Love the life you are in

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Life can be overwhelming in the 21st century and living in a world of perfect, filtered Instagram images it can be easy to compare ourselves to others even though this knocks our self-esteem and dents our confidence.

We have had a look at how to feel happier with your lot, however shiny everyone else’s lives might look.

Keep a journal
Yes, it might seem a little old school to write things down on paper but keeping a journal helps you get a better perspective on things and can make life look a little less scary. Buy a pretty notebook and make time at the end of each day to just write. There are no rules when it comes to journalling so just write and let the pages soak up your stress and you will see the sunny side of life again.

Mindfulness
Mindfulness is the buzzword of the moment and is quite simply a form of meditation that bring things into the present, and can be beneficial to your mind, body and soul. Sit quietly for ten minutes a day and move the focus of your attention away from the world, away from the past, away from the future and just focus on now. Doing this will help you relax and be at peace with your thoughts and while it can take time to really get into meditation, it is time well spent as it will be worth it in the long run.

Be number one
This might sound selfish, especially if you have a family, but putting yourself first is key to being happy and feeling more in control of your life. It can be hard to say no sometimes, but saying it will give you the time you need to look after number one and in the long run it will boost your energy levels and self-esteem.

Keep alcohol down
When times are hard and the pressure is on, it is really tempting to have a drink, or two. While it might take away some of those feelings of overwhelm in the short-term, it can make you feel angry and aggressive and leave you feeling down, depressed and hungover. Keep a check on how much you drink each week and if you feel like the odd glass of wine is becoming a more regular occurrence, look at what is going on and what you could do instead of heading for the bottle.

Move
As well as keeping you healthy and getting blood and oxygen pumping around your body, moderate exercise will release the feel good chemicals in your brain that make you happy. Find an activity you really enjoy, so it is fun not a chore, and you will find that you will start to feel brighter and lighter and as well as having more energy in the day, you will sleep better at night.

Talk about it
The old saying goes, a problem shared is a problem halved, and that is so true. Holding onto worries and concerns can really get you down, so chat things over with your partner or a friend and feel the weight lift off your shoulders.

Of course, if things do feel too much, speak to your GP and see if they can help put a support system in place to make life easier once again.

Team Pure-Beauty

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5 Gifts to Buy Your Menopausal Friend

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abrasions, aching, ageing, antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, Arnica, Australian teat tree oil, Birch, Camphor, Chinese hibiscus, dark circles, dermalogica, discomfort, Elemis, fatigue, gelm tired, healing, hormones, hot flush, hydration, inflammation, legs, lipid barrier, memory loss, Menopause, menthol, multivitamin, muscles, periods, skin, sleep, stem cells, sweet iris, thinning, tiredness, Toner, witch hazel, woman, women

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The menopause is something that happens to every woman at some point in their lives and while many of us are pretty grateful for the lack of periods each month, some of the accompanying side effects can make us feel truly lousy. Hot flushes, memory loss and sleep disturbances are just a few of the undesirable symptoms of the menopause and if you have a friend who’s going through it, you might want to buy them a gift to help them through this awkward time. We’ve put together a list of five gifts that we think would be perfect for your menopausal friend to make her feel a little better:

Elemis Anti-Fatigue Eye Gel

If your friend is struggling with sleep (insomnia and night time waking are super common during the early stages of the menopause), there’s a good chance she’ll have dark circles around her eyes, which will be reminding her of her issue every time she looks in the mirror. This gel from Elemis is designed to refresh and cool the delicate eye area, tightening the skin and reducing dark circles, making the perfect gift for someone who’s lacking sleep.

Dermalogica UltraCalming Mist

Hot flashes and dry skin are two of the most common symptoms of the menopause and this spray from Dermalogica can help to tackle both of them. This soothing toner that provides critical hydration while helping to relieve and defend against inflammation, whilst relieving inflammation and discomfort, helping skin recover from damage and lipid barrier breakdown.

Elemis Tea Tree S.O.S. Spray

As we get older, our skin thins which means that not only is it easier to get an injury, it often takes longer to heal. This spray from Elemis is make from purified water and Australian tea tree oil, which is a natural antiseptic, anti-fungal and antiviral and can be sprayed directly onto cuts and abrasions to help with the healing process.

