Look and feel cool this summer with the right clothes

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animal prints, beach, bikini bottoms, black capri pants, black dress, blanket, Body con dresses, breathe, cami, capsule wardrobe, chic, classic, classy, comfort, cotton shirts, crisp, day time dress, denim, dresses, exfoliate, fantastic outfits, feel, fitted t-shirts, floaty, florals, foundation, gold accessories, good quality sunscreen, heat, hot pants, jeans, kaftans, leg-lengthening wedges, light jacket, lightweight, limbs, look, lose, love, midi dresses, monochrome mixes, navy city shorts, navy vest, office, oversize shirt, pale, party, party dresses, patchy, pins, relaxed, rule of thumb, sharp, shave, shorts, smart look, statement necklace, style, summer, super short denim cut-offs, tailored shorts, tee, tube, wardrobe staple, wax, weather, weekend, white, work

While we love the sunshine, as the temperatures rise, it can be tricky to know what to wear so you look, and feel, cool wherever you are.

Pretty dresses and crop tops are great for keeping the heat at bay, but while they work at the weekend, they might not do the job in the boardroom. The general rule of thumb is that if it works for the beach, it probably won’t be right for the office.

We have had a look at how you can look and feel cool this summer whatever you are doing, wherever you are doing it.

Cut down on denim
We know that denim is a wardrobe staple, but standard jeans, dresses and even skirts can make you feel as if you are wrapped in a blanket and your limbs will struggle to breathe. If you like the comfort of denim but not the heaviness, go for a lightweight, pale option that you can match with a navy vest and pretty pumps and you’ll have an effortlessly chic, cool look in moments.

Make shorts work for you
Let’s get this out of the way – hot pants, super short denim cut-offs and bikini bottoms are great for the beach and pool, but when it comes to going to work or the shops, we would suggest a slightly longer length. If you want a sharp, smart look, the answer is tailored shorts with a signature tee tucked in and leg-lengthening wedges.

Trash the tights
Yes, some people hate their legs so much that they will still wear tights in summer. You don’t need to! OK, they might be pale and patchy but if you exfoliate, shave or wax and apply a gentle tanning product, you will soon love your pins.

Create a capsule wardrobe
This sounds a little structured, but if you get the basics right you are on the way to winning when it comes to the cool stakes. We all have our own style but crisp, cotton shirts, fitted t-shirts, midi dresses, decent underwear, shorts and flat sandals are a good starting point. You can then add a light jacket, statement necklace and bold bag and dress things up and down to match the weather and occasion.

Keep it lose
Body con dresses look might be on trend, but if you are on the tube or in the bank queue, you are going to feel hot and sticky. Yes, wear those fantastic outfits when you party, but for the day time you might want to go for something that is more relaxed and floaty as this can keep you cool and save those embarrassing underarm marks.

Think about neutrals
You might think that when summer comes you need to ditch everything else and only wear white, but this isn’t the case. A classic black dress and gold accessories, navy city shorts and a fresh white tee, or black capri pants and a fitted short-sleeved shirt, all look fantastic, classic and classy and will show off your tan perfectly.

Grab a kaftan
Kaftans aren’t just for the beach; they can actually work well as a day time dress or oversized shirt. We would suggest you go for monochrome mixes, animal prints or florals but one word of warning – if they are see-through wear a cami to save blushes.

Add in sunscreen
Even if there are clouds in the sky, the sun’s rays can still get through and burn your skin. Whatever else you wear, please make sure you apply a good quality sunscreen before you go out in the sun. It’s it key to also use a facial sunscreen and if you don’t want to overdo the foundation, try a tinted moisturiser instead for the summer months.

Team Pure-Beauty

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Products to soothe summer skin at Pure Beauty

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Amazonian trees, anti-oxidant, apple, Aspergillus, balance, Bearberry, buff, burning, care, chlorine, comfort, creamy lathe, de-stresses, dead cells, Decleor Gradual Glow Hydrating Body Milk, dehydration, Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant, Dermalogica UltraCalming Serum Concentrate, dry skin, easily absorbed, Elemis Gentle Foaming Facial Wash, Elemis Hydra-Nourish Night Cream, Elemis Superfood Facial Oil, exfoliator, extra softening ingredients, Extracts of Vanilla, feed, fig, flare ups, flax seed, geranium, Ginkgo, glow, Grapefruit, green tea, hyaluronic acid, increased temperatures, life, lightweight, Liquorice, luxurious, Magnolia Essential Oil, massaged, natural oil levels, nature, non-greasy product, nourishes, Oatmeal, omega-rich broccoli, overdone, Persian Silk Tree extract, prevent moisture loss, radish, recovers, redness, relief, replenished, rested, rich cream, samples, sea salt, sensitive skin, showering, skin, sleep, soften, soothe summer skin, stronger rays, suds, summer, sun, sun-kissed glow, super moisturising, superfoods, tan, the ageing signs of fatigue, tired skin, trouble, uneven skin pigmentation, unique blend, warm water, Ylang-Ylang

If you’ve overdone things out in the sun this summer, don’t panic, it happens to all of us at some point. Burning, redness and dehydration are all a result of stronger rays, increased temperatures as well as sea salt and chlorine which stick to our skin when we jump into the water to cool down our bodies.

