Makeup that Moisturizes? You Bet.

It’s no secret that Pϋr’s multitasking makeup can do a lot—condition the skin, correct common concerns, fight free radicals—all while delivering flawless coverage. But did you know your favorite 4-in-1, Correcting Primer and more can also help hydrate your skin? You’d better believe it.

The secret is in a type of ingredient called ceramides. Ceramides are key lipids found in the skin’s outer layer. If you think of your skin’s cells as bricks, ceramides act as the mortar that binds them together. When this component is compromised, the skin can dry out, lose form and become irritated.

Using a unique encapsulated delivery system, products like Pϋr Minerals’ enhanced Correcting Primers and 4-in-1 Pressed Mineral Makeup with built-in skincare deliver this essential element to the skin. The result is a boost in hydration that quenches parched skin and even helps plump away the look of lines.

Vitamin E in Skincare and Makeup

Vitamin E is something you’ll find in nearly every Pür Minerals product. But what about this valuable nutrient makes it so beneficial to the skin? Read on to find out how vitamin E gives your favorite makeup and skincare products a healthy boost.

Antioxidant Powerhouse
Many of the beneficial qualities of vitamin E come from its antioxidant properties. As an antioxidant, vitamin E helps neutralize free radicals that threaten the skin. Free radicals are volatile molecules with unpaired electrons. These molecules can wreak havoc on the skin (and body) by leeching electrons from living cells. Antioxidants like vitamin E help limit potential damage by sacrificing their own electrons to minimize the threat.

Wrinkle Fighter
While wrinkles are unfortunately a natural part of the aging process, external factors—like UV damage and poor diet and lifestyle choices—can hasten and exacerbate their appearance (often called premature aging). Free radicals from unprotected sun exposure, excess alcohol consumption and/or smoking can weaken the skin’s structural support network of collagen and elastin fibers. Vitamin E helps minimize the damage for a firmer, smoother look and feel.

Color Corrector
Like wrinkles, dark spots, freckles and other discolorations are often the result of (or worsened by) free radical damage. Only instead of compromising collagen or elastin, here the unstable molecules affect pigment-producing cells called melanocytes. When damaged, these cells can produce more melanin, or natural pigment, than normal, resulting in dark, irregular spots and patches on the skin. By neutralizing the free radical threat, antioxidants like vitamin E once again limit the severity and spread of visible damage.

What's In A Name?

If you’ve ever scratched your head trying to decipher the ingredients on the back of a makeup compact or skincare bottle, you’re not alone. With hard-to-read names that stretch on forever, it often seems like ingredient labels are designed to leave all but a select few in a foggy-eyed daze. You shouldn’t need an advanced degree to know what you’re putting on your skin. For that reason, we’ve translated some of the most common—and beneficial—ingredients you’re likely to come across.

Aloe Barbadensis = Aloe Vera
Aloe vera is among man’s oldest natural remedies, renowned for its soothing, hydrating properties.

Butyrospermum Parkii = Shea Butter
Made from the nuts of the African Karite tree, shea butter helps soften and condition the skin.

Camellia Sinensis = Green Tea
Green tea extract is a popular antioxidant shown to help fight free radical inflammation.

Retinyl Palmitate = Vitamin A
An ester of retinol, this skincare ingredient is prized for its antioxidant and rejuvenating benefits.

Simmondsia Chinensis = Jojoba
The oil from this Southwestern shrub’s seeds help hydrate the skin without clogging pores.

Tocopheryl Acetate = Vitamin E
This form of vitamin E has powerful antioxidant benefits, particularly in defense against UV damage.

Get Your Vitamin C!

While most of us are aware of the internal benefits of vitamin C—as an immunity booster and essential nutrient for tissue, bone and eye health—its positive effects on the skin are just as dramatic and well documented. Here's a quick look at how this powerful nutrient packs a complexion-perfecting punch.

Vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid) plays an important role in the production of collagen—the main protein in the body’s connective tissue and the source of the skin’s firmness and definition. As we age, our natural collagen production rate diminishes, resulting in the lack of definition seen in fine lines, wrinkles and sagging skin. A study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition linked a higher intake of vitamin C to a generally better skin-aging appearance for women between the ages of 40 and 74, marked by fewer; less pronounced wrinkles and improved hydration. When applied topically, vitamin C helps boost collagen production and supplement the skin’s natural deficit, improving skin texture and composition.

