Get active the easy way

Tags

a swim, active, app, bad moods, bike ride, body, boosts your cardiovascular fitness, breakfast, breath, burnout, burns calories, busy, chore, circuits, community, daily step count, email, energy, everyday schedule, exercise, fitness kit, gather your thoughts, get up, go shopping, gym, health, healthier, home, intense workout, internal mail, interval training, legs, letters, level head, life, lift, local pool, lunch, meetings, moving, online workout, Pilates class, post box, run in the park, shop, shower, sit, snooze button, sofa, stairs, stand, stress, stronger, surprised, talk, tennis, time, tone, trim and tone your legs, tube, veg out, walking, washing, water, yoga class

No time to get to the gym?

End up doing the washing rather than playing tennis?

Got a to do list that takes you away from your Pilates class week after week?

We get it, life is busy but if you want to avoid bad moods, stress and burnout, you need to make time for you and your health.

Exercise is a key part to keeping a level head so we have had a look at how you can fit it into your everyday schedule.

We aren’t saying do ALL of these, but simply pick one or two and you will soon find you are feeling stronger and healthier and will have more energy than ever.

Exercise before breakfast
If you get up just twenty minutes earlier than usual, you will have time to have a drink of water, do a 10-minute intense workout and shower before anyone else has even hit the snooze button. Simply find an online workout or app that incorporates interval training, circuits or a weights session, and if there is a community you can be part of too, even better.

Walk to work
Any extra walking during the day will contribute to your daily step count. Walking burns calories, boosts your cardiovascular fitness, and helps to tone your legs too, so even if you park a mile away from work or get off the tube a couple of stops early, it all adds up and you will see a difference.

Get away from your desk
Meetings and extra projects can hamper your best efforts to exercise more but we all need a lunch break so use yours wisely. Whether you go for a run in the park, a swim in the local pool or a bike ride make sure you move away from your desk and take time out for you.

Get on your feet at work
If you use every opportunity you can to be more active during your day, you will be surprised at how much better you will feel. Stand rather than sit, go and talk to someone rather than sending an email, go up the stairs rather than taking the lift, take letters to the post box rather than using the internal mail, basically do anything you can to get your body moving.

Go home via the gym
Once you get home and change out of your day clothes, going out again might seem a chore. Take the temptation to veg out on the sofa away, and hit the gym, pool or a yoga class on your way home and you will feel so much better for doing so.

Shop until you drop
Yes, you heard us, go shopping! Even if you don’t buy anything, a walk around town (minus visiting the burger bar) can be a good workout and it could tempt you to buy some new fitness kit and do even more exercise.

Mow the grass
You can either see mowing the grass as another job on your list or as a quick workout that will help trim and tone your legs! Put on your music, get a good rhythm going and you will soon be in the swing of things.

Walk after dinner
Rather than slumping front of the TV or checking your emails, go for a walk after dinner. You can use this time to chat with the kids or your partner, or if you are walking solo, simply gather your thoughts and breath as you let go of the stress of the day. Stretch the walk by one minute every evening and you will soon be going places.

Got a tip for easy ways to exercise, let us know, we would love to hear it.

Team Pure-Beauty

Advertisements

Make your smile sparkle

Tags

all day protection, bacteria, bad breath, bleeding gums, breath freshening, bristles, brush our teeth twice, brushing, celebrity dentists, coffee, concerns, cure, daily brushing, dance, decay, dental health, dentist, diet, dress, eating and drinking, excellent dental health, expensive treatments, extra minty, fights sensitivity, floss, fluoride, frayed, happy, hygienist, location, Meghan Markle, milk, painful, paste, pearly whites, plaque, prevention, prevents gum disease, protects enamel, Red wine, rinsing, Royal wedding, smoking, smoothie, stunning smile, sugar, sunshine, tartar, tea, tired, tongue brushing, tooth decay, tooth unfriendly sugar, toothbrush, toothpaste, total whitening, upright position, water

The dress, the crowds, the sunshine and the location were all amazing at the recent Royal wedding, but it was Meghan Markle’s stunning smile that shone for us.

