Twixmas is the Time for Self-Care

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Aromatherapy Associates Support Nourishing Body Oil, bath, coconut, cream, evening primrose, exotic, eye, face, festive, geranium, kit, lotion, Lycon Lyco'Pedi Kit, macadamia, mask, Maskology Retinol and Vitamin C Professional Under Eye Mask, massage, New Year, pamper, pampering, pedicure, Relax, REN Clean Skincare Moroccan Rose Otto Bath Oil, retinol, scent, season, self-care, skin oil, Twixmas, UpCircle The Pamper Kit, vanilla, Vitamin C, ylang ylang

Photo by Taryn Elliott

Once the stress of Christmas Day is over, Twixmas, the relaxed period between Christmas and New Year, comes along to help recharge our batteries before we welcome in another year. Marked from the 27th until 30th December, Twixmas is the perfect time to give yourself a serious pampering so that the wear and tear of Christmas can be wiped away and you begin the New Year as your most radiant self. Here are five hero products for making Twixmas the most wonderful time of the year for your skin:

REN Clean Skincare Moroccan Rose Otto Bath Oil

When we think of self care and pampering, most of us automatically picture ourselves in the bath, and this oil from REN Clean Skincare is the perfect partner for that scene. REN Clean Skincare Moroccan Rose Otto Bath Oil is a bath oil for all skin types designed to calm the mind and soothe the skin. A few drops of this rich oil in your bath is enough to de-stress, leave the day behind and even soothes dry skin.

Maskology Retinol and Vitamin C Professional Under Eye Mask

If you’re still reeling from the strains of Christmas, there’s a good chance you’re lacking sleep and that almost always shows around the eyes, making it the perfect time to use this mask. The retinol formula will brighten dark circles, improve the appearance of pigmentation and smooth the skin’s texture. The serum infused hydrogel mask transforms the eye area in just 20 minutes. It’s rich in anti-ageing ingredients, the mask visibly reduces fine lines and wrinkles, while rejuvenating and energising the area to maintain a youthful glow.

UpCircle The Pamper Kit

If you want to indulge in some pampering but also want the peace of mind of knowing that your products don’t have a negative impact on the planet then this Pamper Kit from UpCircle is the one for you. It contains seven samples of UpCircle’s best selling products; Cleansing Face Balm, Clarifying Face Mask, Face Toner, Eye Cream, Face Moisturiser, Organic Face Serum and Body Cream. They all contain ingredients which are vegan and cruelty free, and come from sustainable sources. 

Lycon Lyco’Pedi Kit

A pedicure is the perfect pampering treat, especially when you’ve been spending busy days on your feet, cooking, cleaning and doing all the other festive prep. This Lyco’Pedi Kit from Lycon gives you everything you need for the ultimate mini pampering experience in a convenient mini carry bag. It contains their Refreshing Soak, Massage Lotion, Sugar Scrub, Hydrating Mask and Smoothing Cream, allowing you to whip your feet into shape in no time at all. 

Aromatherapy Associates Support Nourishing Body Oil

Self-massage is a great way to make yourself feel more relaxed and relieve the stresses of the season, and this Nourishing Body Oil is the perfect conditioning and deeply penetrating dry skin oil for the job. Combining macadamia, coconut and evening primrose with the exotic scent of geranium, ylang ylang and vanilla, the blend both conditions the skin and uplifts the senses with aromatherapy. 

Read up on feeling great this January

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anxiety, balance, balanced, be happy, Be You, Becky Goddard-Hill, best books, body and soul, brilliant business advice, change, changes, cheer leading, Chillpreneur, criticism, cup of tea, Denise Duffield-Thomas, dip in, dip out book, Down-to-earth, downtime, Dr Chatterjee, easy to do a, easy to read, Everything is Figureoutable, Feel Better In 5, five minutes, good book, Good Lives, Good Vibes, gurus, hard work, imposter syndrome, inspire, Insta, Insta guru, journal, kids, lasting happiness, library, Marie Forleo, millionaire mindset lessons, mind, money, money mindset coach, motivated, negative emotions, New Year, New York Times bestseller., pen, Penny Alexandra, perfect, positive, progress, resolution, right foot, round-up, spark a little joy, success, teenagers, time, time poor, Vex King, young adults

We all set out to be the best we can at the start of the new year.

While no one keeps to every resolution, sometimes a good book and a little cheerleading can help you get off on the right foot, and stay balanced as well as motivated to change.

