The products you haven’t met yet will be out WELL before Christmas (which actually means they can’t be too far away!). So what can you expect to see/hear about from us in the not too distant future?
Since you loved our Pink Clay & Charcoal Mud Cleanser, I’m very pleased to let you know that it is about to have a little friend; Pink Clay & Charcoal Mud MASK! This is something I’ve been working on for quite a while now and it’s taken this long to get it just right. I think you’ll LOVE it! It’ll be the perfect weekly addition to your skincare routine! It’s smooth, gentle, easy to remove and does its job beautifully. Also, if you’re not one who wants to leave it on until it cracks, you don’t have to to reap the benefits; it’ll be full of other goodies to offer a deep cleanse and intense nourishment without needing to fully set.
There’s also whispers in my team of an intense hydrating and nourishment mask… it might be green and full of super food goodness. That’s about all I can reveal for this one at the moment, but get excited! It’s moving through our test phases quickly!
As well as new products, we’ve also decided to give some of our lines a bit of a revamp. You may have noticed our baby products slipping away from our shelves, but they’ll be back before you know it and better than ever! Cocobutt is our brand new nappy balm formula. We’ve made it less sticky and more luxurious to make it even better for little butts. This formula will still create a physical barrier but also absorb quite nicely to leave their skin smooooooth as a… well, as smooth as they should be. Our baby lotion will also have a sleek new look and be available in a bigger bottle (insert cheering emoji). It will be back on the shelf next week in a 200g white plastic bottle - we were a bit worried that little hands would like to grab the glass bottles and maybe cause injury (to themselves or mum)! The plastic bottles are still 100% recyclable though! There will also be a new member to our baby fam; a baby powder! It will be a similar base formula to our body powders but with a more suitable, subtle fragrance.
Bath bombs will be back in time for Christmas in NINE BRAND NEW fragrances with a brand new look! I’m pretty excited about these so you’ll probably be seeing them in your news feeds very soon!
Well that’s everything that’s new. If you haven’t already, go and check out our new lip scrubs, perfumed body sprays, and our new favourite, Goodness Me! Facial Oil! I’ll get you better acquainted with these later!
Keep an eye out for our new products! Can’t wait to share them with you <3
- Elliza
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Number 1 (I honestly can’t stress this enough), oily skin does not require ‘drying’. Please don’t go applying rubbing alcohol to your spots or your t-zone! Oily skin requires balancing, which other oils can assist with! Ensure you’re following a typical routine still and use products that contain oils including lemon, lemon myrtle, lavender, rose geranium, tea tree, and patchouli. Jojoba oil can also be great for promoting balanced sebum production.
Number 2, cleansing is non-optional. Your skin does need cleaning, but gently. Oil, cream-based and milk-based cleansers are perfect for this! Oils like coconut oil, castor oil, and sweet almond are great for this, and so is apple extract. All of these work to cleanse the skin, gently removing dirt, toxins and impurities.
Number 3, there is such a thing as over exfoliation. Don’t get me wrong, exfoliating is necessary, but try to refrain from doing it daily! The purpose of exfoliating is to remove dead skin cell build up and stimulate new cell growth. Doing this every single day though is more likely to result in dry skin, especially through winter. Also exfoliating is not a substitute for cleansing, when you exfoliate, you need to do both; cleanse first, then exfoliate (then moisturise!)
Number 4, moisturiser is life. Moisturising is necessary to nourish and hydrate your skin, post cleansing and exfoliating, of course! Moisturisers are usually what contain the highest amounts of extracts (which contain vitamins and antioxidants) which help to nourish your skin and protect it against the elements and free radicals.
And finally, number 5, eye creams are a good idea. The skin around your eyes is particularly fine and delicate which means you need a fine and delicate formula to match. Eye creams are usually thinner formulas which are more readily absorbed and packed with essential nutrients, high in vitamin C as well as extracts like green tea and rosehip oil which help to provide intense hydration and fight the signs of aging. Eye creams can also contain ingredients which are less likely to cause sensitivities.
There you have it, 5 things that you absolutely need to know about skincare! Combining these 5 things form a good, basic skincare routine. If you would like some help or further advice about a skincare routine, please reach out. Of course, all advice given would still be general and if you have any specific concerns you should see your doctor.