While we don’t all have access to celebrity dentists and expensive treatments, with a little time, care and know how, you can keep your teeth looking great.

Yes, we all know that we need to brush our teeth twice a day and floss (not the dance) at least once a day, but there are various other things you can do to ensure excellent dental health.

Choose your paste well
From extra minty and total whitening, to breath freshening and all day protection, there is more choice than ever when it comes to toothpaste. Opt for a good quality toothpaste with fluoride that helps protect against bacteria, plaque, tartar and decay. If you want one that prevents gum disease, deals with sensitivity, protects enamel or keeps teeth white, have a chat with your dentist to see what they suggest.

Look after your toothbrush
If you want to keep your teeth clean, you need to keep your toothbrush in good condition. This means rinsing it well after brushing and keeping it in a pot in an upright position when you aren’t using it to prevent bacteria growing. It is also good practise to get a new brush every three months, and if the bristles are looking tired and frayed, it is definitely time for a change.

Brush your tongue
Yes, we know it sounds a bit gross, but tongue brushing not only keeps your teeth healthy, it can also help stop bad breath because it removes bacteria from your mouth when you brush.

Go to the dentist
Sounds obvious, but going for a check-up every six months and having regular cleans with the hygienist, are vital for good dental health. This also gives you the chance to ask any questions you have or voice concerns that have been bothering you, like bleeding gums. They can help you with a daily brushing and flossing plan suits your needs. No one really like going to the dentist, but prevention is a lot less painful than cure.

Cut down on sugar
Limiting the amount of sugar in your diet is key to preventing tooth decay. Remember sugar is hidden in many products so do be mindful of what you are eating and drinking because while a smoothie might sound healthy, it could contain a lot of tooth unfriendly sugar. Water and milk are teeth healthy and while you can drink tea, coffee and red wine, they can stain your pearly whites and leave them less than pretty.

Don’t smoke
Smoking can stain your teeth yellow, cause really bad breath and can lead to gum disease as well as other serious health problems and diseases. The best thing you can do for your teeth, and general health is to stop!

If you have any questions, speak to your dentist and they will be only too happy to help ensure your teeth are happy and healthy.

Team Pure-Beauty

Use the Dermalogica Solar Defence System this Summer

Tags

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

The Absolute Beginner’s Guide to Skincare

Tags

base, clean, cleanse, combination, comedogenic, complexion, daily, dry, grime, hydration, make-up, normal, oily, perfect, pollution, primer, sensitive, skin type, skincare, SPF, spots, sun protection, sunscreen, unbalanced, water

Royalty-free image

Whether you’re a young person who’s just started to take care of their skin, or an older person who’s steadfastly refused to deal with skincare before, being an absolute beginner can be a little intimidating, especially when you consider the vast amount of products available. We decided to put together some tips that we thing every skincare virgin should know, so that it doesn’t feel so daunting.

Take your make up off every day, no matter how tired you are

When you leave your make up on, not only are you leaving potentially comedogenic (that’s blackhead-forming, to you and me) products on your face, you’re also leaving the days dirt and grime. This can cause your skin to become dry, red, sensitised and generally unbalanced. Elemis Pro-Radiance Cream Cleanser is a great cleanser for most skin types as it melts make-up and removes the daily pollutants that can dull the skin.

SUNSCREEN!

Baz Luhrmann said it years ago, and it’s still as true as ever – “ALWAYS wear sunscreen”! The fastest way to age your skin is with prolonged, unprotected sun exposure, and this can be highly damaging even beyond the signs of ageing. Decleor Anti-Pollution Hydrating Fluid SPF30 is the perfect daily SPF for normal to dry skin and leaves skin feeling hydrated and comfortable.

Barely anyone has ‘perfect’ skin

We know that the slew of airbrushed images that we’re bombarded with makes it easy to believe that loads of people have perfect skin, but it’s actually very rare and we guarantee that almost every single person you asked would say they have at least one bugbear with their own complexion. Using a primer is a good place to start to get a flawless base before you apply your make up, allowing you to fake it all the way!

