Haircare for Over 50’s (or Anyone With Grey Hair!)

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age, ageing, antioxidants, beauty, breakage, cream, Evolve Organic Beauty Nourishing Hair Elixir, GHD Bodyguard-Heat Protect Spray, grey, grey hair, hair, hair colour, heat, moisture, Nine Yards Hair Down Anti Frizz Cream, Nine Yards On Track Repair Shampoo, Olaplex, Olaplex No.4P Blonde Enhancer Toning Shampoo, Olaplex No.9 Bond Protector Nourishing Hair Serum, over 50, shampoo, silver, silver hair, style, styling, sulphate-free, white hair

Photo by cottonbro studio

Over the last decade, grey hair has become more fashionable than ever before. It started with younger women who weren’t naturally grey heading to the salon to have their locks dyed grey. Then the naturally silver among us started to realise that they had what all of these women were paying hundreds of pounds for and started to embrace their natural colour. 

Then lockdown happened, meaning no-one could go to the hairdresser, and so, many women realised that allowing their natural sparkle to grow through was a lot less stressful than trying to colour their hair at home, and BOOM: the silver revolution was in full swing! 

It’s worth noting that grey hair goes through more than just a change of pigment and requires dedicated care to keep it looking its best, which is why we’ve put together a guide to haircare for the over 50’s – or indeed anyone of any age who’s already putting their best foot forward when it comes to grey hair:

Use a Mild Shampoo

As we age, our hair can often feel thinner and be more prone to breakage, so using a mild shampoo is essential. Nine Yards On Track Repair Shampoo is a strengthening shampoo with a mild sulphate free cleansing base, which also adds moisture to the hair without weighing it down. Also, it’s not just dyed hair which can benefit from toning; Olaplex No.4P Blonde Enhancer Toning Shampoo is a sulphate-free, highly concentrated formula thats allows for customizable toning and gives great results on grey hair. 

Add Moisture

Naturally grey hair is coarser and more dehydrated than pre-greying hair, which means that it needs a good moisture treatment to keep it looking sleek and smooth. Evolve Organic Beauty Nourishing Hair Elixir has been formulated with a 100% natural replacement to silicon leaving hair incredibly soft, light and moisturised.  Rich in antioxidants, it protects hair from environmental damages and helps regain lost moisture.

Use Protective Products

Believe it or not, your existing  hair doesn’t actually turn grey – your hair follicles produce less colour as they age, so when hair goes through its natural cycle of dying and being regenerated, it’s more likely to grow in as grey. These new hairs will need to be protected if you want your mane to look healthy. Pollution damages our hair everyday, leaving it dull, lifeless, difficult to style and ultimately resulting in broken bonds. Olaplex No.9 Bond Protector Nourishing Hair Serum is packed with antioxidants to neutralise free radicals, act as a shield against pollution, guard the hair from breakage and protect against heat styling.

Avoid Hairspray 

As we mentioned above, grey hair is also coarser and dryer, so try to cut back on hairspray where you can – the alcohol in hairspray can dry your hair out with repeated use, and the polymers that keep your hair in place can make your hair look even more dull. Instead, opt for something like Nine Yards Hair Down Anti Frizz Cream, which is a smoothing anti-frizz cream that calms flyaway hair and helps to keep the hair straight. It contains argan and sun flower seed extract to provide a lightweight conditioning cream with a natural shine.

Style With Care

Once we go naturally grey, many women find that they want to take more care than ever in styling their hair so that they maintain a youthful, put-together appearance. However, grey hair can be prone to damage and brassiness if you use too many heated tools on it. GHD Bodyguard-Heat Protect Spray provides an invisible barrier against everyday heat damage on damp or dry hair. Containing the unique ghd heat protection system, this spray can be layered with other styling products to create the result you desire.

Allantoin – The Best Soothing Ingredient that Nature Has to Offer?

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acne, acne scars, alcohol, algae extracts, Allantoin, anti-irritant, Arnica, blue Lotus extracts, botanical, botanical extracts, breakouts, chamomile, cleansers, combination skin, Comfrey, cuts, debris, decongest, dirt, dryness, dullness, Europe, exfoliate, face masks, Glycerin, glycolic acid, hands, herb, hydrate, hydrolipid, ingredient, ingrown hairs, irritation, itching, Lactic Acid, lightweight, lotions, Magnolia Essential Oil, moisture, moisture balance, nails, natural sources, normal skin, nourish, oil, oily skin, organic, pore minimising, pores, purify, Salicylic Acid, salicylic acid serum, scrapes, sensitive skin, serums, Shea butter, skin problems, skincare, smooth skin, soothe, sugar beat, tobacco seed, urea, uric acid, Vitamin E, water, wheat sprouts, white meadowfoam oil

Photo by Ron Lach

As you’ll know if you’re a regular visitor to our site, we like to keep our fingers on the pulse when it comes to skincare ingredients and trends. One such ingredient which has been popping up a lot lately is allantoin. It’s something which has been around for some time, but it’s going through something of a renaissance, with many major skincare companies including in their products. Here’s the lowdown on allantoin:

What is allantoin?