- Elliza
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How it works:
When you sign up to Pure Purse, you automatically earn 100 points, you can earn another 100 just by following us on Instagram and another 150 for your birthday! (Make sure you go and enter your birth date in the birthday section of your Pure Purse*). Obviously, when you spend you earn points too; for every $1 you spend, you earn 5 points! You can also earn another 100 points by referring a friend (this only comes through if they spend over $25 though, but this can include shipping**).
Once you’ve earned some points, discounts will open up:
500 points = $5 discount
1000 = $10 discount
2500 = $25 discount
You can choose whether you want to save your points up or whether you ‘spend’ them. Your points won’t expire either! (unless you’re consistently inactive on your account for 12+ months).
It’s a simple, easy to use system and totally free to join! I’m also working on some new rewards, so get excited for that!
I’m always looking for ways to improve your experience with us and I’m working on something I think you’ll love! But if you have any suggestions, please feel free to let me know! I’d love to have your feedback.
- Elliza
*Happy Birthday from us!
To receive your birthday points; set up your account following the prompts, then once logged in successfully, go to ‘Earn Rewards’ then into the ‘Earn Points’ tab. Here, you’ll see all the ways you can earn points, scroll down to ‘Happy Birthday’ and click on it, a date form will pop up, input your birth date and hit save! Now 150 points will automatically be awarded to your account for your birthday!
**Referring a friend
To refer a friend, set up your account following the prompts, then log in. Go to ‘Earn Rewards’ and then into ‘Refer Friends’ then select how you would prefer to share your referral code; Twitter, Messenger, Facebook or Email. Once you select an option, you just follow the prompts. They will receive a link and an exclusive first-time discount, and if they spend $25 (including shipping and after discount), you will receive 100 points! The reason for this is because our program only recognises a referral when the friend spends this amount. Good news though, the codes don’t expire! So even if it takes them a while to get around to it, you will still benefit!
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Pureheaven body butters are an incredibly rich formula containing high proportions of cocoa butter, shea butter and olive oil, and have significantly reduced water content. Some people knock the idea of any water in formulations, but, it does have a purpose and doesn’t necessarily ‘water down’ a recipe; it enables absorption. Water, combined with glycerine (which is also in body butter) enable fast absorption and retention of the glorious oils and extracts in body butter. You can definitely tell that our body butters have reduced water content because they do leave some residue on the skin and take a little while to absorb, however, they have been designed for intense moisturising. And a little goes a long way!
Pureheaven body butters work best when you warm them in your hands first! This is because they contain high percentages of butters (cocoa and shea mentioned above). This will make the formula feel a little less stiff and a little more oily. Then apply it long smooth strokes, massaging as you go to assist with the absorption of active ingredients.
I’m also proud to say that our body butters are all cruelty free certified and three out of the four are naturally vegan (obviously Manuka Honey is not, but I still love it!).
I definitely recommend using body butter before bed throughout winter to maintain gorgeous, hydrated skin. The only problem? Picking which one!
-Elliza
PS: Using the body scrub before you put this on will yield AMAZING results! xo
Shop body butter or body scrub!
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Yes, glass makes the product heavier and is sometimes more expensive, but, unlike plastic, glass can be recycled over and over again. As a brand, I feel it is important for us to contribute to the ‘war on waste’ by at least giving our customers the opportunity to dispose of their empty bottles and jars mindfully.
Unfortunately, I have also realised that glass isn’t the most ideal choice for all of our products (travel sizes, baby products and shower products). The bottle closures and lids of our glass packaging is also plastic, but I’m happy to report that these are recyclable too!
To recycle your packaging, simply rinse them out with hot soapy water and pop it in with the rest of your recycling!
- Elliza
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Due to common interest, skincare routines have been studied. In fact, Rodan and her colleagues found in their 2016 study that a good skincare routine can have a long-term impact on the overall appearance and quality of a person’s skin. By contrast though, a 2014 study by Draelos claimed that a skincare routine could help or hinder overall appearance and quality of complexion. Draelos eluded to the fact that artificial products, chemicals and over cleansing can effect the skin negatively. What these studies both agreed on though, was the importance of using the right products for your skin type.
