extract, pumpkin seed oil, radiant, Refinery, Refinery Mattifying Moisturiser, shine, texture, Wheatgrass

Photo by Kristina Paukshtite

When it comes to pumpkins, we choose them, carve them, roast them, bake them, even take our kids to be photographed in fields of them, but we don’t often think about slathering them onto our faces. That is, until recently, when a flurry of cosmetic companies began incorporating the potent plant, which is abundant in enzymes, amino acids, antioxidants, and vitamins A and E, into their line of skin care products. Now, instead of thinking of pumpkins as something we use once a year to carve a scary face into and place a candle inside for spooky shadows, we’re looking at five of our favourite products which harness the power of this humble member of the squash family:

Dermalogica PowerBright Overnight Cream

As the name suggests, this cream from Dermalogica is intended for nighttime use and is formulated to optimise skin moisture recovery and help restore luminosity. As well as containing pumpkin enzyme, which smoothes and evens skin texture, it packs in antioxidant-rich cranberry and raspberry seed oils to help protect against the damaging effects of free radicals from pollution, and deliver essential fatty acids that moisturise to help reduce the appearance of fine lines. 

Elemis Superfood AHA Glow Cleansing Butter

If you suffer from a dull complexion, finding a cleanser which doesn’t further strip moisture and radiance is important. This cleansing butter from Elemis is a nourishing facial cleanser that removes makeup, daily pollutants and daily grime to reveal a healthy-looking radiance. It’s packed with brightening AHAs from pumpkin and acerola cherry, to help to reveal a fresh-faced glow and can be used as a daily cleanser, a deep cleansing mask or a hydrating makeup remover around the eyes and face for smooth and glowing skin. 

Refinery Mattifying Moisturiser

While many people with oily skin steer clear of moisturiser, mistakenly assuming that they don’t need it, the reality is that oily skin often has underlying dryness that needs to be rebalanced to reduce sebum production. This moisturiser from Refinery contains pumpkin seed extract, which reduces shine with special optical effects, while oat kernel flour soothes and protects skin, and powerful sodium hyaluronate gives a boost of moisture. It’s a light, easily-absorbed formula which instantly reduces shine, making it perfect for oily complexions. 

Dermalogica Rapid Reveal Peel

This potent exfoliator from Dermalogica contains a unique complex of potent phytoactive AHA extracts, lactic acid and fermented plant enzymes to increase epidermal cell turnover to reveal new, firmer skin and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. It’s packed with pumpkin fruit enzyme and rice bran extract to resurface and help even out skin tone, while smoothing Australian caviar lime extracts brightens skin for a more radiant complexion. There are ten applications per tube and should be used once a week for best results. 

Elemis Superfood Facial Wash

The Elemis Superfood range contains a bunch of naturally derived active ingredients, and this facial wash is no exception. As well as pumpkin seed oils, the wash is packed with extracts from avocado, broccoli, wheatgrass, kale, and nettle. These are paired with a natural prebiotic to help balance the skin’s precious microbiome. The result is a nourishing facial wash that revives and refreshes whilst deeply cleansing the skin.

Five Autumn Changes to Your Skincare Routine

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autumn, changes, coconut oil, cold, cream, dark spots, dry, drying, essential fatty acids, face, Glycerin, hands, hexylresorcinol, hydrated, hydrating, lanolin, lips, luminosity, moisturiser, Niacinamide, non-greasy, overnight, passionflower oil, pumpkin enzyme, red, redness, sensitive, sensitivity, serum, skin, SkinCeuticals, summer, supple, texture, This Works, warm, weather, wet, youthful

Photo by Andre Furtado on Unsplash

While most of us are still enjoying the late summer weather, here in the UK, autumn is just around the corner and it won’t be long before we’re swapping shorts and sandals for scarves and gloves. While the change in clothes is inevitable, changing your skincare routine could also offer numerous benefits, so we’ve put together five key tips for making your daily skincare routine more autumn-friendly:

Exfoliate Regularly In Autumn

To save your skin from becoming dull, lackluster and dehydrated during the autumn months, up your exfoliation to twice a week. Exfoliating regularly, helps to increase cellular regeneration and removes dead skin cells that can hinder the absorption of any moisturisers or serums. For your face, we recommend Murad Vita-C Triple Exfoliating Facial while your body would benefit hugely from investing in Medik8 Smooth Body Exfoliating Kit. 

