How to look after your contact lenses

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aggravation, blinking, bowl, case, cataract surgery, cleaning fluids, cleaning solution, contact lens wearing, contact lenses, daily lenses, daunting, eye health, eye make up, eyelashes, fingers, gently, glassses, healthy, hold, hospital, hurt, index finger, infection, inside out, irritation, keep a steady hand, light, lower eyelid, mix, nervous, optician, pain, predicament, prevent infection, public places, redness, regular basis, repeat, safe routine, sleep, sleep wake, slide, squeeze, story, swap, swimming, tap water, thumb, uncomfortable, upper eyelid, vision loss, wake, walk away, wash and dry your hands

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

Don’t let hay fever get you down

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allergic reactions, Antihistamines, apples, beer, blocked nose, Broccoli, brown rice, cabbage, carpets, cinema, clear sinuses, control, corticosteroids, curries, dehydrates, difficult, ease congestion, enjoy, Eyes, flowers, garlic, ginger, GP, grass, histamine, Home comforts, honey, Housekeeping, impractical, inflammation, itchy, itchy eyes, leeks, Low-allergen foods, mushrooms, nutshell, organic, over-the-counter medicines, pears, peas, pillow, plants, pollen, quinoa, red, red onions, Reishi mushrooms, runny, salads, shopping centre, sleep, sneezing, spirits, stir fries, summer, sunglasses, sweep, sweet potatoes, swelling, symptoms, tips and tricks, vacuum, Vaseline, Wash your hair, wet, windows, wine

The sun is shining, the sky is blue, off the shoulder dresses are on trend and everyone is happy.

Well, nearly everyone.

With an estimated one in five people suffering with this common allergic condition during their life, summer can be unbearable for many.

In a nutshell, pollen from grass, flowers, plants and trees can cause sneezing, runny or blocked nose and itchy eyes and it can be both painful and frustrating as there is no known cure.

Of course, the most effective way to keep hay fever under control is to avoid pollen exposure. This, however, it’s difficult and impractical, so we have some tips and tricks to help keep it at bay so you can enjoy your summer as much as everyone else.

Medicines
Hay fever can be controlled with conventional, over-the-counter medicines on sale at your chemist. Antihistamines help prevent allergic reactions and corticosteroids ease inflammation and swelling. If you try these and they aren’t helping it is worth speaking to your GP to see if prescription medication is needed.

Diet
Eat organic food where possible as this helps avoid pesticides and additives. Low-allergen foods such as brown rice, quinoa, broccoli, cabbage, sweet potatoes, leeks, peas, pears, apples and papaya are all good options and of course will aid general peak health.

Mushrooms
Mushrooms aren’t just for breakfast and can really help regulate the immune response. A good quality organic extract from Reishi mushrooms is a good option and worth investing in if you are serious about dealing with hay fever for once and all.

Drinking
Keep your water drinking up and reduce your alcohol intake. Beer, wine and spirits all contain histamine, which is the chemical that sets off allergy symptoms in your body so as well as making you more sensitive to pollen, alcohol also dehydrates you, making your symptoms seem worse.

Wash your hair
Did you know pollen can stick to your hair? Well it can and when you go to bed it transfers to your pillow and will affect you as you try to sleep. If you have been out for the day, it is a good idea to have a shower and change your clothes before going into your bedroom and sprinkling pollen around and making life harder.

Go for sunglasses
As well as shades protecting your precious peepers, they are also a great way of stopping pollen from getting into your eyes. Go for a decent wrap around pair to create a barrier and to ensure your eyes are less red and itchy.

Housekeeping
We aren’t saying you don’t clean but given that pollen can easily get into your carpets it is a good idea to vacuum regularly and sweep it away. Try not to have the windows open too much and dust with a wet cloth so pollen doesn’t unknowingly spread around your house

Barrier
It is said that applying a little Vaseline (petroleum gel) around your nose can stop pollen getting into your system.

Home comforts
This isn’t going to happen every day but if the pollen count is high (over 50 grains per cubic metre of air) you might want to stay at home or visit a shopping centre, cinema or museum rather than being outdoors and at risk of symptoms getting worse.

