Top tips for sun safe skin

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We all know that a good skincare routine is important, but during the warm, sunny summer months it is even more critical.

Whatever your skin type, prickly heat, sunburn, rashes and irritation are all possible if you spend time in the heat, so it is vital to get things right so you don’t end up red and in pain.

We have some easy to put into practise tips, that will help you keep skin safe all year round.

Drink water
Yes, this again. It is really important to make sure you drink plenty of water when you are out in the sun, on the beach, by the pool or exercising outside. When the sun is out your body loses more moisture than usual and this can lead you to becoming dehydrated which will make your skin look, and feel, tired, tight and uncomfortable.

Use protection properly
So many people underestimate the power of the sun, even when it is hiding behind clouds, and this is a huge mistake. Whatever you skin tone, we suggest using a sunscreen that has a minimum SPF of 30 and to apply it to your face and body at least 30 minutes before going outside. If you are in the sun for more than a few hours, it’s really important to top up every couple of hours, and also apply after swimming. Some people mix tanning oil with sunscreen but we don’t suggest doing this because some key ingredients can interact and make your sunscreen less effective, putting you in danger.

Deal with the fallout
Even if you do your best to look after your skin, you may well end up suffering from prickly heat, sunburn and irritation. Don’t panic and do not rub or itch your skin as this can make it worse, instead, place natural yoghurt on the affected area for approximately 15 minutes, then pat dry with cold water and try to rest up. You can also use a good after sun product and keep out of the sun the next day to prevent further damage.

Try natural oils
Using natural essential oils on your face and body at night, can give your skin the extra conditioning it needs. Natural oils are a great way to moisture and sooth the skin, when it has been exposed to the sun and is suffering the effects of heat.

Remember to cleanse, tone and mositurise
It is really important not to forget to cleanse your skin as this will keep pores clean and complexions clear. Breakouts can be inevitable when your skin gets hot and bothered but if you stick to the rules of cleanse, tone and moisturise, you will help you and your skin stay healthy in the sun.

Try to exfoliate
It is important to remember to exfoliate your skin during the summer as this will remove dead skin cells and improve blood circulation which means your skin will be glowing. If you don’t get rid of these cells, they will sit on your skin and it will look dull and grey, plus the build-up of dirt, suncream and moisturisers can cause irritation and spots, and we can all do without those.

Cover up
Sunglasses, hats and sleeves in the midday sun are all good practise when it is hot and the sun it beating down on you. While you might want a tan, looking after your skin is much better than anything else in the long run and there are some really cute trends on the high street right now, so you can be safe and look fab.

Team Pure Beauty

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How to make self care a priority in 2019

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Demands at work, family pressures and the endless bombardment of information from social media means that making time for ourselves becomes increasingly difficult. The thing is, if you don’t do this, you will burn out and then you will be no good to anyone at all – harsh but true.

We have looked at some simple ways that you can build some time into your busy life to ensure you get the care you need to be happy and healthy.

Make a list
Whether you use a pen and paper, write on a blackboard or tap into Trello, make a list of what you need to do. As well as giving you a focus and ensuring you don’t forget to take the cat to the vet, a list can take away that feeling of overwhelm and give you a sense of achievement as you tick things off.

Spend time alone
Many of us spend a lot of our time with family, friends and work colleagues, and while it is good to be sociable, you need some time alone too. On that to do list, add in a slot where you can read a book, watch a movie or just have a bath and enjoy a little solitude.

Stop the chatter
You are kind to others when you talk to them, but do you extend the same care to yourself? You need to be your own cheerleader and that means ignoring the voice that puts you down and instead, focus on the good! Whether it’s your smart appearance, achievements at work or recent weight loss, give yourself a pat on the back and when you look in the mirror, smile at your reflection, because ‘you are worth it’.

Switch off
Technology and social media have a lot to answer for. While they might make it easier for us to connect, they can also totally take over our lives and negatively impact our mental health and self-esteem. We aren’t saying knock it on the head altogether, but don’t take your phone to bed with you (buy an alarm clock), you won’t miss out if you aren’t checking Facebook every three minutes and if you can, go digital free for an hour a day, working up to a whole day if you can.

Treat yourself
Whether it is going for a coffee with friends, having a relaxing facial or buying yourself a bunch of flowers on the way home from work, do something that is just for you. These things won’t blow the budget but they can really help to lift your mood and will put a spring in your step.

Get outside
Being inside isn’t good for us all the time. Get your coat on and get outside in the fresh air, however cold it is. A brisk walk at lunchtime, a run along the river or a bike ride with your partner will blow away the cobwebs and give you a blast of the natural endorphins that make you feel good! Put aside sometime each week to being outside and we are pretty sure your mental health will thank you for it.

Remember, 2019 is all about self-care!

Team Pure Beauty

How to Beat Blue Monday

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With the 21st January, aka Blue Monday fast approaching, some of you might be feeling a little below per right now. It is cold outside, it’s still ages until payday and those resolutions that seemed like such a good idea on 31 December have been long forgotten, all of which can make you feel a bit miserable.