We have put together some of the products we sell at Pure Beauty that can help soothe summer skin and offer you comfort and relief.

Dry skin recovers overnight, so give nature a helping hand by applying the Elemis Hydra-Nourish Night Cream before you go to sleep. This rich cream helps prevent moisture loss while it nourishes and de-stresses tired skin. The magic happens thanks to Persian silk tree extract which reduces the ageing signs of fatigue, while hyaluronic acid steps in and provides added hydration, which we need after a day by the pool. A sensual blend of geranium and ylang-ylang calms and rebalances the skin so that in the morning it feels as rested and replenished as you.

You might think that using an exfoliator in the summer will take away your tan, but what it will actually do is help your skin be better than ever. We adore the Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant because it can be used everyday to gently buff away dead cells so that skin is left smoother and brighter. A magic blend of green tea, ginkgo and oatmeal calm inflammation, while bearberry, aspergillus, grapefruit and liquorice balance uneven skin pigmentation which can strike when the sun beats down on us. Use daily and we think you will be delighted with the results.

Washing the day, and night away can be one way to ensure your skin doesn’t get tight and dehydrated in the summer. The Elemis Gentle Foaming Facial Wash comes with extracts of fig and apple as well as oils from Amazonian trees, and together they soften the skin and maintain key natural oil levels. Mix with warm water and massage the luxurious, creamy lather into your skin and when you rinse the suds away, your skin will thank you for the care and attention you have given it.

We all react differently to the sun. If you find your complexion gets red and inflamed, however careful you are, you might want to give the Dermalogica UltraCalming Serum Concentrate a go. This super silky serum is perfect for treating, correcting and defending against inflammation and redness and can even prevent flare-ups. Best suited for sensitive skin, which often doesn’t like the sun anyway, this can be used morning and night and will help keep trouble at bay.

Our faces really can take the brunt of the summer, so if you need a little extra loving, the Elemis Superfood Facial Oil delivers! This unique blend of superfoods deeply nourishes and hydrates the skin and brings it back to life. Anti-oxidant, omega-rich broccoli, flax seed and radish come together to feed sad skin, and because this is a lightweight, non-greasy product, it is easily absorbed so your complexion becomes soft, balanced and healthy.

If you want to stay out of the sun but still glow, our money is on the Decleor Gradual Glow Hydrating Body Milk. Packed with super moisturising, extra softening ingredients, Decleor has bought together extracts of vanilla and magnolia essential oil to create a light melting cream that ensures your skin has the sun-kissed glow we love, without the burn we don’t. For best results, apply to your skin daily after showering and exfoliating and once you have massaged it evenly into your body, wash your hands so there are no signs that you’ve had behind the scenes help to look so fantastic.

For more information, samples or if you just want to ask us what we think might work for you, get in touch and we are here to help you get your best skin ever.

Team Pure Beauty

Top tips for holiday health

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alcohol, anti-diarrhoea pills, anti-histamines, antiseptic gels and wipes, basic, bottled water, car, care, chill out, chlorine, citronella, cost, creams, Deep vein thrombosis, dirt, eating, energy tablets, ferries, first aid, food, fresh air, fresh fruit and veg, germs, ginger, heading off, healthy, ice cubes, Ill, illness, itching, legs, long-haul flight, loo, lurk, minor accidents, mosquitoes, nauseous feeling, online search, over-the-counter medicines, packing up, painkillers, partying, peace of mind, peppermint tea, planes, plasters, policy, Pre-holiday prep, protected, protection, redness, regular medication, rehydration salts, sand, school’s out, sick, sight-seeing, skin, STIs, strong smells, suffer, summer, swimming, symptoms, trains, travel bands, travel insurance, travel sickness, travel vaccinations, tummy bugs, walk, Warmer temperatures, wash your hands, well-earned holiday

School’s out for summer which means many of us are packing up and taking off for a well-earned holiday. With swimming, eating, sight-seeing and partying to do, the last thing you need when you go away is to be ill.

We have put together some top tips that will hopefully keep you healthy so you can chill out and get the break you deserve

Pre-holiday prep
Before you even get in the car, we would strongly suggest you have the following ticked off your to-do list:

Check if you need to have any travel vaccinations and get them done in plenty of time, the last thing you need is to get sick because you aren’t protected.

