Sun Protection for Your Lips

All right ladies, let’s be truthful. Summer means tanning, tanning, and more tanning! And who could blame us? I myself love admiring my newfound bronze color when I come home from a long day in the sun! Come on, we all do! And yes, we all know that we are not to leave the house without adequately applying sunscreen to every inch of our bodies! But how many of us actually think closely about what effects the sun’s powerful rays have on our lips? And although summer is wrapping up and we’re headed into the fall season, it’s just as important to treat our lips properly to avoid…

Wrinkled Lips 

Lip health may seem minor and it’s often neglected. Even if we don’t always pay them much attention, our lips really do play a big role in our lives! A lovely smile goes a long way. Radiant, healthy, fresh-looking lips play a major role in our overall facial appearance. It seems hard to believe, but our lips, just like the rest of our bodies, can get sunburned, purely because of the delicacy and sensitivity of that particular area. Burning our lips year after year is eventually going to result in lip wrinkles, which is unfortunately a huge sign of aging.

Lip Cancer

Lip wrinkles aren’t the worst thing that could happen to us. In the same way that we could potentially get skin cancer from sitting out summer after summer, lip cancer is a danger if we don’t protect our lips properly. In a study conducted by the University of Texas Medical School to evaluate the role of ultraviolet light (UVL) as a risk factor for lip cancer, researchers found that only 37% of their 299 survey responders used lip protection as well as sunscreen for their long days at the beach. Yes, we all love the beach (and being outside in general!) but it’s important to remember that the sun’s UVL rays can be detrimental to our lip health.

The Scoop on SPF

So, just as we do with sunscreen, it’s important to choose lip products that are clearly marked with SPF. Many lipsticks, glosses and chap sticks now contain sunscreens. When choosing a product, remember that the SPF rating is simply a measure of the fraction of sunburn-producing UV rays blocked. SPF 50 offers the best sun protection for lips by blocking out about 98% of the UVB rays. Nowadays we see SPF 80 or even SPF 110! That, ladies, is all about the marketing. It makes you think you’re getting better protection when you’re really not. Stick with SPF 50, and if you must, SPF 30 will do the job… but try not to aim lower than that!

It’s time we take charge of this and start showing our delicate lips some respect! When you’re choosing your chap stick, lip gloss, or lip stick, make sure to read closely! Let’s preserve those beautiful smiles all year long!

Note: A special thank you goes out to my friend Laura Kinkead, who's responsible for the blog post above. :)

Stunning Summer Lip Shades

It’s time for a makeup bag check, ladies! The list of activities you can do this summer is endless, and I bet just like me, you want to have the perfect look for all of these occasions. Of course, nothing completes an outfit like the right shade of lipstick. The summer season is the time for fun, light and bright colors, especially since the color of the year is orchid. It’s no surprise that lip shades that are trending this summer are along that line too. If you haven’t updated your lipstick collection yet, it’s time to take notes!

Trendy Tints This Season

Orange is making a splash this summer. From catwalks to red carpets, women have been wearing this bold color on their lips. It’s a fashion statement that’s big this season, and though I’m not so sure about neon orange myself, I can’t help but agree that electric orange lips pop out nicely when paired with white, cream, and pastel colored outfits.

Crimson red is a timeless color for me. You can wear it during any season and look fabulous and classy while feeling confident and beautiful. The right red lipstick is essential in every woman’s makeup kit.

For a more subtle look, there are always the softer shades of pink. Pink has always been a fun and girly color with a very wide range. You can go from the “naturally beautiful lips” look using warm peaches or go trendy with bright pinks.

For all you ladies who aren’t sure about these summer shades just yet, nude colors are also a timeless classic. A nude lip color is perfect for emphasizing your natural lips while still looking stylish. Once you’re confident with pulling off the nude shades, you can work your way through the bold colors!

DIY: Home Remedies for Naturally Beautiful Lips

We might as well admit it: plump and soft lips add a lot to a woman’s appeal. When I get a reaction after flashing someone a smile,I feel more beautiful and know I’m doing something right! The vitality and texture of your lips tell a lot about your lifestyle, your health and who you are. For instance, people who smoke and use unhealthy lip products usually have darker, rougher lips. If you want better looking lips without spending a ton on expensive lip treatments, you can DIY! Read on to learn about some of my favorite home remedies for naturally beautiful lips. 

