Halloween Smart Snacking

No matter how well you think you’ve gauged your trick-or-treater turnout this year, that candy surplus is almost inevitable. And while you may be able to pass some of the sugary burden onto your coworkers, when it comes to the break room candy bowl, it’s every girl for herself. While there’s nothing wrong with the occasional treat, by limiting the quantity and knowing which sweets to splurge on, you can keep those extra calories at bay and save your strength for the season’s main event—Thanksgiving dinner.

Don’t Go Nuts
If given the choice between pure chocolate and a nutty medley, keep in mind that the added ingredient(s) often come with added calories. A serving of peanut M&M’s packs ten more calories and three more grams of fat than its chocolaty cousin. However, if you’re jonesing for that extra crunch, pick almonds over peanuts. In addition to being slightly healthier, almond options generally contain fewer nuts due to their size and cost.

Go to the Dark Side
When research groups revealed the hidden health benefits of dark chocolate in 2003, sales of the cocoa confections went through the roof. Dark chocolate, it was discovered, is loaded with antioxidants called polyphenols, which are known to help lower blood pressure. However, when milk is added to the formula, it interferes with the antioxidant absorption, robbing the treat of any potential benefits. So, when pilfering your coworker’s candy bowl, opt for the darker fare and leave the milk chocolate for the less well informed.

Savor the Flavor
How many licks does it take to get to the center of a Tootsie Pop? Enough to satisfy the average sweet tooth and keep extra calories in check. At just 60 calories a pop, these savory suckers draw on their staying power to keep taste buds satisfied and compulsive “boredom” snacking to a minimum.

For a side-by-side comparison on how your favorite sweets stack up in sugar, calorie and fat content, check out http://www.acaloriecounter.com/candy-chocolate.php.

Think Pink

As breast cancer awareness month comes to a close, we’d like to remind Pür fans everywhere to continue to take part in the fight and help raise public consciousness throughout the year. Check your local events listings and visit the National Breast Cancer Foundation for ways to help increase awareness and support this worthy cause.

To help you think pink all year round, here are some of our favorite pink beauty products that look great on all women, all ages, all skin tones.

Eyes: Make your eyes sparkle with life with Hello Bright Eyes. This self-sharpening, mechanical, waterproof pencil in a vibrant shade of pink is designed to make eyes pop and awaken the complexion. This brightening eye pencil is the pür-fect partner for Pressed Mineral Shadow in Pink Zircon.

Lips: Try Mineral Shea Butter Lipstick in Pink Isocite. This luscious lipstick hydrates and conditions lips with vitamin E, shea butter and jojoba oil and keeps lips looking lovely all day into night. Top with Pout Plumping Lip Gloss in Pink Quartz for added shimmer.

Cheeks: Restore your skin’s rosy glow with multi-tasking Universal Marble Powder in Pink. This luminous mosaic blend of pink, pearl and mauve brightens and enhances eyes, lips and cheeks for a healthy, radiant glow.

For more ways to look pretty in pink, shop the complete collection of mineral makeup at PurMinerals.com.

Customer Profile: Cheryl J.

Get to know your fellow Pür Minerals fans with our Customer Profile feature and get helpful tips from customers with skin issues, tone and color just like yours!

Get to know Cheryl J.

Pür Nickname: Loggurl    
Location: Jasper, GA
Age Group: 45-54
Skin Tone: Light
Skin Type: Combination

How did you find out about Pür Minerals?
Like so many others, over this past summer I was in the market for a new foundation and went into my local ULTA store. The consultant asked me if I’d ever tried mineral makeup and of course I had tried the “other” brands, so I told her I didn’t really care for them at all. She suggested I give Pür Minerals a try because of the shea Butter and vitamin E, so I did. I instantly fell in love with it and ever since then have been telling everyone I know how wonderful it is.

