Hair Removal Guide

‘Tis the season for short shorts, skirts, swimsuits…and the dreaded hair removal that goes along with them. Sure, life would be easier if we didn’t have to worry about annoying—and sometimes embarrassing—stubble, but baring silky-smooth legs isn’t nearly as tedious or painful as it used to be. (Ancient hair removal techniques included shaving with shells and plucking each hair individually—ouch!)

To those of you who aren’t concerned with such trifling rituals (Julia Roberts at the 1999 premier of Notting Hill comes to mind), more power to ‘ya; but for those who want to be fuzz-free, check out this Pür Minerals hair removal guide.    

Shaving – Razors now come in a variety of styles that are geared to remove hair and look pretty in your bathroom. Look for a razor with a moisturizing strip to replace skin’s natural oils that are stripped away while shaving. Exfoliate just prior to shaving and moisturize directly afterward to help keep skin hydrated. Shaving is by far the cheapest and quickest hair removal solution, but the drawback is that hair grows back quickly, so you may have to do it every day.

Waxing – Whether you’re going to the salon/spa or using an at-home wax kit, hair should be grown out at least 1/4 inch before waxing. Depending on hair thickness, waxing can keep your legs hair-free for six to eight weeks. Another bonus is that waxing pulls the hair out at the root, which makes it come in finer and lighter when it eventually grows back. On the downside, the process has been known to be a bit painful and irritating. Dust sensitive areas with talc to keep the wax from sticking to your skin.

Depilatories – Depilatory creams have come a long way since the days of Nair’s classic “if you dare wear short shorts” campaign in 1975. These days, depilatories can dissolve hair in as little as two minutes and leave skin soft and smooth for weeks. Look for a formula that contains moisturizing ingredients to keep skin supple and hydrated. And remember, depilatory creams are chemical-based, so avoid sun exposure for at least 24 hours afterward.

Lasers – Considered by many to be the latest and greatest development in hair removal, lasers can remove hair permanently after 3 to 5 treatments, and with minimal pain. Unfortunately, this can set you back hundreds to thousands of dollars, so it's not always the best option. Laser hair removal is different than electrolysis, which entails the use of an electric current applied through a needle to remove hair. Electrolysis is more painful than laser therapy, and works better on small areas such as the upper lip and eyebrows.   

For more ways to get silky-smooth legs this season, shop the Pür Minerals skin care collection.

Recession-Proof Beauty Tips

So, you’re a beauty junkie (why else would you be reading this blog?). There are worse things to be, but in this economy, you’ve got to play it smart—get more bang for your buck. Here are a few recession-proof beauty tips to help you cut back and still look your best.

Be a Multi-tasker
Instead of buying dozens of products with individual uses, look for multi-purpose makeup and skin care products. For example, try a makeup pencil that you can use as an eyeliner, lip liner and brow enhancer all in one. Or, ditch your sheer lip gloss for an all-over balm that also conditions hands, nails and elbows. Trade in your run-of-the-mill foundation for a multi-tasking formula like Pür Minerals 4-in-1 Pressed Mineral Makeup—foundation, powder and concealer with SPF 15. Trust us, your wallet and your makeup bag with thank you.

Enjoy an At-home Facial
Who doesn’t love a trip to the spa? It can do wonders for your skin, body and mind. Unfortunately, it can also cost a pretty penny. To save time and money, save the spa outings for special occasions and try an at-home facial treatment like While You Were Out by Pür Minerals. This 60-day anti-aging skin fitness system firms, smoothes and brightens the complexion without the irritation of traditional peels—and at a fraction of the cost.

Get Back to Your Roots
If you color your hair, you know that those salon visits can add up. Going back to your original hair color is a great way to save money. Think of it as a makeover, you’ll have a whole new look—without all the maintenance. If you can’t do without your highlights, you can stretch out the time between salon visits with at-home hair care products. Use a color-boosting shampoo and hair sunscreen—we love the Aveda Color Conserve line—to protect your locks and make your dye job last longer.

Save time and money with Pür Minerals makeup and skin care at recession-proof prices!

Pür Minerals on E! News

Those of you E! News fans out there may have caught a glimpse of our very own award-winning 4-in-1 Pressed Mineral Makeup if you tuned into last Thursday's show. The one-minute makeup miracle was featured as part of an Earth Day-inspired segment on celebrities' favorite natural beauty products.

Pop-country sensation Taylor Swift swears by the multi-tasking foundation, powder and concealer with SPF 15. Perfect for summer, 4-in-1 Pressed Mineral Makeup is lightweight, oil-free and filled with antioxidants for a flawless complexion. 

Check out 4-in-1 Pressed Mineral Makeup on E! News    

Give Mom the Gift of Beauty and Get a FREE Gift from Pür Minerals

Celebrate Mother's Day with Pür! Starting today you can get a little something extra for FREE when you shop gorgeous gifts for Mom. Don't miss out - this limited time offer ends 4.30.09. Mother's Day is May 10th!

