In Love with Luscious Lips

Did you know that your lips can accumulate dirt/grime, dead skin, chemicals, etc., just like the rest of you? They need to be cleansed, exfoliated, and moisturized just as the rest of you. The skin on your lips has no hair follicles, oil, or sweat glands. As a result, it is thinner, drier, more fragile, and has fewer layers. The amount of melanin or pigment depends on the ethnicity and the lifestyle of the individual, for example, the blackened lips of a smoker...ewww!

Lip exfoliation once or twice a week can remove unwanted debris and reveal brighter, smoother, and more attractive kissers. There are commercial preparations you can use that are effective or you can make your own. Mary Kay's Satin Lips Lip Mask and Paula's Choice Lip Perfecting Gentle Scrub with Micro Beads are excellent choices. One of our favorite recipes for homemade lip exfoliators is called Natural Lip Scrub on the whole new mom website. Always follow-up with a nourishing moisturizing lip balm. Don't bite or lick lips and use lip balms with sunscreen during the day, alone or under your lipstick. If you follow that regimen as described, your lips will become notably healthier, luscious, and kissable!!

Sugar Ain't Always Sweet

The average adult probably already knows that sugar intake does more harm than good. That information has been well dispersed among the general population for years. When blood sugar levels are elevated, a chain reaction of negative events are set off. Insulin, a natural hormone secreted by the pancreas normally comes to the rescue. When the pancreas does not function, it cannot regulate the blood sugar. The individual becomes diabetic and at risk for devastating complications, such as gangrene, slow healing or non-healing wounds, blindness, debilitating nerve disorders, and more! 

You do not have to suffer from diabetes to experience the repercussions of excessive sugar intake. It is very damaging to most every body organ including your skin. Once digested, sugar enters the bloodstream and binds with the lipids and proteins that support the skin causing glycation, as reported by the article "How Sugar Is Ruining Your Skin" at New Beauty The Beauty Authority website. The process of glycation generates free radicals that damage the skin's structural proteins collagen and elastin. Premature aging and tissue damage will result. If that is not bad enough, the process of glycation also generates the by-product hydrogen peroxide. It is highly irritating causing inflammation and damage, dermatologist Liliana Saap, MD explains to New Beauty. Wrinkling and sagging are the main signs of glycation. Increased outbreaks of acne and rosacea are also reported. Dermatologist Dr. Fredric Brandt, MD states, "It can take anywhere from a few months to a few years for the change in skin to be noticeable." There are a variety of skin care products you can try that are formulated to alleviate glycation and reverse the damage. They are discussed in the Winter/Spring 2015 edition of the New Beauty magazine.

Let it be noted that the body does need a certain amount of sugar to function properly. The sugars we consume are broken down into the carbohydrate glucose following digestion. Glucose is essential for energy production for the brain, muscles, and other organs. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) provides the recommended daily allowance for carbohydrates that can serve as guide. 

The solution seems easy enough in simply eliminating sugar from the diet. The dilemma is that many of the foods we love and crave are sweet and sugary. Sweet things simply taste good. Imbalances in the digestive system due to the presence of unwanted organisms, such as parasites and fungi bring about cravings. In many cases, the prepared and packaged foods we purchase already contain sugar. It is imperative to read the ingredients and nutritional information on the packages. The best and most effective way of resolving sugar overload is to replace with sugar substitutes that can sweeten and enhance flavor. In many cases, the sugar won't even be missed. Honey, maple syrup, stevia, monk fruit, and xylitol are popular and widely used natural sweeteners.

Do you have diabetes? If so, what modifications have you made in your diet and overall lifestyle? What modifications have you made in your skin care routine and are they effective?

Pamper Your Hair and Scalp with Herbal Rinses

 
A natural, easy, and inexpensive way to clean and condition your hair and scalp is with herbal rinses. Just a little bit goes a long way and the benefits are fabulous. There are various herbs that can be used to cleanse, heal, repair, strengthen, stimulate growth, and enhance or change hair color. It is no more complicated than making a cup of tea. Boiling water is poured over dried or fresh herbs and steeped until cooled, and then strained. A squeeze bottle or spray bottle can be used to apply to saturate hair and scalp. As a general rule, use a teaspoon of dried herb for every cup of boiling water. The average adult will need at least 2 cups rinse unless hair is very long. 

[If you prefer using fresh herbs then increase amount to 1/2 cup herbs per cup of water].


Different herbs offer different benefits and many are compatible when mixed together. Chamomile, horsetail, nettles, rosemary, and sage are very popular ones for rinses. Make sure you do your research on the specific herbs to use based on the specific needs of your hair and scalp. The part of the plant such as leaf, root, flower, bark, etc., should be noted. Be sure to become familiar with herbs that darken or lighten hair color to avoid unwanted effects. While applying the rinse, be aware of any unpleasant or unusual reactions which may indicate skin sensitivity or allergic reaction. Of course, if you experience any adverse response be sure to immediately rinse out with lots of water.

Here are a few herbal remedies that you might like to try:


For dry itchy scalp with or without dandruff
burdock root, chamomile, comfrey, juniper, nettle, rosemary


For slow hair growth or hair loss
burdock, horsetail, lavender, nettle, sage, saw palmetto


For oily scalp and product build-up
lemon balm, lemongrass, peppermint, rosemary, thyme, white willow bark

Do you use herbal rinses on a regular basis? Do you know of any particular recipe that is exceptionally effective or therapeutic? Have you ever had an adverse reaction to an herbal rinse? If yes, which herbs were the culprits and how did you remedy the problem?

The Scalp: Underneath But Not Undervalued

Your scalp is a part of your covering that is not always visible. Your hair steals the show in most cases. Not to mention, the scalp helps protect the command center of your entire body. The scalp only gets visibility when you part your hair, lose it, or remove it. Nevertheless, scalp health is directly responsible for hair health where its roots or hair follicles are located. Your scalp is a field of hair follicles making it extra sensitive. The hair receives its nutrition and stimulation at the roots from both your circulation and topical products. Not only is healthy hair dependent on the scalp, but overall health is impacted as well. The scalp is notably skin and serves the same purposes of protecting, insulating, and regulating. It is essential that one provides optimal scalp care on a routine basis. Keeping it clean, hydrated, and well-nourished should be a part of your care regimen. Addressing scalp problems promptly and aggressively will minimize the damage and reduce the risk of conditions becoming chronic or irreversible. Do you perform any extra and/or special skin care rituals for your scalp as opposed to the rest of your body? If so, have you noted any significant changes or improvement in the growth and health of your hair? For those of you who are bald by choice or uncontrollable circumstances, what do you do differently in the care of your scalp as opposed to when you had hair?

High Tech Solution

There are more advanced ways to deal with inflammatory skin conditions utilizing laser technology. See if this is right for you.

Healing From the Inside Out

Improving one's overall health status can alleviate many ailments and inflammatory conditions such as eczema and psoriasis. Good nutrition should be included in any treatment regimen. Listen to these excellent recommendations from notable experts.

Ayurvedic Remedies for Psoriasis

Ayurvedic medicine is a natural system of healing originating in ancient India. Check out these Ayurvedic remedies. If you suffer from psoriasis, try one and tell us about it.