The Secrets to Looking Flawless

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Flawlessness. For some of us it may seem like the quest for a flawless complexion is never-ending, or worse, totally unachievable and everyone uploading their filtered snaps to social media can make you feel even worse about your own skin. There are, however, a selection of products which work hard with your skin to make it look flawless and finding the right combination for you can be like hitting a beauty goldmine. Here are five of our favourites for helping us achieve flawless skin:

Decleor Expert Dark Spot Corrector

Nothing screams IMPERFECT like dark spots and areas of hyperpigmentation. This preparation from Decleor is designed to hit the dark spots right where it hurts and even comes with a unique applicator to help reduce the appearance of dark spots within 14 days. Papaya extract is the main ingredient which helps to even out the skins tone and helps to fade surface pigmentation, leaving your skin looking foundation-fresh even without make-up.

Dermalogica SkinPerfect Primer SPF30

Primer is essential for achieving a flawless look as it manages to even out both the tone and the texture of your skin. It’s ideal for dry skin as well as skin which is prematurely ageing, and will not only perfect your skin, but will also keep your make-up in place for longer. It also contains an SPF30 to protect your skin from the sun’s harmful rays, stopping sunburn and skin damage in it’s tracks.

Decleor Intense Translucency Fluid

Decleor Intense Translucency Fluid works in three ways; firstly, it brightens and unifies the skin’s complexion, eradicating dark spots and giving you a more even skin tone. Second, it reveals the skin’s own radiance by helping to get rid of dead cells on the surface of the skin. Lastly, it gives the skin a huge boost of moisture, giving 8-hour comfort to the face. The overall effect is a restored glow and a consistent skin tone which looks as though you’re already wearing make-up, even with a bare face.

Dermalogica HydraBlur Primer

If you have drier skin, you’ll probably find that the average primer dries your skin out even more as most of them control oil production in the skin, not something which is an issue if your skin is already dry. This primer from Dermalogica is designed specifically for dry skin, and the lightweight, non-greasy formula powerfully hydrates and transforms skin into an even surface with a dramatic blurring effect.

Decleor BB Cream 24 Hour Hydration SPF15

Decleor has put a lot of work into this product, using a combination of plant-based skin expertise and extensive research and development into colour. The BB cream is a foundation/moisturiser hybrid, doing the jobs of both – flooding your skin with a full day’s worth of moisture while using tinted pigments to create a flawless base. It comes in three shades will refine your skins texture, attack blemishes and even protect you from the sun with it’s added SPF15.

It’s The End of the School Year – Treat Your Tired Body!

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ageing, Alpine Lavender, arms, bath, Birch, Blue Chamomile, clove, cool, dark circles, decleor, dermalogica, Elemis, energise, Eyes, facial contours, fatigue, fine lines, inflammation, juniper, legs, migraine, muscles, redefine, rejuvenate, rejuvenating, rest, school, school holidays, sea salt, shoulders, smooth, smoothing, soak, temples, tired, tiredness, tone, Wild Thyme, wrinkles

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Whether you’re a teacher, support staff, a student or a school-run parent, you’re probably feeling incredibly glad to see six weeks of summer stretching out ahead of you, where you can turn off your daily alarm, stay up as late as you want and even drink wine on a random Tuesday without having to worry about the next morning! It’s highly likely that your body is feeling more than a little tired, so we thought we’d take a look at some of our products which are designed to remedy all that tiredness and help you to put a little more ZING into your skin!

Dermalogica Charcoal Rescue Masque

Masks are a really great way to replenish and revitalise the skin as they can be left on for a period of time and really allowed to go to work. This masque from Dermalogica is designed to brighten dull, tired skin and will detoxify and invigorate your skin. It’s easy to remove and can be used on all skin types, making it an essential product for your bathroom cabinet.

Elemis Aching Muscle Super Soak

Nothing tells you that you’re tired more than aching muscles, and by the same token, nothing is better for aching muscles than a soak in a tub full of warm water and some Elemis Aching Muscle Super Soak! The blend of botanicals such as birch, juniper, clove, alpine lavender, wild thyme and blue chamomile combine with sea salt to gently warm and soothe the muscles, helping your body to unwind and allowing your mind to follow suit – just don’t fall asleep in the bath!

Elemis Instant Refreshing Gel

If you don’t have time for a bath (or have a bathtub at home!) you’ll need a product which can be applied directly to the skin if you want to revitalise aching limbs and muscles. This gel from Elemis is designed to be rubbed into tired muscles, especially the neck and shoulders, to help to untie knotted areas, cool and soothe inflammation, and instantly leave you feeling lighter and less achy. It’s great for travel and can also be applied to the temples during a migraine.