We have done a round-up of what we think are the best books out there, and hope one or two will spark a little joy (no, we haven’t added ‘that one’).

Denise Duffield-Thomas is a fantastic money mindset coach, but it’s her humour and down-to-earth wisdom that sets her apart from other gurus. While she has three books out there, in Chillpreneur she shares brilliant business advice and millionaire mindset lessons that help you become a success, the chilled way. Yes, you have to do the hard work, but this is perfect for anyone who wants to be a success but likes to have a little balance and downtime as well.

Unless you have been hiding out at home, you will know about Marie Forleo, and now you can learn that Everything is Figureoutable in her New York Times bestseller. By the end of the book you will be able to deal with criticism and imposter syndrome, bouncing back from hard times will seem possible, and you can start to see how you can overcome a lack of time and money. You might not become perfect, but you will make progress.

If you are time poor but really want to make changes in your life this year, then Dr Chatterjee‘s third book is for you. Feel Better In 5 is a daily plan that helps you get the life you want, in only five minutes of your day. Easy to read, easy to do and with real life case studies and fun exercises, this can help get your mind, body and soul in shape and in less time than it takes to make a cup of tea – peppermint of course.

Be Happy, Be You, says it is for teenagers, but this great little book can help pretty much anyone out there who needs a little bit of a boost. Penny Alexandra and Becky Goddard-Hill have created a dip in, dip out book that helps kids and young adults deal with anxiety and generally live a better life, the fun way. Get a pen and journal and this could be the start of something new and exciting.

Last but not least, 2020 is the time to learn to love you. Insta guru Vex King has overcome adversity and uses his personal experiences to inspire others. If you want to transform negative emotions into positive ones and find lasting happiness, then his book, Good Vibes, Good Lives is for you. It’s not that long but by the time you are done, you will start to look at the world, and your world, in a new way.

As always, try your local indie bookshop or library and get books there rather than online, and this will help you feel good, too.

Team Pure Beauty

New year, new skincare?

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100% natural, acne and breakout prone skin, anti-oxidant rich night cream, beautiful, beauty products, bleak mid winter, blended, body, Calendula, care, Centella Asiatica Extract, chamomile, chlorella, cleansed skin, Cornflower, cracked, daily moisturiser, daily stress, Decleor Organic Harmonie Calm Soothing Comfort 2 in1 Cream and Mask, Dermalogica Conditioning Body Wash, Dermalogica Gentle Soothing Booster, Dermalogica Ultimate Buffing Cloth, dry, dull skin, Elemis Hydra-Nourish Night Cream, Elemis Pro-Collagen Hydra-Gel Eye Masks, even tone, exfoliate, Eyes, feet, geranium, glycolic acid, gorgeous, honey, hyaluronic acid, intensely moisturised, Jan Marini Bioglycolic Facial Cleanser, Japanese spa, knife, Nailtiques Avocado Foot Cream, new, New Year, non-irritating, oil-free treatment, organic, Padina Pavonica, Persian Silk Tree extract, pick me up, plankton extract, Red Raspberry Extract, redness, rinse, Rose Essential Oil, rough, sensitive skin, serum, sink, skin tightening effect, soap free formula, soothe skin, super rich Avocado Oil, sweet almond oil, tired, Toner, transform, treat, visibly smoother, Ylang-Ylang, youthful eyes.

We all tend to stick with what we know when it comes to beauty products, but with a new year upon us we think it might be time to try something new!

The Decleor Organic Harmonie Calm Soothing Comfort 2 in1 Cream and Mask is an organic, 100% natural product is a great pick me up for sensitive skin. Rose Essential Oil, Sweet Almond Oil and Centella Asiatica Extract have been blended together to soothe skin, even tone and keep complexions happy all day. You can either apply to cleansed skin and use as a daily moisturiser, or you can put on a thicker layer once a week and leave to completely sink into your skin and bring it back to life.

We love the Jan Marini Bioglycolic Facial Cleanser simply because regular use leaves skin softer, smoother and more refined than ever. The soap free formula is non irritating and when you rinse it away, there is no need for a toner because the work is already done. Excellent for acne and breakout prone skin, the secret to the success of this cleanser is the Glycolic Acid which aids follicular cleansing – give it a go, we think you might like it.

While no one sees them, your feet take the brunt of your body every day, so why not treat them with the Nailtiques Avocado Foot Cream in 2019? This cream has been specially created to help heal rough, dry and cracked skin and it does this with the help of super rich Avocado Oil. Simply apply the silky smooth cream into your legs, feet and heels, concentrating especially on those unloved areas and watch the skin transform from hard and unsightly to soft and beautiful.