Exfoliate

My sister absolutely loves my homemade lip scrub. Here’s how you can prepare a DIY lip scrub: Take a handful of rose petals, one half of a cucumber, and a tablespoon of honey. Break out your favorite blender or Vitamix, blend on high speed creating a paste, wait ten minutes, then add a teaspoon of milk. Blend again, and it’s ready. To use it, apply your homemade scrub softly to your lips in a circular motion.

You can also use this scrub on your toothbrush to exfoliate your lips. Just apply to your toothbrush and gently scrub your lips’ surface to remove impurities. Voila! After a couple of weeks you’ll notice a difference in your lips – they will be smoother and more supple.

 

Massage

As we all know, massages promote circulation. Any body part with good circulation appears to be pinkish or reddish and full. One way to achieve that soft, full look is take aloe vera gel and massage it gently onto your lips for 15 minutes. I know it sounds like a long time but trust me, it’s worth it. Afterwards, rinse thoroughly with water and you’re done! Massaging your lips once a day makes them luscious and plump.

 

Do some lip workouts

Did you know that your body can act as a natural lip plumper? Simple lip workouts can stimulate collagen production in your lips, giving them a more natural color and making them fuller. This is something you can do hands-free! The next time you’re watching your favorite TV show or sitting in front of the computer, do some lip exercises. Lip circles are my favorite: simply close your mouth, pucker up, and move your lips to the left and right, holding them in place for a few seconds on each side. Do lip circles ten times every day and forget about collagen injections. You can have plump lips if you add this to your daily routine. Try this once a day for a couple weeks and you’ll reap the rewards…no cheating!

These home remedies won’t cost you hundreds of dollars. Now you can go shopping and pick up that sundress you’ve been eyeing at the mall!

Please leave comments and let me know which of these tips worked best for you. If you have any tips of your own and care to share, I would love to hear from you!

Three Tips to Achieve Naturally Beautiful Lips

If our lips had a voice of their own, they would be noisy, always complaining about all of the stuff that they come into contact with. I know mine have been screaming about the scratchiness of my boyfriend’s very rough five o’clock shadow. Lips are the front liners, constantly exposed to all the irritants from our food, drinks, weather, and even the pollution from our environment. Most women complain that they don’t get the pout that they’re aiming for despite trying all kinds of lipstick that promise perfectly plump lips. But you can’t hide unhealthy lips. No matter how thickly you slather on your lipstick, it will eventually wear off and expose your lips to the world. Here are some tips on how to achieve healthy and naturally beautiful lips.

Stop Smoking Already!

Smoking, the culprit in many health problems, produces stained and dark lips. Constant exposure to nicotine, tar, and heat turn the smoker’s lips blackish-blue. Smoking also damages the skin and causes collagen loss, leading to wrinkled lips. While there are home remedies to bring back your lips’ pinkish color, the best way to deal with smokers’ lips is still to quit cold turkey. 

Use the Right Lip Products

Check the lip products you are using. Some may contain ingredients that are dangerous not only to your lips but to your overall health. Avoid lip products containing parabens, menthol, camphor, silicone, and salicylic acid; they deplete moisture, causing dryness and irritation. For naturally soft lips that are perfect for intimate moments, try products with jojoba oil, argan oil or olive oil, and see the difference in an instant!

Choose a Well-Balanced Diet

Everyone knows that diet plays an important role in maintaining our overall appearance. Healthy foods nourish your body with sufficient amounts of vitamins and minerals that are essential to good health, glowing skin and beautiful lips. Following the doctor’s orders to eat green, leafy vegetables, fresh fruits and drink plenty of water will keep your lips healthy and well-hydrated. Green vegetables like broccoli are a great source of riboflavin (vitamin B2), which can keep your lips smooth for years to come. Other awesome sources of riboflavin are soybeans, almonds and yogurt. We'll get more specific on some of the super-foods that keep your lips happy in another post, so check back soon!

Be smart about getting that perfect pout. Concealing lips with heavy layers of lipstick is not the answer. Use our tips on proper lip care to achieve naturally beautiful lips.