Easy ways to relax at lunchtime

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Let’s face it, by this time of the year, many of us are often feeling exhausted and in need of a recharge. Long hours, tight deadlines and Christmas parties mean we are running on empty and finding ‘me time’ needed to get to the end of the week can feel impossible.

We are big believers that small things can lift your mood and increase your energy levels, so in the run up to the big day, let the card writing and present shopping wait, and do something for you at lunchtime instead.

Try Eyebrow Threading
Having your eyebrows shaped can change the way your face looks and the process means you sit down for just a while, not even able to look at your phone. Threading is an ancient Indian hair removal technique that is fast and convenient, it leaves no marks, isn’t messy and is like having a mini facelift. We admit that twisting cotton through the eyebrows can be eye-watering, but because it’s only ten minutes which will give you time to stop for sushi on the way back to work.

Have a Neck and Shoulder Massage
A half hour neck and shoulder massage can relieve stress, untie knots and leave you so much more relaxed. It’s fast and convenient and the delicate oils used will leave you feeling invigorated and able to make it to the end of the day. Walk to the salon and back and you’ll get an energy boost too.

Go for a Run
A run will get your heart rate up, more oxygen and blood will flow around your body and the resulting endorphins will lift your mood which means Dave in HR will seem like less of a pain. This is the ideal way to get outside and leave the stress of the office or shop floor behind you, so get your trainers on and start running.

Do a Little Yoga
Yoga is all about stretching, breathing, increasing muscle activation and a session in the middle of the day, will leave you feeling zen fresh for the afternoon.

Shake it Out
Dancing is a great way to shake away the stresses of the day, be that a bad boss, annoying colleague or difficult client. See if there is a class near your workplace and you will find that dancing away your lunch break will make you feel fab, and the afternoon will pass by in a flash as those feel good chemicals pump through your body.

Read a Book
OK, let’s take things down a little and go for a calmer option. Taking a book to a coffee shop and letting your mind escape to somewhere quieter is a real treat. Go alone, order something nice to eat and drink and just read a few chapters and you’ll feel those orders and accounts drop away.

Enjoy a Manicure
Want a quick make over for the office party? Why not head to a nearby nail salon for a manicure. Not only will you return to your desk refreshed, but your freshly polished nails will set off your outfit a treat but won’t break the bank! And if you feel like splashing out, have a pedicure done at the same time.

Have a Catch Up
It is the season to be jolly, so why not book in a few lunches before the office closes? Your midday break is a good opportunity to catch up and socialise, in person, with people you might not see that often and if you throw in the idea of Secret Santa then it’s a win, win!!!

Have fun!

Team Pure Beauty

Easy ways to stress less every day

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anxiety, appreciate the little things, bed, best friend, bike, body, breathing, busy, caffeine, coffee, deep, demands, desk, edge, emails, endorphins, energised, exhaling, family, feel-good hormones, focus, food, full breaths, gratitude journal, gym, health, healthy sleep routine, herbal tea, here and now, Insta perfect, Inta perfect, life, look after, Meditative breathing techniques, mental health, morning, mouth, move, natural way, negative phrases, nose, physical wellbeing., Relax, relaxed, savour the moment, scroll, shallower, shifts, shorter, sleep, social media, stress, stress levels, stressful, sun shining, tension, to do list, trigger, vicious cycle, wake up, walking the dog

Life is busy, demands grow every day, the need to be Insta perfect plays on our minds and sometimes things can just get too much. It is just as important to look after your mental health, as it is to keep tabs on your physical wellbeing or things can start to get on top of you.

We have had a look at some simple ways you can take back control when it comes to feeling good about life and stressing less each day.

Think about how you start your day
For many people, anxiety is an issue and it can feel worse in the morning. To help with this, try to avoid activities that trigger your stress levels the moment you get up. Don’t look at your emails as soon as you wake, scroll through social media when you are at your desk and not in bed, and if coffee adds an edge, try a herbal tea and some meditation before hitting the caffeine.

