How to get better sleep in your life

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Sleep may seem like a bit of a waste of time because as you snooze you could be answering e-mails, doing work or swiping right, but if you don’t get enough rest, you won’t do any of these things very well.

Sleep not only refreshes you and let’s your body, brain and skin recover from the day, it can also help ease depression and anxiety, decrease the illness, help with your memory, improve your immune system, prevent weight gain and make you happier and more productive.

If you want to get more sleep, and better sleep, we have some ideas that might help.

Make exercise a priority
Regular exercise that’s part of your daily life really can help you to sleep. As well as reducing stress and relieving anxiety, exercise, whether it be cardio, strength training or yoga can improve your general wellbeing, boost your mood and help your body to wind down at the end of the day so you can sleep. We wouldn’t suggest a HIT workout at 9pm, but you might find that some gentle stretches in the evening, combined with meditation, will ease tension and get you feeling more rested.

Go for de-caff
Many of us drink caffeinated drinks as a way of staying awake and alert during the day, but the downside is that this can actually keep you awake at night. Try to stop drinking caffeine heavy coffee, tea and fizzy drinks six to eight hours before bed, sipping on water and herbal teas instead, and you will be glad you did.

Make a list
You might find that making a list of things to do the next day will stop things going around in your head when you do get into bed. Another way to end your day is to list three things you have been grateful for and this means you will see just what you have accomplished and how well you are doing in life which means there is no need to lie awake worrying.

De-stress in the evening
Having a warm bath, meditating or listening to a calming app while lying in bed are all gentle ways to get you in the mood for sleep. If you can turn off your daytime worries and switch into a more relaxed mode, it will help you to get ready for sleep.

Get into a routine
You might not think it but your body craves consistency, plus you’re more likely to get enough sleep if you schedule it in the same way you do with other important tasks in your life. Set a time when you turn off screens, have slot for taking a bath or shower and set your alarm for the next day, and if you can, get up at the same time everyday so you keep things in a pattern, even better.

Create a sleeping haven
Bed is not a place for paying bills, writing reports or watching scary movies, it is a place for peace, quiet and sleep. Have clean bedding, comfortable pillows, a decent mattress, make sure the temperature works for you, get soft lighting and black out blinds and make your bedroom a place you want to be in.

Get up and stop fretting
If you don’t fall asleep after 15 minutes, why not get up until you feel ready to drift off? Don’t turn on your phone or start answering emails, instead have a warm drink, read a book, do some yoga or meditation and try to set your mind free.

If you’re still having trouble sleeping, why not speak with your doctor and see if they can help you get back on track.

Team Pure Beauty

Feed your skin with superfoods from Elemis

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Turn the page of any magazine, read any lifestyle blog or scroll through pretty much any IG feed, and you are bound to come across someone, somewhere talking about the latest superfood that will make you look, and feel, amazing.

We are advised to add Avocado, Goji Berries, Nuts, Coconut Water and Spinach to smoothies, shakes and salads to give us the nutrients we need to glow and feel fuller, for longer.

We are all for healthy diets, but it is good to remember that what you put on your skin can also influence how good it looks and this is why we love the Superfood Skincare System from Elemis.

Made from a blend of plant-based, nutrient-dense ingredients, as well as a natural sugar derived prebiotic, these products can help to replenish your skin and feed it with the vital hydrating nourishment that creates a healthy, outdoor glow.

There are facial washes and then there is the Elemis Superfood Facial Wash. This gorgeous nourishing facial wash revives and refreshes the skin while deeply cleansing it, so it is left feeling fresh and soft. Just like a healthy salad, this product is made from Avocado, Broccoli and Pumpkin Seed Oils which all help to balance the skin’s precious microbiome. Wheatgrass, Kale, and Nettle have also been added to the mix and mean that your complexion will look luminous, bright and radiant.