You might think travel insurance is a cost you can avoid, we think it’s something you can’t be without. Do an online search, find a policy that is right for you and you have the peace of mind knowing that if illness strikes, you can get care.

If you are on regular medication, make sure you have enough to take away with you, and a couple of days supply for when you get home.

In case of minor accidents, be sure to pack basic first aid items such as antiseptic gels and wipes, painkillers, creams, energy tablets, plasters, anti-histamines, and rehydration mixes.

Nip travel sickness in the bud
One of the first things that can go wrong on holiday, is when travel sickness kicks in. Cars, planes, trains, and ferries can all cause that horrible nauseous feeling and even lead to sickness, but you don’t have to suffer. Travel bands and over the counter medicines are one way to deal with this problem, as well as sipping on cooled ginger or peppermint tea. Sit somewhere away from strong smells in the fresh air and take deep breaths to help calm the symptoms.

Keep deep vein thrombosis away
Deep vein thrombosis is rare, but if you are taking a long-haul flight, remember to walk around the cabin and stretch your legs whenever you can. Drink plenty of water, avoid alcohol, and wear loose, comfortable clothes when you travel and if you are worried, there are special socks you can buy before you fly.

Stop stomach bugs before they start
Warmer temperatures, more people, differing cleaning standards and food being left out for longer than usual, are all reasons why stomach bugs can be rampant on holiday and they spread quickly too. The most important thing to remember is to wash your hands, or use an antibacterial gel, after going to the loo, as well as before and after preparing and eating food. Talking about food, while it might be tempting to try something new from a stall or market, this is where germs can lurk and as for the hotel buffet, just be careful about what you choose as you don’t know how long things have been sitting around.

Another really important thing you need to do if you want tummy troubles to stay away, is to only drink bottled water, try to avoid ice cubes from bars and if you’re going for salads and fresh fruit and veg, check they have been cleaned with bottled water.

If problems do strike, you will need to get some rest will the bugs and bacteria pass through your system. This really is the time for bottled water and while we would suggest keeping away from anti-diarrhoea pills, you might want to use rehydration salts. You can try drinking cooled chamomile or peppermint tea as this can be soothing and help you to sleep. If you can keep food down, plain toast and biscuits are a good idea – dairy products are not. If you can’t get things under control and are worried about dehydrating, find a local doctor and seek medical advice.

Mosquitos are not your friends
We know that you have to wear suncream, but you might also want to use an over the counter spray to keep mosquitoes away from your skin. You can also use a few drops of citronella: mix a little with your moisturiser, or use in a burner at night time (but keep an eye on this to be safe). However hard we try to keep safe, bites do happen and if they happen to you, go for an antihistamine tablet or try a cream as these will help to reduce annoying itching and redness, but also remember that aloe Vera products can help soothe bites. Try not to scratch as this can make things worse, and also leave you with scars.

Do not burn
When it comes to sunburn, prevention really is better than cure. Use a suncream that offers your skin the best protection, stay out of the sun between 11am and 3pm, and wear a hat for your head and glasses for your eyes. If you get burnt, take a shower to cool things down and wash away creams, sand, dirt, and chlorine, then apply an aloe gel to cool, calm and hydrate your skin. If things really have got out of hand, think blisters and sores, see a doctor, and don’t go out in the sun until things have cleared up.

Be protected
Coming back from a holiday with a tan is great, arriving home with an STI is not. By all means, go away and have fun, but take protection with you and use it!

Team Pure Beauty

How to Keep Your Make Up in Place in a Heatwave

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balance, balanced, balancing, base, British Summertime, calm, Calming, clean, cleanse, cleanser, cleansing, cool, cooler, cooling, cosmetics, cream pH, Dermalogica All Over Toner, Dermalogica SkinPerfect Primer SPF30, Dermalogica UltraCalming™ Cleanser, fashion, gel, heat, hot, make-up, primer, protecting, purify, refresh, refreshing, skincare, soothe, soothing, SPF, spritz, summer, sun, sun protection, temperature, Toner, toning

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Okay, lets be real – summer hasn’t exactly hit us with much in the way of a heatwave, despite what the tabloids keep telling us. However, it’s only the beginning of July and we’re hopeful that things will get a lot warmer in the coming weeks. With this in mind, we thought we’d share a few handy tips on how to keep your make up in place once the British Summertime decides to switch on the heaters!

Prep Your Skin

The first thing you’ll want to do is make sure your face is totally clean, but without inflaming your skin or making it hotter than it already is – the cooler your face is when th make up goes on, the better staying power it will have. Dermalogica UltraCalming Cleanser is a soothing, pH-balanced gel/cream that glides easily over face to cleanse and cool sensitised or highly reactive skin.