List it
We aren’t talking about a to-do list, but a gratitude journal. Each day write down ten things that you’re grateful for and start to appreciate the little things we often take for granted, like family, health, food on the table and even the sun shinning. When you start to see what you do have and focus less on what you wish you had, shifts can be made and stress levels can go down.

And breath
Tuning into your breathing can make a real difference to how you feel as this really does affect your body. Think about it, when you are stressed out, your breathing becomes shorter and shallower, this can make you feel worse and a vicious cycle is set in place. Meditative breathing techniques can make a big difference to how you feel and allow you to become more relaxed and able to think straight. Start by simply taking deep, full breaths in through your nose, and exhaling slowly out of your mouth. Set aside ten minutes a day, more if you can, and just sit with your breath and feel the tension lift.

Get some exercise
Yes, we are all busy but there are real benefits for our mental health if we exercise. When you move your body releases endorphins, feel-good hormones, and when this happens it helps you to feel more energised and focused. This doesn’t mean hitting the gym twice a day or training for a marathon, but simply walking the dog, getting on your bike or taking a step class are all ways to bring good vibes into your life the natural way.

Be your own best friend
Have you ever stopped and thought about how you talk to yourself? Words like stupid, slow, lazy and failure are negative phrases we often use with ourselves, but now is the time to stop and be your own best friend and look after you.

Sleep it away
When we are tired, our worries seem to get worse and we find it harder to turn off and relax. Try to get yourself into a healthy sleep routine so you are able to give your body and mind time to recuperate and catch up. A set bedtime, having a warm bath with added essential oils, doing some yoga are all ideas that can have a positive impact on your mental health.

Live in the moment
It is all too easy to think about what went wrong in the past, or worry about the future, but why not start to enjoy and appreciate the here and now? You cannot change what has happened and we do not know what will happen tomorrow, next week or next year, so savour the moment and leave those worries at the door.

Team Pure Beauty

Fake it at Pure Beauty

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50ml, Abyssinian and elderberry seed oils, ageing, amino acids, Anti-oxidant green tea, argan shell, away, broad-spectrum sunscreen, burning, cancer, citrus scent, clog, complexion, condition, dead skin cells, Decleor 1000 Grains Body Exfoliator, Decleor Gradual Glow Hydrating Body Milk, Dermalogica Sheer Tint, Dermalogica Sheer Tint with SPF20, DHA, dryness, Elemis Total Glow Bronzing Body Lotion, fake it, fantastic products, glow, gradual tan body lotion, grains, grapefruit essential oil, healthy, home, hydrating hyaluronic acid, impurities, light moisturiser, Light-diffusing Iron Oxides, lightly-tinted hydrating make up, long lasting hydration, looking healthy, luscious, luxurious, Magnolia Essential Oil, massaged, mino acids, narcissus bulb, natural tan, nourish, orange peel, patches, pearl sugar, prolong, protect, protects, Pure Beauty, rays, relaxed, risk, samples, showering, skin tone, smoother, softer, SPF20, streaks, sun, sun exposure, sun-kissed look, super smooth limbs, tan, tanning products, UV rays, vanilla extract, Vegetan™, Walnut Seed extract, wheat

For many of us, having a tan makes us feel good as well as looking healthy and relaxed. However, getting that bronzed body often means exposing our skin to the sun, and this isn’t great as the rays can lead to burning, ageing, dryness and even put us at risk of cancer.

We recommend using a broad-spectrum sunscreen every day, but if you would rather not run the risks of getting a full-on natural tan, at Pure Beauty we sell some fantastic products that will give you a glow but without putting in the sun hours.

Before you use any tanning products, make sure your body is free from dead skin cells as this can make products clog and cause streaks and patches, which you do not want. You can get super smooth limbs with the Decleor 1000 Grains Body Exfoliator and the 50ml option means you can do this at home, or away. Three sizes of grains have been mixed to create a product that helps take away not only dead cells but other impurities, so skin is left feeling like velvet. Grapefruit essential oil gives it a citrus scent, while pearl sugar, Argan shell and orange peel come together in a gel that gives you noticeably softer, smoother and more refined skin that is ready for tanning products to be absorbed.

