Let grapes nourish your skin

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3-in-1 cleanser, antioxidants, balance, beard, beautiful, Brazilian purple clay, Chamomile Extract, champagne, clarity, cleansed, Coneflower, dark spots, dead skin cells, Decleor Hydra-Radiance Cleansing Mousse, defende, dehydrate, Dermalogica Intensive Eye Repair, Dermalogica Intensive Moisture Balance Classic Formula, Elemis Smooth Result Shave and Beard Oil, Elemis Superfood Berry Boost Mask, exfoliate, eye areas, eye treatment, facial hair, fine dehydration lines, free radicals, fruit, glowing, grape juice, grapes, green tea, healthy looking skin, impurities, Jan Marini Age Intenrention Gentle Cleanse, Japanese white mulberry., mild, non-irritating formula, nourishing and moisturising properties, Papaya Extract, pat, Prosecco, Rescue, samples, shave, skin protect, smoothie-inspired, t-zone, toned skin, unique, vegan friendly, Vitamin C, vitamin-rich herbal oils, Vitamins C and E, white grape seed oil, wine, wrinkles

Say grapes and many of us think of wine, prosecco and champagne, but while these all dehydrate our skin, this simple fruit can actually come to the rescue of it.

Jam packed with Vitamin C and antioxidants, grapes can help to revitalise your skin and protect it from nature and the free radicals that can cause wrinkles and dark spots.

Let’s look at some of the great grape products we sell so you can get involved with some fruity goodness.

Decleor Hydra-Radiance Cleansing Mousse is great for those of you with a busy life, as this 3-in-1 cleanser leaves you with beautiful, glowing, healthy-looking skin. Grape juice, papaya extract and Japanese white mulberry come together to exfoliate and gently take away dead skin cells and leave behind clarity and luminosity after the very first use.

We love the Elemis Superfood Berry Boost Mask which contains a unique complex of ingredients that balance the skin and mattify the T-Zone. The smoothie-inspired, vegan friendly mask comes with Brazilian purple clay which helps to draw out skin impurities and gently exfoliates at the same time. Grape seed oil comes with excellent nourishing and moisturising properties and that’s why they are in this berry-tastic mask which will leave your skin soft and smooth.

Antioxidant Vitamins C and E, grape seed extract, ginkgo biloba and green tea help defend the skin against free radicals and they’re all found in the Dermalogica Intensive Eye Repair cream. This rich eye treatment helps repair prematurely-ageing skin by smoothing fine dehydration lines. Gently pat a little cream around the eye area, blending inward from the outer corner and watch the years slip away.

The moisturising benefits of grape seed oil come into play once again with the Elemis Smooth Result Shave and Beard Oil. This cool, multi-purpose oil softens facial hair and prepares skin for a smooth, close shave. Packed with vitamin-rich herbal oils this is great for all skin types and is the ideal pre-shave fix.

For something special when it comes to your beauty regime, how about trying the Jan Marini Age Intenrention Gentle Cleanser? This mild, non-irritating formula is ideal for sensitive skin and can even be used around the eyes. Green tea, grape seed and chamomile extract have been expertly blended to create something really fantastic and it’s bursting with natural goodness that your skin will soak up.

The Dermalogica Intensive Moisture Balance Classic Formula combats dry skin and thanks to vitamin C it also helps smooth the appearance of fine lines and skin damage. Superoxide dismutase, vitamins A and E, and ginkgo protect against the environment. Soothing coneflower and extracts of grape seed reduce the signs of ageing and leave skin smooth and firmer-looking. This can be used morning and night and it’s best to apply to cleansed, toned skin using light, upward strokes.

For more information, get in touch so we can help you get the best from your beauty products and we will even send samples if that helps you make the right decision.