Inject More Moisture

You’ve probably been using a lightweight, oil-free moisturiser during the summer months, but the autumn usually requires something a little thicker. It’s time to bulk up with a heftier hydrator, preferably containing essential fatty acids, which are needed more when the weather gets colder. Dermalogica PowerBright Overnight Cream is an nourishing nighttime cream that optimises skin moisture recovery and helps restore luminosity. Niacinamide and hexylresorcinol help fade the appearance of dark spots, and it even contains the ultimate autumnal ingredient – pumpkin enzyme, which smoothes and evens skin texture!

Don’t Forget Lip Care

One of the first things that we usually notice when summer becomes autumn is that our lips start to dry out, thanks to the combination of the colder weather and putting the heating on indoors. Bloom and Blossom Lip Service Nourishing Lip Balm contains four powerful ingredients that together heal, hydrate and soften lips, giving them a deep boost of moisture and helping to protect them against the elements. It contains lanolin, which easily absorbs deeply into your skin, as well as coconut oil, passionflower oil and glycerin. 

Help Out Your Hands

Another body part which is often problematic as the temperature plummets is the hands, which suffer from a lack of moisture thanks to the dry, cool air. This Works Perfect Hands Intense Moisture is a powerfully hydrating, non-greasy cream that helps keep hands looking their finest. Daily use will help to maintain supple, youthful, hydrated and beautifully fragranced hands and allow you to emerge in the springtime with healthy hands. 

Calm Away Redness

It’s not uncommon for people with sensitive skin to experience flare ups once autumn comes around. In the colder part of autumn, when we move from the chillier outdoors to the warm indoors, it’s not uncommon to notice the tell-tale redness occurring more frequently, which is why it’s important to add something like SkinCeuticals Redness Neutralizer into your routine, to help strengthen the skin’s protective barrier and soothe the feeling of irritation.

Mask it with Pure Beauty

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Activated Binchotan Charcoal, Antioxidant vitamins, Arnica, back on track, Bamboo Extract, bergamot, C and E, calming agents, calming botanical extracts, classic, clay based mask, cool, cucumber, cuticles, dead skin cells, Decleor 2 in 1 Purifying and Oxygenating Mask, deep cleansing, dehydration, Dermalogica Charcoal Rescue Masque, Dermalogica Multivitamin Power Recovery Masque, Dermalogica Skin Hydrating Masque, diet, dry, dry hands, dry lines, dull, dull skin, Egyptian Loofah Fibres, Elemis Exotic Cream Moisturising Mask, Elemis Fruit Active Rejuvenating Mask, Exfoliators, extra pampering, fast working, fine, gorgeous ingredients, happy, heavenly, honey, hydrate, impurities, intensive treatment, irritation, Jan Marini Luminate Face Mask, lukewarm water, luminosity, luxury, make-up, mask, masque, moisturising therapy, nourished, orange, pollution, prematurely ageing skin, radiant complexion, redness, replenished, restoring moisture levels, restoring suppleness, samphire, Sea Silt, silky-smooth, skin, smooth, Special, Spheres of White Jojoba, Strawberry and Kiwi, stress, stressed, texture, thin layer, time poor, tired, tone, Vitamin C, Vitamins A, Volcanic Ash

Every now and again, our skin can become dry, dull and a bit sad.

Stress, pollution, make-up and diet can all have an impact on how our skin looks and feels, but adding a mask to your beauty routine can help keep things on track.

We have had a look at the products we offer at Pure Beauty and we are pretty sure there will be something perfect to get your skin back on track.

If you are looking for something special, we would suggest trying the Jan Marini Luminate Face Mask. This luxury mask improves tone, texture and luminosity, from the very first use. Up to three times a week, apply a thin layer to your face, avoiding the eye area, and leave on for ten minute before washing away with lukewarm water. Exfoliators will gently remove dull, dry skin while calming agents reduce irritation and redness, leaving skin immediately brighter and glowing.

If you are looking for a classic, we high suggest the Dermalogica Skin Hydrating Masque. This easy to use product is perfect for restoring suppleness and reducing the appearance of fine, dry lines caused by dehydration. Botanical extracts of Cucumber, Arnica, Orange and Hops have been added to deal with inflammation and thanks to Vitamins A, C and E, skin is nourished and replenished from the very first application.

At Pure Beauty, we love the Elemis Fruit Active Rejuvenating Mask. Rich in extracts of Strawberry and Kiwi, this clay based mask is a fantastic deep cleansing, moisturising therapy for your skin. After use, the Vitamin C from the fruit extracts means improved elasticity and you are left with a smooth, radiant complexion.

