Allantoin – The Best Soothing Ingredient that Nature Has to Offer?

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acne, acne scars, alcohol, algae extracts, Allantoin, anti-irritant, Arnica, blue Lotus extracts, botanical, botanical extracts, breakouts, chamomile, cleansers, combination skin, Comfrey, cuts, debris, decongest, dirt, dryness, dullness, Europe, exfoliate, face masks, Glycerin, glycolic acid, hands, herb, hydrate, hydrolipid, ingredient, ingrown hairs, irritation, itching, Lactic Acid, lightweight, lotions, Magnolia Essential Oil, moisture, moisture balance, nails, natural sources, normal skin, nourish, oil, oily skin, organic, pore minimising, pores, purify, Salicylic Acid, salicylic acid serum, scrapes, sensitive skin, serums, Shea butter, skin problems, skincare, smooth skin, soothe, sugar beat, tobacco seed, urea, uric acid, Vitamin E, water, wheat sprouts, white meadowfoam oil

Photo by Ron Lach

As you’ll know if you’re a regular visitor to our site, we like to keep our fingers on the pulse when it comes to skincare ingredients and trends. One such ingredient which has been popping up a lot lately is allantoin. It’s something which has been around for some time, but it’s going through something of a renaissance, with many major skincare companies including in their products. Here’s the lowdown on allantoin:

What is allantoin?

As we mentioned above, allantoin is used in many skin care products, including cleansers, lotions, serums, and face masks. Due to its anti-irritant properties, companies tend to add it to products that hydrate and soothe the skin. This ingredient is perfect for sensitive skin and is usually derived from natural sources.

Where is it found? 

In its natural form, allantoin is found in several plants, such as sugar beet, chamomile, tobacco seed, and wheat sprouts. A popular source of allantoin is the extract of comfrey, a species of herb native to Europe. It can also be prepared synthetically for cosmetic use, either by oxidation of uric acid, reaction of dichloroacetic acid and urea, or condensation reaction between glyoxylic acid and urea. (Don’t worry, that’s the last time today that we’ll get so scientific!)

What is it good for?

Allantoin might be your ticket to super smooth skin. It’s one of those amazing ingredients that offers a major bang for your buck and is great if you’re dealing with dryness, dullness, irritation, acne scars and even cuts and scrapes. Allantoin is also known for its ability to add more water to your skin. It can help your skin hang on to moisture longer, and helps fight annoying skin issues like dryness, itching, and irritation, which can ultimately lead to more skin problems, like acne or oily skin. 

Which products contain allantoin?

Decleor White Magnolia Hand and Nail Cream

This light cream is ideal for use throughout the day to leave skin beautifully scented and provide essential care for hands and nails. Key active ingredients include white meadowfoam oil to regenerate the hydrolipid film, shea butter and allantoin to nourish and soothe, plus magnolia essential oil to help protect and reinforce the skin.

Lycon Ingrown X-It Solution

With allantoin, salicylic acid, lactic acid and arnica, Lycon Ingrown X-It Solution is a break through spray formula for the face and body. It mildly exfoliates, decongests and helps minimise the appearance and discomfort of ingrown hairs. 

Medik8 Blemish Control Pads

Pre-soaked in a clarifying maximum strength salicylic acid serum, Medik8 Blemish Control Pads dissolve oil and dirt from deep within the pore to purify problem complexions. Crafted without alcohol and infused with allantoin and glycerin, they protect the skin’s natural moisture balance to ward off dryness, while caring for the most sensitive of skin types.

Murad Clarifying Body Spray

Murad Clarifying Body Spray is a quick-drying formula that helps prevent body breakouts. Salicylic acid helps clear up blemishes as glycolic acid helps clear away pore-clogging debris. Allantoin and blue lotus extract help soothe irritation for healthier-looking skin.

SkinCeuticals Daily Moisture

SkinCeuticals Daily Moisture is a lightweight, pore minimising moisturiser, designed to hydrate and nourish normal, combination and oily skin. It contains an exclusive combination of vitamin E, three nutrient-rich algae extracts, and a blend of seven botanical extracts including allantoin. 