What is your favorite Pür Minerals product and why?
I simply can’t live without the 4-in-1 Pressed Mineral Makeup foundation! It makes my skin so soft and beautiful that I wear it even on days when I’m not planning to get out of the house. My husband loves to touch my face when I’m wearing this foundation. And I also have fallen in love with the eye shadows, blush and lipstick. In fact, every single color product I’ve tried has worked wonderfully. The colors are all so natural, blendable and can be applied as lightly or dramatically as I want, depending on my mood or the occasion. And there are still some products I haven’t even tried yet, so I’m betting that I’ll have more favorites as I replace items in my makeup and skin care kit!

What do you see as the chief benefits of Pür Minerals products?
Well of course I’m very happy with the formulations of all the products. I like the fact that there are no fillers, talc and other irritating (and hard to pronounce) ingredients. The products all go on so beautifully—never messy, never fake looking, never any caking or settling into fine lines. The products all really do stay on all day, too. And I love, love, love the fact that I’m supporting a local Georgia company while I’m reaping the benefits of beautiful skin and makeup. That’s definitely a win-win situation!

How do Pür Minerals products differ from other makeup and skin care brands that you have used in the past?
Believe me, I’ve tried them all (I’m somewhat of a makeup junkie), and Pür Minerals is in a whole different league from all the rest. Pür Minerals products are actually good for my skin and have improved the look of it, where other brands have either irritated my skin or made it look sickly or overly done up. I hadn’t seen my mother for a while until the other day and the first thing she asked me was “what was I doing differently because my skin looked so much nicer?” You don’t get much more of a testimonial than that! Also, with some of the other brands it’s been hit or miss with products in their line; I might like their blush, but be very disappointed with their lipstick. With Pür Minerals, I’ve loved every single product that I’ve used so far. I think that speaks volumes for the quality you get with Pür Minerals.

If you'd like to be profiled on our Pür Beauty Blog, send an email to blog@purminerals.com and tell us about all the great ways you use Pür Minerals products!

Dos and Don'ts of Healthy Hands and Nails

Like any other part of the body, hands and nails need regular TLC to keep them healthy and beautiful. Even if you’re a regular at the local nail salon, you might be surprised to learn just how demanding those ten digits are. For the rest of us, consider this a crash course on the dos and don’ts of basic hand and nail care.

Do:

1. Eat a diet rich in protein, fiber and essential vitamins and minerals. In addition to being generally good for you, such nutrients help sustain the skin’s vibrant luster and promote healthy keratin in the nails. (Despite anecdotal claims, eating gelatin will NOT make nails grow faster or stronger)
2. Perform routine nail maintenance between trips to the salon. This includes regularly trimming (with sharp manicure scissors), filing (with a fine emery board) and cleaning under nails to prevent bacterial and fungal growth.
3. Moisturize hands and nails frequently. Because body skin differs from facial skin in moisture content and follicle density, use a body-specific hydrator like Pür Body Butter and make sure to work into nails and cuticles. A moisturizing balm is also a fabulous quick fix for hands and nails. Pür Balm conditions nails, cuticles—and all rough patches from head to toe—with vitamin E, shea butter and essential oils.
4. Exfoliate your hands once a week with a gentle scrub like Pür Polish to smooth away dead cells and prime the skin for added moisture.

Don’t:

1. Bite or pick at your nails or cuticles. Even the slightest cut or break can invite an infection lasting months. Nails can take up to six months to fully regrow, leaving you with an unsightly reminder in the meantime.
2. Get carried away with nail polish. Overuse can make nails brittle and discolored. Also, avoid regularly painting nails dark shades to keep them from yellowing.
3. Limit nail polish remover use to twice a month and avoid those containing acetone, which can dry out the nail.
4. File nails in one direction only—not back and forth. Rigorous scrubbing can cause the nail to fragment or tear.
5. Wear artificial “glue-on” nails. Their adhesives can cause painful allergic reactions and damage your natural nails and cuticles.

For more ways to keep your hands and body happy, healthy and glow, shop the Pür Minerals Skin Care Collection.

Pür Style: NEW Pür Brilliance Lip Gloss Featured in InStyle

Get this Season’s Most Fashionable Lip Look!

For those of you seeking expert application tips on our NEW holiday Pout Plumping Lip Gloss shades, check out the November 2008 issue of InStyle, which just hit stands last week. In an article called “Winter Lights,” the illustrious beauty and fashion magazine includes Pür Brilliance among the season’s best beauty tools for a shimmering winter look. 

