Natural ways to deal with a cold

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antioxidants, antiviral properties, Apple cider vinegar, bathtub, body, chest, children, cold, cold causing bacteria, cold symptoms, coughing, drink, ease the pain, Epsom bath salts, essential oils, fluids, forehead, gel, gentle, germs, ginger, headache, help, honey, hot water, immune system, incubate, infants, low immune system, milk, natural decongestant, natural healing, natural mineral, natural products, neck, nose, nursery rhyme, over-the-counter medicines, PH levels, raw and organic honey, re-balance, recovery, remedies, rest, sick, sleep, sneezing, sniff, soaking, spoonful, sugar, super green smoothies, symptoms, throat, under the weather, vapour, warm water, warming vegetable soups, wash your hands, weak

When your nose is running, your throat is on fire and you can’t sleep for coughing, being told you just have a cold is little help.

People with a weak, low immune system as well as infants and children, are most prone to catching a cold and the most common kind is known as the ‘rhinovirus’.

When you contract a cold, for the first day or two you will feel fine, but the germs that escape your immune system, start to incubate and replicate in your body. Around day three, you will start to sniff and feel congested and this will be followed by a runny nose, headache, sneezing, as well as muscle aches which will all get worse, before they get better. After about a week, things will ease up and symptoms will disappear so you feel human again.

Most people find over the counter medicines, as well as lots of fluids and rest, help them to feel better, but natural products and remedies can help ease the pain, and we have had a look at a few ideas you might want to try if you do get sick.

A spoonful of honey
The nursery rhyme suggests that a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down, but we think that should be honey. Whether you take it straight from the spoon, add it to hot water or milk, honey is well-known for having natural healing and antiviral properties and can be a gentle way to treat a cold and sooth a nasty sore throat. It is thought that the antioxidants help the immune system deal with a virus or cold causing bacteria, and it is believed to be even more true of raw and organic honey.

Epsom bath salts
This might seem old fashioned, but adding one mug of Epsom salts to a bathtub of warm water and soaking in it for around 20 minutes, can help you feel soothed when you have a cold. Keep the water as hot as you can, and it is thought that this natural mineral will go some way to easing those uncomfortable muscle aches and also help you to sleep which can in turn lead to a faster recovery.

Apple cider vinegar
Mix one tablespoon of apple cider vinegar with a glass of warm water and then drink it down, adding some honey to taste. Drinking this mixture two or three times a day, can help to re-balance your body’s pH levels making it harder for the virus to survive.

Essential oils
Mixing a few drops of peppermint and eucalyptus essential oil together and applying a little to your chest, neck, and forehead, can help when you have a cold and are feeling under the weather. You can also put this blend into your bath, or add to a bowl of hot water and breathe the vapour in through your nose and benefit from this natural decongestant!

Go for ginger
Sipping ginger infused water, with a teaspoon of honey, might sound like a basic approach, but it’s a popular one that works. The reason ginger offers relief from cold symptoms, is that it warms up the body, the potent natural anti-inflammatory properties sooth and it’s spiciness helps to clear congestion. Simply crush up a thumbnail of ginger and let it seep in hot water for five minutes before straining and then adding to honey in a new cup. You can also add ginger to warming vegetable soups and super green smoothies and let all that natural goodness help your body bounce back from the germs that are attacking it.

So, wrap up, eat well, drink plenty of water, wash your hands often, carry an antibacterial gel in your bag, and if you do get sick, try some of these ideas to help you on your road to recovery.

Team Pure Beauty

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Exfoliate your way to better skin

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absorbs, brighter, cleanses, clear, Colloidal Oatmeal, combat dryness, conditioning botanical extracts, daily basis, Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant, Dermalogica Exfoliating Face Brush, Dermalogica Gentle Cream Exfoliant, Dermalogica Ultimate Buffing Cloth, Elemis Dynamic Resurfacing Facial Pads, Elemis Gentle Rose Exfoliator, Elemis Luxury Cleansing Cloth Duo, eliminates, epidermis, exfoliate, exfoliating particles, exfoliation, fans, fruit enzymes, Ginkgo, green tea, healthy glow, hydrating Rose Absolute, impurities, innovative, Lactic Acid, luminous complexion, micro exfoliates, Micro-spherical Jojoba beads, pat dry, popular product, promote cell renewal, refining treatment, refresh, rejuvenate, Renew, rice-based enzyme powder, Salicylic Acid, sensitive, silky-smooth, skin types, stimulate, sulphur, top layer of dead skin cells, unique, warm water

We have all heard that it is important to exfoliate, but why is that and what exactly does it do? Exfoliation gently removes the dulling top layer of dead skin cells from of the epidermis which then encourages cells to renew so that skin is refreshed as well as clean and clear.

