Five of the Best Ingredients for Youthful Skin

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Photo by Karolina Grabowska

Here at Pure Beauty, we’re well aware of how confusing skincare can feel. There’s a different product for every different skin issue and a wealth of ingredients which vary from things found in your pantry to things found in the deepest oceans or rainforests! Looking at ingredient lists often feels like trying to decipher an unknown language, but there are some key things that you can look for if you’re in the market for anti-ageing products. Here are five of the best ingredients for maintaining a youthful complexion:

Retinol 

Retinol is a form of vitamin A that’s suitable for the skin. It belongs to a group of vitamin A derivatives, known as retinoids. Retinol has multiple uses and can be used to combat conditions like acne and can target areas of pigmentation. It can also reduce signs of ageing and sun damage. Retinoids don’t work equally well on everyone. If you suffer from rosacea, eczema, or psoriasis, it’s probably best to avoid retinol since it can be too powerful on skin that needs a gentle touch – it can increase inflammation, dryness and sensitivity in already delicate complexions.

Try Murad Retinol Youth Renewal Serum

Hyaluronic Acid

Hyaluronic Acid is a humectant — a substance that retains moisture — and it is capable of binding over one thousand times its weight in water. This substance is naturally found in many areas of the human body, including the skin and eyes. Hyaluronic acid helps skin stretch and flex and reduces skin wrinkles and lines. Hyaluronic acid is also proven to help wounds heal faster and can reduce scarring. Allergic reactions to hyaluronic acid are rare, so that means whether you have oily skin, sensitive, dry skin, or combination skin, you have the green light to use hyaluronic acid products.

Try SkinCeuticals H.A. (Hyaluronic Acid) Intensifier Serum 

Vitamin C

Vitamin C can help keep skin looking plump and firm. This is because it’s highly acidic when applied topically and can help to promote collagen production and reduce the appearance of ageing skin. It also contains a property that inhibits the skin’s melanin production levels, two of the culprits that can lead to dark spots and hyperpigmentation, making it an absolute hero at giving you a glowing, healthy complexion. It’s usually found in oil-based products, so may not be ideal for acne and blemish prone skin, but it’s great for pretty much all other skin types. 

Try REN Clean Skincare Glow Daily Vitamin C Gel Cream

Bakuchiol

If you’re looking for an alternative to retinol that can be used on more sensitive skin, bakuchiol is a good place to start. Bakuchiol is found in the seeds and leaves of the Indian Babchi plant and has been used in traditional Ayurvedic and Chinese medicine for centuries. It also has calming anti-inflammatory and healing antibacterial properties and is even safe for use when pregnant and breastfeeding. It’s a potent-yet-kind ingredient which the British Journal of Dermatology found was just as effective as retinol and significantly less irritating, which is great news for anyone looking for an alternative.

Try Medik8 The CSA Bakuchiol Edition Kit

Ceramides

Ceramides are fats or lipids that are found in skin cells and make up 30% to 40% of your outer skin layer, or epidermis. Ceramides are important for retaining your skin’s moisture and preventing the entry of germs into your body. If your skin’s ceramide content decreases, which often happens with age, it can become dehydrated. Skincare products with ceramides will help reinforce your skin’s barrier and increase hydration, giving you plumper, smoother, firmer-feeling skin with fewer visible lines and wrinkles, as well as fewer signs of sensitivity.

Try Advanced Nutrition Programme Skin Moisture IQ

Our Top Five Non-Greasy Skin and Haircare Formulas

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acne, ageing, all skin types, Aloe Vera, antioxidant, bath, bedtime, body, breakouts, brighter, broad spectrum, cashmere, chamomile, coconut, complexion, daily, damaged hair, dry, dry oil, dry skin, even, formula, frizz, Glycerin, greasiness, greasy, harmful, healthier, healthy, heavy, Ho Wood, holiday, hyaluronic acid, hydrated, ingredients, lavender, light, lighter, moisture, moisturiser, night oil, non-greasy, nourished, oil, oils, patchouly, polished, porous, powerful, protect, protection, rays, refine, sensitivity, sensory, sesame oil, Shea butter, shower, skin, skin type, skincare, smooth, smoother, SPF30, SPF50, spots, spray tan, spring, stress, styling creams, summer, sun creams, tea or flour, tension, texture, thick, uncomfortable, UVA, UVB, vetiver, Vitamin C

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.