Team Pure Beauty

Give up stress for Lent

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alternative, anxiety, bike ride, brisk walk, bus, celebrity culture, change of scene, chocolate, cold, Computer screen, damp, dark cloud, donating time, drinking, elderly person, emotions, exercise, Find a friend, food bank, friend, fun run, give back, good feeling, GP, helping others, hospice, indulgent, lazy, Lent, lonely, love, lungs, Me time, modern day living, move, mums, obsession, outside, perspective, pressure, problems, process, pub, relaxing, run, school gates, sedentary activities, selfies, social media, socialising, solutions, stress, support network, surprise, tennis club, training, trust, volunteer, watching TV, wine, working

 

We know that during Lent you are meant to give up chocolate, wine or something you really love but given how bad stress is for us, why not try to live without it for a few weeks and see how you get on?

It is little surprise that more and more people are dealing with anxiety and stress related issues given the pressure of modern-day living. Celebrity culture, an obsession with selfies and social media on tap 24/7, life is one long hamster wheel and sometimes you need to jump off and see what really matters.

Rather than light up another cigarette or down one more vodka and orange, why not have a look at some alternative ways to deal with stress and see if you can combat it for once and for all.

Move
Exercise isn’t a magic wand that will make your stress disappear, but it can help reduce the intense emotions you might be feeling. A run, brisk walk or bike ride can help you clear your thoughts and find a way to deal with problems in a different, maybe more rational way.

Find a friend
Yes, there are people at work, people on Facebook and mums at the school gates, but us can still feel lonely and this is where real friends, you can trust, come into play. It won’t happen overnight, but try to create a support network of people, you enjoy being with and you will find that as much as they will help you find solutions to problems, you can do the same for them and that’s a pretty good feeling.

Me time
We are often made to feel as if taking time for ourselves is lazy and indulgent but this couldn’t be further from the truth. To be able to fire on all cylinders, it is important to take time out for socialising, relaxing and exercise, time that is just for you. A couple of hours a week doing something you really love, either alone or with friends, can really help you shrug off that dark cloud that has been following you around.

Get a pet
Never underestimate the love of a dog, cat or even hamster. A pet not only gives you a new interest but also a little bit of company, a lot of love and if you do get a dog, you have to take them outside for a walk each day which is good for both of you.

Be a volunteer
It is easy to get caught up in our own problems, so helping others can be a good way to put things into perspective. Visiting an elderly person, donating time at a local hospice or sorting out donations at a food bank are all ways you can give back and you never know, you could make friends and even find a new career in the process.

Go outside
Sitting indoors watching TV, working at a computer screen and drinking in the pub are all pretty sedentary activities where you rarely see the light of day and probably all make you feel worse. A walk, even when it is cold and damp, by the river or a dash around town will not only give you a change of scene but also put fresh air in your lungs and give you a break from the norm. Joining a tennis club, training for a fun run or just getting off the bus a stop early, can be enough to get you, and your mind, out of a stressed rut.

Of course, if you are really struggling talk to a trusted friend or your GP but don’t suffer in silence.

Team Pure Beauty

Create less waste this Christmas

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artificial tree, BOGOF, cakes, carbon footprint, cards, Christmas Eve, Christmas trees, cookery classes, cookies, Dec the halls, destroyed, disposable, e-cards, envelopes, experiences, festive season, festve, Flora and fauna, food, friends and family, gig, great time, hand deliver, High Street, holly, home, LED, lights, napkins, natural, panic buy, pine cones, Plastic, plastic fantastic decorations, presents, quick and easy, recycle cards, recycling, riding lessons, roots, Secret Santa, shopping, spa days, tablecloths, temptation, theme, tickets, TLC, tradition, tree, turkey, veggies, vintage shop, wine, wrapping paper

Each year millions of Christmas trees, acres of wrapping paper and a serious number of cards and envelopes are incinerated or dumped into landfill sites once the festive season is over.

While you might think you already do your bit for recycling, we have had a look at how you can produce less waste over Christmas but still have a great time.

The tree
Of course, the most sensible option here is to buy an artificial tree. Yes, it is plastic and it doesn’t smell but it will dramatically cut down (excuse the pun) the number of real trees being destroyed. If you really can’t break with tradition, then buy a real tree with roots that you can plant in the garden and reuse every year.