At Pure Beauty, we sell a range of products that could help you exfoliate your way to better skin, so let’s have a look at them.

A popular product with our customers is the Dermalogica Gentle Cream Exfoliant and for good reason. Suitable for all skin types, except sensitive, Lactic Acid, Salicylic Acid, Sulphur and fruit enzymes have been combined and together help remove dead skin and promote cell renewal. Used once or twice a week, the conditioning botanical extracts soothe your skin and combat dryness so you have a smoother, happier complexion.

For a real beauty treat, we love the Elemis Gentle Rose Exfoliator. This gorgeous product contains micro-spherical Jojoba beads which have been blended with hydrating Rose Absolute and together they gently exfoliate the surface of the skin leaving it silky smooth and soft. This can be used once a week and you simply massage a little of the product into cleansed skin using light circular motions, then remove with warm water, pat dry and apply your moisturiser. Free from parabens, mineral oil and artificial colours, this exfoliator leaves skin looking smoother and brighter from the very first application.

The Decleor Phytopeel Smooth Exfoliating Cream is a lovely cream formula which exfoliates and smoothes the epidermis. It gently absorbs and eliminates impurities, and because it does not contain exfoliating particles, it the gentlest and most natural way to renew your skin. As well as removing dead cells, Phytopeel cleanses the skin and helps stimulate the renewal process so you are left with a healthy glow.

We are big fans of the Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant which is gentle enough to use on a daily basis. This unique, rice-based enzyme powder micro-exfoliates the skin, instantly leaving it noticeably smoother and brighter. It is suitable for all skin types and the blend of Green Tea, Ginkgo, and Colloidal Oatmeal calms inflammation, leaves skin looking clear and refreshed after every use.

For something a little different, why not try the Elemis Dynamic Resurfacing Facial Pads? This is an innovative, refining treatment that gently encourages the skin’s surface cell renewal cycle. For results that rejuvenate, revitalise and smooth the skin, slide the pad, texture side down, over your face in a circular motion morning and evening, after cleansing and this will boost and leave you with a clear, luminous complexion.

We also sell a range of accessories including the Dermalogica Exfoliating Face Brush, Dermalogica Ultimate Buffing Cloth and the Elemis Luxury Cleansing Cloth Duo which can enhance cleansing and help get your skin in the best condition ever.

To find the right exfoliator for you, get in touch today and would love to help and can even send free samples so you make the best choice you can.

Get Your Toes Sandal Ready

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attention, back to basics, bare feet, beautician, bed, bubble bath, candles, chill, clean, coloured toes, cool coral, cooling, corners, cup of coffee, curve, cut straight across the nail, decent scissors, dry, exfoliation product, extra, feel, feet, flip flips, focus, foot cream, foot crystals, fun, get out of bed, good, goodness, hand, hard, heat, ingrowing nails, jagged sides, job, look, love, melt, paint, pamper night, peppermint, phone, playlist, pop of pink, problematic, protect, pumice stone, rich red, rinse, running for the bus, salon, sharp corners, skin, slick finish, smooth, smudges, soften muscles, stairs, stubborn areas, summer, Sunday, sweat, temperatures, tempted, ticklish, tissues, toe nails, tough, Vitamin E, walking to work, warm water, work

Let’s face it.

Your feet work really hard for you.

From the moment you get out of bed and make that first cup of coffee, to walking to work, running for the bus and then climbing the stairs back to bed, it’s all go for your toes.

The thing is, if you take care of your feet in-between salon pedicures, you can look sandal smart all summer long and we are going to show you how.

Soak Away
Why not set Sunday aside as a pamper night? Once you have switched off your phone and lit some candles and turned on your play list, fill a bowl with warm water and get ready to chill. Add a little of your favourite bubble bath or foot crystals (available in chemists and supermarkets) then let your feet soak for around 10 minutes and use this time to focus on you and your breathing. As your feet sit in the water, the skin will soften and your muscles will relax.

