The Truth About Chapped Lips?

Everyone at some point in their life will have chapped lips. Whether it is a mild annoyance or a serious interference on your everyday life, chapped lips should never just be ignored.

What causes chapped lips?

Chapped lips can occur for many reasons. Common causes include:

• Dry/Cold weather: During the winter especially, staying inside and relying on forced air can dry out the skin, especially the lips and lead to cracking skin.
• Medications: certain medications, such as those containing retinoids, high doses of vitamin a or certain chemotherapy medications can lead to dry skin, especially in the lips.
• Dehydration: a lack of hydration affects all areas of your body, including the delicate skin on your lips.
• Frequently licking your lips: it may sound counter-intuitive but frequently licking your lips can actually remove moisture and cause your lips to feel drier and begin to crack. Side note: bacteria from your mouth can enter these tiny cracks and cause infections – this can lead to serious medical problems that require medication.

How can they be fixed?

The good news is many over-the-counter remedies will work to smooth your lips and restore proper hydration. Here are some simple tips to remember:

• Your lips need to be protected just like the rest of your skin. Choose a lip balm with SPF to prevent any damage from UV rays.
• Avoid flavored lips balms which encourage licking as these will remove the balm and cause your lips to dry out further.
• Lips balms with aloe vera and vitamin e may help to reduce redness and irritation.
• Reapply frequently as lip balm gets removed by daily activities such as talking and eating.

One product that really works is Vibran C .  

When to seek medical attention

Persistent dry lips which do not respond to at-home treatment options should be looked at by a medical professional. Remember that your skin is an indicator of overall health and you should not ignore persistent skin issues, even if they seem inconsequential.

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Dark Truth about Dark Eyes

They say that beauty is in the eye of the beholder and believe us when we say there is no more critical judge of your face than your set of eyes. Lines, wrinkles and puffiness can all contribute to signs of aging but perhaps the most frustrating problem to face is dark under eye circles. Sometimes referred to as “bags” because they can be accompanied by puffiness, this is something that affects men and women equally. Luckily there are steps you can take to banish the darkness and greet the day with eyes that look as great as you feel.

Before you can treat a problem you have to know the source. Late nights are often blamed for this occurrence but if that were the case a good night’s sleep should provide a simple cure. Anyone who has developed dark eyes knows that sometimes no matter how great your sleep was those bags still taunt you in the morning.

So what could be causing those dark shadows to develop?

Common sources of under eye circles include:

• Allergies
• Heredity
• Pigmentation Irregularities
• Nasal Congestion (there is a reason you don’t look so great when your sick)
• Thinning Skin (result of intrinsic or natural aging)
• Loss of Collagen and Elasticity (result of intrinsic or natural aging)
• Sun Exposure (result of extrinsic aging or aging influenced by the environment)
• Lifestyle Factors like smoking, drinking alcohol or caffeine

Self Treatment versus Professional Care

Seeing a specialist such as a dermatologist can be an expensive choice when dealing with a problem like under eye circles. If you are worried there might be other factors contributing to your dark eyes consult with a physician but there are several at home treatments that you can try as well.

• Cold Compress – try placing a cold or cool compress against your eyes. This can reduce dilation and puffiness temporarily.
• Pillows – an extra pillow under your head at night can prevent fluid from pooling in the lower lids.
• Get More Rest – while it is true that a lack of sleep is not a direct cause of your dark eyes, less sleep can make your eyes appear more hallow and impact the overall look and feel of your skin. Catch some extra “z’s” to keep your skin looking fresh.
• Protect Your Skin – the environment and especially the sun can wreak havoc on your skin in the long run. Overexposure can lead to a myriad of health problems to cover up when possible (sunglasses are an inexpensive way to protect the fragile skin around your eyes) and use sun block, even in the Winter.
• Make Up – Although not all make up will cover those dark circles, try an oil free concealer to help minimize the appearance. This should be paired with a cold compress to reduce puffiness at the same time.
• Serums – There are several great serums available that utilize natural ingredients to minimize the appearance of dark circles. Try using one twice daily to see incredible results!

Don’t let dark circles ruin your day! Fight back against this premature sign of aging by taking control. Home remedies may take time to show full results (allow up to 12 weeks) but are worth the investment on the road to healthier, happier skin care.

Is There Anything More Annoying Than Dry and Itchy Skin?

Winter, Spring, Summer or Fall – dry and itchy skin can attack at any time during the year and make your life miserable. Although many cases of dry skin can be traced to environmental factors and changes in the weather, some skin conditions can be chronic health problems. Banish the itchy dryness today in a few easy steps!