Learning your skin type is the equivalent of opening the chamber of secrets. It will save you the guess work and the money on ‘trying things out’. There are 5 common skin types: dry, sensitive, oily, combination and normal. It is also important to note here that skin types can change; with seasons, age, hormones, stress levels and diet. If you’re unsure about your skin type; check out my post: My Top Tips for Determining Skin Type
A basic skincare routine would consist of:
When considering a new skincare routine, here are some tips regardless of your skin type;
Cleansing: avoid artificial foaming agents in cleansers as these tend to over cleanse the skin causing either dry, irritated skin or an over production of sebum resulting in a breakout. Opt for oil base cleansers or milk cleansers; these will remove dirt, impurities and excess oils without stripping the skin.
Toning: after cleansing, skin must be rebalanced and nourished as well as moisturised. Using an all-natural, oil and alcohol-free toner will help to purify and rebalance the skin post-cleansing without drying it out.
Moisturising: During the day it is ideal to use a moisturiser that has an SPF rating. UVA and UBA rays from the sun have been known to accelerate the signs of ageing, so protecting your skin can help defy your age (Jennifer Aniston style!). Night time moisturisers should assist your skin in recovery - vitamin E is great for this, so is jojoba and rosehip oil!
Exfoliating: exfoliation is an important step in a skincare routine. Although the skin does regenerate itself every 28-40 days, regular exfoliation can speed up this process and may assist the skin in healing quicker.
Mask: Clays are a good option for natural masks, however, it’s important to remember that each clay has different properties. For example, pink clay is less drying, so would better suit normal or sensitive skin types, whereas green clay, which is more drying, would better suit an oily skin type. Regardless of what type of clay you pick though, you need to be aware that most clay masks will cause some level of tingling, which is normal, but if it becomes painful, remove it. It is also commonly believed that clay masks must stay on until they crack, but this can cause the skin to dry out too much. If you’re opting for cleansing, rejuvenation and moisturising, keep in mind that you can still reap the benefits of clay without letting it dry all the way out - removing it while it’s still tacky is ok!
Take home message: Get to know your skin and learn if it changes and why. Be willing to adjust your skincare routine accordingly. Also remember: Natural is best!
If you would like any help choosing a skincare routine, please reach out!
- Elliza
Sources:
Draelos, Z. D. 2014. ‘Facial skin care products and cosmetics’. Clinics in Dermatology. vol 32, iss. 6, pp. 809-812.
Rodan, K., K. Fields, G. Majewski, & T. Falla. 2016. ‘Skincare Bootcamp: The Evolving Role of Skincare’. International Open Access Journal of American Society of Plastic Surgeons. vol. 4, iss. 12.
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Knowing what your skin type is, is the holy grail to finding a skincare routine that works for you. So, you say, ‘how do I find out?’. Well I’d like to be able to tell you that it’s as easy as booking in with an expert and saying ‘so what skin type do you think I am?’. It’s not. To make this just a little more difficult, skin types can change for many reasons; over time, with the season, stress levels, hormone levels, age, and diet. The biggest secret is learning all your skin types and being able to continually meet your skin’s needs. So how do we find out?
A study in 2002 concluded that there was no definitive method to be able to ‘measure’ your skin type based on sebum (oil) production! Now in 2019, it is possible to have your skin professionally categorised, although it can cost a small fortune and often requires recurring appointments.
Essentially, the most cost-effective way to learn your skin type is to do it yourself, by matching your skin qualities to the described skin types. Doing it yourself saves you time and money and it won’t matter how many times it changes throughout the year. Below, I have gone through the five most common skin types; dry, oily, normal, sensitive and combination, and listed their characteristics and what you should look for to care for it. It is important to note here that sometimes, your skin won’t fit neatly into one category, sometimes it will fit two or more. In this case, you should go with the one that fits best and keep in mind your other conditions when purchasing skincare. For example, I have dry, sensitive skin. It is therefore important that I still purchase products that are suitable for sensitive skin while I’m trying to increase moisture.
Please keep in mind that this is only general recommendations, if you have any specific conditions, you should definitely consult a specialist!