Part of the Holiday 2008 collection from Pür Minerals, this glimmering gloss subtly enhances lips while letting their natural rosiness shine through. It looks fabulous worn alone, or over a luscious lipstick. And like all of our Pout Plumping Lip Glosses, Pür Brilliance provides intense hydration and conditioning while plumping lips with Maxi-lip volumizing agent.

Pür Brilliance is the pür-fect gift to give or receive this holiday season. This dazzling shade is sold alone, or as part of the NEW Smile, Pout, Kiss lip gloss trio. Make your lips bright and kissable with the season’s most fashionable lip look!

For more gorgeous gift sets and holiday must-haves, shop the Holiday 2008 Collection from Pür Minerals.

It's All About the Eyes

Eye Makeup Tutorial

The right eye makeup can transform your entire look. When applying your eye makeup, your goal should be to create a look that’s beautiful, comfortable and reflects who you are. Follow these steps to create an absolutely alluring eye look from lid to lash.

1. PRIMER
Whether it’s casual for day or sparkly for night, applying a primer should be your first step. An eye primer is designed to even out your skin tone and moisturize skin to help prevent crepeing.

Pür Pick: Mineral Eye Prep. This eye primer works so well that we like to call it “Velcro for your eyelids.”

2. LINER
During the day, go with a natural eyeliner look. Browns and grays give just the right amount of definition without looking too “made up.” To achieve a softer appearance, start from the inner eye and lightly draw along the lash line about two thirds of the way across. Use short strokes to avoid any hard-drawn lines. 

You can be more daring with colors for evening, and try creating a smoky finish. Line your eyelid all the way across the lash line and lightly smudge pencil strokes to create a smoky, blended effect.

Pür Picks: Mineral Eye Defining Pencil in Polished Stone during the day or at the office. Midnight Sapphire is great for night. This sultry, blue-gray liner creates the perfect smoky eye. I always like to use pencils instead of liquids, because it’s easier to blend and fix your mistakes with a pencil. Plus, these come with a smudge-tip applicator that's ideal for blending.

3. SHADOW
For a daytime look, tone it down with pinks and neutral, earthy tones, which work with every eye color. If you have a darker skin tone, just avoid going too light, as pastels can often appear iridescent on you.

A smoky eye is perfect for a nighttime look. Use a bright, shimmering shade to highlight the outer and inner corners of your eyelids, making sure to blend in with your eyeliner. Next, use a Crease Brush to sweep a bolder, deeper shade into the crease of your eye for added depth and dimension.

Pür Picks: Pressed Mineral Shadows in Rose Quartz, Champagne Citrine and Taupe Tourmaline for day and Onyx, True Emerald, and Gold Marcasite for evening.

4. MASCARA
Finish off your eye look with a lengthening, thickening mascara. Never pump the mascara wand; this will cause air to get into the tube and dry your mascara out. And don’t layer it on too thickly, as this will cause “spider legs” and clumping. If you have shorter lashes, try using an eyelash curler to give your lashes a boost. Always curl your lashes before applying mascara; curling afterwards can cause severe breakage.

Pür Pick: Also, known as false eyelashes in a tube, Triple Impact Mascara is designed to lengthen, thicken and curl lashes.

To further beautify your eyes, view the complete line of Eye Products by Pür Minerals.

How to Fight Cellulite

Cellulite is a cosmetic condition that affects an estimated 90 percent of post-adolescent women to some degree. Just flip through the pages of Us Weekly or People and you’ll see that even supermodel-thin celebs are afflicted with this dreaded skin condition. Marked by dimpled, uneven skin in the lower limbs and abdomen, it is the result of a combination of factors that distort the skin’s cellular substructure. While far from life-threatening, in a culture that prizes clear, smooth skin, it’s a condition that can nevertheless carry a steep emotional burden.

Cellulite affects the skin’s subcutis—a layer of connective tissue below the dermis. Here, fat is stored in large chambers separated by collagen fibers supporting the skin above. When either collagen weakens (as it does with age or poor circulation) or fat deposits become congested (as with weight fluctuation or internal inflammation), cellulite appears.