Pure Beauty’s Newest Arrivals

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Elemis Superfood CICA Calm Hydration Juice

Here at Pure Beauty, we love nothing more than shouting from the rooftops about the newest products to hit our shelves. We’re lucky in the respect that all of our brands are constantly innovating and inventing to add new and improved products to their ranges, which means that we’re able to then offer these to our customers. With this in mind, today we’re looking at 5 of the nearest products from Decleor, Elemis and Dermalogica to keep you up-to-date with the newest products available.

Decleor Green Mandarin Overnight Bi-Phase Peel

This overnight peel from Decleor is a 28-day course and should be used every night to achieve glowing and radiant skin. It contains soothing botanical oils as well as glycolic acid and natural fruit acids which exfoliate your skin overnight, leaving it looking smooth and radiant. After 28 days your skin will look less tired and it’s texture will be refined and renewed.

Elemis Superfood CICA Calm Cleansing Foam

This cleansing foam from Elemis is a micellar cleanser which means that particles of fermented green tea seed oil are spended in in kefir, fermented agave and biotransformed CICA to deeply cleanse the skin while calming redness. It contains moisturising elements which help to reverse dehydration, as well as minimising the appearance of pores and rebalancing the complexion. It’s a vegan friendly and sulfate-free formula which contains no parabens or SLS.

Dermalogica Biolumin-C Eye Serum

This serum from Dermalogica is formulated specifically for the delicate skin around the eyes and contains a huge boost of vitamin C which will dramatically brighten and visibly firm the skin. It’s perfect for normal, mature or prematurely aging skin and helps to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. It will hydrate and exfoliate the skin for a smoother complexion, as well as protecting against environmental stress.

Decleor Green Mandarin Exfoliating 2 in 1 Scrub Mask

This physical exfoliating product from Decleor is a bit of a miracle in a tub. It contains green mandarin essential oils and natural sugars which will exfoliate the skin, as well as carrot extract which gives an instant sheer tint and glow to your complexion. It contains antioxidants to protect against free radicals, while apricot and marula botanical oils provide nourishment to the skin.

Elemis Superfood CICA Calm Hydration Juice

This gel moisturiser from Elemis is a super hydrating juice which will hydrate skin and dramatically improve its texture. It’s a lightweight formula which layers well under makeup thanks to the fact that it absorbs so quickly, and is packed with antioxidants which will leave your skin with a healthy glow.

5 Face Masks to Get Your Skin Through the Rest of Winter

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circulation, complexion, cuticles, decleor, Decleor Neroli Bigarade Oil Mask, deep, delicate, dry hands, dryness, Elemis, Elemis Exotic Cream Moisturising Mask, elemis exotic cream moisturising mask mimosa, Elemis Exotic Frangipani Monoi Hair and Scalp Mask, Elemis Fruit Active Rejuvenating Mask, Elemis Pro-Collagen Hydra-Gel Eye Masks, extract, eye, fruit, gel, hair, heating, hyaluronic acid, intensive, January, kiwi, mask, masks, orange, overnight, plumped, revitalising, revive, say rocket, scalp, sensitive, skin, smoother, smoothing, strawberry, synthesis, wild pansy

Photo by Chris Knight on Unsplash

We all know that January can be a gruelling time for you skin. It’s often the coldest month of the year which means that every time we go outside our is dealing with the elements – then we go back indoors and are faced with central heating, which is a bad combination for our skin. Combine this with shorter days and a tendency to want to hibernate, hardly anyone can ever say that their skin is at its best in January. Masks are a fantastic product for reviving the skin at this time of year and regular usage of a targeted mask can help to ensure that by the time spring comes around and the sun starts to peek through the clouds, your complexion will have a rosy glow that is rarely seen at the end of winter. Here are 5 of our best masks for nourishing the skin, to give you a great start to 2020.

