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.

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How to Re-Grow Your Over-Plucked Eyebrows

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3-4 months, avocado, brows, cycle, Dermalogica MultiVitamin Power Firm, eggs, Elemis Superfood Facial Oil, eyebrows, facial hair, fashion, fish, grow, growing, growth, hair, hair follicles, meat, natural, nutrients, nuts, oil, over-plucking, plucking, protein, reshape, shape, shaping, spinach, sweet potato, thick, thin, threading, tweezing, Vitamin E, waxing

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Here at Pure Beauty one of the ‘beauty truths’ that we wholeheartedly accept is that many things in the world of beauty and cosmetics are cyclical. This can mean that something which was fashionable for years can suddenly become the exact OPPOSITE of what’s fashionable now – and this has never been truer than it is with eyebrows! We all spent the majority of the Nineties and Noughties plucking our eyebrows into oblivion, only for 2017 to be the year of the heavy brow! Many of us have plucked our brows so much that we need a little help growing them back, so here are a few things you can try to give them a helping hand:

Step Away From the Tweezers!

This one may seem like a no-brainer, but you’re going to have to leave the tweezing alone completely for some time to allow all of your natural brows to grow back in. Once you’ve got a full set of eyebrow hairs, then you can reshape them (or even better, let a brow technician do it for you because, let’s face it, you can’t be trusted!) but until then you need to leave them alone.

Massage with Oil

Massaging the area will help in a few ways. Firstly, it will help to stimulate the hair follicles and encourage hair growth. Secondly, if you use an oil like Elemis Superfood Facial Oil it will trap moisture within the skin which your hair follicles need for healthy growth. Lastly, the nutrients within the oil, such as vitamin A and omegas, will also give your skin the vital nourishment it needs to be able to regrow the hairs.

Eat Protein

Hair and nails are made from a protein called keratin which is produced within the body, so it stands to reason that eating plenty of protein will help your body to have what it needs to some serious brow-growing. Things like meat, eggs, nuts and fish are all great sources of protein and will give you lots of hair-growing superpowers!

Vitamin E

Vitamin E is an essential nutrient for hair growth so as well as eating plenty of things which contain it (avocado, sweet potato and spinach, to name but a few), using a topical product like Dermalogica Multivitamin Power Firm can really help. It’s usually intended for use around the eye and mouth area to combat wrinkles, but adding an extra layer on your brows before bed can speed up the hair growth cycles.

Be Patient!

This step is really important! Hair growth usually follows a 3-4 month cycle, which means that from the moment you stop tweezing you may have to wait 16 weeks to see how your brows have grown in. You’re potentially going to look a little bizarre with wild brows in this time, but it’s well worth it and really is the only way you’re going to see what you’ve got left to work with once you stop the hideous cycle of over-plucking.

Create less waste this Christmas

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artificial tree, BOGOF, cakes, carbon footprint, cards, Christmas Eve, Christmas trees, cookery classes, cookies, Dec the halls, destroyed, disposable, e-cards, envelopes, experiences, festive season, festve, Flora and fauna, food, friends and family, gig, great time, hand deliver, High Street, holly, home, LED, lights, napkins, natural, panic buy, pine cones, Plastic, plastic fantastic decorations, presents, quick and easy, recycle cards, recycling, riding lessons, roots, Secret Santa, shopping, spa days, tablecloths, temptation, theme, tickets, TLC, tradition, tree, turkey, veggies, vintage shop, wine, wrapping paper

Each year millions of Christmas trees, acres of wrapping paper and a serious number of cards and envelopes are incinerated or dumped into landfill sites once the festive season is over.

While you might think you already do your bit for recycling, we have had a look at how you can produce less waste over Christmas but still have a great time.

The tree
Of course, the most sensible option here is to buy an artificial tree. Yes, it is plastic and it doesn’t smell but it will dramatically cut down (excuse the pun) the number of real trees being destroyed. If you really can’t break with tradition, then buy a real tree with roots that you can plant in the garden and reuse every year.

Real napkins and tablecloths
When you are out shopping keep away from disposable napkins and tablecloths. Yes they are quick and easy but you can pick up reasonable real ones that can be used all year round again and again – you can even dye them another colour if you get bored.

Dec the halls
Have you ever stopped to wonder just how much plastic goes on your tree each year and the damage you might be doing when you chuck them out because you fancy a new theme? We not step away from the plastic fantastic decorations on the High Street and go for natural ones instead? Flora and fauna are the perfect way to make your home feel festive, and with a little TLC you can create pine cones, ivy and holly into something special and unique.

Lights
Go for solar-powered outdoor lights where possible and remember to turn your Christmas lights off when you go out or are asleep.

Cards
Christmas cards are an intrinsic part of the festive season but boy do they create a lot of waste. Consider sending e-cards or if you want to keep things real, recycle cards from last year to make new ones and hand deliver them where you can to keep your carbon footprint down. You can also use old cards to make new tags!

Presents
Rather than buying more ‘stuff’ why not consider giving friends and family experiences this year? From riding lessons and spa days to cookery classes and tickets to a gig so they have something they will remember forever. If you do want to give a real gift, maybe make cookies, cakes or sloe gin or visit an antique or vintage shop and show the ones you love that you have really thought about their gifts rather than opting for the BOGOF offers.

Secret Santa
Another way to keep things sensible is to opt for Secret Santa with family and friends with a set budget and ideas of what people would really like.

Food
There is the temptation to panic buy on Christmas Eve but this means a tonne of food is often wasted. When you go shopping, make a list and stick with it and don’t throw leftovers away as there are so many things you can do with that turkey, those veggies and the last of the wine.