As an antioxidant, vitamin C has been shown to improve the skin’s defense against UV damage.  Targeting UV-induced free radicals, vitamin C helps prevent inflammation and protect against DNA damage and the signs of premature aging. When added to other sun protective and anti-aging formulas, vitamin C acts as a performance enhancement, boosting their protective and reparative properties.

At Pür Minerals, we’ve incorporated this essential nutrient into many of our formulas. From Day Complex’s natural UV protection to Work It Off's gentle exfoliation to Mineral Moisture Complex’s advanced collagen restoration, our vitamin C beauty products provide powerful tools for positive skin health and radiance.

Road Trip Beauty Tips

Tis the season for traveling! Whether you’re sailing away on a week-long cruise, heading to a romantic getaway or taking a long weekend to enjoy a little R&R, you have to get there somehow.  For many of us, this means a car ride, sometimes a long one. I love road trips. If you are in good company, have some yummy snacks and jamming tunes, it can be a blast getting from point A to point B.

Despite the long hours in a car and my frumpy travel wear (I shall call it comfy chic), I want to look fabulous, like I magically teleported to my destination. To keep a refreshed and travel savvy look, I keep a few items in the car for pit stops and touch-ups.

4-in-1 Mineral Foundation

A powder compact is a must-have for your purse, and it is a great addition to the car! The travel sized 4-in-1 is perfect for a glove compartment or center console.  If you want to reduce shine, cover a blemish or get overall coverage in a jiffy, this pressed powder is a life saver. The retractable chisel brush is also helpful on-the-go.

Mineral Lip Revival

Air conditioning and other drying elements in the car can cause lips to crack and feel chapped, which interferes with belting your favorite songs on the radio. Mineral Lip Revival is the perfect remedy. I absolutely hate it when I leave a lip balm stick in the car, and it melts into a mess in the cap. Since this is a creamier formula in a jar, you won’t have that problem.

Fulvic Mineral Mist

This hydrating mist is like a mystical spray that makes you look and feel great. Containing over 70 essential vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and amino acids, Fulvic Mineral Mist infuses your skin with vital moisture and the active ingredient fulvic acid to help soothe and refresh your face, hair and body. It’s a great way to freshen your face, set makeup, lotion-up your legs and tame stray hairs. It also feels soothing and smells clean and sweet, with just a hint of citrus. I always keep a bottle in my car. I can’t live without it.

Pür Xtra: Pür’s Mineral Mist Miracle

Looking for an instant pick-me-up with praiseworthy skin and makeup benefits? Turn to Pür’s multitasking Fulvic Mineral Mist. This week on Pür Xtra, product expert Amanda Poe highlights the top three benefits of this miracle hydrator. Learn more below or on Facebook and YouTube.

 

Summer Snack Shortcuts

To many, Memorial Day is an unofficial start to the summer season. Though June 21st is the true first day of summer, hot weather is already setting in, and with the heat comes delicious treats. It can be hard to resist the temptation of these delectable snacks, especially if you’re still working on your bikini body like I am, so here are a few alternatives to the typical temptations of summertime.

Temptation #1: Ice Cream

Who doesn’t love an ice cream cone on a sunny day? This creamy, sweet dessert takes many of us back to our childhoods. It’s too bad our metabolisms don’t work as fast as when we were youngsters, right? Traditional ice cream is loaded with fat and sugar, making it a bikini body basher.

An Alternative: FroYo 

Organic nonfat frozen yogurt, nicknamed FroYo, is a fun substitute for ice cream with less than half the calories and sugar. It is well known for having live cultures, which scientists believe boost the immune system, prevent gastrointestinal infection and help improve joint health. It is high in protein, calcium, vitamins and minerals, and at FroYo shops, you can add your own toppings. You can be a bit naughty and add some chocolate or gummy bears, or you can top it off with fruits and nuts.

Temptation #2: Frozen Coffee Drinks

It’s a hot afternoon at work, and a frozen coffee beverage seems like a delightful way to get through that dreadful case of the 2:45s. These drinks are super high in sugar and fat, and some varieties with lots of chocolate, caramel and whipped cream can be worth half a day’s recommended number of calories! Let’s not even think about the dramatic sugar crash that will ensue in an hour.

