How to make the world a better place, your way

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Walk along the road, go to the park or visit the local woods, and we are pretty sure you will see litter on the street, mess in the gutter and writing on the walls.

A sign of the times – maybe?

Something you can change – definitely.

We have some ideas on how small actions taken by each of us, can make a big impact for all of us in the world we call home.

Plogging
Don’t know what plogging is, where have you been? Well, the Scandinavian’s have come into their own again, as they conied this phrase by combined picking up litter as you run. Doing this means that as well as getting fit and active, this helps you clean up where you live and as you only need your trainers, a bag for life and some gloves to get started, what’s stopping you?

Catch the rain
Water butts are great because the rain water you collect keeps your garden healthy during the dry summer months without draining other resources. If you don’t have the space for a water butt, reuse bath water or collect the water when you’re in the shower and not only will you have green grass but lower bills.

How about a town makeover
Whether it’s a collapsed fence, stagnant pond or graffiti-covered wall, if you offer some time and TLC you can make your corner of the world look better. If you want to give something a new lease of life, get permission from your local council first, then get family, friends and neighbours involved and bring people together, for the better.

Cut down your emissions
Reducing the amount you use your car can really help to cut your carbon footprint, and it isn’t that hard to do. Instead of drving the car to go to the local shops, walk instead, share your commute to work with people who live close by and why not holiday in the UK, rather than taking a plane somewhere else in the world?

Give back
Life is busy, but giving your time to someone in need can be rewarding for you and very much appreciated by them. Helping an elderly friend with their library books, tackling the weeds in your neighbour’s garden, or helping out at the food bank might only be an hour to you, but it could offer a life line to someone else. By doing a quick online search you will find something that will work for you, and no matter where you volunteer, you will make a difference to others.

Buy less
If you want to produce less rubbish, why not simply buy less stuff? When you do shop, go for packaging that can be recycled, freeze what you aren’t going to have time to eat and before you splash the cash, make sure you really need what you are about to purchase, there are only so many jumpers and pairs of jeans you can wear.

Donate
Old and unwanted clothes, furniture and food might not seem much to you, but you will find that homeless shelters and charity shops will be more than happy to take them from you and there will be someone out there will give them a much loved home.

Grow your own
Flowers, plants and trees look pretty but they also remove CO2 from the air and replace it with oxygen, which is what we need. Why not think about taking up gardening, be that at home or in a local space, community garden, old people’s home or school and before you know it, you’ll be creating a welcoming environment and giving back to the world at the same time.

Grow your own
If you’re fed up of having to buy your fruit and veg in plastic bags, why not grow your own? By doing this, you will cut your plastic use, your food will be fresh and organic and if you freeze what you grow, you will have fertiliser free produce on tap.

Team Pure Beauty

How to winter proof your wardrobe

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a soft knit, ASOS, automobiles, ballet pumps, black, budget, camel, chill, chunky kint, coldest day, colours, cosy scarf, current fashions, cute, dresses, faux fur, flares, frost bite, heels, Hunter, indigo, insulation, investing, leggings, Long and short sleeved t-shirts, Long sleeves, meal, midi styles, moon boots, Mother Nature, navy, on trend, osiest clothes, Parker, planes, pompoms, pretty cardigan, puffa, quirky options, rips, roll neck, shirts, silk blouse, skinnies, snow boots, soft, statement coat, stretchy fabrics, sweatshirt, thick blanket style scarf, thicker materials, tights, toasty, toes, top end, trainers, trains, Uggs, UK, wardrobe, warm, weekend, wellies, white stuff, wind, winter, winter saviours, woollen, wow factor, wrap up

The UK saw its coldest temperatures of the winter last week, and don’t we know it. As well as the white stuff causing chaos for planes, trains and automobiles almost everywhere, it also made us dig out our cosiest clothes in an attempt to keep warm and stave off the frost bite.

Yes, as a nation we do love to make a meal out of the weather, but with a good couple of months until spring rears its pretty head, we would say its time to get with the programme and make sure your wardrobe can deal with all that Mother Nature might throw at you.