Fear not, it’s all doom and gloom. While can’t turn up the temperature or give you a winning lottery ticket, we do know that what you eat and drink can help ease the blues and beat the anxiety that makes life a little harder in the bleak mid-winter months.

Drink water
Yes, this one again. If you don’t keep hydrated you won’t feel at your best, your concentration will lapse, you may get headaches and you might also feel constipated and none of these things will help your mood. Cut down on fizzy drinks and high sugar squashes, and instead drink water with ice and add slices of lemon and cucumber to liven things up a little and keep a bottle on your desk and in your bag so you can sip during the day.

Keep an eye on caffeine
We know many people love a coffee first thing and a tea break mid-afternoon, but both of these drinks contain caffeine which might not help you if you are feeling blue. Caffeine is a stimulant and one which will give you a burst of energy at first, but then when you come down the other side it could make you feel anxious, depressed and disturb your sleep, especially when drunk before you go to bed. We don’t suggest you stop having your daily fix suddenly, as this could lead to nasty withdrawal symptoms, but it might be a good idea to start cutting back on tea, coffee, chocolate, cola and energy drinks and think about switching to decaf versions or opting for herbal teas which are caffeine free but mean you don’t miss out on a soothing hot drink.

Look after your tummy
You might not know this, but your tummy reflects your emotions so if you are feeling anxious and worried, your gut may suffer too. To help with healthy digestion, it is important to eat plenty of fibre which means loading up on wholegrains, beans, pulses, live yoghurt and you might want to consider taking a probiotic too.

Get your fruit and veg in
Eating a variety of coloured fruits and vegetables every day means you’ll get a good range of nutrients including the minerals, vitamins and fibre needed to keep you physically and mentally healthy. You might be interested to know that fresh, frozen, canned and juiced fruits and vegetables all count towards your five a day and if you are worried about portion sizes, one portion is about a handful.

Remember to eat protein
Protein is packed full of the amino acids that make up the chemicals your brain uses to regulate your thoughts and feelings, and it also keeps you feeling fuller for longer so you are less likely to reach for the mood interrupting sugary snacks later on. Lean meat, fish, eggs, cheese, beans, lentils, soya products, nuts and seeds are all good protein sources and it is pretty easy to fit them into every meal – so make sure you do.

Eat the right fats
We know we are told fats are bad and to be avoided at all costs, but this isn’t true. Try to avoid ‘trans fats’ or ‘partially hydrogenated oils’ and instead eat fatty acids, such as omega 3 and 6 as these are good for your brain function and mental health. Healthy fats can be found in oily fish, nuts (almonds and walnuts are a good choice), olive and sunflower oils, seeds (such as sunflower and pumpkin), avocados, and eggs all of which are tasty and easy to eat!

Eat on a regular basis
Now is not the time to skip meals as this will lead to a drop in your blood sugar levels and that can make you feel tired and irritable. Try to go for small, regular meals throughout the day, adding in healthy snacks, and always eat breakfast as this will set you up for the day. Wholegrain bread and pasta, brown rice, cereals as well as nuts and seeds are all a good idea but keep away from sweets, biscuits, sugary drinks, and alcohol as these won’t do your mood any favours.

Whatever you eat and drink make the sensible choice and we wish you a very happy, healthy 2019.

Team Pure Beauty

A bath a day….

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aches and pains, Advanced technology, Alpine Lavender, amino acids, aroma, bath, bed, Birch, Blue Chamomile, botanical extracts, care, changes, Clary Sage, cleans, clove, concentrated glycolic acid, conditioned, Dermalogica Conditioning Body Wash, dirt, dry skin, Elemis Aching Muscle Super Soak, Elemis Skin Nourishing Milk Bath, exfoliating particles, Frangipani Body Oil, gardening, Golf, gorgeous products, haven, high end product, Jan Marini Bioglycolic Hand and Body Lotion, Jan Marini Bioglycolic Resurfacing Body Scrub, Japanese camellia oil, juniper, lavender, love, Milk Protein, mind, minerals, muscles, oft, orange, outside, plant collagen, progressive improvement, R&R, Relax, rich, Sandalwood, screens, sea salt, Shea butter, Shea Buuter, shower, silky water, skin friendly formula, skin-conditioning botanical cleanser, slumber party, smoothed, soak, soap-free Quillaja Saponaria, softness, Spa, stresses and worries, sun, swimming, Tahitian Monoi oil, texture, visibly younger, vitamins, washing, Wild Thyme

While a shower might refresh you after a long hot day in the sun, there is still something special about having a bath before you go to bed.

As well as washing away the dirt of the day, a soak can help you to relax, ease aches and pains and also help you to deal with stresses and worries as screens will be out of the way and there will be no one to bother you.

At Pure Beauty we sell some gorgeous products that will turn your humble tub into a spa haven so you can get some much-needed R&R.