I hope you find this helpful!
- Elliza
Dry Skin:
Recommended Routine: Make sure you don’t neglect a routine for dry skin, just choose products that are suitable.
Cleanse once daily: go for a cream or oil-based cleanser that will gently remove dirt and impurities without stripping the skin.
Tone after cleansing: opt for alcohol free and hydrating, nourishing oils including rosehip oil. Press into the skin with warm hands so the active ingredients will be absorbed more deeply.
Moisturise twice daily: you may opt for sunscreen through the day - natural sunscreens are great for this and are often formulated with green tea and rosehip for an extra hit of moisture (bonus!)! At night consider a thick recovery cream, natural is best here; natural emollients like cocoa butter, shea butter and jojoba oil will work wonders!
Exfoliate no more than 3 times per week: avoid chemical peels, these are very drying! Instead, look for a cream based exfoliant with micro beads or finely ground nut shells to remove dead skin cells. Masks are a great way to increase moisture, you might go for a homemade yoghurt, oatmeal and honey mask (there’s heaps of recipes out there!), or you could go for a clay-based mask like Australian Pink Clay which is great for replenishing the skin as well as drawing out impurities.
What else? You also might like to include options like serums or facial oils into your routine depending on how dry your skin gets. Facial oils are a great way to increase moisture under makeup and give you a beautiful, dewy glow. Serums can be awesome to increase the moisture in areas that dry out faster like under eyes.
Ingredients to look for: Glycerine, natural butters including shea & cocoa, coconut oil, jojoba oil, borage oil, avocado oil, rosehip oil, aloe vera.
Ingredients to AVOID: All alcohols, synthetic fragrances, sulfates and retinoids
Oily Skin:
Characterised by: Oily skin is usually characterised by an oily ‘look’ to your skin, enlarged pores, breakouts, black and white heads.
Recommended Routine: Seeing as oily skin is a result of the skin over producing sebum, your routine needs to restore balance to the oil production of your skin. Don’t avoid oils, some can be beneficial to restoring balance, also be careful not to over dry the skin as this can lead to more excessive oil production!
Cleanse twice daily; avoid using straight soap or foam cleansers. Oil based and milk cleansers work best, you need to gently remove the dirt, impurities and excess oil, not strip your skin.
Tone following cleansing; avoid alcohol based, instead use something that will purify the pores, lemon myrtle, aloe vera and quandong extract are great for this!
Moisturising can be tricky, your skin will still need some moisture but emollients can be uncomfortable. You could use rosewater here to help hydrate the skin without clogging the pores, make sure you still use sunscreen as necessary, natural sunscreens often use green tea extract which can help tone the skin and reduce the size of pores. Exfoliate 2-3 times per week; avoid chemical exfoliants; these are drying and will cause your skin to over-produce sebum. Go for a fine physical exfoliant such as walnut shells or micro beads.
Masks can be useful to help reduce the size of pores and extract excess oils, it is best to go for clay-based masks (bentonite, kaolin and green and pink French clays) that have been mixed with oils including coconut oil, lemon oil and aloe vera, these will help balance the oil production in the skin.
What else? You also might like to consider using tea tree oil as spot treatment, just dip a cotton swab into the oil and dab onto the affected area. Remember it is only a spot treatment, no need to apply to the whole face!
Ingredients to look for: Vitamins B & C, bentonite clay, kaolin clay, glycerine, tea tree oil, rose geranium oil, lemon oil, coconut oil, aloe vera.
Ingredients to AVOID: Alcohols, synthetic fragrances sulfates, retinoids and mineral oils.
Normal Skin:
Characterised by: Normal skin is the goal! It is characterised by few or no imperfections, no severe sensitivity, pores barely visible and predominantly radiant complexion
Recommended Routine: Routines for normal skin can depend on other factors like occupation or time availability, basically though you can go with whatever you see fit!
Cleanse 1-2 times daily; oil based, milk or cream cleanser is best.
Tone following cleansing; always avoid alcohol based, nourish with natural oils and extracts.
Moisturise as necessary and always use sunscreen when applicable.
Exfoliate 2-3 times per week to maintain and encourage cell production.