The Elemis Total Glow Bronzing Body Lotion is a luxurious, gradual tan body lotion that moisturises your skin. It contains Vegetan™ which is naturally derived from wheat and this builds colour on the upper layers of your skin, so you have a healthy, sun-kissed look without sun exposure. Anti-oxidant green tea evens skin tone, and red algae extract aids long-lasting hydration, making this a popular product with our clients. Abyssinian and elderberry seed oils have also been added into the mix to condition the skin, which is left soft, smooth and glowing.

When you go out in the sun your skin gets dry but using the Decleor Gradual Glow Hydrating Body Milk can prevent this from happening. This a light moisturiser that not only gives your body a gradual tan but helps nourish it at the same time. Magnolia essential oil has been added to protect and soothe skin, narcissus bulb helps prolong your tan, and vanilla extract protects against external irritants. It’s the DHA, a sugar obtained by biotechnology, in this product that reacts naturally with amino acids in the skin that leaves you with a gentle top-to-toe golden glow. This is best applied after showering and exfoliating, and when you have massaged into your skin, let the formula soak in before dressing.

If you want to add a little daytime colour to your complexion, we would suggest going for the Dermalogica Sheer Tint with SPF20. This lightly-tinted hydrating make up product comes in light, medium and dark options and each one offers a healthy wash of colour, but the sun doesn’t need to get involved. The colour comes from light-diffusing iron oxides, and broad-spectrum sunscreens have been added to protect against UV rays. Nurturing amino acids, hydrating hyaluronic acid and luscious walnut seed extract are present and help improve the appearance of fine lines and add hydration.

If you have any questions, would like to try some samples or simply need more details to make the right choice for you, get in touch today and we would love to help.

Team Pure Beauty

Look and feel cool this summer with the right clothes

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animal prints, beach, bikini bottoms, black capri pants, black dress, blanket, Body con dresses, breathe, cami, capsule wardrobe, chic, classic, classy, comfort, cotton shirts, crisp, day time dress, denim, dresses, exfoliate, fantastic outfits, feel, fitted t-shirts, floaty, florals, foundation, gold accessories, good quality sunscreen, heat, hot pants, jeans, kaftans, leg-lengthening wedges, light jacket, lightweight, limbs, look, lose, love, midi dresses, monochrome mixes, navy city shorts, navy vest, office, oversize shirt, pale, party, party dresses, patchy, pins, relaxed, rule of thumb, sharp, shave, shorts, smart look, statement necklace, style, summer, super short denim cut-offs, tailored shorts, tee, tube, wardrobe staple, wax, weather, weekend, white, work

While we love the sunshine, as the temperatures rise, it can be tricky to know what to wear so you look, and feel, cool wherever you are.

Pretty dresses and crop tops are great for keeping the heat at bay, but while they work at the weekend, they might not do the job in the boardroom. The general rule of thumb is that if it works for the beach, it probably won’t be right for the office.

We have had a look at how you can look and feel cool this summer whatever you are doing, wherever you are doing it.

Cut down on denim
We know that denim is a wardrobe staple, but standard jeans, dresses and even skirts can make you feel as if you are wrapped in a blanket and your limbs will struggle to breathe. If you like the comfort of denim but not the heaviness, go for a lightweight, pale option that you can match with a navy vest and pretty pumps and you’ll have an effortlessly chic, cool look in moments.

Make shorts work for you
Let’s get this out of the way – hot pants, super short denim cut-offs and bikini bottoms are great for the beach and pool, but when it comes to going to work or the shops, we would suggest a slightly longer length. If you want a sharp, smart look, the answer is tailored shorts with a signature tee tucked in and leg-lengthening wedges.

Trash the tights
Yes, some people hate their legs so much that they will still wear tights in summer. You don’t need to! OK, they might be pale and patchy but if you exfoliate, shave or wax and apply a gentle tanning product, you will soon love your pins.

