Lack of Hydration
If your lips are constantly dry, you're probably not drinking enough water, but it can also be a sign that you're not getting enough vitamin E, which can be found in peanuts, leafy greens and seeds.
Dry lips might also indicate a lack of vitamin B, which helps to maintain the health of your cells, and in turn, the condition of your skin.
In extreme cases, cracked, dry skin at the corner of the mouth can indicate a B-6 deficiency. Beans, peanuts, squash, beef and leafy vegetables are all rich in B vitamins.
Few people look their best after a night on the town, but a severe case of bed head and morning breath bad enough to clear whole rooms are often just the tip of the iceberg.
When we drink alcohol, our bodies divert oxygen and blood to the liver and other crucial organs to help our bodies process the alcohol more effectively. As a result, our skin inevitably suffers due to decreased circulation, leaving us looking pale and washed out.
Another side effect is the widening of blood vessels. "If you've ever observed a person who has consumed several drinks, you may have noticed a flushing across their face," points out Amanda Griggs, director of health programmes at Chelsea's Balance Clinic.
"This is due to the widening of blood vessels and broken capillaries throughout the skin. Alcohol can also worsen the symptoms of rosacea, and lead to the dilation of blood vessels. Repeated overindulgence can cause the vessels to dilate permanently, causing red, spidery veins."
Alcohol also depletes our body's ability to fight free radicals. "Free radicals accelerate the deterioration of collagen and elastin, which eventually leads to the emergence of fine lines and wrinkles," warns Angela. Free radical damage is also caused by smoking, most notably in the form of dull and dehydrated skin. Smoking dehydrates skin and deprives it of oxygen, meaning your skin will quickly lose its radiance as the blood vessels on the upper layers of the skin constrict.
Fast food
Fast food contains high levels of fat and sodium along with refined carbohydrates, which dry out the skin and can also increase the prominence of wrinkles, due to their tendency to break down our skin's natural elastin supplies.
The rancid fats within fast food can also react with the protein molecules within our cell tissue and cause inflammation leading to swelling and puffiness.
When it comes to sugar, those with a sweet tooth aren't just putting their teeth at risk, but their skin, too. Too much sugar can speed up the degradation of the collagen and elastin supplies which keep our skin strong and supple.
This happens because eating sugar triggers a process known as glycation, which sees the sugar molecules bind to our collagen and elastin fibres, leaving them brittle and more likely to break. This is when wrinkles and fine lines appear.
Super supplements
So, we've established what not to do, but what are the things we need to incorporate into our diet in order to look our best? Vitamin C is the ultimate weapon for those waging war on wrinkles. It helps boost the production of collagen, which keeps our skin firm, and also helps our skin to repair itself.
It's also great at protecting skin from the damage caused by free radicals - free radicals being the unstable molecules that damage collagen and cause skin dryness, fine lines and wrinkles.
Heavy drinkers often find vitamin B (found in whole grains such as millet, buckwheat, rye, barley, quinoa, corn and barley) especially beneficial, because alcohol depletes the B vitamins which are especially important for healthy hair, skin and nails.
If you haven't heard of Alpha lipoic acid, it's high time you found out more. It's an antioxidant which occurs naturally in our bodies and can help to generate the cellular energy required to keep our skin looking radiant. Small quantities can be found in sardines, beef, spinach and peanuts and it can also be taken in supplement form.
The properties of zinc are also often underrated. Zinc supplements are often prescribed to patients with bedsores, burns or skin ulcers due to its ability to heal wounds, which it does by boosting the production of collagen.
Zinc can also help improve our body's ability to absorb vitamin A, which is thought to slow down the skin's ageing process. Zinc can be found in Shellfish, pecan nuts, turkey, wheat germ, and also as a supplement. However, it's best to avoid taking zinc in supplement form for extended periods of time.
Vitamins B and C aren't the only ones which can work wonders on our skin. Vitamin E has anti inflammatory properties, and can be found in olives, avocados, nuts and seeds.
If you're a heavy smoker or drinker, a spicy curry might not do much for your breath, but the sulphur in foods such as onions, garlic, leeks and eggs can stimulate the production of an antioxidant called glutathione.
This antioxidant enhances the elimination of toxins produced by cigarettes and can also boost collagen production, which is especially important for smokers. Although you could just makes things significantly easier and ditch the cigarettes altogether.
Source : Yahoo
Review : Lollia Shea Butter Hand Cream
Thursday, February 9, 2012
Product Description
Hydrating shea butter is whipped with fragrant infusions to create this lusciously moisturizing hand cream. Presented in a pretty floral box with a gift-ready paper sleeve. Warm Vanilla Bean and Rice Flower delicately frosted with sugared pastille. Jasmine Leaves sweetened with Sugar Cane. Comforting Ylang Ylang and the sheerest of Amber Woods complete the scene, creating the most luxurious of fragrant escapes.
