4 Quick Tips for Dry Skin

If you suffer from dry itchy skin, today's tips are for you!

1. Use a gentle, moisturizing cleanser. If you use bar soap, make sure the soap is supplemented with oils or uses butters (such as Shea butter) which do not fully saponify and leave a trace of emollient on your skin.

2. Moisturize immediately after showering/washing. When you moisturize within 3 minutes of bathing, you seal in the moisture and prevent it from evaporating.

3. Use a cream or body butter rather than a lotion. Creams and body butters contain much more oils and butters than do lotions (creams are about 50% emollient-based whereas lotions only have about 20%). While lotions may be sufficient for summer oily skin, they just aren't enough to do anything for dry winter skin.

4. Take supplements. Most people think the status of their skin has nothing to do with what they intake. This can't be further from the truth. Even if you eat healthy and exersize, supplement it with a once daily multivitamin. A daily supplement of fish oil (lots of omega-3 fatty acids) can also be great for dry skin.

Naturally Beautiful Lips

Your lips are one of the first things that people notice when meeting you. They are also one of the most delicate parts of your body. Unlike the skin on the rest of the body which has up to 16 layers, the skin on the lips is much thinner; only three to five layers deep. Here are some tips to keep your lips healthy, smooth and kissable:

Maintain Good Oral Hygiene. When you smile, you show off your gums and teeth as well, so nothing can improve or detract from your smile more than the condition of your pearly whites. Don’t forget to add a little gloss to those lips for a natural youthful glow to your pouty pout (all the while, this vitamin rich gloss will also protect those lips)!

Stay Hydrated! Hydration is the absolute most important factor in keeping your lips plump and healthy. To maintain those plump puckers, make sure you are drinking the recommended 8-10 cups of water each day. If your lips are dry or chapped, avoid licking or biting at them, as this will further reduce moisture and increase irritation. Use a natural and soothing lip balm or conditioner. hydrOtion lip conditioner is equipped with pomegranate and almond oils to provide essential fatty acids and anti-oxidants like vitamin E. Precious rosehip oil also provides massive amounts of vitamin C (which together with vitamin E) provide necessary protection against UV damage.

Stay Protected From the Elements. The common causes of dry, chapped lips are sunny, cold, windy, and/or dry weather conditions. Asides from being thinner, the skin of the lips also contains fewer melanocytes, which produce the pigment melanin and provide the skin with its color. Due to this transparency, the color of blood vessels shows through the lips and gives them the beautiful red glow. Unfortunately melanin also protects the skin against UV damage and lack of it makes lips more vulnerable to these elements. This is why it’s essential to protect your lips from these conditions and keep them luscious and healthy through daily use of moisturizing, alcohol-free lip balms. Try hydrOtion lip conditioner or lip salve to protect your lips or repair existing damage. If you have dry or chapped lips, the organic east African shea butter in our lip salve will heal, soothe and protect against further damage.

Shed the Gunk. Because the skin of the lips is so thin, the idea of exfoliating it has been controversial. We recommend that as part of your nightly beauty routine, you (very gently) wash your lips to remove any products, dirt or dead skin. Apply facial moisturizer or a moisturizing lip balm, such as hydrOtion lip conditioner or lip salve , before bed to help heal lips and maintain moisture while you sleep.

Applying these lip healthy tips to your daily routine will protect your pout and help keep your luscious, smooth lips smiling all day long.


--The hydrOtion team

Good Skin Nutrition: Vitamins from Inside and Out!

Many lotions and crèmes advertise that they contain vitamins, but what does this mean for my skin?

Vitamins C & E:
Damage due to sunlight exposure is one of the main sources of accelerated skin aging. Photoaging is associated with skin pigmentation (dark spots), dehydration, wrinkles, droopy skin, broken blood vessels, leathery skin and can contribute to skin cancers. Recent research highlights a remarkably protective role for vitamins against photoaging, particularly for vitamins C and E.

Topical application of vitamins C & E can provide “appreciable photo-protection” according to Duke University researcher Dr. Sheldon Pinnel and colleagues presenting their research at the annual meeting of American Academy of Dermatology. This is perhaps not surprising, since the antioxidant properties of vitamins C and E have been known for some time. Antioxidants fight free radicals that result from sunlight, smoke or pollution and can eat away at the collagen and damage cells. Indeed, a study in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology saw less DNA damage in skin cells of people who take vitamins C and E, which correlates with decreased sunburns from exposure to UVB radiation.

These anti-oxidants are not just good for your skin, they are good for your entire body. The best solution for your body is to ensure you have enough of these vitamins in your diet. The recommended daily intake value for vitamin C is between 1500-2500 mg (though vitamin C does not become toxic until much higher doses; what is not absorbed by the body is excreted). The recommended daily value for vitamin E is 400-600 IU. For Healthier skin, chose lotions and Day crèmes that contains these vitamins and be sure to apply to your skin before and after exposure to sunlight.

Vitamin B Complexes:
There are several types of B vitamin complexes and when it comes to your skin you should pay attention to at least two: biotin and niacin. Biotin is essential for skin and hair health and the slightest deficiency will manifest itself in imperfections in skin and hair. Niacin has anti-inflammatory and protective properties and crèmes containing biotin or niacin can give skin a healthy and youthful look even in a short amount of time (5-6 days).

Vitamins A & K:
Vitamin A is essential for repair and maintenance of healthy skin. Having sufficient levels of vitamin A can lead to reduction in wrinkles, fine lines and acne. If you take a multivitamin, you are probably equipped with enough vitamin A to keep your skin healthy but if you find yourself with premature wrinkles or acne, it may be worthwhile to increase your intake of vitamin A. The recommended intake value for vitamin A ranges from 5,000 – 20,000 IU.
On the other hand, when it comes to your skin vitamin K is better topically applied than taken in your diet. It’s particularly good for dark circles and bruises and a combination of vitamins A and K in your eye crème can be even more effective than either one alone.

The trickiest part with skin care products is to make sure they are fresh, since vitamins and minerals can degrade over time (most are stable in powder form, but degrade much faster once in a soluble solution such as a lotion). Look for a manufacture date and buy items that are less than 3 months old (keep in mind, you want it to last for another three months while you use it) and don’t bother with items that are over a year old. If it doesn’t have a manufacture date, that’s not a good sign! All hydrOtion products are made with a manufacture date on each jar to help you ensure your products contain high levels of active ingredients and vitamins.

Feel free to send us questions regarding vitamins and skin care or skin care in general at hydrOtion@gmail.com.