The Elemis Superfood Day Cream combines Ginger and Matcha Tea which work together to leave your complexion looking healthy from the very first application. Goji Berries, which are super rich in vitamins, essential fatty acids and antioxidants, help protect the skin’s natural barrier from the elements, which is what you need in both summer and winter. The easily absorbed cream should be used after cleansing and your skin will feel soft and supple all day long.

You might not think an oil would work as part of your beauty regime, but believe us when we say you need the Elemis Superfood Facial Oil in your life. This blend of concentrated plant-based superfoods nourishes and hydrates the skin, but doesn’t leave it greasy or shiny. The goodness comes from anti-oxidant and omega-rich Broccoli, Flax Seed and Daikon Radish as well as Cucumber Oil, which all help to retain moisture and soothe the skin. Massaging just a couple drops of drops into your face and neck each morning, will soften and smooth the skin and leave it looking healthy and bright.

Superfoods don’t stop working when you sleep, so we would suggest using the Elemis Superfood Night Cream if you want to wake up with skin that has a fresh, youthful glow. A pre-biotic has been blended with Barley, Quinoa and Sweet Almond Milk so that your skin is nourished as you snooze. The cream is rich in the omegas and anti-oxidants that feed the skin and thanks to a blend of Lavender, Ylang Ylang and Vetivert Essential Oils being added to the mix, this cream also helps you to relax and fall asleep.

For more information, get in touch and we would love to find a superfood solution that is perfect for you.

Team Pure Beauty

Fitness hacks that work

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comfort zone, desk, drink, friends, gym, health, help, hydrate, inflammation, injury, medical, mojo, office, PT, rain, refresh, rest, run, sessions, shine, snooze, social, walk, water, workout

Hate the gym?

Lost your fitness mojo?

Don’t want to go out in the cold?

Wish you felt and looked better?

We can understand all of this and are here to help.

We’ve put together some easy fitness hacks that will keep you on track come rain or shine?

By starting your day with a workout you’ve got nothing to skip later in the day. This perfect for anyone who procrastinates and gets everything done other than their Pilates class.

Keep it short and opt for a quick, intense workout over a longer one where you don’t push yourself quite as much.

Make it a social event and exercise with friends. If you know someone else is depending on you for their run, you will be less likely to hit the snooze button and go back to sleep.

Make exercise part of your daily routine. Riding your bike to work, getting off the bus one stop early or parking further away from the school will all make a difference and add up over the weeks and months.

Keeping hydrated is key to success. You need at least eight glasses of water on an average day to be healthy. It is good to know that more water helps your body burn more fat, and being properly hydrated improves your workout performance. Sip on water during the day and add lemon or ginger for a natural zing.

Go at your own pace. No one says that you have to work out every day, and many professionals don’t advocate that anyway. The key is to give 100% when you do exercise so that you get as much out of it as possible.

If you feel as if you are just too tired to hit the gym, enjoy a caffeine hit. Caffeine has been linked to better workout performance so sip coffee or green tea and you’ll get your energy back on track. Just don’t over do it!

If you really cannot get motivated, think about getting some pro help. Sign up for boot camp classes or hire a PT for a handful of sessions at the gym. They’ll give you the encouragement and motivation to step out of your comfort zone and reach those goals you have wanted to hit for months.

If you have a desk job, make sure you get up and move every thirty minutes. Even if you simply walk around the office and stretch it will help you refresh. When you are sitting at your desk have your feet on the floor and check your ears, shoulders and hips are all in line.

Sore muscles? Apply ice to the affected area straight away to reduce inflammation then use heat later on to encourage an increased flow of blood to the area. If you do have an injury rest and seek medical help if needed.

If you work best with rewards, do it. There are no rights or wrongs when it comes to getting exercise done. Whether you buy yourself a magazine, save for a spa day or treat yourself to a new pair of trainers, if incentives work, go for it.

Whatever you do, pick something you enjoy and you are more likely to stick to it and even look forward to it.