Natural Lip Care

 Seasonal Changes and Personal Care

When the weather gets chilly, our skin tends to dry. To maintain your equilibrium, personal care routines need to be maintained and a few changes made. If you are like me, you find that in the the winter months your lips appear to crave more moisture. 

Vitamins and Lips

Lips have VERY SENSITIVE skin and depend on vitamins to keep them from drying and cracking. 

• Include VITAMIN B-2 in your diet to maintain skin and lip health. Vitamin B-2 is found in dairy products, eggs, green leafy vegetables, beans, nuts and lean meats. A deficiency manifests itself through mouth or lip sores.
   
• Include VITAMIN B-3 (niacin) in your diet to ward off dry, cracked lips, dermatitis and red, swollen tongue and mouth. Vitamin B-3 can be found in foods such as tuna, halibut, beef, pork, poultry, cereal grains, been, green leafy vegetables, and milk.
   
• Include VITAMIN B-6 in your diet to ward off skin disorders, dermatitis and cracks at the corners of the mouth. Food sources of B-6 include meats, whole grains, legumes and green leafy vegetables.
   
• Include VITAMIN A in your diet, but not TOO MUCH. An excess of Vitamin A is inked to dry skin and lips. Most people get enough Vitamin A from a diet that includes: dark-green leafy vegetables and yellow-orange fruits and vegetables, beef, calf and poultry liver, eggs and dairy products. Excess Vitamin Z often comes from supplements that provide your body with more than it needs.
   

Chapped Lips

 

Chapped lips often result from a combination of factors, from nutrient deficiencies, medications, and lifestyle habits, and tend to be exacerbated by chilly, dry temperatures. 

You can take steps to avoid chapped lips by:

• Refraining from licking your lips ( it actually dries them out more)
• Staying hydrated  
• Using a humidifier if the inside of your home is dry
• Applying moisturizer before you leave the house and before bed. Natural options include: olive oil, coconut oil, canola oil, vitamin E, almond oil or cocoa butter 
• Refraining from manufactured products that include dehydrating agents like menthol and artificial colors. 

Take steps to repair chapped lips through exfoliation. You can repair chapped lips by exfoliating prior to adding moisture. 

• Exfoliating can be as simple as allowing your toothbrush to gently remove dead skin cells or as complicated as creating a paste to remove the cells. 
• An exfoliating paste can be created with a combination of 1/2 a teaspoon of coconut oil and 1/2 a teaspoon of brown or white sugar. Combine the two in a bowl and rub on your lips in a small circular motion. Rinse with warm water and moisturize immediately.

Disclaimer: “Portions of this post were provided by New Hope Network. I am a member of the New Hope Influencer Co-op, a network of health and wellness bloggers committed to spreading more health to more people.”

Dry Hands, Nails, and Cuticles No More

Natural Remedies for Dry Winter Skin

Our personal care routine changes as the weather changes. In the colder months our skin dries out and begins to crack more often than it does in the warmer months. This is a result of several factors such as: wind, cooler temperatures, and more time spent inside in "heated" rooms.  No matter where you live, there are noticeable seasonal changes, albeit some more drastic than others. Each of us needs to make some changes to our skin care routine as the seasons change (or as we travel to a different climate for business or pleasure).

Why Does our Skin Dry Out in Winter?

Research has indicated the cause of seasonal dry skin is simple: a lack of moisture and natural oils (ceramides - lipid molecules containing fatty acids) which the body doesn’t produce as readily in dry air conditions. “The winter weather disrupts your skin’s barrier function (the protective lipid layer and immune system), causing irritated, dry and cracked skin,” says “The Skin Saint” Holly Cutler, owner of Michigan skin care clinic, FACE.

Natural Remedies

Drink extra water

Extra hydration INSIDE your body will help OUTSIDE your body. Skin is our largest organ, hydration will help it function properly. Hydration not only benefits your skin, it also can boost your mood, help you focus, and help your digestive system. I start each day with hot water and lemon to detoxify my body.

 

Avoid EXTRA HOT showers

Yes, when it is cold outside a HOT shower can warm the body but it can also dry out your skin. Take a warm shower and then use a plant based moisturizer with Vitamin E to seal in your skin's moisture.

Moisturize
Moisturize with plant based products with skin-mimicking ingredients, such as glycolipids, fatty acids and ceramides.  Nutrient- and fatty acid–rich plant ingredients such as  calendula, avocado oil, chamomile, and castor seed oil are recommended for soothing, healing and hydrating 

Another up-and-comer for tackling severe dryness and irritation is cannabidiol (CBD), derived from the hemp plant. CBD is thought to manage inflammation when applied topically and contains vitamins A, C and E, along with a range of essential fatty acids.  

