Distract Yourself During Dry January!

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Photo by Yuri Efremov on Unsplash

January is here and after the excesses of last month, many of us are opting for a dry January (i.e. no alcohol!) to try to give our bodies as chance to recover and start the new year off right. However, for some of us, a glass of wine in the evenings is our main way to wind down after a long day, so what do we do to relax and distract ourselves during dry January? We’ve got five ideas:

Get a Hobby

January is a great time to start a new hobby; it’s miserable outside anyway, so unless your hobby is gardening, it’s a great excuse to stay indoors! It’s a known fact that mental stimulation helps to keep your brain active and slows down the ageing process, even helping to halt the onset of Alzheimer’s, so a hobby will benefit both your mind and your body.

Get Some Extra Sleep!

So many of us stroll through life feeling totally fatigued, yet when it comes to it, we stay up to watch just one more episode of whatever show we’re into at the time instead of getting some sleep. Allowing yourself to get regular early nights will not only have massively positive effects on your body and its ability to heal itself, it’s great for your mental health too, especially when you wake up feeling rested.

Learn a Skill

Is there something you’ve always wanted to learn? A new language? A new style of cooking? January is a great time to take the bull by the horns and learn a new skill, so why not take a look at what your local adult college has to offer?

Pamper Yourself

Cold nights, long evenings spent at home – has there ever been a better time to pamper yourself a little? Instead of reaching for a glass of wine, have a relaxing bath, use a face mask, and treat yourself to a conditioning nail treatment. Indulge yourself at least once a week and your stress levels, as well as your body, will thank you for it!

Do Some Reading

So many of us have fallen into the pattern of work, home for dinner, kids bedtime routine, collapse on the sofa to watch the telly or stare at your phone screen and we then say “I never have time to read a book”. Often, finding time is just about having a re-shuffle, and if you really want to fine the time, you’ll put down the smartphone or switch off the TV!

Tips to help your skin breathe

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While foundation is helpful when it comes to hiding blemishes and creating a flawless complexion, wearing layers of make-up and powder everyday doesn’t always help your skin breath and won’t leave it in the best condition.

We all know we need to take deep breaths when life seems out of control, and you can apply the same principle to your skin.

Here are our top tips on how to give your skin a break so it feels and looks great.

Cleanse every morning and night
We have said it before and will say it again but it is essential to cleanse twice a day with a face wash or cleanser designed for your skin type. This is especially important if you do wear make-up as the process will remove left over products and residue which has built up over time.

Remove make-up before you sleep
When we sleep, our skin rejuvenates and repairs itself, however if you have make-up on when you fall asleep, this won’t happen as well as it could. The dirt will sit on your face as you sleep so your pores may well get clogged up, leaving you with unhappy skin when you wake up.

Exfoliate
A gentle, natural exfoliation product is a must have for most of us as they gently remove dead skin cells and product-build leaving you with a silky-smooth, natural glow. Check the details of the product before you use it, and always follow instructions.

Take a make up detox
For many people this is scary, but how about going make-up free one day a week to give your skin a break? Maybe on a Sunday, cleanse, tone and moisturise, leave your make-up bag zipped up and if you have to go out, wear sunglasses and a cap to make it less painful. Go on, we dare you.

Love your lips
Go easy with lipstick as they can be drying. Simply apply a little balm to your lips and this will keep them soft and moisturised.

Go for lighter coverage
Swapping heavy-duty products for lighter alternatives will let your skin breath and they are less likely to block pores and cause congestion. There are some great tutorials and guides online that show you how to create a pretty, natural look that you might even prefer to the more sculptured approach you usually take to make-up. You may find that using the right moisture followed by a foundation that matches your skin tone will actually enhance your natural complexion and erase any imperfections without having to add layers of product that hides your beauty.

Don’t exercise with make-up on
It might leave you feeling exposed, but try not to exercise with your make-up on. The reason for this is because as you exercise you sweat and this gets rid of the toxins in your body. If you’re pores are clogged up with make-up, your skin can’t sweat productively so your face remains dirty and oily leaving it prone to breakouts, something you don’t want and can avoid.

TLC
We all need a little TLC and so does out skin. Once a month try to have a facial which will not only relax you but also boost your circulation, add hydration and leave your skin soft and smooth. If you don’t have the time, or budget, to go to a pro, apply a face mask or massaging facial oil into your skin as you relax in the bath can also give you the time out you need to let go off stress and give your skin some love too.

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