Why You Should Be Paying Attention to Amino Acids

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Photo by David Clode on Unsplash

Amino acids are the building blocks of the cells that make up your body – however, did you know they can also be good for your skin? Amino acids, which contain moisturising, anti-aging, and exfoliating characteristics, can aid with skin elasticity issues that arise as we age. Amino acids come in 20 different varieties, and they are useful for people of all ages and skin types. A more moisturised, youthful, and generally healthy appearance of the skin is achieved by using amino acids in skin care products that also encourage cellular repair and collagen formation. Here are five of our favourite products which harness the power of amino acids:

CACI – Amino-Lift Peptide Complex

This effective anti-ageing skin care cream contains powerful peptides, essential oils and amino acids that target expression lines and help to firm sagging skin. It can be used twice a day after cleansing to give visible results and as well as being packed with amino acids also contains basil oil, jojoba oil, grapefruit peel oil and a number of other other botanical ingredients which nourish and revive your skin. 

L’Oreal Professionnel Serie Expert Vitamino Colour 10-In-1 Multi-Benefit Leave-In Treatment Milk

Amino acids don’t just benefit your face – your hair can also benefit from using products which are infused with amino acids. This leave-in treatment milk from L’Oreal is a multi-benefit spray designed for coloured hair with 10 key benefits. It promises to help your hair to achieve shine, softness, smoothness of hair fibre and hydration, as well as offering protection against heat up to 230°c, detangling, anti-breakage, anti-split ends, anti-frizz and even facilitates blow-drying! 

Aromatherapy Associates Eye Zone Concentrate

The skin around the eyes is one of the thinnest areas of skin on your whole body, which means that it is more prone to premature ageing. This eye cream from Aromatherapy Associates combines powerful, bio-fermented actives, advanced amino acids and an effective pure essential oil blend to lift, tighten and contour the area around the eyes. It also contains rose, camomile and frankincense essential oils to soothe and protect for a radiant, youthful complexion. 

Dermalogica Active Moist

This moisture-rich product from Dermalogica combines the best of nature and science, containing a whole host of ingredients which are taken from natural sources. Silk amino acids help smooth and improve skin texture while natural botanical astringents lemon, ivy, watercress and burdock help to refine the skin. It also contains soothing extracts of lavender, mallow and cucumber to help provide deep-hydration.

Elemis Dynamic Resurfacing Serum

This resurfacing serum from Elemis is so powerful that it’s advised that you avoid sunbeds and always use an SPF while using the treatment! It’s created using a powerful combination of alpha-hydroxy-acids, selastin and patented Tri-Enzyme technology, as well as selected amino acids. This serum smoothes the skins’s surface, revealing a stunning complexion and also helps to reduce the appearance of pores and wrinkles.

Our Top Five Non-Greasy Skin and Haircare Formulas

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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.

Everyday Sunscreens for Every Skin Type

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Although keeping your skin clean and hydrated is always going to be important, most experts agree that the easiest way to care for your skin is by wearing sunscreen on a daily basis. Wearing sunscreen can prevent skin damage, including wrinkles, unwanted pigmentation, skin thinning and cancer. It’s also a common misconception that you only need to wear sunscreen on warmer days; you can still get burned when it’s cloudy, so wear sunscreen daily.

With this in mind, we’ve curated a list of our best sunscreens for every different skin type:

Normal

When you have normal skin, you often have the pick of many different products, but finding a daily SPF which works well with make-up can still be a challenge. Elemis Daily Defence Shield SPF30 is a perfect base for make-up and offers broad protection against environmental factors including UV rays, high energy visible light and pollution. It has a super light texture and contains both coconut and jojoba oils to nourish the skin.

Dry/Sensitive

When people with dry skin use sunscreens which aren’t formulated for dryness, they often find that the product can look chalky or exacerbate flakiness. Decleor Aloe Vera Sun Gel Cream SPF50 is a gel-based sunscreen offering broad spectrum SPF50 protection which also deeply hydrates dry and ageing skin. Aloe vera soothes and prevents inflammation and botanical sesame oils leave the skin feeling nourished and hydrated.

Oily/Spot Prone

Many sunscreens are oil-based to prevent them from being washed away too easily, but this can play havoc with oily and spot prone skin. Dermalogica Clearing Defence SPF30 is a shine-reducing SPF moisturiser that protects breakout-prone skin from environmental stress. It offers a matte finish which doesn’t clog the pores while protecting the skin from the suns harmful rays. 

Ageing

If your skin is ageing, either prematurely or when it should, you’ll find that you need added protection from the sun. This is because, as we age, our skin loses the ability to make certain key elements, leaving our skin thinner and more delicate. Dermalogica Dynamic Skin Recovery SPF50 will help achieve absolute hydration and defend against the internal and external causes of skin ageing.

Hyperpigmented

If you suffer from hyperpigmentation, you’re probably all too aware that sun exposure can exacerbate the condition more than almost anything else, so having a good SPF is essential. SkinCeuticals Advanced Brightening UV Defence SPF 50 is a dual-action, lightweight sunscreen with SPF50 that helps protect the skin from UV-induced discolouration and helps evens skin tone. 