Decleor Iris Rejuvenating Night Balm

Night-time is the right time…to rejuvenate your skin. Night creams and balms are brilliant products for giving your skin a big burst of help, and this Iris Rejuvenating Night Balm is no exception. It’s made from 100% natural ingredients and is especially great for ageing skin. It will energise, tone and redefine facial contours, reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and stimulate and invigorate even the most tired skin, particularly those showing signs of ageing.

Elemis Pro-Radiance Illuminating Eye Balm

No anti-tiredness beauty regime would be complete without a product which can work miracles on your eyes. Tired eyes will look puffy and have dark circles around them, but this balm from Elemis works to combat that. It contains omega-rich apricot kernel oil nourishes the delicate eye contour area, as well as benefiting from an applicator which cools and smooths the skin as you use it.

Banish Your Pre-Holiday Skin Problems

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acne, ashy, beach, bikini, cellulite, confidence, control, decleor, dermalogica, dimpled, dry skin, Elemis, holiday, issues, mattify, oil, oily skin, pool, prep, problems, sebum, skin-confidence, smooth, stretch marks, swimming, swimming pool, tiger stripes, vacation

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Summer has officially started, now that we’re past the longest day, and for many of us that means that we can really start to look forward to our holidays. However, baring all on the beach or going make-up free can feel like a totally nightmare if you’ve got skin issues, so we thought we’d take a look at five common skin complaints and what you can do to clear them up before it’s time to jet off to hotter climes.

Cellulite

Probably the single most common issue for women to be worried about before sticking on their bathing suit is cellulite. As most of use know, cellulite is an area of fat cells which gives a dimply appearance – and most of us have it somewhere on our bodies! Elemis Cellutox Active Body Oil is a treatment oil which can be massaged into areas of cellulite to help to banish the build up of toxins which cause cellulite and give a more even appearance if used regularly.

Acne

Acne isn’t usually something whch is going to be cured overnight, but for many sufferers the thought of going bare-faced beside the pool is a massive no-no. Switching to the Dermalogica Clear Start system ahead of your holiday should help to get your skin under control, and using Dermalogica Breakout Control in the event of a breakout should help to give you skin-confidence.

Dry Skin

Nothing can ruin the look of a bikini worse than dry skin everywhere and ashy-looking knees and elbows! Nourishing your skin with a rich moisturiser before you go away will not only help to banish your dry skin, but it can also help to prep your skin for sun exposure, helping you to get a more even tan and avoid burning. Use Elemis Frangipani Monoi Body Oil for an intense burst of moisture with a scent which will make you think of a tropical island every time you use it!

Oily Skin

Hot weather can really exacerbate the over-production of sebum so if you’re prone to oily skin, going on holiday can be a really worry for your complexion. Using Decleor 2 in 1 Purifying and Oxygenating Mask will help to deeply mattify your skin before you jet off, and packing Dermalogica Oil Control Lotion will give you the peace of mind of knowing that you have your skin under control.

Stretch Marks

Many women now embrace their ‘tiger stripes’ because they’re a totally normal part of being a woman, but for some of us, we still feel a little self-conscious about stretch marks. Decleor Sculpt Stretch Mark Restructuring Gel-Cream, when applied regularly, will to help prevent and reduce the appearance of stretch marks, giving you the confidence to bear-all on the beach.

Bowls are the new plates

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Every now and again, a food trend comes along from nowhere and takes us by storm.

This year is no different, but it isn’t a super food or celebrity chef, it’s the mere kitchen bowl.

From breakfast and lunch through to dinner with a snack along the way, if you are going to eat, then do it from a bowl.

We aren’t talking nuggets and chips being tipped into a cereal bowl and squirted with extra ketchup, but more about blending grains, veggies and proteins to balance portion control and goodness.

Bowl meals are fast, unfussy and full of fantastic flavours. They can be prepared the night before and be eaten while working or enjoyed at home, tucked up on the sofa with no trays and balancing needed.

We have put together our favourite combinations, so you can have a try.

Don’t be afraid; all you need to do is mix the ingredients together and then decide which bowl you are going to enjoy them from.

