Beauty, Charm & Style

Most people get chapped lips from time to time – like mine, RIGHT NOW. Dry, cracked or sore lips can interfere with my many daily activities, such as smiling, kissing, eating, blogging and talking.

According to the Mayo Clinic, lips may become chapped for a variety of reasons, including:

• Exposure to wind, sun, and cold, dry air
• Obstructed breathing
• Irritants or allergens in cosmetics or skin-care products
• Certain medications, such as those used to treat acne
• A habit of frequently licking your lips
• Dehydration
• Too much kissing (I added that one)

To treat or prevent chapped lips, consider these tips:

• Use an oil-based lubricating cream or lip balm containing beeswax.
• Apply lip balm before going out in cold, dry weather and don’t be afraid to reapply.
• Choose a lip cream or balm that contains sunscreen
• Avoid licking your lips. Saliva evaporates quickly, leaving lips drier than before you licked them – gross.
• Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of fluids. Dehydration can contribute to chapped lips.
• Use a humidifier at home to keep air moist.

Hopefully, my lip de-chap before this weekend, until then, I’ll just keep them clean and moisturized.

Tips:

• If chapping is severe and self-care measures don’t seem to help, consult your doctor. Rarely, persistent chapped lips may indicate an underlying problem, such as dermatitis.

Oui Oui, L’amour de ma Bouche
(Yes, Yes, Love my Mouth)

French is such a romantic language.  You must agree. And a French man is often oozing with sex appeal.  When he speaks, the words roll off his tongue in such a passionate way that each and every syllable makes a lady melt.  That’s why I can never go to Paris.  I’d melt away.

But I can have a taste of Paris when I use my new Ceci Cela Almond Lip Balm.

Ceci Cela Almond Lip Balm

French for “this and that,” Ceci Cela soothes and nourishes my lips and protects my mouth from exposure to the harsh elements of Texas (the sun) with Vitamin E and SPF 15.

Easy, peasy, nice and easy – Ceci Cela Lip Balm coats my lips in a smooth, lush and rich layer of fun! Infused with essential oils,  the almond lip balms leaves me soft and silky-smooth. Using pure ingredients, natural anti-oxidants and emollients, Ceci Cela is a luxurious treat for my lips.

And best of all, it doesn’t leave my lips clammy and sloppy and I never have to worry about my hair sticking to my lips while I walk in the breeze down the Champs-Elysées.

I know the importance of nourished lips, because nourished lips lead to nourished French kisses!

The Breakdown:

• Available in both Almond and Spearmint
• All natural, petroleum, paraben and synthetic preservative free
• SPF 15
• $6 each

Tips:

• Apply over tinted lipstick and you pout stays colorful and moisturized longer than you could ever imagine!

Addicts always start somewhere.  Maybe it was when the parent’s were away on vacation.  Perhaps the park where the “cool” kids hung out after school.  Maybe it was just trying to fit in and succumbing to peer pressure.

For me, it was my dear friend Kendall; she’s the one who got me hooked.  She used to carry it around in her bookbag.  She would use it, like, 5 times a day, even at school.  At first she would share with me, but then she told me I should buy my own.  She told me to go over to Roy’s. Roy’s had everything an addict could want.

And then I saw it – Rachel Perry Lip Lover’s Lip Balm.

Whoa, what did you think I was talking about?

Rachel Perry Lip Lover’s Lip Balm

I’ve been a proud Rachel Perry Lover for almost 10 years now, and I can’t remember my first experience.  It had to have been at lunch with Kendall, who I thought was THE coolest girl ever, and she brought out her Lip Lover’s balm.  Kendall was the first girl I knew who was into natural beauty products and understood the importance of shimmer mineral powders and organic body sprays.

Since the 70’s, Rachel Perry has been spear heading the natural beauty revolution by using botanicals, vitamins, enzymes and antioxidants into her beauty products.  She pioneered the mixing of aromatherapy and color therapy.  The flavors are amazing and the scents are mouthwatering.  Lick your lips and it’s a quick snack.  The Chocolate Bliss flavor, damn, it can quell any chocolate desire you have – calorie free.

I’ve gone to extremes getting me handa on Rachel Perry’s products.  Before Internet shopping, I would have my sister go to Roy’s Natural Market and mail me Lip Lover’s balm up to Oklahoma. Once, Kendall and I ordered, in bulk, from Rachel Perry headquarters.  I’ve even gone so far as to stash a jar in my Emergency Safety Kit, so if the apocalypse comes, I’ll have moistened and protected lips.

I’ve been a faithful Rachel Perry Lip Lovers girl and will be till I die.

The Breakdown:

• 7 different flavors Chocolate Bliss, Very Vanilla, Banana-Coconut, Grape Juice,  Mint Tingle, Cantaloupe and Raspberry-Cherry
• SPF 15 total sun block for full on UVA and UVB sunrays
• .21 oz art deco designed jar
• $3.00 each

Tips:

• Don’t leave in the hot car at any angle, or the next time you open the jar your balm will be lopsided.
• Make sure you have clean hands before applying balm with your finger – don’t spread germs!

As self proclaimed “glossaholic,” I have found another amazing product to add to my addiction – Smashbox O-GLOSS Intuitive Lip Gloss.  So pucker up to your personal pink!

Smashbox O-GLOSS Intuitive Lip Gloss

I carry around at least 4 types of lip-gloss and 2 shades of lipstick at any given moment and I am constantly applying my gloss de jour.  I don’t take smoke breaks, I take gloss breaks. As a true addict, I hide gloss everywhere, desk drawer, night stand, car cup holder, each purse, workout bag, boyfriend’s house and I follow a strict daily regiment.   Wake up – gloss. After shower – gloss.  Get to work – gloss.  And so on.

Eager to add another lip product to my burgeoning collection, I snatched up my O-Gloss and slathered it on my lips, which had been begging for some moisture.  (I hadn’t put any balm, gloss, tint or moisturizer on them in like, 15 minutes, and I was in desperate need of a re-up)

Good coverage, easy application, a sweet smell and when I looked in the mirror, my glossy lips were a shade of pink I had never before laid my eyes upon – the newest and coolest shade of pink the world had ever seen – Elizabeth Pink. It’s soft and subtle, but it somehow manages to find this rich pink color and bring it out of hiding so the whole world can see.  It doesn’t have a shimmer to it (which I find tacky) but O-Gloss does have a nice natural shine.

And the cherry on the top – it lasts a long time leaving my lips kissabley soft and kissabley pink for most of my morning.

The Breakdown

• 0.34 fl. Oz / 10ml tube
• Contains an exclusive Goji Berry-C ComplexTM  [meaning extra moisture and extra vitamins]
• Hint of pomegranate makes your lips a tasty treat for you or your beau
• $22 a piece

Tips:

• A generous application is best when wanting to bring out your natural colors and personalized pink pout, so don’t skimp!
• Don’t eat immediately after application