Bring on the boots
Sorry to break it to you, but ballet pumps and heels will not help you get through the snow, this is where moon boots and wellies come in. There are some really funky options out there from the likes of Hunter, and ASOS is jam-packed with cute, quirky options that will ensure you look totally on trend and your toes stay toasty.

Dress it up
Just because it’s winter, it doesn’t mean you can’t wear dresses. A dress is a must-have for colder days and the trick is to go for thicker materials, midi styles, long sleeves and a high neck. Match dresses with boots and a roll neck for the office, and to make this look work for the weekend, a soft knit and trainers tick all the boxes.

Get the right jeans
Winter isn’t the time for flares or rips if you want to keep warm, so we suggest going for skinnies. Wear them casually with a sweatshirt and trainers, go for a silk blouse and heels for a night out, and you tuck them into snow boots and still look great. We would suggest going for black or indigo and if it is really cold, put a pair of leggings or tights on underneath for extra insulation.

Cool coats
Now when we say this we mean a coat that is going to keep you warm but look on trend. There is the puffa and parker, but while these totally work with skinnies and Uggs at the weekend, they don’t have the wow factor for work. We would suggest investing in a statement coat in navy, camel or black, one that is tailored, and go for the top end of your budget if you want it to last.

Basic t-shirts
Long and short-sleeved t-shirts might not be the most exciting items, but they will be your winter saviours when it comes to keeping warm. You can put a chunky kint over the top, layer with a pretty cardigan and they work well with shirts and dresses too. You don’t have to spend a fortune, but go for soft, stretchy fabrics that feel good against your skin, and once you have found the perfect fit, buy it in a range of colours.

Wrap up in a scarf
A cosy scarf won’t only keep your warm when the wind is biting, but it will look good too. Whether you opt for a thick blanket style scarf, a woollen one with pompoms, or glam up with faux fur, you won’t catch a chill when you are out and about, but you will show you are up to date with current fashions. Oh, you might want to buy a hat and gloves too.

Team Pure Beauty

The best Christmas markets around

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arts and crafts, beautiful cathedral, beautiful products, Belfast, Belgian chocolates and German sausages, bespoke clothes, boutique hotels, bumper cars, buy, cakes, Cathedral Close, ceramics and glass wear, Christmas activities, Christmas cheer., Christmas markets, Christmas tree maze, City Hall Gardens, crepes, Dartmoor, decorations, East Princes Street Gardens, Edinburgh, Exeter, exquisite foods, family and friends, festivities, fine wines, food and drink, food court, foodies, full blown celebrations, handmade gifts, handmade leather bags, helter skelter, High Street, hog roasts, Johnnie Walker Bothy Bar, local and national businesses, magical, mince pies, mulled wine, New Year, open air ice rink, original art work, pasties, popular, pretty nativity, Roman baths, Santa’s Grotto, Scottish city, stollen, Teignmouth, toys, treasured gifts, UK, vintage carousel, Winchester, Wooden chalets

Over the past decade, Christmas markets have become increasingly popular in the UK, and with events popping up all over the place, there is something for everyone.

Whether you are looking for handmade gifts, fine wines, exquisite foods or just the chance to feel festive and get together with family and friends before the full blown celebrations start, we think we have something that will be right for you.

Exeter
Set to the back drop of the city’s beautiful cathedral, the Exeter Christmas market takes place between 15th November and 16th December and isn’t to be missed. Wooden chalets are occupied by local and national businesses selling everything from original art work and handmade leather bags, to delicious gins and seasonal cakes, and with a buzzing atmosphere, a visit won’t disappoint. Make a weekend of it and you can also visit the seaside town of Teignmouth or go wild on Dartmoor – with so much to do, see and buy, you won’t want to go home.

Bath
Between 22 November and 9 December, nearly 200 stalls selling a wide range of products that you won’t find on the High Street, will line the pretty streets of Bath. Beautiful ceramics and glass wear, bespoke clothes, toys and sweets are all on offer, together with foodies selling crepes, hog roasts and mulled wine too. Why not stay at one of the city’s boutique hotels, visit the Roman Baths and by the time you get home you will be feeling relaxed and ready for the festivities ahead of you.

