It’s time to look after your tummy

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apple cider vinega, beans, bike, bitter leaf salad, bloated, body, brown rice, brush, burgers, cabbage, carbon footprint, celery, cleanse, coffee, cramps constipation, cucumber, diet, digestive juices, ease cramps, emon juice, endorphins, enzymes, faces, farmers markets, fennel seeds, fibre, fish, fresh, fruit, fruit juice, gas, ginger, ginger biscuits, ginger tea, glass of mineral water, greasy chips, hot water, hydrating, important, kale, lean meat, lemon, mint, morning sickness, peeling, plate, refreshing, rocket, seasonal food, semi-skimmed milk, skimmed, sluggish, sour, spinach, stainless steel bottle, stimulate, sugary squashes, supermarkets, tea, teeth, thumb-sized piece of ginger, tummy, two litres of water, upset stomach, water, wax, winter, yoga

We cleanse our faces, brush our teeth and wax our legs, but when was the last time you looked after your tummy?

We might not be able to see them, but tummies are a massively important part of your body, take care of it and it’ll be your best friend, let things slip then you might find you feel sluggish, bloated and suffering with cramps and constipation.

None of us want to feel like this, so we have had a look at how to take care of your tummy, so you get on better than ever.

Take on water
If you do nothing else to help your tummy, it is important to drink plenty of water. As well as preventing constipation, water is needed because it helps to produce the clever digestive juices which break down your food and keep you gas-free. We know it isn’t always easy in the winter, but aim to drink at least two litres of water every day and remember that tea, coffee, fruit juice and water-based foods like cabbage, celery and tomato can top your water levels up, so add some of those to your daily diet too. If you find it hard to drink enough water, buy yourself a pretty stainless steel bottle, fill it with water before you leave home, and if you want a bit flavour, add lemon, mint or cucumber, rather than sugary squashes.

It’s on your plate
While a diet that is rich in fibre can help keep digestion on track and constipation, away, many of us don’t eat the recommended 30g of fibre a day. To keep things flowing, a diet that is packed with beans, brown rice, fruit and veg as well as oats and wholemeal bread, is a good idea. With supermarkets and farmers markets offering a huge range of fresh, seasonal food, it isn’t hard to hit the mark and this will help to keep your carbon footprint down too. Go easy on greasy chips, burgers and fried doughnuts, as these tend to be harder to digest, consider grilling lean meat and fish as well as drinking skimmed or semi-skimmed milk instead of full fat options.

Eat something sour
Enzymes help to breakdown and absorb food, and sour and bitter foods will naturally stimulate your digestive juices and get them really working. Rocket, kale or spinach served with a simple squeeze of lemon juice is one way to add this into your diet and is pretty tasty too. You can also drink a glass of mineral water with the juice of half a lemon, or half a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar half an hour before you eat a meal, and not only is this refreshing and hydrating, it will also give your digestion a boost.

Go ginger
We all know that ginger tea and ginger biscuits are good for pregnant women suffering with morning sickness, but this handy root could help you too. Make your own cup of goodness by peeling a thumb-sized piece of ginger, thinly slicing it, and then let it steep in hot water with a slice of lemon for around five minutes. This can help soothe an upset stomach, ease cramps and nausea and also work on bloating. If you really can’t bear ginger, fennel seeds are worth a try. Using the seeds to make tea, or chew them as they come, and both can help deal with cramping and bloating, and they also come in handy when your eyes are bigger than your belly at the dinner table.

Jump up
If you sit down all day, then the chances are, you and your digestive system will be slow and sluggish. By taking regular exercise, not only are you helping stay fit and healthy, but it can also stimulate your intestinal muscles, and this will helping move your food through your digestive system more smoothly and prevent any congestion! Whether you walk the dog, jump on your bike, go to a yoga class or do a little kick boxing, not only will your tunny thank you, but you will also benefit from a burst of feel good endorphins and a leaner body.