Tone it Down

Next, you should opt for a toner which will cool and calm your skin; we’d recommend Dermalogica All Over Toner. This little spritz will refresh and purify your skin and contains cooling ingredients which will purify your skin before your next step. Allow it to really sink into your face before you move on.

All About the Base

Once you’ve got your skin cool and clean, adding a base for your make up to cling to will increase your chances of getting it to stay put. A high-quality primer such as Dermalogica SkinPerfect Primer SPF30 is remarkably lightweight but very effective in terms of keeping your makeup in place. In addition, it cools your face when applied and even offers sun protection, which is an added bonus on sweltering days.

Think About Your Products

You can apply all the magical stuff in the world UNDER your make-up, but if you choose the wrong make-up products to begin with, you’re going to be on to a loser. Opt for oil-free foundation as this has a tendency to slide off of even the driest faces in the heat, and try to use waterproof eye products if you don’t want them to be affected by sweat.

Go For an Up-Do

You may want to wear your hair down in nice, beachy waves during a heatwave, but wearing your hair up and off of your face is far better for keeping your face in place! Hair around your face will not only increase your body temperature, and therefore your tendency to sweat, but will will also increase the amount of friction around your face, carrying your make-up away with the sweat.

Summer reads we think you will love

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1950s, America, An Anonymous Girl, BBC 1’s Gavin and Stacey, best life, betrayal, books, brave, Camp Macaw, Catherine McKenzie, conquer our fears, dangerous, debut novel, deliciously dark debut crime novel, Dr Shields, dreams, epic thriller, escape, experiments, falling apart, falls in love, fantastic read, game changer, Gay Hendricks, going away, Greer Hendricks, Hollie Bourne, home, How Do You Like Me Now?, I’ll Never Tell, iconic book, Jessica Farris, love, MacAllister, manipulative, money, move on, Mrs. Everything, must read, My Lovely Wife, Never Green, passion, pick this up, psychological suspense, psychology study, questions, reading, reality, regret, relationship, Ruth Jones, Samantha Downing, Sarah Pekkanen, self sabbotage, seriel killer, sitting by the pool, small town, summer, The Big Leap, The Wife Between Us, time out, Tori Bailey, troublesome past, twists and turns, winner, young women

Summer is when many of us devote extra time to reading, so if you are going away, sitting by the pool, or just taking time out at home for you, we have a few books we hope will let you get away and escape from it all.

Ruth Jones is best known for her award-winning television writing for BBC 1’s Gavin and Stacey show, but her debut novel, Never Greener is outstanding. A story of love, passion, regret and betrayal, Jones shows the that the grass isn’t always greener and that going from one side to the other, can have long lasting, devastating results. Spoiler – if you pick this up, you might not put it down.

Samantha Downing’s, My Lovely Wife, is an epic thriller set in a small town that has a serial killer on the loose preying on young women, and one man’s daughter is playing up out of fear because of the situation. When he goes to bed one night, and lies next to his wife, he starts to questions his marriage and wonders if the secrets it holds run deeper than he ever thought. This is a deliciously dark debut crime novel, but only for the brave!

The Big Leap by Gay Hendricks is a total winner at any time of the year. This iconic book is about how we self-sabotage ourselves and Hendricks explains how we start to notice it, and make changes so we can conquer our fears. It’s a game-changer and a must read if you really want to move on and have the best life for you.

Hollie Bourne’s, How Do You Like Me Now? follows Tori Bailey, who looks like she has it all, and some. The reality is very different because behind closed doors, her relationship is falling apart and her best friend is close to leaving her behind, and so she must find the courage to follow the path untrodden.

Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen, the authors of The Wife Between Us, have written An Anonymous Girl and it is a fantastic read. It tells the story of Jessica Farris, who signs up for a psychology study conducted by Dr Shields. Jessica thinks, as you would, she will need to answer a few questions, collect her money and leave – what she doesn’t know is Shield’s experiments get more manipulative as they go on, but where will they end?

Mrs. Everything is the story of two sisters living in the 1950s and trying to get to grips with finding their place in the world, while diving into an ever-changing America. When Jo and Bethie Kaufman were born in Detroit, the opportunities for them seemed to be endless, but as the twists and turns in this book show, the truth ends is very different from the dreams.

I’ll Never Tell is a tantalising novel of psychological suspense and Catherine McKenzie has written it so well. Twenty years ago, Amanda Holmes was found dead in a boat at the MacAllister family’s Camp Macaw. No one is ever arrested for the crime but after the McAllister parents die, their adult children want to solve the death before they can settle the estate.

Got a book we should read? Drop us a line, would love to know about it.

Team Pure Beauty