Our Gifts to You:

Spend $25 and Receive:
Pout Plumping Lip Gloss – choose Mom’s perfect shade!
$15 VALUE
Enter Code FREE25 at Checkout

Spend $50 and Receive:
Pout Plumping Lip Gloss in any shade
+ Triple Impact Mascara
+FREE Standard Shipping
$32.50 VALUE
Enter Code FREE50 at Checkout

Spend $75 and Receive:
Pout Plumping Lip Gloss in your colour choice
+Triple Impact Mascara
+Live, Love, Laugh Specialty Powder Collection
+FREE Standard Shipping
$72 VALUE
Enter Code FREE50 at Checkout

Valid through 4/30/09 at PurMinerals.com, or while supplies last. This offer cannot be combined with any other Pür Minerals offer or promotion. Not valid on prior purchases. Pür Minerals reserves the right to discontinue or modify this offer at any time.

Doll Up Your Digits

Sandal season has arrived; that means it’s time to get those toes and fingers in tip top shape. Like any other part of the body, hands, feet 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. So before you go strapping on your gladiators, check out these tips from Pür Minerals on how to get happy, healthy nails.

Beef Up Your Nail Beds
Eat a diet rich in protein, fiber and essential vitamins and minerals. In addition to being generally good for your skin and body, nutrients found in fruits and veggies help sustain the skin’s vibrant luster and promote healthy keratin in the nails.

Moisturize Regularly
Moisturize hands, feet 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. Always moisturize after removing nail polish.

Don’t Bite
Never bite or pick at your nails or cuticles. Even the slightest cut or break can invite an infection lasting months. Instead, perform routine nail maintenance by filing with a fine emery board. Make sure to clean under nails to prevent bacterial and fungal growth.

Paint Your Nails Green
Green polish can indeed be chic, but we’re referring to nail polishes with green ingredients. That means no toluene, formaldehyde or other harsh chemicals which can dry out your nails and cause cracking.Pür Pick: Try Sephora by OPI nail colour. This long-lasting, chip-resistant polish comes in a variety of vibrant shades perfect for spring and summer. Each fun, flirty hue has an equally amusing name, such as I’m With Brad, Meet for Drinks and Nonfat Soy Half Caff.

For more top beauty trends and spring cleaning must-haves, visit www.PurMinerals.com. 

Mother’s Day on a Budget

With Mother’s Day only a few weeks away, it’s time to start looking for that perfect gift for Mom. Now is the one time of year when you can really show her just how much you love and appreciate all she’s done for you. But just because you want to express your gratitude doesn’t mean you have to break the bank. Think outside the box and get creative; remember, it truly is the thought that counts. Here are a few fabulous Mother’s Day gift ideas that require a big heart, not a big bankroll.

1. Flowering Plants
Why give Mom a single bouquet when you can give her the enduring beauty of flowers that she can plant? Not only will her favorite annuals or perennials outlast a short-lived bouquet of roses, but they'll cost a lot less. Plus, you can plant them together and make the gift extra special.

2. Memory Album
If you are the type that saves everything, now is the time to go through all those old cards, letters and photos and turn them into Mother’s Day scrapbook. Arrange the family mementos in a personalized keepsake box or photo album and give Mom the gift of warm, loving memories.

3. Plan a Picnic
Enjoy the gorgeous spring weather with a picnic in the park just for Mom. Do all the cooking—be sure to pack some of her favorites—and pamper her with some sweet treats. Don’t let unexpected showers ruin your plans; you can always cook a lovely meal for her at home.

4. Maid for a Day
What Mom wouldn’t love this gift? Let her know how much you appreciate all the housework she did for you growing up by repaying the favor. Clean her house from top to bottom and help her with any small repairs. If you can afford to hire a maid service, she’ll love that too, but it might mean more coming from you.

5. Chocolate Roses
Instead of buying her chocolates and roses, combine these two popular gift ideas into one delicious and beautiful treat. Most candy and chocolate shops offer this reasonably priced novelty gift (our favorite is Schakolad Chocolate Factory), or you can make your own using cellophane, floral stems and Hershey’s Kisses.

For more heartfelt gifts for mom at an exceptional value, shop mineral makeup and skin care from Pür Minerals.

Get Your Body Summer Ready

Okay, so you had good intentions to start shaping up in January. You promised yourself that you’d work out for 30 minutes, five days a week; eat your fruits and veggies; and get eight hours of sleep each night. If you’ve gotten a late start (or haven’t started at all), it’s still not too late to get moving. Here are a few easy ways to shape up this spring so that you’ll look summer fresh and beach ready in no time.

Work it Out
There’s no getting around the fact that exercise is an essential part of shaping up. While it’s not all that difficult to begin an exercise program, success comes from sticking to it. The key to staying motivated is to make your workouts fun and mix things up a bit. Rather than restricting your cardio to the gym day in and day out, try doing a variety of physical activities that you enjoy. Get your heart rate going and take advantage of spring’s warmer weather and longer days with a run on the beach, a hike in the mountains or laps in the pool.

