Nailed It: Celebrity Nail Art With MINX Nails

It may be said that manicures have upped their game of late, with the trend for nail art designs sweeping through the beauty industry and increasingly intricate designs popping up on the nails of everyone from celebrities to that girl you spotted on the train. For those of us who struggle to even paint both hands accurately, the concept of detailed designs may seem incredibly unrealistic, but this is where Minx Nails save the day. With a wide range of gorgeous transfer designs from the simple to funky, Minx offers the opportunity to get in on the nail art craze without the time and hassle of doing it yourself. Your therapist will apply the transfers to your own finger or toe nails with no need for extensions or false nails while you relax and watch in wonder as your nails are transformed in just 40 minutes, set to last for up to 2 weeks.

And that’s exactly what those celebrity nail design fans you’ve spotted did, with some of the world’s top stars frequently sporting Minx designs.

Beyonce in Minx Houndstooth Nails

Beyonce in Minx Green Cheetah Nails

Rihanna in Gold Minx Nails

Lady GaGa in Fishnet Minx Nails

Minx Nails are available at our Lothian Road location where you can choose from an array of different designs, including some of these celebrity favourites. Application costs just £30 and takes just 40 minutes with results lasting for up to 2 weeks.

You can even bring along a friend and both enjoy a Minx manicure with 20% off each, if you take advantage of our recommend a friend offer.

To book your Minx manicure at Lothian Road PURE, book online or call the salon on 0131 221 9133.

Not Just a Treat: The Proven Benefits of Massage

Hot Stone Massage- Just one of our many massage options at PURE.A massage may be seen as a relaxing treat, an opportunity to escape from life’s daily stresses. While this is of course a great effect of massage, there are also an array of substantial health benefits that are present long after you’ve peeled yourself away from the relaxation of the massage table. If we get a little bit geeky we can find a whole bundle of medical research promoting the medical advantages of massage…

Here are just a few of those findings…

An NHS supported study found that back massage had a long term impact in reducing lower back pain.

The same study indicated that regular massage promoted regular sleep patterns.

A separate study compared the effects of massage on lower back pain to other popular therapies such as relaxation therapy, physical therapy and acupuncture and found that in all cases, massage offered the most prominent short and long term improvements.

The same study also found that effects of massage in patients with chronic low-back pain lasted at least one year after the end of the treatment.

A study into chronic back pain found that suffering participants who received a series of either relaxation massage or structural massage were better able to work and be active for up to a year than those getting their usual medical care, which included painkillers, anti-inflammatory drugs, muscle relaxants or physical therapy.

So there we have it, there are considerable benefits to regular massage on top of the great treat of pampering yourself and escaping from your busy day.

Swedish Massage: Just one of PURE's massage therapies.

At PURE we offer a wide range of different massage therapies in both our Spa and Beauty areas and of course our therapists at all of our locations are only a phone call away if you’d like to discuss the best treatment to suit your needs. You can also Tweet Us or leave us a Facebook Comment with any questions!

If you’re looking for the added bonus of a great deal on your massage or you just want to see if it’s for you, you might wish to take advantage of our current offer on Half Price Spa Taster Treatments and try a 25 minute back, neck and shoulder massage for just £22.50!

As always, you can book online here.

Get Your Beauty Essentials

There is still time to wear your summer dress so why not get your beauty essentials done at PURE?

If you do not like the idea of having permanent hair removal (IPL treatment) then waxing is a good alternative for hair removal.

We use a hygienic waxing system called PhD, in which an individual disposable applicator head is used for each treatment.  When your week is busy and you don’t have much time, you will appreciate this fast and effective waxing system.

Waxing removes the hair at the root and therefore does not need to be done as often as shaving. After continual waxing treatments the hair growth will be lighter and finer.

Did you know that your hair grows in three stages and at varying lengths? It is therefore recommended that you wait at least 4 weeks for most of your hair to be long enough to ensure complete smoothness. The growth of hair varies from one person to another and can be influenced by genes, hormones and environmental factors.

At PURE, we recommend you to exfoliate the day before your treatment in order to remove all the dead skin cells which will help to prevent ingrown hairs forming. Try the Elemis Devils Mint Body Scrub as it contains a natural anti-septic, peppermint essential oil. A revitalising scrub you can buy at any PURE locations or on our Spa shop for £24.60.