Spice up your life
Garlic, ginger, red onions and other spices are all brilliant ways to help clear sinuses and ease congestion. Add them to curries, salads, stir fries and BBQs to keep your pain away.

Honey
Pop some honey on your toast or in your green tea and let the bee pollen in it desensitise your body to the plant pollens that cause the hay fever grief.

We hope you find a way to keep your hay fever under control this summer, and if you have a top tip, would love to know what it is.

Team Pure Beauty

Products to Make a Hospital Stay More Bearable

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alcohol gel, beauty, cry, Decleor 24 Hour Hydrating Cream Light, Decleor Flash Radiance Mask, Dermalogica Conditioning Body Wash, Dermalogica Multivitamin Hand and Nail Treatment, Dermalogica Sheer Tint SPF20, drying, dryness, face, hands, healing, heat, hospital, hospital bag, mask, moisture, nails, pamper, products, recovery, recuperate, skin, sleep

Image Source: http://bit.ly/2lGQ8yQ

Whether it’s a routine operation or an unexpected visit, not many of us can say we actually enjoy being in hospital. Although we’re huge fans of the NHS, the food is usually fairly grim, wards are either too hot or too cold and being around all of those other ill people can feel a bit oppressive! Never fear though, Pure Beauty have some fabulous suggestions of products that you can pack in your hospital bag which will make life a little more bearable.

Decleor 24 Hour Hydrating Cream Light

Hospital wards are notoriously too warm and sitting around in the heat all day can make you feel totally dried out. Using a good moisturiser can make all the difference and this light hydrating cream from Decleor is suitable for all skin types, allowing you to put back all of the lost hydration and avoid that tight, itchy dry skin feeling.

Dermalogica Multivitamin Hand and Nail Treatment

Keeping your hands clean when in hospital is really important because you don’t want to be picking up any additional germs, so you’ll probably be washing your hands and using drying alcohol gels more than usual. Keep some of this Dermalogica hand treatment on your bedside table and use it to stop your hands from becoming dry and cracking.

Dermalogica Conditioning Body Wash

If you’re in hospital for any length of time, keeping yourself sane is half of the battle towards healing, which means being able to keep up with normal rituals like having a nice bath or shower and wearing clean PJs! Stick some of this luxurious, relaxing body wash in your bag to help you forget that you’re using a hospital bathroom and not your own.

Dermalogica Sheer Tint SPF20

For many of us, being unable to wear make up whilst in hospital can really add to feelings of being under the weather – this can be even worse if you’re in having a baby and people want to take pictures of you with a bare face after giving birth! This tint from Dermalogica gives a wash of colour and a splash of moisture, making you look and feel more healthy and less washed out.

Decleor Flash Radiance Mask

Being in hospital isn’t always bad – being confined to a bed sometimes means that you have no choice but to catch up on some sleep, read, binge-watch Netflix, and it can be the perfect opportunity for a bit of pampering too! Why not turn your hospital stay into something positive by treating your face with a mask, such as this one from Decleor which adds immediate radiance to the skin – you’ll come out of hospital looking better than before you went in!

Healthy hair growth

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apply, boucne, bounce, celebrity, circulation, damaged, diet, dry, exercise, extensions, food, friend, GP, grow, growth, hair, hair cycle, hair-dryer, healthy diet, heat damage, mask, meditation, no gain, No pain, normal, oil, oil treatments, results, rinse, scalp, session, shine, sleep, split ends, straighteners, stress, trigger, trim

Ever had your hair chopped to get the latest celebrity style only to step out of the salon and wish you’d had a trim instead?

We have been there too and no how disappointing it can be.

The good news is, it’s only hair which is thought that hair grows about a centimetre a month.

Whilst there are no shortcuts to getting your luscious, long locks back, there are ways you can encourage hair growth and we have a few ideas to get you started.

Dry scalp massages can help stimulate the blood flow to your scalp, which helps nutrients get to your hair follicles quicker so your hair is stronger and longer in no time.

When you wash your hair, take time to massage your scalp with your fingertips, starting at the back of the neck and moving around the hairline. Relaxing and well as growth encouraging.

A decent shampoo will remove dirt and grime but it is your conditioner that replenishes the nutrients your hair needs to grow, so don’t skip this step.