Cucumber, cherry tomato, rye bread and halloumi
1 handful of ripe cherry tomatoes, washed and halved
40g of halloumi, cut into slices and stir fried
Cucumber, chopped into chunks
1 slice of rye bread, toasted and cut into strips
1 tablespoon of toasted sesame seeds
A drizzle of olive oil
Fresh basil to decorate
Salt and pepper to season

Courgette, bean and mackerel
1 courgette, shaved
1 handful of olives (black or green), pitted and halved
4 tablespoons of kidney beans, washed and drained
1 smoked mackerel fillet, skin off and shredded
A drizzle of olive oil
Fresh parsley to top

Tuna, bean and rice
1 red onion, finely chopped
½ can of tuna
1 red pepper, seeded and diced
1 small can of sweetcorn
4 tablespoons of red kidney beans, washed and drained
300g cooked brown rice with added quinoa
50g kale, washed and chopped
Lime wedges and natural yogurt, to serve

Salmon and broccoli
½ head broccoli, cooked and cut into florets
100g fresh salmon fillet, skinned, deboned and pan-fried
½ cup of peas, cooked and cooled
2 eggs, hard-boiled and chopped
1 tablespoons of mayo

Grilled chicken and red pepper
1 chicken breast, cooked
1 red pepper, deseeded and cut into strips
1 cup of organic baby spinach, steamed
1 cup feta cheese, crumbled
1 tablespoon of roasted sunflower and sesame seeds
1 tablespoon of olive oil
A squeeze of fresh lemon juice

Sweet and green smoothie bowl
75 ml organic apple juice
1 banana, peeled and sliced
2 Juice of ½ a lime
1 large handful spinach
1/2 avocado, peeled and stoned
100g pineapple chunks
Granola, blueberries and raspberries to serve

To make this sweet bowl, put the banana, lime juice, spinach, avocado and pineapple in a blender and whizz until smooth. Pour into a bowl and then add the granola and blueberries and enjoy.

Each suggestion on this list makes one bowl and ingredients can be varied to suit tastes.

Got a bowl meal you love? Let us know about it so we can give it a try.

Team Pure Beauty

Bake a cake and be happy

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There is something relaxing about switching off, putting on your apron and baking a cake.

Yes, we know you can buy them for pennies in the shops, but making a batch of muffins or baking the perfect sponge is one of the most satisfying ways of spending Sunday afternoon and eating your creations is pretty special too.

We are big bakers here at Pure Beauty and today we are sharing a couple of our favourite tea time treats with you.

We have taken the traditional pink and yellow Battenberg and put a twist on it. This chocolate and orange version looks complicated but it is simply two flavoured sponge cakes cut into strips and wrapped in glorious marzipan.

Ingredients:
225g self-raising flour
1 tsp baking powder
225g caster sugar
225g butter, softened
4 large free range eggs, beaten
2 tsp finely grated orange peel
1 tbsp orange juice
1 tbsp cocoa powder mixed into a paste with 1 tbsp hot water
4 tbsp apricot jam, warmed
450g good quality marzipan

To start, pre-heat your oven to 180C/160C fan/Gas 4.

Sift the flour and baking powder into a large bowl then add the sugar, butter and eggs and beat until the mixture is pale, smooth and creamy. Divide the mixture into two bowls then fold the orange rind and juice into one and the blended cocoa powder into the other.

Spoon the mixture into two separate square cake tins and level the surface, make sure they are greased and we go for an 18cm tin.

Bake for 25-30 minutes until the cakes are risen and firm to the touch.

Cool for 5 minutes then place on a wire rack and leave to totally cool.

Trim the edges from each cake then cut each cake into four even-sized strips. Use a little of the jam to sandwich two of the chocolate strips of cake with two of the orange strips and this will create one chequered effect cake – it looks pretty fab!

Roll out half the marzipan on an icing sugar dusted surface and create an 18 x 30cm rectangle. Brush the top of the cake with jam and press this gently onto the marzipan. Brush the other sides of the cake with jam and wrap marzipan around all of the cake and crimp along the top edges of the cake with your fingertips – have a clean cloth ready for sticky fingers.

Repeat to make a second cake and serve with tea.

If you are more of a cup cake kind of kid, then how about these lemon drizzle beauties? For a dozen you will need:

175g unsalted butter, softened and at room temperature
175g golden caster sugar
175g self-raising flour
1 teaspoon of baking powder
3 large free range eggs
2 tablespoons of lemon curd
If you want to add the topping, you will need:
100g granulated sugar
The juice and grated zest of one, organic lemon – they taste the most zingy – and slices of lemon to decorate

To make you will need to preheat your oven to 180C / Fan 160C / Gas Mark 4 and line a 12 hole muffin tray with paper cases.

Put the butter, sugar, flour, baking powder and eggs in a bowl and whisk until pale and creamy then gently fold in the lemon curd.

Put the mixture into the muffin cases and bake for 15-20 minutes until the cakes have risen and are golden brown.

Whilst the cakes are baking, mix the granulated sugar and lemon juice and zest together and drizzle a little on each cake a couple of minutes after they have come out of the oven, put a slice of lemon on each one, then leave to cool so the topping goes crisp and enjoy at any time of the day.

Got a recipe you love? Send it our way and we might share with everyone else.

Team Pure Beauty