Dermaplaning – A Beginner’s Guide

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Photo by Antonika Chanel on UnsplashDermaplaning – A Beginner’s Guide

Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the last 6 months, there’s a good chance that you will have seen the videos doing the rounds where it looks like people are using a knife to scrape their skin off. What you’re actually witnessing are videos of dermaplaning, something that is considered the next big thing in the beauty world. We thought it was time that we took a look at what dermaplaning is and give all of the details you need to know before taking the plunge. Read on for more information:

What is it?

Dermaplaning is an exfoliating treatment which should only be done by a doctor or licensed practitioner and involves gently scraping the surface of your skin off with a surgical scalpel to remove dead cells and the fuzzy hair that most of us have on our faces.

What does it do?

Dermaplaning is said to have many benefits; as well as making your skin feel baby soft, it helps foundation to apply smoothly and is also said to be useful for acne, rosacea and people with hyperpigmentation.

Who is it good for?

The answer to this is basically anybody who feels that their skin needs a boost. If you have dull skin, dry skin, sun damage, fine lines, keratosis pilaris, sensitive skin, rosacea, acne or any other skin condition which causes you you bother dermaplaning is probably worth a go.

Is there anything I need to bear in mind?

Dermaplaning is considered safe for all skin types, however, if you do have highly sensitive skin it’s worth bearing in mind that dermaplaning might cause you added irritation. As we mentioned above, dermaplaning should only be carried out by a professional so we definitely do not recommend going out and buying scalpels and trying this yourself. Scalpels and faces really do not mix!

Which products should I use before and after?

If you have sensitive skin, it’s worth bearing in mind that dermaplaning can cause a little irritation. We’d recommend adding Dermalogica UltraCalming Serum Concentrate to your daily skin routine in the run up to your appointment as this will help to keep irritation and inflammation to a minimum.

Lots of people also opt for a chemical peeling treatment immediately after dermaplaning as the newly revealed skin is more receptive to strong treatments. If you want to do this yourself, we recommend Decleor Thyme Gentle Peeling Cream, a gentle cream exfoliator that removes dead skin cells for a clear and radiant complexion.

Finally, you’ll need to protect your skin from the sun for a few weeks after treatment, so make sure you start using Decleor Ultra Protective Anti-Wrinkle Cream SPF50 Face on a daily basis, too.

Reboot Your Routine for 2020

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anti ageing, broad spectrum, cleanse, compleion, complimentary, daily, dirt, double cleanse, excess, grime, lightweight, make-up, oil, production, products, protection, reboot, routine, sebum, skin, skin kit, SPF, sun

Photo by Kim Carpenter on Unsplash

When it comes to a beauty routine, it’s really easy to get stuck in a rut. You’ve invested in products and you want to make the most of them so you stick with them steadfastly, even if they’re not the best thing for your skin. Rebooting your beauty routine means taking a look at what your skin needs in the here and now, rather than what it needed when you bought the product that you’re currently using, and gives you a chance to assess what would be best for your complexion. Here are five ways in which you can can you reboot your routine and give your skin a much-needed boost.

Keep it Simple

Something we see quite often is people building a beauty routine and adding in more products as they go along, so that by the time they decide to reboot they’re using far more products than they really need to. Stripping back your routine and looking at the basics of what your skin really needs will help you to form a baseline which you can add to if you really need to to or just stick to a cleanse, tone and moisturise routine if that’s what’s working for you.

Think About the Here and Now

As we said in our introduction, rebooting your routine is very much about what your skin needs right now. Skincare needs change throughout the year; you may have invested in your current routine at a time where your skin was super dry whereas now you’re dealing with excess sebum production or a time when breakout to a problem when now anti-ageing properties are more of a concern. Keeping your skin care air current is one of the most important things that you can do for your skin.

SPF is Non-Negotiable

If you asked us what the single most important product in a daily skin routine is, you may be surprised to hear the answer always will be SPF. Even with our relatively weak English sun, protecting your skin from its harmful rays is the most important thing you can do on a daily basis, even above and beyond the cleanse, tone and moisturise routine. Invest in a sun cream which is both lightweight and broad spectrum, and make sure you use it every single day even when it’s grey and rainy outside.

Use Complimentary Products

While we would never suggest that skincare only works if you use every product from the same range, you do often find that products from the same range are formulated to work well together. If you find the product which works well for your skin and there are other product which compliment it, there’s a good chance that these will work well for your skin too. Pure Beauty offers several different skin kits which contain miniatures of full-sized products, which allow you to try a range of of beauty treatments before you invest in the larger version.

Ditch the Wipes

We know how simple it is to reach for a packet of face wipes, at the end of a long day, especially when the last thing you want to do is take your makeup off instead of sinking into bed a couple of minutes earlier. However, aside from the fact that face wipes are doing horrendous amounts of damage to the planet, they’re also not that great for your skin either. Using a face wipe basically allows you to transfer the makeup and grime around your face, and doesn’t really cleanse your complexion very well at all. Instead we would suggest opting for the double cleanse, using an oil or balm to melt away makeup and grime, followed by a gel mousse or cream for a deep cleanse. This is especially important if you wear heavy makeup up and a daily SPF as it will help to lessen the risk of breakouts.