For after your treatment, apply the PhD post lotion that will soothe and hydrate the skin. It has ingredients such as witch hazel that has healing and anti-septic qualities. The PhD Body Lotion (only £6.50) is also great after sunbathing as it calms and revitalises the skin!

PURE waxing image

Book your waxing appointment here: http://www.purespauk.com/book_now.htm

Invest In Your Skin

When last have you had a facial?

We are exposed to dust, pollution, smoke and other harmful particles every day that clog up the pores of our skin. Climatic conditions such as the sun, wind and even air-conditioned environments dehydrate the skin.  Not to mention the negative effects that smoking and a poor diet has on our skin functioning.

A facial deep cleanses the skin as it unblocks pores and removes dirt particles and the build up of skin cells. Did you know that between 30,000 and 40,000 dead skin cells shed from your body every hour!

Facials stimulate the skin to function at its optimum and will slow down pre-mature ageing as well as soften wrinkles. Facials are also wonderful preventative treatments to keep your skin looking younger for longer!

Health benefits include regulating the immune system, aiding the body’s detoxification and of course promoting relaxation for the body and mind!

Have you ever enjoyed an Elemis Facial at PURE Spa?

The Visible Brilliance Facial is an anti-ageing facial and has proven to increase moisture levels by up to 61% and skin elasticity by 40% after just one treatment! It is a 75 minute treatment for only £79 and a course of 6 is £395.

For best results this facial is recommended to have once a month and in order to maintain the treatment benefits, a good  skincare regime at home is needed.

Our approachable therapists will give their professional advice on how best to look after your skin when you come for a facial at PURE.

PURE facial image

Weight Loss at the Infra-Red Sauna

Did you know that you can lose up to 800 calories in a single session in one of PURE’s infra-red sauna cabins?

We are often asked by clients how is this possible?  Well, we are going to try and explain all in this post.

The infrared energy in the sauna penetrates up to 2 inches deep inside your body. This deep penetration causes a heating effect in your muscles and your organs, which increases your metabolic rate.  This causes your body to react by raising your pulse and through sweating.

Infra red sauna at PURE Spa Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Glasgow Scotland
Infra red sauna at PURE Spa Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Glasgow Scotland

You can easily lose as much as four pounds during one 30 minute infrared session ! However, much of this weight loss will be primarily because you lose fluids. Some of this weight will return as soon as you drink. 

How can infrared sauna weight loss work then, you ask?

Well, you burn calories when you sweat.  In an average sauna session, you can sweat up to 500ml of perspiration.  This is the equivalent of around 300Kcal, just for sitting and relaxing in the sauna.

We advise you to drink two or three glasses of water for every 15 minutes you are in the sauna. Make sure you drink enough so you don’t dehydrate. By drinking water you make sure you don’t replenish the lost calories.

An average person weighing around 10.5 stones would normally burn up in 30 minutes of exercise :

Marathon running           593

Swimming                           300

Jogging                                300

Tennis                                   265

Cycling                                  225

Walking                                150

Anyone being used to the heat in a sauna could easily burn 600 to 800 Kcal and you will lose weight much easier than in a traditional sauna because the infrared heat penetrates deeper into your body than the heat in an ordinary sauna. Human fat starts to liquefy at 42 Deg C (the temperature of the infra red sauna), so subcutaneous fat can be released along with your sweat. Your pores are cleansed, your skin will become healthier and you get rid of all kinds of toxins that are accumulating in your body fat.

This detoxification can also help to correct metabolic imbalances which can cause poor digestion and weight gain.

A 30 minute session in the infra-red sauna at PURE Spa is only £10, so what are you waiting for?

You will get even more benefit if you combine your infra red sauna treatment with a massage therapy in the spa.  The sauna heat penetrates deep into your muscle tissue, releasing toxins and warming up the muscles.  A massage therapy after your sauna session will be more effective at easing muscle tensions, as your muscles are already warm, which will rid your body of even more toxins and leave you feeling relaxed, refreshed and truly re-vitalised!

For August, with our Half Price Spa Taster Therapy offer, you can enjoy a 30 minute infra-red sauna session and 25 minute massage therapy for only £32.50.  Available in Union Square, Aberdeen, Silverburn, Glasgow and Ocean Terminal in Edinburgh.  Click here to make a booking, and leave us a comment to let us know how you get on!