Dry Hands, Nails, and Cuticles No More

One strategy I have used for years to repair my dry feet also works for my hands. I apply a rich, plant-based cream every single night to my feet and put on a pair of socks to repair my feet (especially my dry heals) from the day. You can also do this with hand cream and gloves! Olive oil, beeswax, calendula, and shea butter are just a few of the ingredients to look for on ingredient lists to ensure you are getting a nourishing hand cream. Cuticles can also be nourished at the same time your hands are hydrated. Each night, you can soften your cuticles by applying jojoba, neem oil, or cocoa butter when you use your hand cream before you put on gloves. 

Nails need to be cared for just like your skin. Nails can be repaired through nutrition. Nails are made of keratin, a protein. According to Lisa Drayer, RD, author of The Beauty Diet (McGraw-Hill, 2009), one needs to obtain about 25% of their daily calories from protein. She suggests consuming a mix of protein sources to provide the most optimal range of amino acids to support strong nails. 

Disclaimer: Portions of this post was provided by New Hope Network. I am a member of the New Hope Influencer Co-op, a network of health and wellness bloggers committed to spreading more health to more people.”

Coconut Oil is a MUST-HAVE product for your home!

Coconut Oil is a MUST-HAVE product for your home!

Why use Coconut Oil?

It is easy to digest and is NOT stored as fat.
It provides you with FAST energy and is full of medium chain fatty acids
It provides benefits to your heart, brain, eyes, skin, and joints 
It is free from gluten and animal products

Coconut Oil Has Uses Outside the Kitchen

Yes, coconut oil is great to use in the kitchen but it also can be used for NATURAL BEAUTY.
1 TBSP contains 640 mg of the antifungal caprylic acid
1 TBSP contains 550 mg of capric acid to support healthy inflammation response

Coconut Oil for Natural Beauty

Coconut Oil is rich in fatty acids to nourish skin, hair, and nails
Coconut Oil can be used to make:

• LIP BALM (Link to a DYI Lip Balm on Bustle that I have used and like)
• SHAVE CREAM
• LEAVE-IN CONDITIONER (DYI Recipe from Bustle)
• SKIN MOISTURIZER

Coconut Oil can also be used to:

• REMOVE EYE MAKEUP
• RESTORE DRY SCALP
• PREVENT NAIL BREAKAGE

Purchase Products Made with Coconut Oil

I enjoy using Fractionated Coconut Oil as a carrier for essential oils to reduce the rate at which the essential oil evaporates. 




Read More at Delicious Living Coconut for Health

Natural Beauty Starts With Natural Foods

The saying You Are What You Eat has some traction. The foods you eat fuel your body and nourish your organs. When you make healthy choices, your results are more often than not a healthy and energized body. Genetics do play a role in our health, nutrition can help us fight our "inheritance" as long as we can!

Natural Beauty Starts From ...

Nutrition

 Skip or limit your consumption of refined sugars, fried foods, and alcohol. Instead, get your daily calories from whole foods following some of the guidelines below.

Hydration

Hydration is important for keeping skin cells healthy, lubricating joints, and promoting healthy digestion. Most people are familiar with the target for hydration: 8 glasses (8 ounce) of water a day. This number is just a target. The Mayo Clinic has a great resource for hydration which will help you decide what you need based on your activity level and climate in which you live. A good rule of thumb to use to know if you are hydrated is to look at your urine. Clear urine is a common sign of hydration.

Brassica Vegetables

You may wonder what vegetables fall into this category of plants from the mustard family. They are  cruciferous vegetables including: cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, brussels sprouts, kale, collards, turnip/turnip greens, and bok choy. These vegetables help detoxify the body and can be enjoyed raw or cooked. More resources can be found here.

Read my recipe for Cauliflower Steak (pictured to the right).

Spices

Turmeric can help fight UV rays and is an anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant. I love adding turmeric to rice. My recipe can be found here.
Cocoa is an anti-oxidant that promotes circulation which brings nutrients to the skin.

Omega-3 Rich Foods

Salmon and avocado provide generous amounts of Omega-3 fatty acids to nourish the skin and make it supple

Green Tea

Drinking green tea provides the body with an anti-oxidant to protect it from UV damage and protect collagen. If you are a coffee drinker, consider swapping your last cup of coffee for green tea each day to begin to integrate tea into your daily routine. 

Dark Red and Purple Fruits/Vegetables

These fruits provide anthocyanins which fight UV rays, support skin elasticity, and provent collagen breakdown.  Foods high in anthocyanins include: black raspberries, black currants, blueberries, blackberries, red cabbage, black plumbs, red radish, and red raspberries.