As we mentioned above, allantoin is used in many skin care products, including cleansers, lotions, serums, and face masks. Due to its anti-irritant properties, companies tend to add it to products that hydrate and soothe the skin. This ingredient is perfect for sensitive skin and is usually derived from natural sources.

Where is it found? 

In its natural form, allantoin is found in several plants, such as sugar beet, chamomile, tobacco seed, and wheat sprouts. A popular source of allantoin is the extract of comfrey, a species of herb native to Europe. It can also be prepared synthetically for cosmetic use, either by oxidation of uric acid, reaction of dichloroacetic acid and urea, or condensation reaction between glyoxylic acid and urea. (Don’t worry, that’s the last time today that we’ll get so scientific!)

What is it good for?

Allantoin might be your ticket to super smooth skin. It’s one of those amazing ingredients that offers a major bang for your buck and is great if you’re dealing with dryness, dullness, irritation, acne scars and even cuts and scrapes. Allantoin is also known for its ability to add more water to your skin. It can help your skin hang on to moisture longer, and helps fight annoying skin issues like dryness, itching, and irritation, which can ultimately lead to more skin problems, like acne or oily skin. 

Which products contain allantoin?

Decleor White Magnolia Hand and Nail Cream

This light cream is ideal for use throughout the day to leave skin beautifully scented and provide essential care for hands and nails. Key active ingredients include white meadowfoam oil to regenerate the hydrolipid film, shea butter and allantoin to nourish and soothe, plus magnolia essential oil to help protect and reinforce the skin.

Lycon Ingrown X-It Solution

With allantoin, salicylic acid, lactic acid and arnica, Lycon Ingrown X-It Solution is a break through spray formula for the face and body. It mildly exfoliates, decongests and helps minimise the appearance and discomfort of ingrown hairs. 

Medik8 Blemish Control Pads

Pre-soaked in a clarifying maximum strength salicylic acid serum, Medik8 Blemish Control Pads dissolve oil and dirt from deep within the pore to purify problem complexions. Crafted without alcohol and infused with allantoin and glycerin, they protect the skin’s natural moisture balance to ward off dryness, while caring for the most sensitive of skin types.

Murad Clarifying Body Spray

Murad Clarifying Body Spray is a quick-drying formula that helps prevent body breakouts. Salicylic acid helps clear up blemishes as glycolic acid helps clear away pore-clogging debris. Allantoin and blue lotus extract help soothe irritation for healthier-looking skin.

SkinCeuticals Daily Moisture

SkinCeuticals Daily Moisture is a lightweight, pore minimising moisturiser, designed to hydrate and nourish normal, combination and oily skin. It contains an exclusive combination of vitamin E, three nutrient-rich algae extracts, and a blend of seven botanical extracts including allantoin. 

Five of the Best Ingredients for Youthful Skin

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acidic, acne, ageing, all skin types, allergic reactions, alternative, anti-aging, anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory, ayurvedic medicine, bakuchiol, blemish prone, breastfeeding, ceramides, Chinese medicine, collagen, combination skin, complexion, dark spots, dehydrated, delicate, dermatology, dry skin, dryness, eczema, epidermis, Eyes, fats, firm, firmer feeling, germs, glowing, healthy, humectant, hyaluronic acid, Indian Babchi plant, inflammation, leaves, lines, lipids, melanin, moisture, oceans, oil based, oily skin, pigmentation, plump, plumper, potent, pregnant, products, Psoriasis, rainforests, reinforce, retinoids, retinol, rosacea, seeds, sensitive skin, sensitivity, skin, skin barrier, skin care, skin cells, skin issues, smoother, sun damage, topically, useful, vitamin A, Vitamin C, water, wrinkles

Photo by Karolina Grabowska

Here at Pure Beauty, we’re well aware of how confusing skincare can feel. There’s a different product for every different skin issue and a wealth of ingredients which vary from things found in your pantry to things found in the deepest oceans or rainforests! Looking at ingredient lists often feels like trying to decipher an unknown language, but there are some key things that you can look for if you’re in the market for anti-ageing products. Here are five of the best ingredients for maintaining a youthful complexion:

Retinol 

Retinol is a form of vitamin A that’s suitable for the skin. It belongs to a group of vitamin A derivatives, known as retinoids. Retinol has multiple uses and can be used to combat conditions like acne and can target areas of pigmentation. It can also reduce signs of ageing and sun damage. Retinoids don’t work equally well on everyone. If you suffer from rosacea, eczema, or psoriasis, it’s probably best to avoid retinol since it can be too powerful on skin that needs a gentle touch – it can increase inflammation, dryness and sensitivity in already delicate complexions.