Team Pure Beauty

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There’s more to cucumber than sandwiches

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100% natural, Absolute of Moroccan Rose, afternoon tea, Arnica, aromatherapy, bathroom cabinet, blemish prone complexions, caffeic acid, chamomile, comfort, cool, cucumber, cut, dehydration, delicate, dermalogica, Dermalogica Intensive Eye Repair, Dermalogica Overnight Treatment, diva, drift, dry, Elemis De-Stress Massage Oil, Elemis Gentle Rose Exfoliator, essential oils, exquisite, exquisite mix, fine lines, flesh, geranium, goodness, green tea, happy, hero, inflamed and irritated skin, irritated and stressed skin, lavender, Lecithin and Aloe Gel, little love, luxe, Mallow, marjoram, massaged, melissa, melting tension, morning and evening, nourish, oil, peel, picnic, radiant, refreshed, research, rosemary, sagging skin, satin smooth, Silica, silky soft, skin, sleep, smoothing, soft skin, soothe and hydrate, soothing the mind, ultra-rich cream, Vitamin C, water, young

While the humble cucumber is often only seen as an afternoon tea afterthought or an extra in a smoothie when the fridge is running low, it is actually jam-packed (excuse the pun) with natural goodness that can really benefit our skin.

The flesh might mainly be water, but it is also home to Vitamin C and caffeic acid, which both help reduce inflamed and irritated skin. The peel is often sliced away before being laid on top of ham for sandwiches, but this contains silica, which can firm sagging skin and because cucumbers are 100% natural, even people with the most sensitive skin can usually incorporate this into their beauty routine.

We did a little research and realised that quite a few of the products we sell here at Pure Beauty contain cucumber, so we thought we would let you know what’s what when it comes to this gorgeous green diva.

One of Dermalogica’s most popular products is their Skin Smoothing Cream and we know first hand that just a little goes a long way to smoothing the fine lines which are caused by dehydration. When applied to cleansed and toned normal to dry skin types, moisturising Lecithin and Aloe Gel nourishes while Extracts of Mallow, Cucumber and Arnica soothe and hydrate. Used morning and evening on a regular basis, the result will be happy, soft skin that radiates health.

Cucumber in oil might not be a match made in picnic heaven, but it works when it comes to the gorgeous Elemis De-Stress Massage Oil. Perfect for soothing the mind, melting tension and easing muscles, this exquisite mix of pure essential oils deserves a place in every bathroom cabinet. Chamomile, Cucumber, Melissa, Marjoram, Geranium, Rosemary and Lavender have been blended and is the perfect way to treat dry, irritated and stressed skin, leaving it satin smooth and silky soft. Thanks to the aromatherapy benefits of the oil, when massaged into the skin at bedtime, it offers comfort and can also help you drift off to sleep, now we didn’t know cucumber could help do that!

It’s not just aging skin that needs a little love; young, blemish-prone complexions do too and cucumber is a hero again here. The Dermalogica Overnight Treatment is a soothing, hydrating product that has been blended with Green Tea, Lavender, and Cucumber which all help to calm unhappy skin.

The Elemis Gentle Rose Exfoliator is a great way to achieve radiant, soft skin and we love it. Used weekly this luxe product is perfect for buffing away dirt and dead skin cells, leaving behind a glowing, youthful complexion. Absolute of Moroccan Rose hydrates the skin, while Jojoba Beads exfoliates it and thanks to Cucumber your whole face is tightened and left feeling cool and refreshed after the very first use. Seeing, and feeling, is believing, so give it a go.

Dermalogica Intensive Eye Repair is an ultra-rich cream that helps diminish dry lines and repair damage around the delicate eye area. Skin-replenishing phytonutrients and botanicals of Cucumber, Butcherbroom, and Arnica help achieve optimum skin health and restores suppleness. Wild Yam Extract and Pro-Vitamin B5 help repair prematurely ageing skin, while antioxidant Vitamins A, C, and E together with Grape Seed Extract protect the skin from harmful free radicals.

We can’t help you with a lunchtime buffet, but if it’s beauty products that come complete with a serving of cucumber you are looking for, get in touch and we will show you the way.

Team Pure Beauty

Get active the easy way

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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

Make your smile sparkle

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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

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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