I'm brushing my lips! A simple way to take care of the lips

I remember when my colleague laughed at me for brushing my lips too when I'm brushing my teeth.  She won't believe me when I said that I read from an article (I think it's from Reader's Digest) that regular exfoliation is good for the lips and one of the easiest and probably the cheapest way to do it is by brushing with a soft toothbrush.

photo from http://www.clker.com

Did you know that lips has no oil or sweat glands?  Maybe it's one of the reason behind the chop lips.  We eat and drink with it, lick and bite it, put make-up/lipstick on it so just like any part of our body, we should also pay attention to our lips to make it healthy.

Here are some ways and tips on how to  make the lips soft + kissable.

photo from http://thewanderlustdiary.wordpress.com

1.  Exfoliate
Regular exfoliation is good for the lips as it removes not just the pollution buildup but also the dead skin cells allowing new skin cells to emerge.  There are many lip scrubs out there that can be bought but if you are on a budget, just mildly brush your wet lips with a soft toothbrush or a washcloth.
Simple exfoliation can make your lips younger and pinker.

2.  Moisturize

photo from http://www.nataliedee.com

Just like our face, always moisturize the lips as it has no sweat glands that will provide natural moisture to it.  The best friend of the lips would probably the lip balm.
Choose a lip balm that are beeswax, petroleum jelly or paraffin base.  Apply fist it first before lipstick to lock-in the moisture.  I usually have "triple layer of lipstick":  lip balm, lipstick/tinted lip balm, then lip balm again.  This trick not only moisturize my lips but also help the color stay longer.
Oh by the way, to protect your lips from overexposure to sunrise, choose a lip balm that has an spf or sunscreen on it.  Nighttime is not an excuse to not moisturize the lips.  Apply a moisturizing cream or, like me, lip balm before bedtime and wake up with a more softer lips.

3.  Proper Practice

phot from http://www.dragoart.com

Sudden dry lips?  Don't lick it!  Many of us are guilty of this crime.  Licking will only make your lips drier as the saliva is too harsh for it.  Instead, dampen dry lips with water then apply a lip balm or a petroleum jelly.
Crack lips?  Then don't share your lipstick or kiss anyone with a sore or infection on the mouth or face.  It may sound selfish but viruses, bacteria and other infection-carrier particles easily enters crack  lips.

Simple steps and practice will keep your lips healthy.  It will only take a fraction of your time so what's stopping you?

Thanks for reading.  Till then.  Bye!

sources:
health.howstuffworks.com
www.dailyglow.com
arya de guzman's brain and experience : )

Clear Hair Removal Cream

There are many ways to remove unwanted hairs in the body.  There's shaving, waxing, and sugaring to name a few.  I chose the shaving method before because it's the fastest but aside from the cuts, the hairs tend to harden and coarse (and ugly)  that now leads me to use depilatory cream.  So far Tony Moly's the safest and most effective hair removal cream for me.

for sensitive and normal skin type
TONY MOLY CLEAR HAIR REMOVAL CREAM – easy to use, longer effect. Does not leave scar after shaving . Hair Removal Cream resolves hair, softens and lifts the beard for a close and comfortable shave. This expert formula creates a rich, warm, protective lather that acts as a cushion between the blade and the skin, preventing irritation and razor burn

 I was surprised when I first open this because it's colored green, quite different with the other brands that I tried before.  If it's your first time to try depilatory cream then you might not like the smell of this but believe me it's milder than the other brands and in time you'll get use to it.  One tube has 80grams of cream good for 4 to 6 sessions.

front and back shots of the box
How to use: Apply appropriate amount where you want to remove your hair and wait 5-10 minutes. If hair removes easily with your finger, scrub them all with included spatula.

Yup, there's no English descriptions or instructions in the box or in the tube so thank goodness for Tony Moly Philippines Facebook Page's translation which you can find here.  If it's your first time then better to do a spot test first to know if your not allergic with the product.

Here's how I use this cream:

I scrub first my legs (the only part I shave) prior to using the cream to loosen ingrown hairs.  Next I apply an appropriate amount using the back of the which is also spatula included in the box.  Better not to rub and make the cream turn white as per my experiment, it's more effective if it's just evenly spread on the skin.  You can use your hand if you're having a hard time spreading the cream with the spatula but make sure that you wash your hands immediately and thoroughly.  Let it stay for at least 5 minutes then do a test:  if the hair comes off easily then remove the rest with the tip of the spatula or a dampen wash cloth.  If not then let it stay for another 5 minutes.  I heard others saying that they leave the cream for more than 10 minutes to be more effective but just to be on the safe side, better to follow the instructions.  For me 10 minutes is enough.  After wiping, I make sure to thoroughly wash my legs to remove the excess hair and at the same time the smell.  The cream will leave the skin already moisturize but I still apply aloe gel or lotion.

Thanks for reading.  Hope this helps.  Till then.  Bye!