Sea Buckthorn Oil – Why You Need This in Your Skincare

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ageing, Aloe Vera, arthritic joint pain, Asia, bakuchiol, berries, brighten, caffeine hyaluronic acid, cellular turnover, circulation, collagen, cottonseed oil, detoxifies, doll, dryness, elasticity, Europe, fine lines, firma, fortify skin barrier, gentle, healthier, high end, hydrate, hydrated, I make seven fatty acids, impurities, inflammation, ingredients, leaves, lotions, make up, Maritime pine, nourish, pigmentation, pollution, retinoid, rosemary, roughness, Sea buckthorn oil, see fennel, seeds, shrub, skin texture, skin types, skincare, soreness, soybean oil, super charge, tetra vitamin C, tired, tired skin, toxins, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, wrinkles

Photo by munkhbayar dambajav

There are some ingredients – from caffeine to hyaluronic acid to aloe vera to clay – which you shouldn’t be surprised to find in your skincare. They’re commonly used in lotions and potions from the cheaper stuff to the higher end. Some ingredients, however, seem to pop up out of nowhere and sea buckthorn oil is popping up on ingredient lists everywhere for good reason – it can hydrate, brighten and improve skin texture, making it an ingredient that truly ticks all the boxes and can work for all skin types. 

While it may sound like something that comes from the ocean, sea buckthorn oil is extracted from the berries, leaves and seeds of the sea buckthorn plant, which is a small shrub that grows across northern Europe and some parts of Asia. As well as offering excellent hydration, sea buckthorn oil also helps to refine the skin’s texture and contains up to 12 times the amount of vitamin C as oranges, which brightens the complexion.

With this in mind, we’ve searched our shelves to show you a selection of the best sea buckthorn-containing products:

Elemis Musclease Active Body Oil

Elemis Musclease Active Body Oil is specially formulated for anyone with an active lifestyle. Its concentrated formula has ingredients to help ease sore spots and refresh the body. Sea buckthorn oil also protects the body against harmful toxins while sea fennel soothes inflammation and detoxifies the body. Rosemary loosens stiff joints and relieves sore muscles. Maritime pine improves circulation and reduces arthritic joint pain. The combination of oils is highly effective in offering relief from muscle pain and soreness. 

Evolve Organic Beauty Bio-Retinol+C Booster

Evolve Bio Retinol + C Booster is an innovative cocktail of vitamins which helps supercharge dull and tired skin by brightening the appearance of pigmentation, improving cellular turnover, boosting collagen and significantly improving all signs of ageing, tired skin. As well as sea buckthorn oil, it contains ingredients such as bakuchiol and tetra vitamin c to deliver a brighter, firmer, more nourished and renewed overall complexion.

REN Clean Skincare Bio Retinoid Youth Concentrate Oil

This lightweight moisturising serum contains a potent retinoid that works to support the skin’s natural collagen production and cell turnover, helping to smooth the complexion and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. The addition of soybean and cottonseed oil work together to fortify the skin barrier, helping to reduce the irritation generally associated with retinol use, while sea buckthorn oil helps nourish, reduce roughness, and combat the dulling effects of dryness or dehydration, for a healthier-looking complexion.

UpCircle Cleansing Face Balm with Apricot Powder

This natural, sustainable balm from UpCircle is formulated for everyday cleansing, to gently remove makeup, pollution and impurities. It leaves skin deeply cleansed, soothed and hydrated and is suitable for all skin types. This cleansing balm is made with the finely-ground powder of discarded apricot stones, a natural by-product of the apricot oil industry and rich in antioxidant Vitamin E. It also contains sea buckthorn oil, which is high in vitamin E, C and Omega 7 fatty acids, and helps skin retain its elasticity. 

Medik8 Mutiny

This gel-like balm melts into an oil upon application to deliver instant and long-lasting hydration to your lips. Formulated in a squalane base, with plant-sourced sea buckthorn oil and multi-weight hyaluronic acid, the lip balm absorbs into lips to replenish lost lipids and leave lips feeling nourished, replenished and moisturised. Once applied to lips, the balm gives a slight refreshing tingle and an indulgent lemongrass natural fragrance.

Five Products Which Help with Scarring

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100% natural, acne, acne prone skin, BHA, blemishes, calm, cell renewal, collagen, complexion, discolouration, dry, essential oil, exfoliates, fibres, firming, heal, healing, healthier, hydration, imperfections, improvement, inflammation, lavender, lavender oil, mental health, moisturising, multifunctional, nourish, oil, potent, redness, repair, Rosehip Oil, rosehip seed oil, Roseville, Scar, scarring, scars, skin, skin renewal, smooth, soothing, stretchmarks, Vegan, Vitamin E

Photo by Karolina Grabowska

Scarring can be caused by a number of things, from accidents to acne and everything in between. For some people, scars are like a badge of honour, but many people want to do everything they can to reduce the appearance of scars, and when left untreated, obvious scarring can lead to poor mental health. Fortunately, we have several clever products here at Pure Beauty which can lead to a marked improvement in the appearance of scarring. Here are five of the best:

Elemis Herbal Lavender Repair Mask

This clay-based mask from Elemis contains several skin-soothing ingredients which can calm the skin and reduce redness. It also contains lavender essential oil, which reduces the inflammation of acne and scarring. It doesn’t set on your skin, therefore it doesn’t dry your skin out and it can be used as a special overnight treatment to repair and heal blemished skin. 