Elemis Instant Refreshing Gel

Another common symptom that menopausal women report is aching muscles and joints, as well as muscle tension and fatigue. As well as recommending a menopause-specific multivitamin, we also suggest that you use this gel from Elemis on your achy areas. It contains soothing extracts of arnica, birch and witch hazel, with cooling camphor and menthol, which combine to relive tired legs and muscle tension and can even be applied over tights!

Elemis Pro-Definition Day Cream

Elemis created this day cream just for menopausal women – it helps support skin that has begun to sag and lose definition, and leaves skin feeling more dense and resilient. It contains stem cells from sweet irises and Chinese hibiscus which stimulate the production of collagen and restore the look of skin’s vitality. Skin feels moisturised and revived all day long.

How to Avoid Winter Sniffles

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alcohol, antibacterial, asthma, colds, coughs, de-stress, decleor, dermalogica, diabetes, drink, eat, Elemis, flu, germs, green tea, healthy, Ill, illness, immune system, iron, protein, Relax, sleep, stress, vaccination, vaccine, virus, vitamins, water, winter

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Why is it that Mother Nature just doesn’t seem to get our memo at this time every year that we simply DO NOT HAVE TIME TO BE ILL?! Coughs and colds, aches and pain; they’re all enough to cause a serious slow-down at what is the busiest time of year for many of us, but we really don’t have the time (or opportunity) o take to our beds and sip Lemsip until we feel better. Here’s a few things that you can do to avoid all the usual nasties that are doing the rounds at the moment:

Eat Well

Making sure you get plenty of fruit and veg in your diet, as well as iron from meat or beans, will bolster your immune system and give it the best fighting chance of warding off viruses. We also recommend drinking green tea, which is great for your system in many ways, not least of all because the steam can help to physically clear germs away from your nose. Protein-rich foods are also best for giving your immune system a boost.

Get Plenty of Sleep

Sleep is when your body has the best opportunity to fight off germs because it’s not concentrating on doing all the other thinks like blinking anf thinking! This means that broken or missed sleep will leave your immune system at a real deficit because it’s not had a chance to work. If you’re struggling to drift off, try a de-stressing massage before bedtime.

Don’t Drink Too Much Booze

We know that’s a hard ask in the season of work dos, family gatherings and general festive merriment, but alcohol gives your immune system a real battering, leaving you susceptible to viruses and germs. If you’re out for the night, try alternating one alcoholic drink with one glass of water or soft drink to try to keep a handle on things.

Sanitize!

We know there’s a risk of looking a bit Howard Hughes if you wander around disinfecting things, but one of the most common ways to catch coughs and colds is through transferring germs from infected surfaces. Thi nk about machines at the gym, work phones, handles on the Tube – they’ve all been touched by a potential barrage of germs, so keeping a bottle of antibacterial hand gel in your bag is a really good defence against it all.

Don’t Forget your Flu Jab!

For many people, flu can be a few days for feeling absolutely rubbish, but if you’ve got a chronic illness such as diabetes or asthma, flu can hit you much harder than others. If you have a pre-existing illness or a compromised immune system, you’re probably entitled to a free flu jab at your G.P. surgery and we highly recommend that you go and have it. No-one needs flu at this time of year and it’s wise to do everything you can to avoid it.

Take the stress out of your work day

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Let’s face it, even when you love your job, have a great boss and colleagues you get on well with, work can get stressful.

Commutes, long hours, computer screens and being contactable pretty much 24/7 thanks to mobile devices and the digital age, means work can take over your life if you aren’t careful.

What many of us don’t realise is that while a little adrenaline can keep us on our toes, ongoing stress can have a negative impact on our health, relationships, sleep and if you aren’t careful it can cause burn out.

We have looked at some easy ways of taking care of yourself while keeping your career on track.

Know what’s important
We are constantly saying we are busy, but don’t make this a reason to be late, tried and in the end, less productive. Each morning before you look at emails or make any calls, write a list of what you need to do that day and check on any meetings that have been scheduled. When you prioritise your workload, it is easier to have a stress-free day and if additional tasks come in, look at just how important they are before dropping your original plans.