An Alternative: Iced Coffee

Iced coffee is a fun spin on a regular cup of Joe. It is low in calories, and even if you jazz it up with some skim milk and sugar, it will be much less damaging to your diet than its blended, sugar-laden, fat-filled rival. Iced coffee is also way cheaper than a frozen drink, which keeps your wallet fat and your bum skinny.

Temptation #3: Frozen Cocktails

There is no time that makes margaritas, piña coladas and daiquiris more mouthwatering than summertime. June, July, August and September are popular party months, and who doesn’t like to mingle with a fancy-looking drink in hand? Unfortunately, these cocktails are filled with sugary mixers, sweet liquors and lots of fruit juice. The calories add up quickly with these festive drinks.

Alternative: Simple Drinks

Rather than drink a 300+ calorie frozen drink, why not keep it simple? There is no way to make drinking alcohol diet-friendly, but that’s no reason to give up. A glass of white or blush wine has a third of the calories of a mixed drink. You could even make a spritzer, part wine part clear soft drink. If you want liquor, have it with on the rocks with a splash of juice or your favorite soda. No matter what you choose to drink, it is always important to do so responsibly.

It’s okay to enjoy our favorite summer treats, and moderation is key  to having your ice cream cake and eating it, too. Try to use alternatives when your cravings aren’t too strong, and don’t forget to indulge into healthy summer delicacies, like fresh fruits and veggies. To me, nothing says summer like a perfectly ripe tomato right off the vine, and that is a temptation I will give into any day of the week!

A Friday the 13th Mudd Masque Tale

Happy Friday the 13^th, everybody! I hope you’ve had the best of luck today. I have a story of the Mineral  Mud Masque to share on this freaky Friday!

I noticed earlier this week that I had a bite by the base of my neck near my jaw. No, it wasn’t from a sexy  vampire that sparkles in the sun. (Darn!) It looked like a mosquito bite, but after a day or two, it was still there. Usually, mosquito bites disappear for me quickly; the bite didn’t look unusual or serious, and I assumed it was from a bug with venom of which my body is not accustomed. This sparked a thought.

Pascalite, a key ingredient in Mineral Mudd Masque, was formed eons ago. Native Americans used it for medicinal purposes, and it’s still a popular folk remedy today for insect bites and stings, including that of the brown recluse spider. (I saw one of those once, and it was super creepy.)

Anyway, I slathered a dab of the masque on my bug bite. A while later, it was gone! Wow. I already loved this masque for deep cleaning my pores, and now I’ve learned it can help with minor bug bites. Who knew?

Wedding Cake? How About Royal Pizza Pie?

It seems as the royal wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton draws near, enthusiasts are getting crazier and more creative. Papa John’s jumped on the royal wedding bandwagon last week, having a food artist in the UK create a portrait of the lovebirds out of pizza! "Royal Wedding fever is sweeping the world so we couldn't resist having some fun and creating our very own pizza portrait of Kate and William to celebrate their forthcoming marriage," said Andrew Varga, Papa John's chief marketing officer.

At least we know Kate’s dress designer in this case! Her pizza gown is made of delicious cheese, and her veil is a cascading blanket of mushrooms. William's suit is made out of salami and peppers. I must say, this is fashion at its yummiest, fanaticism at its finest and nothing short of delectable artistry! Don’t they just look good enough to eat?

Antioxidant Rich Plants In Skincare Products

When selecting skin care products, it’s important to be aware of the ingredients used to make them. Cosmetics and treatments containing extracts from antioxidant-rich plants can actually help to nourish and protect your skin. These products can not only cover up blemishes and irritation, but also help soothe the skin below.

Vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant used in products such as Pür Minerals 4-in-1 Pressed Mineral Foundation. With SPF 15 protection, this multipurpose foundation, concealer and finishing powder helps protect your skin from the sun, while its antioxidant ingredients help to moisturize and nourish your face.

Many moisturizers also contain ingredients taken from antioxidant rich plants. Products such as Pür Minerals Mineral Moisture Complex are rich in Vitamin C, a powerful age-defying element shown to help reduce the appearance of lines, wrinkles and even breakouts.

Even cleansers, such as the Pür Minerals Mineral Wash, can be rich in antioxidants, allowing you to nourish your face even as you remove dirt and cosmetics at the end of the day. That’s why it’s so important to look at ingredients. Knowing which products have antioxidants in them allows you to choose treatments which will have the most benefit for your skin.