Evolve Organic Beauty Super Berry Body Oil

Evolve Organic Beauty Super Berry Body Oil is a moisturising body oil formulated to revive dry and mature skin, and improve the appearance of scars and stretch marks. This vegan formula is 100% natural and gets its scar-busting properties from Chilean rosehip oil, which has been used for centuries for its unique ability to revive skin that is prone to stretch marks or scarring. 

Murad InvisiScar Resurfacing Treatment

As you can tell from the name of this product from Murad, it’s specifically formulated to help deal with post-blemish scars and discolouration, making it a saviour for anyone with acne-prone skin. BHA exfoliates, while a unique blend of highly purified centella asiatica and vitamin C encourages natural radiance and a healthier-looking complexion. It’s so potent that it helps to minimise the look of post-blemish scar size, depth and discolouration in 8 weeks.

Decleor Prolagene Gel

Prolagène Gel contains an amino acid called proline L, which is similar to plant collagen and helps rebuild the skin’s supporting fibres. The formulation also includes osmanthus aabsolute for its potent healing action, making it perfect for skin which has scars and stretch marks. It has a visibly firming effect that builds up with regular use to smooth skin imperfections, as well as acting on the whole of the skin’s structure to speed up cell renewal and improve the look of stretch marks and scarring.

Aromatherapy Associates Anti-Ageing Intensive Skin Treatment Oil

This skin treatment oil from Aromatherapy Associates is a multifunctional product which performs a number of tasks. As well as providing hydration for dry, dehydrated and more mature skin types, it can also be used on scar tissue twice a day to help reduce its appearance. It contains a healing blend of lavender and rose oils, along with vitamin E and rosehip seed oil to nourish and encourage natural skin renewal.

What Can CND Products Do For You?

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ageing, award-winning, chip, CND, CND Cuticle Eraser, CND RescueRXx, CND RidgeFx, CND Solar Oil, CND Solar Oil Nail and Cuticle Care Pen, cuticle, cuticles, enhancer, imperfections, jojoba, moisture, moisturised, nail, nail care, oil, polish, portable, resistant, ridged, ridges, surface, varnish, Vitamin E

Photo by Valeria Boltneva from Pexels

Even if you’re someone who has a regular appointment with a salon to have your nails done, there are lots of things that you can do in between appointments to maintain your nails. We’ve recently added CND to our brands, the global leader in professional nail, hand and foot beauty, so we thought we’d take a look at the products they offer to show you what you can do for your hands until your next nail appointment:

CND Cuticle Eraser

If your cuticles are fast growers, you may find that they look ragged before your next appointment. Cutting them yourself can be tricky and potentially damaging, so using CND Cuticle Eraser is the best thing to use. It micro exfoliates cuticles with a rich, creamy blend of AHA that effectively moisturises cuticles and helps prevent hangnails, keeping your hands looking neat and tidy.

CND RescueRXx

If your nails have become damaged for any reason, you’ll need a product which can help to repair the. CND RescueRXx is a highly effective treatment from CND that repairs damaged nails with the power of keratin protein and moisturising jojoba oil. With daily use, peeling and white spots are dramatically reduced.

CND RidgeFx

If your nails are ridged but you don’t want to deal with the effort of buffing them yourself, this ridge-filling product from CND is the perfect way to get smooth nails with minimal effort. This is a nail surface enhancer and ridge filler that smooths out ridges and masks imperfections for a beautiful colour application and chip resistant wear.

CND Solar Oil

Nails and cuticles are one area which needs lots of moisture, but many people forget to moisturise them. This oil from CND is an award-winning formula which drives moisture deep into the nail and cuticles, combining vitamin E and jojoba oils to reduce visible signs of aging and keep hands soft and supple.