Key ingredients: shea butter, macadamia nut oil, avocado oil
Other available fragrances are :
Classic Petal: apple blossoms and jasmine, infused with timeless rose
Imagine: rice flower and warm coconut milk mingle with notes of mandarin and jasmine petals
Relax: fresh notes of lavender, white orchid sweetened with Tahitian vanilla and honey
Breathe: weightless whispers of peony, white lily, lavender and violet
Pretty but expensive, I sure hope it would be good for the hands, at least my wallet wouldn't kill me for it. But I guess we were not meant to be. I go thru tubes of hand creams every year but there just isn't one that I would go back again and again.
There were a couple which I like the first time round, but when I used it again, with my 2nd purchase, it just wasn't fantastic anymore. Is it my mind or my hands, I wonder?
Of whimsical designs with a pretty packaging like Love+Toast, it looks really lovely as a gift to your girlfriends, an accessory on your desk or the "wow, thats sweet" when you whipped it out from your bag in a train. This nifty tube is convenient to bring it around and I had it in my bag during these 2 months. You can also check out other products on Lollia
My Wish petite treat handcream is a white lightweight cream with a sweet fragrance that goes onto the hands smoothly and sinks in without any greasiness. However it does not moisturise for long and is probably more suited for those with normal to dry skin.
It contains Macadamia nut and avocado oils which are blended to comfort and soothe skin as well as beneficial hydrating extracts of aloe and shea butter to lightly moisturize.
In terms of ingredients, it contains the following :
- parabens : hormone effects
- methylchloroisothiazolinone, methylisothiazolinone : allergies, nervous system
- triethanolamine : allergies, toxic contaminants
- cyclopentasiloxane : hormone effects, liver damage
If you are not overly concerned over the ingredients, here's where you can get them : Lollia or Amazon. They make such lovely visual treats suitable for your girlfriends!
Lollia Wish Shea Butter Hand Cream
Lollia Wish Sugared Pastille Shea Butter Hand Cream
Lollia Relax Petite Treat Shea Butter Hand Cream
Lollia Travel Hand Cream Set
Lollia Wish Boxed Soap
Source : Amazon , Anthropologie
Review : Tony Moly Natural Pulp Essence Sheet Mask Collagen
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Product Description
Natural Pulp Essence sheet mask series are made of 100% Pulp Fabric that effective locks in moisture and enhances better absorption for skin with its silky texture. Containing Vegetative Collagen which effectively helps to keep the skin firm, elastic, nourished and revitalized.
I have been trying to incorporate as much hydrating products into my skincare regime recently due to the allergic reaction to my Nature's Gate Cleansing Lotion, causing my skin to be dry and red on some areas. Because I don't like using new products on damaged skin, I am very wary and on the alert to using them now. Thankfully, nothing much happened after using 3 sheets, though the 2nd sheet did give a slight tingling effect.
The material is thin and tears easily but the generous size and fitting provides ample moisture to dehydrated skin. It has a perfumy scent which I thought was abit too heavy for me. It provides just the right amount of moisture to my skin and managed to last till the next day.
Source : Tony Moly
February Quick Review
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
1) Missha Mamonde Total Solution Moisture Cream
Smooth Non-stick Texture: Smooth oil-free texture forms a thick moisture barrier and keeps skin smooth for a long time.
Isoflavone substance which is similar to women hormone and extracted from mineral enriched sprout bean recovers oil and moisture balance and prevents wrinkles
Anthocyanin substance extracted from mineral enriched sprout bean allows silky and smooth skin. Also, camellia wax coats the skin for silky and moisturized skin.
New whitening substance, niacin amide gets rid of dead skin effectively to purify the skin. Also, wrinkle improvement substance, oleanolic acid is made into small particle with the help of nano-technology so that it is more effective.
1 sachet from my beauty stash gave me 2 usages over 2 nights. It has a funny floral scent which I am not accustomed to. The light textured gel while gets absorbed into the skin easily, left a slight sticky but smooth after-feel on my face.
After the first night of usage, it left a tiny zit on my hormonal chin area the following morning, making the chin area abit reddish and inflamed. On the second night, the contents were not enough for me to cover the chin area, for me to verify further.
Source : Cosmetic , Shop
2) Madre Labs Balancing Shampoo
No - sulfates, parabens, dyes, animal testing, animal ingredients
1 complimentary sachet from iHerb gave me 1x usage for my thick long and coarse hair. It has a sweet gummy scent. Lathers well and cleanse gently, leaving the hair manageable and soft.