Try Murad Retinol Youth Renewal Serum

Hyaluronic Acid

Hyaluronic Acid is a humectant — a substance that retains moisture — and it is capable of binding over one thousand times its weight in water. This substance is naturally found in many areas of the human body, including the skin and eyes. Hyaluronic acid helps skin stretch and flex and reduces skin wrinkles and lines. Hyaluronic acid is also proven to help wounds heal faster and can reduce scarring. Allergic reactions to hyaluronic acid are rare, so that means whether you have oily skin, sensitive, dry skin, or combination skin, you have the green light to use hyaluronic acid products.

Try SkinCeuticals H.A. (Hyaluronic Acid) Intensifier Serum 

Vitamin C

Vitamin C can help keep skin looking plump and firm. This is because it’s highly acidic when applied topically and can help to promote collagen production and reduce the appearance of ageing skin. It also contains a property that inhibits the skin’s melanin production levels, two of the culprits that can lead to dark spots and hyperpigmentation, making it an absolute hero at giving you a glowing, healthy complexion. It’s usually found in oil-based products, so may not be ideal for acne and blemish prone skin, but it’s great for pretty much all other skin types. 

Try REN Clean Skincare Glow Daily Vitamin C Gel Cream

Bakuchiol

If you’re looking for an alternative to retinol that can be used on more sensitive skin, bakuchiol is a good place to start. Bakuchiol is found in the seeds and leaves of the Indian Babchi plant and has been used in traditional Ayurvedic and Chinese medicine for centuries. It also has calming anti-inflammatory and healing antibacterial properties and is even safe for use when pregnant and breastfeeding. It’s a potent-yet-kind ingredient which the British Journal of Dermatology found was just as effective as retinol and significantly less irritating, which is great news for anyone looking for an alternative.

Try Medik8 The CSA Bakuchiol Edition Kit

Ceramides

Ceramides are fats or lipids that are found in skin cells and make up 30% to 40% of your outer skin layer, or epidermis. Ceramides are important for retaining your skin’s moisture and preventing the entry of germs into your body. If your skin’s ceramide content decreases, which often happens with age, it can become dehydrated. Skincare products with ceramides will help reinforce your skin’s barrier and increase hydration, giving you plumper, smoother, firmer-feeling skin with fewer visible lines and wrinkles, as well as fewer signs of sensitivity.

Try Advanced Nutrition Programme Skin Moisture IQ

Our Top Five Non-Greasy Skin and Haircare Formulas

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acne, ageing, all skin types, Aloe Vera, antioxidant, bath, bedtime, body, breakouts, brighter, broad spectrum, cashmere, chamomile, coconut, complexion, daily, damaged hair, dry, dry oil, dry skin, even, formula, frizz, Glycerin, greasiness, greasy, harmful, healthier, healthy, heavy, Ho Wood, holiday, hyaluronic acid, hydrated, ingredients, lavender, light, lighter, moisture, moisturiser, night oil, non-greasy, nourished, oil, oils, patchouly, polished, porous, powerful, protect, protection, rays, refine, sensitivity, sensory, sesame oil, Shea butter, shower, skin, skin type, skincare, smooth, smoother, SPF30, SPF50, spots, spray tan, spring, stress, styling creams, summer, sun creams, tea or flour, tension, texture, thick, uncomfortable, UVA, UVB, vetiver, Vitamin C

Photo by cottonbro

There are many reasons for opting for skincare formulas which are non-greasy. For some people, it’s the simple fact that their skin already produces too much oil and greasy formulas are simply not compatible with their skin type. For others, it may be an issue of sensitivity to certain ingredients such as certain oils which may exacerbate breakouts of spots or acne. And for some people, it is simply a sensory issue which means that formulas which are too heavy and greasy feel highly uncomfortable on your skin. 

All of these issues can also be worse depending on the season; wearing thicker formulas in spring and summer when it is hot can feel unpleasant at times. With this in mind, we’ve searched our stock to put together a list of five non-greasy products which are perfect for anyone who prefers lighter skin care:

Decleor Aloe Vera Sun Gel Cream SPF50

When it comes to skincare that feels heavy or greasy on the skin, suncreams are often one of the worst offenders. This Aloe Vera Sun Gel Cream from Decleor is a non-greasy gel which is enriched with aloe vera and sesame oils, to leave the skin feeling nourished and hydrated but fresh and light at the same time. The broad-spectrum SPF50 protects the skin from harmful UVA and UVB rays and it can be used on all skin types on a daily basis.