If you are time poor, why not try the Dermalogica Charcoal Rescue Masque. This fast working, easily removed formula is heavenly for tired, dull skin and works wonders. Activated Binchotan Charcoal adsorbs impurities and Sulfur promotes cell turnover so that skin becomes brighter and this is further enhanced by the addition of Volcanic Ash, Sea Silt, Bamboo Extract and alpha hydroxy acids. The result is a skin revolution.

For a totally hydrating, soothing treatment, look no further than the Elemis Exotic Cream Moisturising Mask. A blend of gorgeous ingredients, including Honey, Bergamot and Samphire, not only nourish the skin, but also support the moisture barriers, making it perfect for anyone who works in a highly air condition environment such as an office or retail space. Good to note, that this is a multipurpose product and can also be used as an intensive treatment for dry hands and cuticles.

For a little extra pampering, we suggest trying the Decleor 2 in 1 Purifying and Oxygenating Mask. This products combines an exfoliant with mask to not only cleanse the skin, but hydrate it too. Thanks to Egyptian Loofah Fibres, dead skin cells are washed away and Spheres of White Jojoba swoop in to restore hydration, leaving your skin feeling soft and silky smooth.

A real Pure Beauty winner, is the Dermalogica Multivitamin Power Recovery Masque. Packed with super-concentrated antioxidant vitamins, this is perfect for calming stressed, prematurely-ageing skin. Vitamin A increases elasticity and moisture levels, Vitamin C helps restore suppleness and cool, calming botanical extracts of Liquorice, Comfrey and Burdock soothe the skin leaving it happy once again.

If you would like more information, or are interested in receiving samples so you can try before you buy, get in touch today and we would love to help get it right for you.

Team Pure Beauty

Sun Protection Isn’t Just For Summer

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acne, antioxidants, broad spectrum, burning, colour, Decleor Anti-Pollution Hydrating Fluid SPF30, Decleor Daily Defence Fluid Shield SPF30, Dermalogica Matte Moisturiser SPF15, Dermalogica Sheer Tint SPF20 Medium, Elemis Liquid Layer SPF30, free radicals, luminosity, matte, microproteins, mineral, moisture, moisturising, natural, oil free, plymeris spheres, protection, rich, sheer, snow, sun, sunscreen, teen, tint, titanium dioxide, UVA, UVB, wash, winter

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It may seem like a really odd time of year to be telling you about sun protection, but it’s actually important to protect your skin from harmful UVA and UVB rays all year round. It’s also possible to get sunburn in the snow, as the powerful reflections can intensify the sun’s effects and leave you looking like a lobster! Here are five of the best “all year” sunscreens that you should be adding to your daily routine.

Decleor Anti-Pollution Hydrating Fluid SPF30

This hydrating fluid from Decleor is a really good all-round, every day moisturiser and it performs a whole bunch of skin-saving tasks. As well as protecting from UVA and UVB rays, it also protects from daily pollution and free radicals which speed up the ageing process. It also adds a wash of moisture to your skin, keeping it healthy and hydrated all day long.

Dermalogica Sheer Tint SPF20 Medium

If you like a wash of colour on your face rather than a full face of make-up, then this tint could be ideal for you. It gives your skin a sheer layer of colour, helping to even the skin tone and contains hyularonic acid and walnut seed oil which moisturise your skin deeply. It’s suitable for all skin types and contains a broad spectrum sun screen which will protect against UVA and UVB rays.

Elemis Liquid Layer SPF30

This sunscreen from Elemis contains naturally occurring Titanium Dioxide which is a physical UV barrier, as well as polymeric spheres to reflect and refract UVA and UVB light. The formula is rich in anti-oxidants to defend against free-radical damage and is an invisible layer which won’t interfere with your regular moisturiser or make-up.

Dermalogica Matte Moisturiser SPF15

Teens with oily skin may find it particularly difficult to use regular sunscreen, which is why Dermalogica created this oil-free, matte moisturiser which contains UVA and UVB protection. It actively absorbs oil and reduced shine and can even be used on acne-prone skin, without causing more spots.

Decleor Daily Defence Fluid Shield SPF30

This sun protection from Decleor is a truly multifunctional product which contains moringa oleifera microproteins to fight pollutants and free radicals, as well as mineral pigments to enhance skin’s natural luminosity. It’s a 100% mineral shield which helps to protect against the sun’s harmful rays and can be used on top of any make up throughout the day, if you need a top up.