If you aren’t ready to go under the knife, but need a little extra care when it comes to your eyes, the Elemis Pro-Collagen Hydra-Gel Eye Masks could be what you have been looking for. Potent Plankton Extract has been combined with Padina Pavonica and Chlorella to offer an instant skin tightening effect. Hyaluronic Acid has been added into the mix because of the hydration properties it offers, and the result is visibly smoother, intensely moisturised, youthful eyes after just 20 minutes.

Life is better with a serum, and a good place to start is with the Dermalogica Gentle Soothing Booster. This popular, oil-free treatment helps to reduce redness and gives your skin the chance to recover from daily stress. Thanks to Red Raspberry Extract, Honey as well as Calendula, Chamomile and Cornflower, irritation is eased and natural moisture levels are restored.

If the bleak mid winter has left your skin feeling below par, we suggest you let the Elemis Hydra-Nourish Night Cream get to work as you sleep. This anti-oxidant rich night cream helps to seal in moisture as well as nourishing and de-stressing tired, dull skin, thanks to a blend of Persian Silk Tree Extract and Hyaluronic Acid. A gorgeous blend of Geranium and Ylang Ylang means not only is your calm and rebalanced when you wake, it smells amazing as you fall asleep.

Don’t just wash and go in the shower, take in the Dermalogica Ultimate Buffing Cloth and you can exfoliate your entire body as you cleanse it. Perfect to use with the Dermalogica Conditioning Body Wash, this Japanese spa inspired cloth smooths away rough skin, in even the most hard-to-reach areas, and leaves it feeling soft and smooth.

Got your eye on something but not sure if it is for you, then get in touch and we can give you more advice to ensure your skin is in tip-top condition in 2019.

Happy new year.

Team Pure-Beauty

The best Christmas markets around

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arts and crafts, beautiful cathedral, beautiful products, Belfast, Belgian chocolates and German sausages, bespoke clothes, boutique hotels, bumper cars, buy, cakes, Cathedral Close, ceramics and glass wear, Christmas activities, Christmas cheer., Christmas markets, Christmas tree maze, City Hall Gardens, crepes, Dartmoor, decorations, East Princes Street Gardens, Edinburgh, Exeter, exquisite foods, family and friends, festivities, fine wines, food and drink, food court, foodies, full blown celebrations, handmade gifts, handmade leather bags, helter skelter, High Street, hog roasts, Johnnie Walker Bothy Bar, local and national businesses, magical, mince pies, mulled wine, New Year, open air ice rink, original art work, pasties, popular, pretty nativity, Roman baths, Santa’s Grotto, Scottish city, stollen, Teignmouth, toys, treasured gifts, UK, vintage carousel, Winchester, Wooden chalets

Over the past decade, Christmas markets have become increasingly popular in the UK, and with events popping up all over the place, there is something for everyone.

Whether you are looking for handmade gifts, fine wines, exquisite foods or just the chance to feel festive and get together with family and friends before the full blown celebrations start, we think we have something that will be right for you.

Exeter
Set to the back drop of the city’s beautiful cathedral, the Exeter Christmas market takes place between 15th November and 16th December and isn’t to be missed. Wooden chalets are occupied by local and national businesses selling everything from original art work and handmade leather bags, to delicious gins and seasonal cakes, and with a buzzing atmosphere, a visit won’t disappoint. Make a weekend of it and you can also visit the seaside town of Teignmouth or go wild on Dartmoor – with so much to do, see and buy, you won’t want to go home.

Bath
Between 22 November and 9 December, nearly 200 stalls selling a wide range of products that you won’t find on the High Street, will line the pretty streets of Bath. Beautiful ceramics and glass wear, bespoke clothes, toys and sweets are all on offer, together with foodies selling crepes, hog roasts and mulled wine too. Why not stay at one of the city’s boutique hotels, visit the Roman Baths and by the time you get home you will be feeling relaxed and ready for the festivities ahead of you.

Edinburgh
Edinburgh, isn’t just for New Year, you know. Between 17 November and 5 January this beautiful Scottish city is alive with Christmas activities that attract thousands of visitors every year. From the markets at the East Princes Street Gardens, to the popular Johnnie Walker Bothy Bar, the bumper cars and Christmas tree maze, Edinburgh is an experience you don’t want to miss!