Exfoliate
With your skin nice and soft, rinse and dry them and then use an exfoliation product to get rid of the dead cells that can build up as a result of wearing flip-flops and padding around in bare feet when the temperatures rise.

Buff Up
For this step, we suggest you go back to basics and use a pumice stone as these can make a big difference to the way your feet look and feel. Very gently rub the stone over those stubborn areas where the skin is tough and problematic. If you do need an extra hand with this, then speak to your beautician the next time you are in the salon.

Tidy Up
There is no point in making sure your feet look good if your toenails leave a lot to be desired. As they will also be softer than usual after a warm water soak, this is the time to pay them some attention and we would suggest you buy some decent scissors just for the job. You need to cut straight across the nail, do not be tempted to go for a curve or to tidy up the corners, as you could cut too much away or end up with ingrowing nails – neither of which you want. Toes are ticklish, but needs must when it comes to beauty, so next take a clean file and make sure they are smooth and tidy with no sharp corners or jagged sides.

Moisturise
Just like other parts of the body, your feet need to be moisturised if you want them to be happy and healthy. Go for a foot cream which is rich in Vitamin E and contains peppermint, which is super cooling as this is a winning combination. Work the cream into the problem areas and let the goodness melt in.

Paint
Yes, this is the really fun bit. We love coloured toes but the key to a clean, slick finish is to either use separators or place a twisted tissue between each toe and this will protect against smudges. Whether you opt for rich red, a pop of pink or maybe a cool coral, add a clear finish and you will have happy feet and a smile.

Team Pure-Beauty

Gym essentials from Pure Beauty

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air conditioned gyms, argan oil, Balm Mint, bar, body cream, body wash, brilliant shine, calms, clog, colleagues, conditioned, cools, daily shampoo, dehydrated, delicate natural moisture balance, Dermalogica Body Hydrating Cream, Dermalogica Sheer Tint, Dermalogica Special Cleansing Gel, Dermalogica Travel Essentials Kit, essential oils of Sandalwood, extra boost, face, foaming gel, friend, germs, greasy, great smelling, healthy, HITT, impurities, lavender, Lavender Extract, light, lush, make-up, medium and dark, natural balance, nourishing, odours, orange, pores, post-workout redness, Pure Beauty, Quillaja Saponaria extract, rinse away, senses, shiny hair, shower, skip, smelly, soap free, spinning session, step class, sweat, sweaty, sweaty hair, top to toe cleaning, warm water, workout

If you’re rushing back to work after a lunchtime spinning session or meeting friends after a HITT class, you might want to skip the shower and head straight out of the door.

Don’t!

As well as leaving you a little smelly and sweaty and not very popular with your colleagues, it won’t do your skin or hair any favours.

At Pure Beauty we sell a range of products that you can throw in your gym bag and will leave you looking, feeling and smelling clean and fresh wherever you are heading next.

Cleanse away
Ideally, don’t wear make-up when you exercise as this can clog your pores as you sweat. Use the Dermalogica Special Cleansing Gel before and after your step class and let the soap-free, foaming gel remove impurities without disturbing your skin’s delicate natural moisture balance. Skin-soothing Balm Mint cools and calms the skin which is exactly what you need after a workout, while Lavender Extract purifies and smells great too. Simply lather onto your face, rinse away with warm water and your skin will thank you for it.

Jump in the shower
The Dermalogica Conditioning Body Wash is packed with natural extracts making it suitable for all skin types and perfect for washing away sweat, odours and germ. Soothing essential oils of Sandalwood, Lavender, Orange and Clary Sage moisturise the skin, leaving it smooth and conditioned and because it uses naturally-foaming Quillaja Saponaria Extract this fantastic wash can be used by anyone because it doesn’t upset the natural balance of the skin.

Wash and go
There is nothing worse than heading out with greasy, sweaty hair, so take the Dermalogica Daily Cleansing Shampoo into the shower after that weights session. This great smelling, nourishing, daily shampoo leaves you with healthy, shiny hair however hard you have been working. Argan Oil adds softness, shine and manageability while Coconut Oil strengthens cuticles and thanks to Grapefruit, Lavender and Geranium Oils, your senses are awakened and your hair smells great.