Ingredients
Aloe barbadensis (aloe vera) leaf juice*, water (aqua), sodium lauryl glucose carboxylate (sugar based), lauryl glucoside (plant derived), sodium cocoyl isethionate, sodium lauroyl sarcosinate, decyl glucoside (plant derived), hydroxypropyl starch phosphate, sodium hydroxypropylsulfonate lauryl-glucoside crosspolymer, cocos nucifera (coconut) oil*, glycerin (plant derived), guar hydroxypropyltrimonium chloride, fragrance (parfum), citric acid (naturally derived), punica granatum (pomegranate) extract, euterpe oleracea (acai) fruit extract, lycium chinensis (goji) fruit extract, hippophae rhamnoides (seabuckthorn) fruit extract, sodium PCA, sodium lactate, arginine (L-arginine), aspartic acid (L-aspartic acid), PCA, glycine (naturally derived), alanine (L-alanine), serine (L-serine), valine (L-valine), threonine (L-threonine), proline (L-proline), isoleucine (L-isoleucine), phenylalanine, histidine (L-histidine), capryl hydroxamic acid (naturally derived preservative), caprylyl glycol (naturally derived preservative)
3) Madre Labs Balancing Conditioner
Madre Labs® Balancing Conditioner helps revitalize and maintain normal hair. It also has the added benefit of being formulated with our proprietary blend of Antioxidant-Rich SuperFruits (AçaÃ, Goji, Pomegranate and Seabuckthorn), which helps protect your hair and scalp from oxidative and environmental damage. In addition, Aloe Vera, Coconut Oil, and Amino Acids have been added to further nourish and balance normal hair. The result is softer, shinier, more manageable hair
Similar to the shampoo, it also has the same sweet gummy scent. 1 complimentary sachet gave me a generous dollop of conditioner for my hair, making it soft and smelling wonderfully sweet.
Ingredients
Water (aqua), cetearyl alcohol (plant derived), behentrimonium chloride, simmondsia chinensis (jojoba) seed oil*, sesamum indicum (sesame) seed oil*, saccharum officinarum (sugar cane), pyrus malus (apple) fruit extract, citrus medica limonum (lemon) fruit extract, persea gratissima (avocado) oil*, olea europaea (olive) fruit oil*, cocos nucifera (coconut) oil*, butyrospermum parkii (shea butter)*, polysorbate-60 (plant derived), aloe barbadensis (aloe vera) leaf juice*, punica granatum (pomegranate) extract, euterpe oleracea (acai) fruit extract, lycium chinensis (goji) fruit extract, hippophae rhamnoides (seabuckthorn) fruit extract, limnanthes alba (meadowfoam) seed oil, colloidal oatmeal, sodium PCA, panthenyl hydroxypropyl steardimonium chloride, amodimethicone, coco-caprylate/caprate, glycerin (plant derived), isopropyl palmitate (palm oil), guar hydroxypropyltrimonium chloride, sodium lactate, arginine (L-arginine), aspartic acid (L-aspartic acid), PCA, glycine (naturally derived), alanine (L-alanine), serine (L-serine), valine (L-valine), threonine (L-threonine), proline (L-proline), isoleucine (L-isoleucine), phenylalanine (L-phenylalanine), histidine (L-histidine), capryl hydroxamic acid (natural preservative), caprylyl glycol (natural preservative), sodium benzoate (plant derived preservative), potassium sorbate (plant derived preservative), fragrance (parfum), citric acid (naturally derived)
Source : iHerb , Madrelabs
Review : SHILLS Q10 Rejuvenating Eye Mask
Monday, February 6, 2012
Product Description
SHILLS Q10 Rejuvenating Eye Mask quickly and effectively targets these problems with its highly nourishing and moisturizing ingredients. It provides a generous supply of nutrients and moisture to your skin, tightens your skin and helps to reduce fine lines and wrinkles.
The emphasis of its special formula is on skin repair around the eye area. You may use this as a "first-aid" eye mask, and see visible improvement after just one application!
It enhances skin elasticity and brightens dull skin with active Coenzyme Q10. It regulates the natural moisture retention function of your skin, smooths and tightens your skin, and helps you regain that healthy glow with fine collagen plus hydrating essence.
Designed to adhere perfectly to your eye area. After just one application, dark circles are less visible; fine lines and wrinkles are less noticeable. Skin around the eyes is visibly radiant, refined and smooth.
I purchased this from my last Hong Kong trip and have been using it lately. I actually don't expect much from this mask, because the concentration of Q10 and Collagen are too little to provide visible benefits to the undereye area. However, since I was running out of eye masks, I thought I would just see how this fares.
Each individually wrapped set of eye masks is contained in an aluminum foil sheet that has a similar sticker of the outer packaging pasted on top.
Its very wet and almost dripping when I pulled it out of the aluminum foil sheet. I like the generous eye sheets size that covers more than the required undereye area. The white material is soft and cottony and feels comfortable on the undereye area.
However, while it kept the eye area moist and comfortable, it hardly do anything to my eye concerns. The undereye area did feel slightly smoother but not by alot.
Ingredients:
Purified Water, Xanthan gum, Dipotassium glycyrrhizinate, Biosaccharide gum-1, Glycerine, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Trehalose, Hydrolyzed wheat protein, Sodium hyaluronate, Coenzyme Q10, Flavonoid, Zinc salt, Collagen, Essential oil.
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