Real napkins and tablecloths
When you are out shopping keep away from disposable napkins and tablecloths. Yes they are quick and easy but you can pick up reasonable real ones that can be used all year round again and again – you can even dye them another colour if you get bored.

Dec the halls
Have you ever stopped to wonder just how much plastic goes on your tree each year and the damage you might be doing when you chuck them out because you fancy a new theme? We not step away from the plastic fantastic decorations on the High Street and go for natural ones instead? Flora and fauna are the perfect way to make your home feel festive, and with a little TLC you can create pine cones, ivy and holly into something special and unique.

Lights
Go for solar-powered outdoor lights where possible and remember to turn your Christmas lights off when you go out or are asleep.

Cards
Christmas cards are an intrinsic part of the festive season but boy do they create a lot of waste. Consider sending e-cards or if you want to keep things real, recycle cards from last year to make new ones and hand deliver them where you can to keep your carbon footprint down. You can also use old cards to make new tags!

Presents
Rather than buying more ‘stuff’ why not consider giving friends and family experiences this year? From riding lessons and spa days to cookery classes and tickets to a gig so they have something they will remember forever. If you do want to give a real gift, maybe make cookies, cakes or sloe gin or visit an antique or vintage shop and show the ones you love that you have really thought about their gifts rather than opting for the BOGOF offers.

Secret Santa
Another way to keep things sensible is to opt for Secret Santa with family and friends with a set budget and ideas of what people would really like.

Food
There is the temptation to panic buy on Christmas Eve but this means a tonne of food is often wasted. When you go shopping, make a list and stick with it and don’t throw leftovers away as there are so many things you can do with that turkey, those veggies and the last of the wine.

Recycle
We know it can be the list thing you want to do, but make sure you bag up with paper and cardboard, the bottles and cans and recycle as usual – it does make a difference.

Whatever you do this Christmas, think about the bigger picture as you celebrate.

Team Pure-Beauty

Keep your pets safe at Christmas

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A quiet place, amaryllis, ball, beer, bones, boot, cake, cashmere jumper, cat, catastrophic damage, chicken, chocolate, Christmas cake, cold, Dairy Milk, dangerous, decorations, disruptive, dog, doors, dustbin, edible, edible decorations, electric shocks, festivities, floor, Frodo, furry friends, gates, grandma, guests, holly, hyper, injured, kids, lights, lost, love, mince pies, mistletoe, needles, newspaper, non-toxic, park, people, pets, pine sap, plants, poinsettias, poisonous, pooch, pulled down, raisins, real tree, routine, run, safe and well, sniffed out, Spaniel, spare bedroom, splinter, Tabby, theobromine, tire, toy, tree, turkey, utility room, wine

For many of us ‘Sammy the Spaniel’ and ‘Toby the Tabby’ are as much a part of the family as the kids and grandma.

While you might think the odd human treat shows your pet just how much you love them, it could actually cause catastrophic damage and spoil the festivities for everyone.

We have some top tips on how to keep your furry friends safe and well this Christmas.

The Christmas tree
This might sound totally OTT but if you have pets then it’s a good idea to go for non-toxic decorations – details should be on the packaging. We don’t want to spoil all the fun but if you can, avoid edible decorations because these will be sniffed out, pulled down and eaten. If you go for a real tree make sure you hoover up any needles from the floor and just check the pot for any pet presents!

Lights
Fairy lights are pretty but they can be harmful, so watch out for anyone getting tangled up and if you aren’t in the room, turn them off to save any electric shocks.

Plants
Yes, Christmas plants look pretty and make the house feel festive but holly, amaryllis, poinsettias, mistletoe and pine sap are all poisonous to cats and dogs but they don’t know this and will have a chew anyway.