If you need an extra boost, follow with the Dermalogica Daily Conditioning Rinse which will add brilliant shine and bounce which air-conditioned gyms and chlorinated pools can take away.

Lock in the moisture
When you sweat, your body loses moisture which can leave you and your skin dehydrated so when you step out of the shower and are dry, treat your limbs to a generous application of Dermalogica Body Hydrating Cream. This lush cream is quickly absorbed by the skin, which is what you need to if are running to meet a friend at the bar, and will help smooth and soften your skin. We love that is packed with essentials oils which not only sink into your skin but leave it smelling fantastic too.

Hide the red
If you are heading back to work after your exercise class, ease that post-workout redness by applying the Dermalogica Sheer Tint. This lightly tinted moisturiser provides a sheer wash of colour and is perfect if you don’t want to irritate your complexion as it cools down. While it offers protection from the sun, it isn’t chalky or drying but does help with hydration and signs of ageing. We love it and because it comes in light, medium and dark options, there is something for everyone.

 

All in one
If you are new to Dermalogica, or want everything in one place, we suggest buying going for the Dermalogica Travel Essentials Kit. This convenient, travel kit contains everything you need for top to toe cleaning after you have worked out. For £33 you get a body wash, body cream, shampoo and conditioner in travel sizes which are easy to put in your bag and even easier to use.

For more information, or to try samples, contact us today and we will be very happy to help.

Team Pure Beauty

The simple guide to happy hair

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bacteria, brittleness, brushes, Busy lives, central heating, chop, coconut oil, cold winter months, combs, conditioner, conditioning mask, damage, damp cloth, dandruff, dark brown sugar, deep-cleansing shampoo, drink lots of water, dry naturally, drying, extreme cold, feeling lighter, germs, hair glossy, hairdresser, hairdryers, healthy, heated styling tools, heavy, homes, hydrated, ingredients, locks, longer styles, looking better, lotions and potions, massage, product build up, product residue, regular products, scalp, silicon heavy product, six to eight weeks, skin, snow, split ends, springtime ready, straighteners, super-stylish bottle, tongs, trim, warm water, week, work

Springtime is typically when we spruce up our homes and gardens, but it’s a great time to tackle our locks, too.

The wind and snow of the cold winter months, can cause drying, split ends and dandruff as well as product build up and a lack of bounce and shine.

We have put together a simple, but effective, plan to get your hair glossy, healthy and springtime ready.

Go for a chop
Before you do anything else, book in with your hairdresser and have a decent cut. Busy lives, and longer styles, can mean we leave having a cut for months, but this won’t do you any favours. A trim every six to eight weeks will not only leave your hair looking better and feeling lighter, but it strengthens it so you are less likely to have to deal with split ends and breaking due to brittleness.

Ditch the build up
Product build-up can leave hair looking lank and dull – the opposite of what we want if we are spending hard-earned cash on lotions and potions. Many people don’t know this, but silicon heavy products can, over time, cause build up on the hair shaft which can make it look and feel heavy. To bring your hair back to life, go for a deep-cleansing shampoo and conditioner, something different to your regular products, and wash two or three times a week and let it dry naturally whenever you can.

Put a mask on it
Once a week we suggest that you put a conditioning mask on your hair and let the ingredients get to work. There are some great options on the market, or you can keep things simple and massage coconut oil straight from the pot into your hair and you will feel a difference in no time at all.

Go for the scalp
Winter isn’t just hard on our hair, your scalp is constantly exposed to extreme cold outside then the warmth of central heating inside which can make skin dry and cause flaking. To combat the impact of the winter, mix two tablespoons of dark brown sugar, two tablespoons of fine oats and a tablespoon of olive oil together and massage into your scalp before washing away with warm water and shampoo.

Turn the heat off
We know you love them, but heated styling tools cause all manner of damage to your hair, so why not just turn them off for a week or two and let your hair dry naturally. Put hairdryers, straighteners and tongs away but before you do, give them a clean with a damp cloth to take away product residue as well as bacteria and germs, and this goes for your brushes and combs too.

Go H2O
We say this a lot but drink lots of water. As well as being great for your skin, it helps your hair, too. Buy yourself a super-stylish bottle and take it with you wherever you go to ensure you and your hair are totally hydrated all the time.

We hope these tips get your hair look great all summer long.

Team Pure-Beauty