Recycle
We know it can be the list thing you want to do, but make sure you bag up with paper and cardboard, the bottles and cans and recycle as usual – it does make a difference.

Whatever you do this Christmas, think about the bigger picture as you celebrate.

Team Pure-Beauty

Replicate Your Spa Experience at Home

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beauty, body, calm, candles, de-stress, dead skin cells, Elemis Body Detox Skin Brush, Elemis De-Stress Massage Oil, Elemis Quiet Mind Temple Balm, essential oils, face, feet, fragrance, full body, hands, harmony, home, massage, mood, natural, neck, oil, Relax, relaxation, scent, Spa, tranquillity, treatment

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Having a spa day is great for mind and body but not always for your budget and although many people try to do it at home, their experience is often lacking that true spa feel. We’ve been taking a look at what most people love about their spa experiences and have put together a list of tips for you to use to make sure that your home spa experience is as accurate as you can make it.

Lighting

Trying to lay back and enjoy a relaxing face mask is no good if you’ve got bright overhead lighting going on, so adjusting the lighting is essential for a relaxing environment. Candles give the best lighting as it’s natural and calming, but if you don’t fancy having open flames around you you could try some battery-powered tealights which give off a really similar light to proper candles without the risk!

Fragrance

Smell is one of the most powerful senses and as well as being able to evoke strong memories and emotions, it can dictate mood and energy. If your house doesn’t smell fabulous when you indulge in a home spa day then it’s much harder to get yourself into the right head-space. Invest in an oil burner or some wax melts in a fragrance which promotes relaxation and also apply some Elemis Quiet Mind Temple Balm to your temples to promote harmony, tranquillity and relaxation.

Tools

Think about the treatments you intend to give yourself and whether there are any tools that you’ll need to do so. Obviously a fluffy robe and slippers are an absolute must, and you may want to lay an old, clean sheet over your bed to protect your bedding from any oils. Using an Elemis Body Detox Skin Brush to thoroughly remove dead skin cells and improve circulation is a great way to start your home spa experience and will make your skin more receptive to any other products you choose to use.

Treatments

Unless you have a willing spa partner, you’ll have to think about what you’re actually able to achieve by yourself. Obviously it’ll be impossible to give yourself a full body massage (unless you’re SUPER bendy!) but massaging smaller areas such as your own hands and feet, neck, face and calves is much more achievable. Invest in some Elemis De-Stress Massage Oil to help you to release tension and feel thoroughly revitalised.

Pick Your Moment!

Finding time for yourself can often be tricky but planning your home spa day is all about timing. Try to do it when you won’t have people walking in and out of your room asking for pairs of clean socks or where their homework has disappeared to, make sure the dog has been walked and you aren’t waiting for a parcel to be delivered otherwise it will all make it so much harder to get into a relaxed and serene mood.

Have a Home Spa Experience with Elemis

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Alpine Lavender, bathroom, Birch, Blue Chamomile, body, botanicals, breathing, bristles, cactus, cellulite, clove, dry skin, dryness, elbows, Elemis, Elemis Aching Muscle Super Soak, Elemis Body Detox Skin Brush, Elemis British Botanical Hand and Nail Butter, Elemis Devils Mint Body Scrub, feet, hand, home, hot tub, invigorate, juniper, knees, massage, mint, nail, natural, oil, Relax, scrub, sea salt, senses, soak, Spa, uplift, visualisations, Warming, Wild Thyme

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Going to a spa is one of our favourite indulgences, but it’s not something we’re able to do do every weekend due to time and money (mores the pity!). There’s no reason, however, that you shouldn’t have that spa experience right from your own home and Elemis have a selection of products which are perfect for giving you that spa-glow without having to step foot outside your house. Read on for our pick the the best ‘home spa’ products from the Elemis ranges:

Elemis Body Detox Skin Brush

We recommend that you begin your spa experience with a gentle brushing with the Elemix Body Detox Skin Brush; its natural cactus bristles help to reduce the appearance of cellulite by improving circulation and softening the skin. It will help you to brush away the top layer of dry, dead skin cells to allow you to treat the new skin beneath with a cocoon of moisture from all the other products you use.

Elemis Aching Muscle Super Soak

The next step is to turn your bath into a hot tub and soak your aching muscles in this Super Soak. It contains a blend of botanicals which not only help to unknot tense muscles but also to relax the mind through the power of aroma. The mixture of birch, juniper, clove, alpine lavender, wild thyme and blue chamomile, combined with sea salt will uplift and invigorate the senses whilst warming the body and recharging your muscles.

Elemis Devils Mint Body Scrub

Once you’ve finished your soak, we highly recommend giving your body another level of exfoliation to ensure that any dead skin is totally removed. This devil’s mint body scrub uses peppermint to give your skin a real “ZING!”, and literally polishes your body using only natural ingredients. We’d recommend focusing on common dry areas, such as your knees, elbows and feet to give them a really good going over.

Elemis De-Stress Massage Oil

Once you’ve awoken your mind and body, we recommend giving yourself a chance to relax once again by smothering yourself in this de-stress massage oil in long, sweeping strokes – or if you’re lucky enough to have someone around to help, get them to do it for you. This oil is intended for use in conjunction with deep breathing and calming visualisations, so try to use it in a quiet, darkened room where you can really allow yourself to relax.

Elemis British Botanical Hand and Nail Butter

For a final touch, we would recommend treating your hands and nails to their own personal coating of moisture from this hand and nail butter. Our hands are often one of the most neglected areas of our body, whilst arguably being one of the most hard-working, so ensuring that they’re properly moisturised and massaged will really add that final touch to your spa experience – you could even give yourself a manicure beforehand!