Edinburgh
Edinburgh, isn’t just for New Year, you know. Between 17 November and 5 January this beautiful Scottish city is alive with Christmas activities that attract thousands of visitors every year. From the markets at the East Princes Street Gardens, to the popular Johnnie Walker Bothy Bar, the bumper cars and Christmas tree maze, Edinburgh is an experience you don’t want to miss!

Belfast
From 17 November to December 22, the streets of Belfast are transformed into a totally magical Christmas affair. The very best Belgian chocolates and German sausages, arts and crafts, decorations and clothes, are all on sale from stalls scattered between the helter skelter and vintage carousel, and with Santa’s Grotto to visit it too, we suggest you book a flight, and soon.

Winchester
When it comes to Christmas markets, Winchester really does lead the way. Between 17 November and 20 December, this medieval city becomes even more special as wooden chalets line Cathedral Close and offer Christmas cheer. Businesses come together to sell a whole host of beautiful products which will make treasured gifts, and with an open-air ice rink, pretty nativity and delicious food court selling goodies such as mince pies, pasties and stollen, you will want to go back year after year.

If you have somewhere special you love to visit, let us know so we can try it out too.

Team Pure Beauty

Super charge your summer wardrobe

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80s, Adidas, ankle cowboy boots, arm candy, autumn, big, bright bolds, cats-eye sunglasses, catwalk, chunky, coloured, cool vibe, cropped fitted trousers, cut, dad trainers, denim jacket, dog tooth trousers, dots, Down-to-earth, dress, dresses, Edward Enninfu, Fun florals, gorgeous, grab, granny style cardies, head to toe, High Street, inexpensive, jumpsuits, kudos, length, lightweight trench, luxe track pants, morning after, moulded sports shoes, night before, Nike, patterns, pencil skirts, pink, polka dot, Princess Di, prints, rain or shine, raincoat, shades, shops, sliders, small, Stella MacCartney, stripes, sun, thermals, tops, UK, Vicky B, waist-cinching A-line style, wardrobe, weather, wrap skirt, yellow

The weather is still a little unpredictable on UK shores at the best of time, but it only takes the sun coming out for a couple of hours for us to start putting the thermals away and consider our summer staples.

We have had a look at what’s hot this summer so you can look totally gorgeous come rain or shine.

Go dotty
From the catwalk to the High Street, dots are big (and small) for the summer. Princess Di’s polka dot obsession can be seen on everything from jumpsuits and tops to dresses and pumps and if you have a thing for the ‘80s, they will serve you well.

Bag it up
Forget structured totes, sunny times call for a whole new kind of arm candy. Down-to-earth, inexpensive fabric cross body bags, raffia baskets and string shoppers are slightly retro but come with a cool vibe that will last right thought to the autumn.

Shades
This summer is all about cats-eye sunglasses, and we love them. They are smaller than the Vicky B super-sized sunnies of summers past, but are face-flattering and still big enough to hide the fun of the night before, the morning after.

Cover up
Put the puffa away and when the showers show up, reach in your bag for a lightweight trench or shake things up by going for a bright pink or yellow raincoat for extra kudos. If you want something a little different, the shops are fully of granny style cardies in a range of shades and textures that you can grab as you go.

Go faster
If you haven’t noticed stripes in the shops, where have you been? Go faster blasts, can be seen on everything from dog-tooth trousers to luxe track pants and designer hoodies. Don’t covert the look from head to toe, that would be total totally OTT, but go for one piece and match with bright bolds and you will be leader of the pack.

Dress it up
Summer isn’t summer without at least one new dress in your wardrobe. Fun florals, patterns and prints are all out there, just work out which cut and length is right for you, team with sliders and a denim jacket, and you have a look that even Edward Enninful would approve of.

It’s all about the dad trainers
You might not believe us, but Adidas, Nike and Stella MacCartney are all over the dad trainer this summer. Think chunky, coloured, moulded sports shoes and you have the perfect summer style to match with cropped fitted trousers and floaty pastel dresses.