Treating cellulite involves targeting the source, or often sources, of the subcutaneous irregularity. Topical body products that stimulate collagen production can provide relief by rebuilding the skin’s weakened support system, but exercise (that elevates the heart rate for 30 minutes a day) with a caloric-restricted diet (low-sugar, low-fat; high-fiber) is by far the best treatment. This not only helps firm the skin, but also increases blood flow to problem areas. Proper water intake (8-10 glasses a day) also helps, by flushing toxins that can cause internal inflammation.

More often than not, successful treatment depends on a combination of solutions. By taking a holistic approach to the condition—one that includes exercise, diet and topical therapy—the appearance of cellulite can easily be diminished and skin can return to its youthful radiance!

Help keep your skin in shape with the Pür Minerals Skin Care Collection.

Customer Profile: Casey W.

Get to know your fellow Pür Minerals fans with our Customer Profile feature and get helpful tips from customers with skin issues, tone and color just like yours!

Get to know Casey W.

Pür Nickname: StampnQueen
Location: Middletown, OH
Age Group: 45-54
Skin Tone: Light
Skin Type: Combination

How did you find out about Pür Minerals?
Last Thanksgiving, while visiting relatives, I was looking through the ads for specials and ran across an ad for a competing company's starter mineral makeup kit at an ULTA store in Grand Rapids. Armed with my coupon, I entered the store and asked for a makeover. When the makeup artist started on me, she noticed that I have dry skin, so she suggested that I might like Pür Minerals instead, because it has shea butter and is better for dry skin. So, I hopped up into the chair for my Pür makeover and I was hooked. I purchased the Pür Perfection starter kit and then took my two nieces back the next day to get their makeovers and starter kits. I've been a fan ever since.

What is your favorite Pür Minerals product and why? 
Oh my—how can I choose?! Isn't everything Pür Minerals makes a "must-have?" I guess if I was stranded on a desert island, I'd take the Mineral Moisture Infusion because it's so refreshing; especially when you just get out of the shower or come in from a day at the pool. And then there's the Body Butter. I love the lemony smell and the fact that so little goes such a long way. And it absolutely lasts forever on the skin. I can still feel its moisture on my skin the next morning in the shower. Lastly, how could I live without my 4-in-1 Pressed Mineral Makeup?! The coverage is magical! It never feels heavy and it makes my face look flawless—and who knows who I might run into on that desert island! I love looking my best.

What do you see as the chief benefits of Pür Minerals products? 
The main benefit is TIME. You really can look fabulous in under 5 minutes. Honestly, I was a girl who rarely wore makeup except on special occasions or holidays because it took so long to get beautiful and I hated that heavy feeling on my skin. Now, I wear makeup nearly every day. The only time I skip wearing it is when I'm off to the gym or the pool. For a quick daytime look, I'm out the door in 5 minutes. If I want to add a dramatic eye shadow look, it might take 10 minutes. The pricing is absolutely affordable and all of the products are long-lasting; a little goes a very long way. Joli's demand for perfection and excellence shows. Each product I've used has lived up to its promise from Pür and most have exceeded my expectations.

How do Pür Minerals products differ from other makeup and skin care brands that you have used in the past?
Pür Minerals is so light; I can never tell I have it on unless I look in the mirror. The coverage is fabulous and flawless. I have a ruddy complexion compounded with freckles and stress breakouts. With Pür, my face is a work of masterful cover-up which comes off looking flawless. It never looks like I'm covering something up—just a smooth, even skin tone with healthy skin. It's easy to use and really takes very little effort. The other difference is that it's all so versatile and interchangeable. I love that I can use my Mineral Glow and Universal Marble Powders as blush, skin brighteners, eye shadows and lip colors to tan, highlight and contour. I can't think of another product or brand out there that can make that claim!

If you'd like to be profiled on our Pür Beauty Blog, send an email to blog@purminerals.com and tell us about all the great ways you use Pür Minerals products!