Elemis Exotic Cream Moisturising Mask

This mask from Elemis is made from exotic ingredients and works as a hydrating and soothing treatment. It takes the purest part of the therapeutic plant extracts from mimosa, sea rocket, orange and bergamot leaves, enriching the skin and evening out skin tone. It can be left on overnight as a more intensive treatment and can even be used on dry hands and cuticles if they are suffering the same dryness as your face.

Decleor Neroli Bigarade Oil Mask

This mask from Decleor melts into a fine oil as you massage into the skin, allowing more of the active ingredients to be absorbed into your complexion. It contains extracts of wild pansy which encourages hyaluronic acid synthesis, giving you a plumped, smoother and more youthful complexion in just 10 minutes of use.

Elemis Exotic Frangipani Monoi Hair and Scalp Mask

It’s easy to forget about your scalp as it’s hidden beneath your hair, but many, many people suffer with dryness on their scalp as well as their hair, which is why Elemis invented this mask. It’s a 3-in-1 treatment that deep cleanses the scalp and hair, and can be used either in the shower or as an intensive overnight mask to revive the area. It removes build up and restores healthy looking shine while revitalising the scalp and hair

Elemis Fruit Active Rejuvenating Mask

If your skin is looking dull and tired, this rejuvenating mask from Elemis contains fruit extracts of strawberry and kiwi in a kaolin clay base, which will revive a sallow complexion. Apply to clean skin and leave on for 10 minutes, and your skin will look brighter and more radiant. It’s great for using while laying in the bath and Elemis tells us that it’s also great for smokers as it helps to enhance the circulation in your facial complexion.

Elemis Pro-Collagen Hydra-Gel Eye Masks

Darkness around the eyes is also a really common thing at this time of year, although many face masks aren’t suitable for use around the eyes. That’s why Elemis developed these eye masks which are formulated to instantly reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles around the eyes, giving the delicate area a deep wash of moisture which will get rid of dark circles and tighten the skin. Each individual mask contains potent plankton extract, leaving the skin around the eyes intensity moisturised and instantly hydrated.

How to Get the Smoothest Shave

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Whether it’s your legs, your armpits or any other part of your body, shaving is still the most popular hair removal method the world over. It’s cheap, convenient and you can do it wherever you want, whenever you want, without the need to visit a specialist. Having said that, shaving still has it’s pitfalls, so we thought we’d give you some tips to help you to get your smoothest shave yet.

Steam Your Skin

Skin which is warm is much easier to shave, yet people tend to do their hair removal before they get into the bath or shower, while their skin is still cool. Have your shower first and make sure you get it nice and steamy to open the pores and give you a closer shave.

Get Rid of Dead Skin

The next step should be exfoliation, for a number of reasons. Firstly, exfoliating will get rid of dead skin which will allow your razor to get closer to the roots of the hairs, giving you a smoother finish. Exfoliating will also help to lift any hairs and release any which may be starting to grow inward, reducing your chances of developing ingrown hairs when they start to grow back. This will also make your legs look less ashy in the long run!

Stay Fresh

You should be using a fresh razor (or razor head) every single time you shave. Every time you use a razor, the blades will dull as you move them over the skin, and by the time they’ve defuzzed all the areas you use them on, they’re really too blunt to be useful again. Not to mention the fact that razor blades will harbour bacteria which could cause nasty infections if you reuse them. If you aren’t keen on the idea of using single-use pastic razors, invest in a traditional safety razor which has a metal handle and casing but blades which you replace without the need for plastics.

Go WITH the Grain

Every razor advert on telly shows you images of women starting at their ankle and shaving up, but every barber worth their salt will tell you that shaving WITH the direction of hair growth is not only the best way to get a smooth finish, but it will also help you to avoid both nicks in your skin and ingrown hairs. It often feels like learning to shave is a right of passage for boys, but girls aren’t given the same guidance and we’ve all ended up doing it wrong!

Replenish Moisture

When you exfoliate your legs, then shave them, there’s a good chance that they’re left pretty dry afterwards, even if they don’t look like they are. Slathering your legs with a rich moisturiser like Decleor Nourishing Body Balm will ensure your skin feels nourished and hydrated.