CND Solar Oil Nail and Cuticle Care Pen

This nail and cuticle care pen is the pen version of CND’s award-winning solar oil, which gives you a convenient and portable application method. It’s perfect for shoving in your handbag and is a favourite with nail care professionals. Repeated use actually drives the oils deeper in the natural nail, for results that only get better with time.

Wash away the day with Pure Beauty

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beauty bestie, beauty products, build-up, Chamomile Extract, clean and refreshed, clean skin, cleanse, cleansing action, clear away, Decleor Bi-phase Caring Cleanser and Makeup Remover, decongest, dehydrate, Dermalogica Precleanse, Dermalogica Special Cleansing Gel, dewy, dirt, Elemis Deep Cleanse Facial Wash, Elemis Rehydrating Rosepetal Cleanser, environmental pollutants, excess sebum, eye, eye area, front door, goodness, Grape Seed Extract, green tea, grime, healthy skin, help, hydrating, impurities, Jan Marini Age Intenrention Gentle Cleanser, Lavender Extract, make-up, melt, milk protein base, multiple, natural moisture balance, naturally-foaming Quillaja Saponaria, oak bark, Olive and Kukui oils, peppermint, plump, pollution, potent blend, professionals, purify, radiant, refreshed, remove make-up, removes, restored, revolutionary formulation, Rice Bran, Rose Petal Flower Water, scientific blend of virgin botanical oils, skin, skin pollutants, skin type, sleep, soap free foaming gel, soft, soothe, spearmint, sunscreen, sweat, tight and uncomfortable, ultra-clean, Vitamin E, Vitamin E and F, Waterproof mascara

From the moment you set outside your front door in the morning, your skin is hit by a deluge of dirt, grime, pollution and sweat, as well as your beauty products.

At the end of each day it is vital to clear away all of this, as well as your make-up, and we are here to help and ensure that your skin is clean and refreshed before you get into bed at night and go to sleep.

Whatever your skin type, you can rid it of impurities, without disturbing your natural moisture balance, with the Dermalogica Special Cleansing Gel. This soap-free, gel thoroughly removes the dirt you don’t want, and keeps the goodness you need, thanks to naturally-foaming Quillaja Saponaria. With added Lavender Extract mixed into the cleansing action, you are left with soft, clean skin whatever the day has thrown at you.

We don’t know about you, but some products actually dehydrate our skin, rather than hydrating it, which means it is left feeling tight and uncomfortable? We are pleased to say that this won’t happen with the Elemis Rehydrating Rosepetal Cleanser, which effectively removes make-up and the build-up of skin pollutants without taking away the moisture that keeps it looking plump and dewy. Vitamin E and F have been blended with Rose Petal Flower Water which together hydrate and purify even the most sensitive skin, leaving it restored, clean and radiant.

The Jan Marini Age Intenrention Gentle Cleanser is a mild, non-irritating formula which means it is perfect for sensitive skin, including the eye area. While it is gentle and non-foaming, thanks to Green Tea, Grape Seed Extract and Chamomile Extract, it gets to work on the dirt, but doesn’t take away the goodness even when used multiple times a day.

If you love your make up but you don’t want it to impact your skin, the Decleor Bi-phase Caring Cleanser and Makeup Remover could be your new beauty bestie. Created from a revolutionary formulation that is powered by a scientific blend of virgin botanical oils and floral water will cleanse, remove make-up (even stubborn waterproof types), soften, plump and soothe skin and help boost radiance. Phew, that’s a lot of goodness, so why not give it a go.

Want to take things up a notch or two when it comes to cleansing? If that’s the case then the Dermalogica Precleanse is the deep cleansing weapon of the professionals, and could be yours too. This fab product gives you ultra clean, healthy skin and works alongside your daily cleanser. Suitable for all skin types, Olive and Kukui oils melt layers of excess sebum, sunscreen, environmental pollutants and residual skin products that build-up during the day. Conditioning Rice Bran and Vitamin E not only nourish the eye area but are on hand to remove that annoying waterproof mascara that never wants to budge.

If you haven’t tried the Elemis Deep Cleanse Facial Wash yet, where have you been? This brilliant, fast-acting gel really is the ultimate daily cleansing solution for all skin types and it looks pretty slick too. A totally potent blend of Oak Bark, Spearmint and Peppermint has been added to a Milk Protein base and together the heady ingredients not only remove impurities but decongest the skin and leaves it clean, revived and totally refreshed.

Got a question, or want to try before you buy? Get in touch today and we can help with more info and send you some samples too.

Team Pure Beauty