Create a capsule wardrobe
This sounds a little structured, but if you get the basics right you are on the way to winning when it comes to the cool stakes. We all have our own style but crisp, cotton shirts, fitted t-shirts, midi dresses, decent underwear, shorts and flat sandals are a good starting point. You can then add a light jacket, statement necklace and bold bag and dress things up and down to match the weather and occasion.

Keep it lose
Body con dresses look might be on trend, but if you are on the tube or in the bank queue, you are going to feel hot and sticky. Yes, wear those fantastic outfits when you party, but for the day time you might want to go for something that is more relaxed and floaty as this can keep you cool and save those embarrassing underarm marks.

Think about neutrals
You might think that when summer comes you need to ditch everything else and only wear white, but this isn’t the case. A classic black dress and gold accessories, navy city shorts and a fresh white tee, or black capri pants and a fitted short-sleeved shirt, all look fantastic, classic and classy and will show off your tan perfectly.

Grab a kaftan
Kaftans aren’t just for the beach; they can actually work well as a day time dress or oversized shirt. We would suggest you go for monochrome mixes, animal prints or florals but one word of warning – if they are see-through wear a cami to save blushes.

Add in sunscreen
Even if there are clouds in the sky, the sun’s rays can still get through and burn your skin. Whatever else you wear, please make sure you apply a good quality sunscreen before you go out in the sun. It’s it key to also use a facial sunscreen and if you don’t want to overdo the foundation, try a tinted moisturiser instead for the summer months.

Team Pure-Beauty

Where a white shirt and shine

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Ever since Meghan Markle stepped out with Prince Harry at the Invictus Games, the simple white shirt has been hot on the High Street as well as the catwalk.

We love nothing better than this wardrobe staple and once you have found a style that works for you, there are endless ways to dress it up, or down and get a look for pretty much any occasion.

Keep it Simple
Dark jeans, pretty flats and a loosely tucked in white shirt is a classic, but easy outfit that ticks all the style and comfort boxes.

Add a Skirt
Pairing your shirt with a high-waisted pencil skirt together with block heeled sandals and painted toes, you have a look that is straight off the set of Suits.

Back to Front
If you like to spice things up when it comes to fashion, wear your shirt backwards, leaving the first couple of buttons undone and you have a whole new look going on.

All White
You will notice the shops are full of white skits and we suggest going for a pleated midi with your shirt tucked in and adding a pair of killer heels and clutch for a style statement that means business.

Go for Bold Prints
A simple white shirt is the perfect blank canvas for a vibrant, bold print. You can be as daring as you like, opting for palm trees, leopard print or even flamingos because nothing clashes with a white shirt.

Black and White
Bright colours not your thing? Don’t worry. Adding slim fitting capri pants or a full skirt, a la Victoria Beckham, you will create a monochrome outfit that will never date.

Up Your Game
If you have an afternoon meeting, slipping a tailored jacket over your shirt will instantly up the ante and make you boardroom ready, in moments.

Accessorise
Statement accessories, such as tassel earrings, red heels or a vintage necklace are all you need to add a whole new dimension to a white shirt and otherwise neutral outfit.

Layer it Up
A pretty cami underneath your shirt or a cashmere sweater over the top, can totally transform your look and if you want an on trend look, wear it under a dress and add a wide belt.

Keep it Casual
For a more relaxed, weekend vibe, distressed jeans and white trainers with the shirt untucked, is a winning combo. Leave your hair in a messy bun, add aviator glasses and a cap and you are good to go.

If you want to go a little leftfield with this, we also loved the Duchess of Sussex’s white Givenchy shirt dress she wore at Royal Ascot this year. Understated yet elegant with a twist thanks to the floral embroidery and a skinny belt. This is a really easy look to recreate and can take you from the office to the bar by simply swapping flats for heels and adding a slick of red lipstick. New Look currently have a cute white shirt dress in stock that tootally looks the part, but without the designer price, and is worth trying on for size.

Team Pure-Beauty