Know your skin type

When it comes to skincare, using the right type for your skin type is hugely important. If you have dry skin and are using products for normal skin, they won’t be powerful enough to keep you hydrated. If you’ve got normal skin, products for oily skin could dry you out and if you’ve got sensitive skin, anything perfumed or too rich will have you red and itchy. Use our guide to work out your skin type before you buy anything.

Drink plenty of water

You can use all of the moisturisers and skin-fixing products you like, but if your body is severely dehydrated then the source of your dryness isn’t going to be fixed. The old ‘eight glasses a day’ thing isn’t necessarily the right amount for everyone, but if your urine is almost clear and the skin doesn’t feel papery, you’re probably hydrated to a decent level.

Get on top of your finances in 2018

Tags

add up, auctions, bargains, bills, BOGOF, budget, buffer, cake, car boot sales, car insurance, car payments, charity shops, cheaper, Citizens Advice Bureau, deals, eat, end of the day deals, entertainment, environment, finances, fixed costs, food shopping, freeze, fresh, heating, holidays, housing, incomes, insurance, list, loaf of bread, loyalty cards, money, month, mortgage, packed lunches, pets, phone bill, pocket, Rainy day fund, rent, retro, save money, savings, school uniform, shopping, snacks, spend, spiralling out of control, standing orders, statement, stress, utiliy bills, value, vouchers on leaflets, waste, water, work, worries

Do you know how much you can afford to spend each month, or do you keep using you cards and then lie awake at night working out how you’ll pay for everything?

With Brexit just over a year away, businesses concerned about the future and the world in a volatile place, money worries are on the rise, as are prices, and debt seems to be a bigger issue for many people.

While rent and council tax take up a big chunk of incomes, those large costs often aren’t the problem, it’s the smaller bills that add up and the unexpected expenses that can cause stress.

We have had a look at how to keep on top of things so you don’t feel like you’re going under every time you look at your statement.

Have a budget
Yes, it sounds simple but sometimes going back to basics can be a good idea. Making a list of the money coming in and out each month lets you see exactly what is happening with your finances, rather than burying your head in the sand. Firstly look at income, then list all of your fixed costs and should including your housing, utility bills, standing orders, car payments, insurance and phone bills. Then look at your fluctuating costs such as food shopping, entertainment, holidays, pets and anything else you have to cover. With all of this in hand you can work out how much is left, or not, and where changes could potentially be made.

Shop for the bargains
We all like nice things, but there are many savings to be had out there, and deals can really help keep you buoyant. Buying presents in the sales, stocking up on school uniform when it’s half price and shopping around for cheaper car insurance might seem like an extra job to add to your list, but the pounds soon add up. It is also worth looking at the money off vouchers on leaflets, loyalty cards and incentives as these can make a real difference to your pocket.

Meal planning
Another way of saving money is by actually only buying the food you need and not letting fresh items go to waste. Before you go shopping, work out what you are going to eat in the week, include packed lunches and snacks, and only buy those items. Yes, BOGOF might seem like a deal you can’t miss out on, but when that extra cake or loaf of bread goes mouldy, you haven’t saved anything at all.If there are items deals going cheap at the end of the day, buy them but only if you are going to eat or freeze them straight away.

Turn off your lights
It is amazing how many people leave lights on, have the heating burning at full blast when they are out and let the water run as they brush their teeth. All of these things cost money, so turn things down and switch them off if you want to save money, and the environment.

Second hand options
Vintage, retro, upcycle are all on trend and for a good reason, they offer value. You don’t have to buy everything new and if you go to charity shops, car boot sales and auctions, you will amazed at the bargains there are to be had.

Rainy day fund
We all like to think the unexpected won’t happy to us, but it does. If you can, try to save a little money each month so that if the car does break down or the boiler goes wrong, you have a buffer and don’t hit the red.

Keep on track
Once you have your finances in place, don’t them slip. Making lists, having a database and checking your online banking on a weekly basis can help you keep on track. If you do feel things are spiralling out of control, talk things over with a trusted friend or speak to Citizens Advice Bureau but don’t let the bills pile up and the stress get on top of you.