Pür Minerals October 2008 Newsletter

Enhance Your Natural Beauty
Flaunt a fresh face this fall and let your natural beauty shine through with rich earth tones and smooth, sheer coverage.

Prime Time
Start with a foundation primer to even out skin tone and texture, creating a smooth canvas for makeup application.

Designed to neutralize discolorations such as blemishes and dark circles, Colour Correcting Primers in Peach and Green minimize imperfections, leaving skin with a silky finish.

FREE Colour Correcting Primer with any purchase of $35 or more!

Choose Your Shade…
Go GREEN to treat facial redness, acne and rosacea.
Pick PEACH for under eye circles, age spots and freckles.

Enter code PURPEACH or PURGREEN at checkout.

Au Naturale
Artificial ingredients tend to weigh skin down and look cakey. For a flawless, barely-there look, use a lightweight, pressed formula with soothing, natural ingredients.

Recently voted “Best Natural Selection” at the 2008 Allure Best of Beauty Awards, 4-in-1 Pressed Mineral Makeup supplies full coverage that looks and feels like part of your skin. 

Bronzed & Beautiful
For fashionable lips that don’t look overdone, try a bronze lip tint. This subtle, metallic shade suits nearly every skin tone and provides a fabulous accent to a fall wardrobe.

Mineral Shea Butter Lipstick in Bronze is a cocktail blend for your lips in a dose of luscious, golden-brown colour. Top with Pout Plumping Lip Gloss in Bronze Sassolite for a soft, metallic shimmer.

Pür Tip: For added definition, line and fill in lips with a lip pencil in a neutral hue before applying lip colour. 3-in-1 Universal Pencil in Natural is the perfect partner for bronze lipsticks and glosses, and can also be used as an eyeliner and brow definer.

From the Expert
“There is nothing more beautiful than a woman who is confident enough to wear simple, natural makeup. Accentuate your features with soft pinks and warm, beige tones to keep your look pure, simple and chic.” Joli Baker, President, Pür Minerals

Pretty in Pink
Restore your skin’s natural, rosy glow with specialty powder in a youthful shade of pink. Universal Marble Powder in Pink provides light and lovely coverage that illuminates eyes, cheeks and lips, while conditioning skin with shea butter and vitamin E.

For expert makeup and skin care advice, sign up for the FREE Pür Minerals monthly E-Newsletter!

Get a Whiter, Brighter, Beautiful Smile

So, you’ve got your favorite lipstick, liner and gloss all picked out—what’s not to smile about? Well, if those pearly whites aren’t as bright as you would like them to be, you might be less inclined to open up. Don’t let a spotty smile drag down your look. Read on for tips and tricks on how to get that sparkle back and keep stains at bay.

 

Cut Back on Dark, Sugary and Acidic Drinks

If a beverage can stain carpet there’s a good chance it can do the same to your teeth. Coffee, black tea, soft drinks and red wine can easily leave there mark if regularly consumed. Worse still, if highly acidic or loaded with sugar, such drinks can wreak havoc on tooth enamel. However, for those who enjoy green or white tea, there is a silver lining. These teas contain potent antioxidants called polyphenols which actually help prevent plaque build-up. Polyphenols also provide exceptional free radical protection to the skin.

 

Get More Vitamin C and Calcium

Vitamin C is as important to oral health as it is to skin health. While most of us think of collagen in terms of skin support, this essential protein is also the main component in bones and teeth. Vitamin C plays a critical role in the production of collagen, making it a necessity for both a sparkling smile and a radiant complexion. In addition to preventing tooth decay and strengthening the bond between tooth and jawbone, regular calcium intake becomes increasing important as we age and osteoporosis becomes a bigger risk.

 

The Truth About Whitening Products

We’ve all seen them at the supermarket—gels, strips, mouthwashes promising snow-blinding white teeth—but do they work? It depends on how bright you want to be. Whitening toothpastes may be able to polish a smile a shade brighter, but don’t expect much more than that. Peroxide-based whitening strips and gels are a bit more intensive and can generally restore brilliance to superficially stained teeth. For a more deeply stained set, go with professional bleaching.