Read more at Delicious Living Building natural beauty from the inside out.

Chemical Free and Clean Nail Salons

A Manicure or Pedicure is a Decadent Treat!

Many people enjoy getting pampered with a manicure or pedicure.  The opportunity to have one's arms and hands or legs and feet massaged draws some people into a salon. Others enjoy being pampered as it is difficult to properly cut their own nails, cuticles, and remove calluses on their own.

I am in no way advocating that you forgo your manicure or pedicure. I want you make informed choices as you pamper yourself so that you leave relaxed AND healthy. For whatever reason you enter a nail salon, you need to be aware of some risks you may be taking.

Enjoy the Process

Look for salons that embrace innovative brands that are natural and not chemical based. When you transition from chemical based nail polishes to natural ones, it is suggested that you let your nails "rest" for a week or two to be ready for the change. Communicate your needs with the esthetician and relax!

Take Care of Your Nails At Home

Many estheticians recommend massaging oil (neem, coconut, jojoba or even olive) into the nail and cuticle regularly.This simple treatment at home will help maintain the work done by the professionals!

Dermatologists recommend applying lotion to the nails after a pedicure as the treatments can be drying.

Eat a nail boosting diet. The proper amount of iron and protein will keep your nails strong. Having enough zinc in your diet will keep away the lines and white spots that may form on a nail when there is a deficiency.  Eating a diet that includes good fats and adequate hydration will ensure that your nails do not split or peel

Be Aware of Potential Dangers

Chemicals

Chemical based nail salons use caustic chemicals that have been documented to cause medical problems for some workers. Some salons are well-ventilated and the chemicals are not in high concentration in the establishments. If you enter the salon and are greeted by a strong chemical smell, you know the salon is not well-ventilated and you will be inhaling chemicals for the duration of your relaxing treatment.

Brushes

Bring your own nail polish. Do not use the polish the salon has available as the brush MAY have been used on a previous client(s).

Spa Tubs, Sponges, and Nail Files

Make sure the spa tub in which you will soak your feet is clean. If the water is filtered properly you will NOT notice any debris. If you do, ask for a clean tub with fresh water.
Make sure the salon uses a fresh nail file and a clean sponge for your treatment. This will ensure there is no cross-contamination with previous clients.




Jessica Rubino's article for Delicious Living: Nontoxic solutions for healthy nails

Sunscreen Selections

Sunscreen is a summer staple. For people who live in a temperate climate, it is a regular purchase as sunscreen shields the skin from harmful UV rays. Studies have shown that regular application of sunscreen prevents premature signs of aging (wrinkles and fine lines) as well as reduces the rick of developing skin cancer.

Studies have shown the benefits of using sunscreen outweigh the negatives of not applying the product. With so many sunscreens to pick from, how do you know what one will provide you with the best protection? Many researchers agree, a lotion is better than a spray as the spray can accidentally be inhaled or ingested.

What to look for in a sunscreen

Oxybenzone 

Oxybenzone is considered the most troubling chemical additive in sunscreens. It is known to cause skin irritation in some people but, the biggest concern is that it is known as a hormone disruptor. Oxybenzone is easily absorbed in the skin and can even be passed from mother to child through breastfeeding.  When you are applying sunscreen to prevent one problem, you do not need to apply sunscreen and invite in a different problem. There is a push for all sunscreens to be oxybenzone free by 2020.

SPF

A high SPF value does not mean you can apply less and stay in the sun longer. That myth needs to be debunked. What one needs to look for is a BROAD SPECTRUM SPF that shields the skin from UVA and UVB rays. Sunscreen needs to be applied thoroughly and often.

Minerals: Zinc Oxide and Titanium Dioxide

Minerals do not break down in the sun so they provide the skin with greater protection than many chemicals alone can and with a less worry. According to the Environmental Working Group, zinc oxide is an ideal choice for sun protection as it is stable in sunlight and can provide greater protection from UVA rays than titanium oxide or any other sunscreen chemical approved for use in the U.S..Today, sunscreen makers use zinc oxide nanoparticles to formulate lotions with less white tint. Look for products that have at least 15-20% mineral content.
 

What Should I Purchase?

The Environmental Working Group created a guide that you can find here. The beach and sport sunscreens listed meet the EWG's strict standard for Ingredient hazard and product efficacy:

• Health Hazards
• UVA Protection
• UVB Protection
• Balance of UVA/UVB Protection
• Sunscreen Stability

Want more information?

Read Jessica Rubio's Article Not all mineral sunscreens are created equal at Delicious Living.
Read the Environmental Working Group's Guide to Sunscreens (Updated 2018).