It’s a wrap
Last but by no means least, we need to talk about the wrap skirt. This versatile staple has made a come-back from 1992 and we like it. Put the pencil skirts away, and swap them for a maxi-wrap in soft jersey, or a waist-cinching A-line style, match with a sharp white tee and you have a celebrity look in seconds.

With a pair of ankle cowboy boots, a dab of peach blush and plenty of sunblock on standby, you are ready to go forth and stand out in the fashion stakes this summer.

Team Pure Beauty

Use the Dermalogica Solar Defence System this Summer

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ageing free radicals, antioxidants, balmy temperatures, broad spectrum sun cream, chamomile, clouds, collagen production, cucumber, daily moisturiser, defence, Dermalogica Dynamic Skin Recovery SPF50, Dermalogica Protection 50 Sport SPF50, Dermalogica Solar Defence System, enhance, foundation, greasy residue, healthy and youthful, hydration levels, lavender, medium-weight, mood boosting Vitamin D, patented polypeptide, perfect make-up base, playing tennis, prevent shine, protect, raining, regulates oil production, reparative complex, sailing, skin smoothness, sky, softness, soothes inflammation, SPF30, sun safe, swimming, taking exercise, UK, Vitamin C, water, water-resistant, white tea, Yeast Extract

 

How did you find the balmy temperatures and sunny skies last weekend?

We know it was lovely around the UK and while there will still be clouds in the sky, and somedays it will be raining, those pesky, powerful UV rays can still penetrate your skin whatever the weather, so you need to make sure you protect it and keep it sun safe.

We love the Dermalogica Solar Defence System as it helps keep your skin healthy and youthful as you enjoy the sun and benefit from mood boosting Vitamin D.

They are not only look after your skin, whatever the weather, but also leave it feeling soft and silky, not sticky!

If you want to maintain hydration levels and keep the elements at bay, we suggest using the Dermalogica Dynamic Skin Recovery SPF50. This is a medium-weight, daily moisturiser is packed with SPF30 as well as a patented polypeptide that helps your skin fight ageing free radicals. White Tea, Vitamin C, Yeast Extract and Phytoestrogens all help with collagen production and because the cream blends smoothly into your skin, it makes the perfect make-up base too.

If you are getting sweaty playing tennis, sailing or jumping in and out of the water, you might want to throw the Dermalogica Protection 50 Sport SPF50 in your bag when you leave the house. This water-resistant, broad spectrum sun cream is suitable for all skin types and can be applied to your face and body. The lightweight formula helps neutralise damage and bind moisture to skin without leaving a greasy residue.

Oily skin can be a problem when the sun comes out, but this doesn’t have to be the case if you use the Dermalogica Oil Free Matte. We love how this lightweight, ultra-sheer broad spectrum sunscreen not only protects the skin from the sun but also helps prevent shine, regulates oil production and soothes inflammation. To use, simply apply the cream evenly and liberally to your face at least 15 minutes before you go into the sun exposure. You can also mix with your regular Dermalogica Moisturiser and it is important to apply regularly for continuous support and to do so especially after swimming and taking exercise.

For a little extra protection, the Dermalogica Solar Defence Booster SPF 50 adds critical UVA and UVB broad spectrum sunscreen defence. The idea is to add this to your normal moisturiser or foundation and can be used on all skin types. The non-chalky formula forms an invisible shield against skin- damaging environmental assault when applied and it should be used at least half an hour before going into the sun. As well as providing protection, we love this product because the added antioxidants enhance skin smoothness and softness – result.

If you do get caught out and your skin is burnt, don’t panic. The Dermalogica After Sun Repair is a soothing balm that helps repair skin damaged from exposure to UV sunlight. A reparative complex, enriched with Seaweed Extracts and soothing botanicals, helps protect cell proteins from further damage while restoring the skin’s condition. Japanese Alder, Algae Extracts, Hyaluronic Acid, Clove Oil, Lavender, Cucumber, Chamomile and Yucca come together to ease the irritation, redness and pain cause by sunburn. After showering in cool water, apply a generous amount of lotion to painful ares, keeping away from the eyes, and stay out of the sun for a day or two so you, and your skin, can recover.

For more details, or samples, get in touch today and we would love to help you stay safe in the sun.

Team Pure Beauty