Let’s get this slumber party started with the Elemis Skin Nourishing Milk Bath. This amazing Milk Protein based product is super rich in Vitamins, Amino Acids and Minerals which makes it perfect for dry skin that needs a little extra love. Plant Collagen from Japanese Camellia Oil and Oat Extract means that your skin is nourished the moment you sink into the silky water and when used use every other day for nine days, you will really start to see a difference in softness and texture.

Whether it’s because of swimming, golf or being outside gardening, if your body is tired then add the Elemis Aching Muscle Super Soak to your bath each evening. Energising extracts of Birch, Juniper, Clove, Alpine Lavender, Wild Thyme and Blue Chamomile have been mixed with Sea Salt for a blend that warms muscles and recharges the body and mind. Adding just three capfuls of this powerful aromatherapy deep heat treatment to your bath water will help ease the aches and pains caused by exercise and hard work and thanks to the head clearing aroma you will feel ready to sleep when you get out of the bath.

While great when you want to jump in and out of the shower, the Dermalogica Conditioning Body Wash is perfect for the bath too. This rich, skin-conditioning botanical cleanser contains soap-free Quillaja Saponaria so while it cleans the skin, it doesn’t stipe away essential natural moisturisers. Sandalwood, Lavender, Orange and Clary Sage essential oils have been added to soften the skin so that when you get out of the water, your limbs are soft, smoothed and conditioned.

Using the Jan Marini Bioglycolic Resurfacing Body Scrub in the bath can help you get incredible looking skin. This high-end product combines concentrated glycolic acid with exfoliating particles and botanical extracts so that skin is not only silky smooth but also glowing. While results can be seen from the very first use and you will see progressive improvement over time that we think you will love. You can further harness the power of this product by using the Jan Marini Bioglycolic Hand and Body Lotion. Glycolic acid has been mixed with Shea Butter to hydrated the skin so it looks visibly younger. Gently apply the lotion to your skin once or twice a day and you will soon feel and see the changes.

At Pure Beauty, we love Elemis Frangipani Monoi Shower Cream which can be used in the bath and the shower. Advanced technology has been used to create this exceptional skin friendly formula that gently cleanses the skin without stripping protective oils. Tahitian Monoi Oil and Frangipani Flowers come together to ensure your skin not only feels soft and supple but is also delicately scented. If you want to add a little extra love after bathing, simply dry off and apply the Frangipani Body Oil which is quickly absorbed and offers dry and mature skin extra care.

If you have any questions about these, or any other products we sell on the site, or would like to try some samples, get in touch and we would love to help.

Team Pure Beauty

Give up stress for Lent

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We know that during Lent you are meant to give up chocolate, wine or something you really love but given how bad stress is for us, why not try to live without it for a few weeks and see how you get on?

It is little surprise that more and more people are dealing with anxiety and stress related issues given the pressure of modern-day living. Celebrity culture, an obsession with selfies and social media on tap 24/7, life is one long hamster wheel and sometimes you need to jump off and see what really matters.

Rather than light up another cigarette or down one more vodka and orange, why not have a look at some alternative ways to deal with stress and see if you can combat it for once and for all.

Move
Exercise isn’t a magic wand that will make your stress disappear, but it can help reduce the intense emotions you might be feeling. A run, brisk walk or bike ride can help you clear your thoughts and find a way to deal with problems in a different, maybe more rational way.

Find a friend
Yes, there are people at work, people on Facebook and mums at the school gates, but us can still feel lonely and this is where real friends, you can trust, come into play. It won’t happen overnight, but try to create a support network of people, you enjoy being with and you will find that as much as they will help you find solutions to problems, you can do the same for them and that’s a pretty good feeling.

Me time
We are often made to feel as if taking time for ourselves is lazy and indulgent but this couldn’t be further from the truth. To be able to fire on all cylinders, it is important to take time out for socialising, relaxing and exercise, time that is just for you. A couple of hours a week doing something you really love, either alone or with friends, can really help you shrug off that dark cloud that has been following you around.

Get a pet
Never underestimate the love of a dog, cat or even hamster. A pet not only gives you a new interest but also a little bit of company, a lot of love and if you do get a dog, you have to take them outside for a walk each day which is good for both of you.

Be a volunteer
It is easy to get caught up in our own problems, so helping others can be a good way to put things into perspective. Visiting an elderly person, donating time at a local hospice or sorting out donations at a food bank are all ways you can give back and you never know, you could make friends and even find a new career in the process.

Go outside
Sitting indoors watching TV, working at a computer screen and drinking in the pub are all pretty sedentary activities where you rarely see the light of day and probably all make you feel worse. A walk, even when it is cold and damp, by the river or a dash around town will not only give you a change of scene but also put fresh air in your lungs and give you a break from the norm. Joining a tennis club, training for a fun run or just getting off the bus a stop early, can be enough to get you, and your mind, out of a stressed rut.

Of course, if you are really struggling talk to a trusted friend or your GP but don’t suffer in silence.

Team Pure Beauty