Spring in Bloom
Reducing the amount of alcohol, sugar and caffeine in your diet will minimize inflammation (i.e. bloating and swelling) and keep bodily systems running smoothly, so that you can shed those unwanted pounds. Learn to yearn instead for healthy, energy-boosting snacks like fresh fruits and veggies, whole grains, seeds and nuts. Indulge in delicious and nutritious seasonal treats like raspberries, strawberries, and blueberries, which are in full bloom by late spring. Rich in antioxidants and vitamin C, berries help heal weathered skin, and can shrink pores and tone skin.

Out with the Old
Exfoliation has indeed become a beauty buzzword, but the process of shedding old skin is an important one. Whether maintaining a silky smooth finish, polishing away lines and wrinkles, or restoring clarity and color to dull, lifeless skin, exfoliation is essential to maintaining the health and vitality of the skin. Scrubbing away dead skin cells revitalizes the epidermis and dermis, revealing younger, fresher skin.  An all-over exfoliating treatment like Pür Polish is perfect for getting your skin summer-ready. Because it uses all-natural aloe vera and citrus oils, it moisturizes as it exfoliates to plump and protect young skin cells.

For more summer-ready beauty treatments, check out the complete Pür Minerals skin care collection.

Spring Makeup Tips

Spring has sprung. What exactly does that mean for your makeup? New looks, new colours and an array of new products to refresh your makeup bag. While each season brings its own trends, spring makeup is generally lighter and brighter than its preceding winter colour. Here is a short and sweet list of our top Pür Minerals makeup tips for a gorgeous spring look, pür and simple style.

1.    Spring is all about a fresh, flawless complexion. Ditch the heavy foundation and dust on a lightweight, pressed formula for natural looking beauty. Dust a peachy-pink or rosy blush onto the apples of your cheeks for a pop of color.

2.    Take advantage of spring’s sunny days and changing light with bronzers and brightening powders. Highlight and contour the bridge of your nose, cheekbones and décolleté to capture the light from different angles and sculpt your way to perfection.

3.    Design a colourful smoky eye, one of spring’s top trends. Instead of the traditional grays, browns, and blacks, try vibrant blue, green and purple eye shadows. For a softer smoky eye, use an Eyeliner Brush to apply wet eye shadow as a liner and blend.

4.    Get naturally luscious lips with nude lip colour. Start with a neutral lipstick or lip tint (we love Pür Minerals Iced Topaz Mineral Shea Butter Lipstick or Mineral Lip Tint SPF 15 in Sandy Quartz) and glam it up by applying a coat of sheer lip gloss for a sexy shine.

5.    Make eyes pop with metallic shadows and liners. Apply gold or silver eye liner pencil to the inside corners of your eyes and just beneath the brow bone to give your eye look a sultry, shimmering finish. Perfect for an evening look.

For more top spring beauty trends, shop the Pür Rocks on Spring 2009 Collection.

Tips to Curb Your Cravings

Temptation is all around us during the winter months when you’re stuck indoors with nothing to do but reach for junk food and hope for warmer weather. Reality begins to set in when spring arrives and you’re forced to shed your sweatpants and put on your swimsuit. Here are a few simple tips from Pür Minerals to help you cut out the cravings and hit the beach running.

What Causes Cravings?
First, take comfort in knowing that most cravings don’t just come out of the blue; often, they’re signs that your body may need more energy. While your initial response may be to reach for that bag of potato chips, you can train your body to grab a healthy snack instead. When you snack on healthy foods like fruits and nuts, you’ll get the same amount of energy—minus the fat.

Spice Up Your Snacks
Let’s face it, celery sticks and apple slices may not compare to cookies and chips, but with a few slight alterations, you can turn this rabbit food into yummy treats. Spice up your snacks by adding a peanut butter to celery sticks or sprinkling cinnamon and Splenda® on your apple slices. Fiber-rich fruits, green, leafy vegetables and whole grains will not only leave your body feeling satisfied, but contain far less calories and fat as well.

Ration it Out
Now you know to reach for the healthy stuff, but another key to staying on track is portion control. To help curb your cravings, stick to pre-proportioned snacks. For example, if you bring an apple, a yogurt and a pack of oatmeal to the office, you will be able to keep track of how much you’ve eaten during the course of the day (and also prevent any unnecessary trips to the vending machine.) Another hot tip is to choose snack foods that require a little bit of work, like shelled peanuts or edamame.

Pür Minerals on Good Day Atlanta

If you're an early riser and an Atlanta resident, tune into FOX 5 News from 7 to 9 am for tomorrow's Good Day Atlanta morning show. Our own 4-in-1 Pressed Mineral Makeup will be featured in a "Multi-tasking Beauty Products" segment with expert Jenn Falik.

Check out Pür Minerals award-winning one-minute makeup miracle live!