Medik8 Daily Radiance Vitamin C

If your skin is dry and lacking radiance you may find that many of the formulas designed to relieve this are thick and heavy. This Daily Radiance Vitamin C from Medik8 has a light, cashmere texture to deliver powerful antioxidant protection as well as broad-spectrum SPF 30 without any of the greasiness of other products. It’s enriched with hyaluronic acid and glycerin, which draws moisture into the skin leaving you with a brighter, more even complexion and skin which is protected from the future signs of ageing.

South Seas – Moorea Moisturiser

Dry skin doesn’t just affect your face; it can happen anywhere on your body and can be difficult to tackle. This moisturiser from South Seas is a non-greasy, lightweight formula to leave your skin feeling healthy and smooth. It is designed specifically to be used alongside a spray tan and for people who have very dry skin, and contains shea butter to deeply nourish, along with tiare flower and coconut to give you a fragrance which makes you feel like you’re always on holiday!

This Works Deep Sleep Night Oil

Finding a product which describes itself as a non-greasy oil may sound like something of an oxymoron, however this Deep Sleep Night Oil from This Works is a dry oil which is easily absorbed. It is formulated using oils of lavender, chamomile, vetiver, patchouly, and ho wood, which combine to create a delicately scented and relaxing oil which will lock moisture into your skin, soothe your muscles and calm your mind before bedtime. It’s perfect for use after a bath or shower and can be used daily to help relieve tension and stress.

Color Wow One Minute Transformation Styling Cream

Unless you have a hair type which is extremely dry or porous, some styling creams can feel slightly greasy and leave your hair looking slick and weighed down, rather than natural and weightless. This One Minute Transformation Styling Cream from Colour Wow is designed to banish frizz and refine texture without any greasiness. The formula revives shine and enhances the hair’s moisturisation, leaving dry, damaged hair smoother, more polished and looking healthier than ever.

Everything you Need to Know About Dimethicone

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ageing, barrier, crow's feet, dark circles, dermalogica, dermalogica skincare products, dimethicone, dry skin, eye cream, finish, hair, healthy, hydration, hyperpigmentation, inflammation., moisture, oil, physical, powdery, prematurely ageing, puffiness, silicone, silky, skin, skincare, SkinCeuticals, smooth, SPF, water

Photo by Sora Shimazak

Dimethicone is one of those ingredients that everyone has been talking about for the last few years. It’s often used in primers and other similar skincare as it gives the skin a smooth, silky feeling, but what actually is dimethicone and what is the benefit of having it in your routine? Today, we’re taking a look at everything you need to know about dimethicone:

What is dimethicone?

Dimethicone is a silicone-based ingredient used in many personal care products. It keeps all of the ingredients in a product from separating. It also gives these products a smooth, silky texture. When applied to the skin or hair, dimethicone creates a physical barrier to seal in hydration, keeping skin moisturised and hair frizz-free.

What are the benefits of having dimethicone in your skincare?

Dimethicone improves the texture of skincare and cosmetic products, helps to improve the appearance of the skin, giving it that plump, hydrated look, and can help to prevent moisture loss. It’s also used to create a protective barrier on the skin that blocks external agents like arid air and pollutants from reaching the skin while locking in moisture. In fact, one study found that a majority of skin care products use dimethicone for its moisturising capabilities.

Which are the best products containing dimethicone?

SkinCeuticals Advanced Pigment Corrector

SkinCeuticals Advanced Pigment Corrector is a lightweight lotion which evens skin tone and reduces the appearance of skin discolouration.  It is clinically proven to improve the appearance of stubborn hyperpigmentation and boost the appearance of skin tone. 

Dermalogica SkinPerfect Primer SPF30

Dermalogica Skin Perfect Primer SPF30 will help even your skin tone and texture allowing for a smoother application and longer lasting coverage of makeup to follow. It is suitable for drier or prematurely-ageing skin.

SkinCeuticals A.G.E. Eye Complex

SkinCeuticals A.G.E. Eye Complex is an anti-wrinkle eye cream that contains a combination of ingredients formulated to target the visible signs of ageing skin. This eye cream improves the appearance of crow’s feet, dark circles and puffiness.

Dermalogica Oil Free Matte SPF30

Dermalogica Oil Free Matte SPF30 is a lightweight, ultra-sheer Broad Spectrum sunscreen helps prevent shine, regulate oil production and soothe inflammation. Oil-absorbers help maintain an all-day matte finish without a powdery residue.

SkinCeuticals Phyto Corrective Masque

SkinCeuticals Phyto Corrective Masque is an intensive calming facial mask formulated to soothe and replenish skin discomfort and sensitivity. It delivers intense cooling and calming comfort to skin sensitivity and is suitable for irritated, sensitive skin prone to temporary redness.