A mask might be helpful for extraction of excess oils or dirt or to replenish the skin and maintain a glowy, radiant appearance.
Ingredients to look for: Natural ingredients will nourish skin the best, always look for natural!
Ingredients to AVOID: Alcohols, synthetic fragrances and sulfates
Sensitive Skin:
Characterised by: Sensitivities can appear in various ways, redness, itching, burning or dryness. If these occur following the use of any product, remove immediately! Follow with something you know agrees with your skin to soothe it.
Recommended Routine: When caring for sensitive skin, it is important to maintain a routine with products that agree with your skin. If any product results in any of the above symptoms, remove immediately and follow with something you’re sure agrees with it! It is also a good idea to do a patch test when trying new products for sensitive skin.
Cleanse once daily; opt for milk, cream or oil-based cleansers are best.
Tone following cleansing; always avoid alcohol based, go for something natural that will purify the pores without causing irritation; lemon myrtle can be good for this. Moisturise as necessary; choose a moisturiser that will nourish and hydrate your skin, rosehip oil, avocado oil and glycerine are good ingredients to keep an eye out for! Natural sunscreens with green tea and rosehip oil are a good option for sun protection.
Exfoliate no more than twice per week, and avoid chemical peels; these often aggravate sensitive skin and can take some time to recover from. Try and find something that has physical exfoliants such as walnut shells, apricot shells or micro beads. A cream based with balancing oils would also be recommended, lime is great for this!
A mask wouldn’t be recommended more than once per week; opt for a gentle, clay-based mask or homemade. Kaolin and Australian pink clay are two of the mildest clays available, they can be great for soothing irritated skin. If you feel your skin becoming irritated when you have a mask on, remember you don’t HAVE to wait for it to set hard, it’s perfectly fine to remove it while it’s still tacky and you will still reap the benefits without drying out the skin completely.
What else? Avoid using any spot treatments, if you feel like you need to, opt for something natural like tea tree.
Ingredients to look for: Coconut oil, avocado oil, cocoa butter, shea butter, aloe vera, glycerine, green tea extract.
Ingredients to AVOID: Alcohols, synthetic fragrances, sulfates, retinoids, harsh cleansers and scrubs, high concentrations of essential oils, high concentrations of soap.
Combination Skin:
Characterised by: Combination skin is usually characters by an oily or ‘shiny’ t-zone (forehead nose, chin), areas of normal or dry skin and areas of enlarged pores.
Recommended Routine: When caring for combination skin, you will find that you need to find the right balance of products between those used for dry and oily skin types. Sometimes it may be necessary to use separate products in the t-zone areas.
Cleanse twice daily; avoid harsh soap or foaming cleansers, instead go for oil or cream based.
Tone following cleansing; avoid alcohol based opt for something contain lemon myrtle which will help to purify the pores without stripping the skin.
Moisturise as necessary; use your moisturiser sparingly over your t-zone. It might beneficial to alternate between an emulsified moisturiser and a hydrosol (e.g. rosewater).
Exfoliate 2-3 times per week; avoid chemical peels, opt for cream based with physical exfoliant and work gently. A product with lime or patchouli would be perfect here to help balance the skin.
When using masks, you might find it beneficial to use a French pink clay on your t-zone and a white (kaolin) clay mask for the rest of your face.
What else? Serums for under the eyes and isolated areas of dryness may be beneficial to you.
Ingredients to look for: Coconut oil, aloe vera, glycerine, rose geranium oil, lemon oil, vitamin E, cucumber extract
Ingredients to AVOID: Alcohols, synthetic fragrances, sulfates, retinoids, mineral oils, harsh cleansers and scrubs
Disclaimer: this article is only intended to assist working out your skin type for everyday routines and convenience when shopping for skincare. This will not be useful if you have been diagnosed with any specific skin condition. In this instance we advise that you seek out the appropriate help.
Sources:
Sang, Y. W., K. J. Soo, H. A. In & P. C. Kyoung. 2002. “Evaluation of facial skin type by sebum secretion: Discrepancies between subjective descriptions and sebum secretion”. Skin Research & Technology. vol. 8, iss. 3, pp. 168-172.
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