Learn to say no
We are conditioned to say yes, but doing so can pile on the stress and make you less efficient. It isn’t easy to say no to a new project from your boss, especially when a promotion is on the cards, but if things feel too much, sit down with them and look at where other tasks can be delegated and what the deadlines are – tomorrow isn’t always realistic.

Take breaks
If you spend most of your day at a desk, you need to get up, walk away and take regular breaks. Making a cup of tea, walking to talk to a colleague, going to the post room and even making a phone call in reception are simple but effective ways to have a break from sitting down and staring straight ahead. When it comes to lunch time, it might be tempting to sit and work through your to-do list, but this is the perfect time to get away from it all. Go for a walk, have lunch at a local coffee shop or pack sandwiches and head to the park and clear your head.

Meditate at work
Meditation isn’t just for yoga classes and a quick session at your desk can really help bring clarity to your day. Even if you are having a super busy time, downing tools for five minutes, taking stock of your breathing and taking a step back can help increase your productivity levels and leave you feeling energised. There are loads of great books and apps out there, we like Buddhify, so have a look around and find something that works for you.

Work-life balance
We know it sounds like meaningless jargon, but it is vital to plan your free time as well as work diary to get the right balance. Having a mix of hobbies, a group of friends to meet up with, gym membership or regular Zumba class to attend, will all help you turn off from work and relax.

Book a holiday
Just as you need to take a break in the day, you also need to use your holiday time. We aren’t saying take a full two weeks, but a long weekend with the girls or a mini break by the sea can really revive you and you will go back into work feeling refreshed and smiling.

So, if you want to be more productive and less stressed, take time out for you and we think you will see a difference.

Team Pure Beauty

How to look after your contact lenses

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A recent story to hit the headlines was about a woman who was found to have 27, yes 27, contact lenses stuck in her eye. Ouch!

The 67 year was scheduled for cataract surgery but instead, a blue mass of lenses was pulled from her eye, unlike anything the hospital had seen before.

While this was an extreme case, it highlights the need for care to be taken when putting in and taking out lenses and for wearers to ensure they have a healthy, safe routine to ensure their eyes are well cared for.

To make sure you don’t end up in the same predicament, we have put together some top tips to help you get contact lens wearing right.

Seems so obvious, but always make sure you wash and dry your hands thoroughly before putting anything into your eyes or removing from them.

Try not to be nervous. Putting contact lenses in and taking them out might seem daunting but once you get the hang of it, it is pretty easy so take your time. The key to success is to keep a steady hand and if it doesn’t work first time, walk away and try later.

Before you put a lens in, make sure it isn’t inside out. To check this, place the clean lens on your finger tip and hold it up to the light. If it is the right way round it should look like a bowl but if the edges flare out, it’s inside out and needs to be adjusted.

To put the lens into your eye, hold your upper eyelid with one finger and then gently pull down your lower eyelid with your other fingers. This will stop you blinking and will stop your eyelashes getting in the way.

To take your lenses out, simply look up and carefully pull your lower eyelid down using your middle finger. Gently put your index finger to your eye and when you touch the lower edge of the lens, slide it down to the lower white area of your eye – note that this should not hurt. Finally squeeze the lens, very gently, between your thumb and index finger and finally take it out. Repeat on the other eye.

At this point, daily lenses can be thrown away, otherwise clean bi-weekly and monthly lenses as advised.

Remember, never use tap water to clean your lenses or their case. Use the recommend cleaning solution and following the instructions to the word.

Whatever is happening in your life, only wear your lenses for the time specified and don’t ever sleep in them or you will wake up feeling very uncomfortable.

As well as replacing your lenses to prevent infection, it is also important to use new cases and cleaning fluids on a regular basis.

We suggest that you don’t apply your eye make-up before putting contact lenses in, as this can sometimes cause aggravation and infection.

Contact lenses and swimming are not a good mix, so swap for glasses at the pool but make sure you take the same care taking them in and out as public places are full of bacteria and germs.

If there are any signs of pain, irritation, redness or vision loss, get in touch with your optician ASAP.

On this note, it is important to have regular checks with your optician so they can check on your eye health and ensure you are using the right lenses for you.

Team Pure Beauty