Chocolate
Uncle Billy might think a little bit of Dairy Milk won’t hurt Frodo but he is wrong. Chocolate contains theobromine which is dangerous for dogs and other pets, so don’t let them tuck in. Also make sure mince pies, Christmas cake and anything else containing raisins are put out of reach and never leave glasses of wine or beer on the floor or you could be in trouble.

Bones
We know that chicken and turkey bones look perfect for your pooch but the reality is that they can splinter and this can cause serious problems for your pet, so wrap them in newspaper and put in the dustbin as soon as you can.

Routine
While the holidays mean you can take a break from your everyday routine, it is important that life is kept as normal as possible for your pets.

Continue to feed at the same time each day, make sure they have access to water and don’t use this as a time to try out new food – it might make life unpleasant for all. You might not feel like going out in the cold, but dogs still need to be walked and you will actually find that a run around the park will tire them out and stop them from being disruptive and hyper when people come to visit.

Presents
If you don’t want your new boots to be chewed or that cashmere jumper to be used as a new bed, get your pet a present too this Christmas. A dog bone, new toy or bright ball will keep them entertained and out of mischief.

A quiet place
If the house is going to be busier than usual and full of strange people, make sure your pets have a safe retreat. Put their bed in the utility room or spare bedroom with their toys and blankets so they have somewhere safe to retreat to when it gets too much.

The rules
Speaking of guests, it is important they know not to pull your pets around, especially if children are coming to the house. Gently explain your rules and also ask people not to open doors, gates or windows as you don’t want your animals to escape and get injured or lost.

If anything does go wrong, call your vet as soon as possible to the necessary treatment can be carried out.

Team Pure Beauty

How to Enjoy a Christmas Tipple Without Ruining Your Skin

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ageing, alcohol, anti ageing, antioxidants, beer, celebrate, Christmas, cola, decleor, dehydrate, dermalogica, drink, Elemis, exposure, fruit, gin, isotonic, protect, Red wine, repair, skin, skin cancer, spirits, sugar, sun, sun damage, sunburn, tequila, tipple, vodka, wine, wrinkles

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Unless you have a medical or personal issue, Christmas is a time when most of us enjoy an alcoholic drink. The problem is, excessive alcohol consumption can not only play havoc on your liver, it can also be damaging for your skin. There are, however, certain drinks which do less damage than others, so we thought we’d give you the lowdown on which drinks you can enjoy at Christmas without having to worry too much about your complexion.

Beer

Even if you’re not a pint-drinker, enjoying half a lager can be better than other drinks for a number of reasons; firstly, beer generally has a lower alcohol content, so it’s not as dehydrating. Many beers also contain antioxidants and are isotonic, which means they can actually be good for you, replacing certain things which are lost when we become dehydrated! Be aware though – beer can often cause bloating, so be mindful if you’ve poured yourself into a clingy outfit!

Gin

Sugar can play havoc with the skin’s ageing process, which is why something like white wine is a no-no if you’re trying to stay on top of the signs of ageing. Gin, however, is pretty low in sugar and also in salt, so do far less damage to the skin than other, more sugary spirits. In fact, the general rule of thumb is that clear spirits are far less suagry than darker ones like brandy or dark rum.

Tequila

Don’t get us wrong, we’re definitely not suggesting that a night on the tequila slammers won’t be bad for your skin because that’s not the case AT ALL. However, tequila contains more or less the lowest sugar content of all spirits, which means that you can enjoy a few without having to worry too much about the effects on your skin.

Vodka

This is where we have to get specific – vodka in general is not too bad for your skin providing you drink it in moderation (see the sugar rule above) HOWEVER, this obviously depends on what you mix it with as most mixers, such as fruit juices or cola, are full of sugar. Also, according to experts, opting for a potato vodka rather than one made from grains will also be a lot better for your skin in the long run.

Red Wine

While the sweeter white wines are usually frowned upon by skin experts, most generally agree that red wine is pretty good for you. It contains antioxidants which help protect against oxidative reactions, which come from sun exposure, and can cause sunburns, wrinkles and even skin cancer.