Belfast
From 17 November to December 22, the streets of Belfast are transformed into a totally magical Christmas affair. The very best Belgian chocolates and German sausages, arts and crafts, decorations and clothes, are all on sale from stalls scattered between the helter skelter and vintage carousel, and with Santa’s Grotto to visit it too, we suggest you book a flight, and soon.

Winchester
When it comes to Christmas markets, Winchester really does lead the way. Between 17 November and 20 December, this medieval city becomes even more special as wooden chalets line Cathedral Close and offer Christmas cheer. Businesses come together to sell a whole host of beautiful products which will make treasured gifts, and with an open-air ice rink, pretty nativity and delicious food court selling goodies such as mince pies, pasties and stollen, you will want to go back year after year.

If you have somewhere special you love to visit, let us know so we can try it out too.

Team Pure Beauty

Great books for a happy 2018

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#1 New York Times bestselling author, activities, Amazon, ‘Lose Weight for Good: Full-flavour cooking for a low-calorie diet’, ‘The Wellbeing Journal’, baked doughnuts with sweet five-spice dust, beautiful pages, block to happiness, books, buy me, drawing prompts, exercise routines, fallen in love, Fat-Loss Plan, Favourites, fit, fitter, four million followers, Gabrielle Bernstein, gorgeous book, grounded, happier, healthier, healthy body, home, inner peace, inspirational quotes, January, Joe Wicks, Judgement Detox: Release the Beliefs That Hold You Back from Living a Better Life, Kate Moss, lean, life coach, Lily Cole, look after yourself, lose weight, low-fat recipes, meditating, mental health charity, Michelin-starred chef, mind, modern day, motivated, Nadia Narain and Katia Narain Phillips, New Year, personal weight loss journey, recipes, regular hot baths, Self Care for the Real World, self preservation, share, Sienna Miller, six-step programme, social media, start, steak taco with lime salsa, sticky pork chops, sweet potato and black bean burritos, sweet treats, Tom Kerridge, veggie super bowl, warm halloumi salad, work clothes, yoga

It’s the start of a new year so if you go into any bookshop or look online there are a whole host of books promising a healthier, fitter, happier you.

We thought we would share our favourites, so you can buy something you think will work for you.

With an enthusiasm for life and an impressive mop of dark curls, Joe Wicks has yet another book out in 2018. Inside the glossy cover of his ‘Fat-Loss Plan’ are a series of recipes and exercise routines that are designed to help you achieve a fit, lean and healthy body. We love the steak taco with lime salsa, we are pretty partial to his goodness packed veggie super bowl and are impressed that he has included some sweet treats to keep you motivated on those dark January nights. With more than four million followers on social media, we are pretty sure this book will be as much of a success as the others.

With endorsements from Kate Moss, Sienna Miller and Lily Cole, it is little wonder that ‘Self Care for the Real World’ is flying off book shelves around the world. Sisters, Nadia Narain and Katia Narain Phillips, use this book to get to the heart of how to look after yourself if you often putting others first. From changing out of your work clothes when you get home, to having regular hot baths and meditating, this fantastic book shows you that even when the waves of life are high, you can keep grounded and well. We think this self-preservation read has ‘buy me’ written all over it.

For something a bit different, we love the Judgement Detox: Release the Beliefs That Hold You Back from Living a Better Life. By Gabrielle Bernstein, a life coach and #1 New York Times bestselling author, this book explores the notion of being judged as well as judging others, something that is part of modern-day and a block to happiness for many. Bernstein uses a six-step programme that includes yoga, meditation and other healing teachings to allow readers to let go of judgement and find inner peace.

Even if you don’t want to lose weight, Michelin-starred chef, Tom Kerridge has a new book out full of low-fat recipes that are beyond tasty. His experiences in the kitchen have been blended with a personal weight loss journey and the results on the pages of ‘Lose Weight for Good: Full-flavour cooking for a low-calorie diet’ are amazing. The warm halloumi salad, sweet potato and black bean burritos and sticky pork chops are good but for us the winner has to be the baked doughnuts with sweet five-spice dust. Genius!

Journaling isn’t anything new, but we have fallen in love with the ‘The Wellbeing Journal’ that’s been created in partnership with the mental health charity, Mind. The beautiful pages of this gorgeous book include activities, drawing prompts, inspirational quotes together with space for writing and reflecting on your thoughts so you can have a more creative, positive life.

Team Pure-Beauty