Why Does My Skin Feel So Dry?

Dry skin is the result of less moisture in the skin cells. Low humidity can wreak havoc on skin that is already prone to dryness but everyone can fall victim to dry skin at some point in their lives. Other causes include frequent exposure to water (especially hot water) as this breaks down the lipid barrier in skin, harsh soaps, sun exposure, psoriasis and thyroid disorders.

Should I Worry?

Dry skin is more than just a mild annoyance. Although the itching and flaking can be enough reason to seek a treatment, here is one more: cracked skin can give bacteria the entrance it wants to get into your body. As the skin dries out tiny cracks form, especially on the hands and this leads to breaks. Some people may experience extremely severe cracks that cause bleeding, pain and discomfort. These cracks are much like a cut and need to be taken care of immediately before becoming infected. Your skin is your body’s best defense against disease and you don’t want to take it for granted!

What Can I Do?

If you have suffered from dry skin in the past, you probably know that most basic over the counter moisturizers have little long term effect on this problem. Some people may apply moisturizers continually throughout the day and still suffer from this problem. A thick moisturizer, alcohol free, is an important step in the defense against dry skin. Thin and runny lotions will do little to “seal in” the moisture your skin so desperately needs. If you are not sure, put your lotion to the test. Squeeze a nickel sized amount in your palm and then turn your hand sideways – if the lotion runs or drops off entirely, it’s the wrong lotion.

Final Thoughts

Dry skin is a common problem that affects millions of people each year. Keeping a daily skin routine that includes a high quality moisturizer specifically designed to target dry skin will go a long way towards rectifying this problem. Avoid dry environments and invest in a humidifier for the home. Remember that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, especially in regards to skin care. It is always simpler to take preventative action rather than needing to repair significant damage.

Banish “Puffy” Eyes and Diminish Dark Circles!

              Your eyes are perhaps the most important focal point of your entire face. The eyes are not only your way of seeing the world but the world’s way of understanding your emotions and gauging your reactions to situations. Your eyes provide more information to the people around you than you are probably aware. Think about the eyes and what makes them beautiful and vibrant to look at – you are probably not imagining dark baggy circles beneath them are you?

            Puffy eyes are the result of a variety of factors including fluid retention, allergies, hormones, stress and swelling. This produces a pouch like appearance beneath the lower lid. The skin surrounding the eye is much thinner than other areas of the face and therefore is much more sensitive to irritation and other factors. Other factors that may lead to the development of puffy eyes include lack of sleep, high sodium diets (another form of fluid retention) and excessive drinking could also be a culprit.

            Dark circles are surrounded in much misinformation and myth. For example, if you have dark circles under your eyes, how often has a simple eight hours of sleep completely diminished them? Dark eyes are not the simple result of staying up all night and cramming for an exam. They are actually the product of oxidizing hemoglobin. That may sound scary but it is actually the result of a natural process by the body when moving blood through the tiny capillaries surrounding your eyes. If the blood gets “off track” it begins to form dark, bruise like appearances under the skin and ta-da under your eyes.

            Puffy and dark eyes are a common complaint mainly because of how tired and old they can make you appear. Since these problems are so commonly associated with a lack of sleep or stress, they can also invite unwelcome comments and questions regarding your appearance. While they cannot be cleared up overnight, there are several home remedies that can significantly reduce the appearance of dark circles and decrease swelling under the eyes. More significant eye puffiness that is the result of the natural aging process may require outside assistance.

            There are several products available to help alleviate both these problems and with consistent use, will produce dramatic results. A Refreshing Anti-Puff Eye Gel is a great way to reduce under eye puffiness by 65% in as little as 28 days. This gel will reduce water retention while improving the original firmness and elasticity of the area. Using a good moisturizer designed for sensitive eye tissue will help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles as well.

            A good Dark Circle Diminisher will help to reduce the darkness beneath and near the eyes. Typically these are a serum rubbed on before other moisturizers and serums are applied. Pairing this with a strong Eye Lift Gel will promote dramatic difference in the overall appearance of your eyes and face.

            When people look into your eyes you want them to remark on how beautiful and youthful they appear, not on how tired you look and that is why taking steps now before the problems become severe and require extensive treatments will save you time and grief. No one likes to be singled out regarding their appearance, especially when it is something that is easily correctable. Bring a fresh and younger look back to your face today by taking getting rid of the excess baggage!