A blast of cold-water can help seal the hair cuticles, and prevent moisture loss and heat damage. No pain, no gain.

Once a week it is a good idea to treat your hair to a deep conditioning session. There are many great hot oil treatments and deep conditioning masks out there that bring the life and bounce back into your hair and leave it looking sleek and shiny, whatever the length. For the best results apply the product to your hair and then rub your fingers on your scalp in a circular motion for three to five minutes. Rinse the oil or mask out of your hair and leave to dry naturally.

Do go to the hairdresser on a regular basis. We know you are trying to grow your hair but a trim keeps those pesky split ends at bay so growth can happen.

Deep down, you know heat damage isn’t good for your hair. Use your hair-dryer and straighteners less and when you do, apply a heat protectant product to locks from getting damaged and breaking off.

It might feel silly, but flip your head upside down if you want to promote faster hair growth. Sitting upside down for two to four minutes a day is believed to improve circulation and in turn hair growth. It’s got be worth a go and it’s way cheaper than extensions!

If it is longer hair you want, cut the stress out of your life. It is believed that stress can disrupt the normal hair cycle and can trigger hair falling-out. We know this is easy to say, but try to manage your stress using meditation, taking exercise and getting enough sleep. If you feel things are getting on top of you, talk to a trusted friend or your GP and get some extra support.

It goes without saying the a healthy diet will also keep hair growing and looking healthy, so next week we will look at what to eat and why.

Team Pure-Beauty

The Five Worst Things You Can Do To Your Skin

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ageing, combination, decleor, Decleor Brightening Cleansing Foam, Decleor Iris Rejuvenating Night Balm, Decleor Relax Intense Relaxing Shower Oil, Decleor Ultra Protective Hydrating Milk SPF50 Body, dermalogica, Dermalogica After Sun Repair, Dermalogica Concealing Spot Treatment, dry, make-up, oily, repair, showers, skin, sleep, SPF, spots, sun, tanning

Listen; we get it. We’re all just getting by, doing the best we can, sticking to a skincare routine as closely as time/effort/budget will allow. We don’t want to lecture you about all of the things you’re doing wrong…however, there are a few things which are basically the worst things you can do for your complexion, and so if you can try to avoid these things, you’ll be doing pretty well in the grand scheme of things!

Squeezing Spots

Spots and blackheads can be unsightly and we are all guilty of squeezing them in an effort to improve their appearance, but squeezing spots actually pushes the bacteria deeper into your skin and can be the cause of further breakouts. We suggest using Dermalogica Concealing Spot Treatment which will not only target the spot-causing bacteria and reduce redness and inflammation, but it will also cover the spot using a light tint without having to apply heavy make-up.

Sleeping in Your Make-Up

When you sleep in your make-up, you basically hinder the skin during its most important healing phase. This leads to clogged pores and spots, as well as over production of oil. Don’t forget, it’s also good to wash your face before bed, even if you aren’t wearing make-up because the skin comes into contact with many airborne pollutants which cling to the face throughout the day and can cause damage to the skin if not cleansed away. We recommend Decleor Brightening Cleansing Foam to restore radiance for an even, glowing complexion.

Taking Too-Hot Showers

We know that, especially at the end of a hard day, it feels great to slip under a hot shower, but if you allow the water and steam to get too hot, you risk stripping away the essential layer of natural protection which the skin produces. This can lead to dry skin, oily skin, or a combination of both, which can be tricky to put right again. Try to have the shower warm, not scorching, and use some Decleor Relax Intense Relaxing Shower Oil to help you relax.

Spending Too Long in the Sun

The sun is bad. We ALL know it. However, it doesn’t stop us from wanting to spend time in the sun or wanting to have a tan. The best we can do is recommend that you cover up with Decleor Ultra Protective Hydrating Milk SPF50 Body, take regular breaks in the shade and repair your skin with Dermalogica After Sun Repair after exposure.

Not Getting Enough Sleep

As we mentioned above, sleep is the optimum time for your body to heal and repair itself and the skin is no exception. Making sure that you get enough sleep is KEY if you want to remain youthful and give your skin time to rejuvenate. Helping it along with Decleor Iris Rejuvenating Night Balm is also a good idea, especially if your skin is already on the mature side.