beauty cosmopolite

Product Review: Weleda Everon Lip Balm

 

Hi all! Hope you're keeping your skin protected and moisturized over these dry winter months -- and that includes your lips. Lips do not contain oil glands, so they're very prone to dryness and chapping. I've experimented with many different lip balms over the years, the latest being Weleda's Everon Lip Balm. My verdict? It's a stand-out product.

My testing conditions have been ideal: I'm currently in a really dry climate -- and I'm seeing lots of cracked, chapped lips around here. Normally, I'd be dealing with that painful, unpretty problem as well. But with regular, gentle exfoliation, followed by a quick slick of Weleda's lip balm, my lips feel soft and supple (and that's according to the husband-test!)

I've mentioned Weleda before -- I'm a fan of their all-natural toothpaste. (Their toothpaste, by the way, does not contain sodium lauryl sulfate, a ubiquitous ingredient found in conventional toothpastes that is a known lip irritant. If you're suffering from constant chapped lips, check your toothpaste ingredients for this culprit).

The Weleda Everon lip balm is all-natural, which is critical in any lip balm you choose to use, considering that it's on your mouth and you'll end up "eating" some. Ingredients include jojoba oil, beeswax and shea butter. Perhaps a "star" ingredient is the rose wax, which has natural antiseptic properties, and helps prevent and heal cracks.

The balm goes on with a smooth, comfortable, almost "matte" feel -- that is, there's no goopy-ness. It's lip-soothing and moisturizing qualities last -- I don't feel the need to re-apply frequently as I have with other balms. In fact, that's one of my favourite things about this balm: it hasn't caused that lip-balm-dependency problem. It's great on its own or under lipstick or gloss.

Bonus: the price is absolutely reasonable -- depending on where you are, it's around the five-dollar range. I've tried lip balms that have been five times the price, and this product is at least as good, if not better! I'll be buying it again -- although I won't have to for a while, as there's plenty left despite the fact that I've been using it for a couple of months. A healthy beauty-bargain that actually works -- that's something to smile about!

Relief for Chapped Lips

Gentle, regular exfoliating is the key for soft, kissable lips...

Hi all! Well, it's officially chapped-lips season -- as evidenced the other day when I saw a woman at the restaurant table next to mine pull out a purse-sized jar of petroleum jelly, goop some onto her finger and slather it on her lips. "My lips are soooo chapped, I'm addicted to this stuff!" she told her companion. (I wasn't eavesdropping, honestly! It's just that this particular little lunch place is so crowded, everyone's practically sitting in each other's laps).

Anyway, being someone prone to chapped lips, I could feel this woman's pain -- and wished I could let her know that one reason for her petroleum-jelly-addiction was that this highly-processed product actually leaves lips even dryer, creating an unhealthy dependency. (In my effort to mind my own business, I practically bit my lip -- but didn't, because I'm also trying to break some bad-for-my-lips habits). More on petroleum products and why it's beauty-smart to avoid them in a future post, but for now, what to do about chapped lips?

The most important step -- before even thinking about lip balm -- is regular exfoliation. (If you simply slick on lip-balm over super-chapped lips, the moisturizing and healing properties will have a hard time penetrating the build-up of dry, damaged skin). My favourite method is to simply exfoliate lips with a warm, wet facecloth when in the shower. So simple, and really effective.

But if you have seriously chapped lips, here's another very effective and moisturizing exfoliator. Make a paste of olive oil and sugar; use your fingers to gently rub the mixture over your lips and then rinse off. If you'd like, you can add a couple of drops of lemon juice to boost the exfoliation-power and raw honey for extra hydrating-and-healing power (but the simple olive oil and sugar mixture works really well on its own).

Whichever method you choose, the key is to exfoliate very gently -- aggressive rubbing (or picking at your chapped lips!) can cause further damage and even remove healthy cells underneath the dry layer.

After exfoliating, nourish and moisturize your lips. When choosing a lip balm, I encourage you to find an all-natural one (I often use coconut oil, although I'll opt for a lip balm with more "sticking power" if my lips are feeling extra-dry). Remember, this is a product that sits on your lips, and you don't want to be ingesting yucky toxic chemicals -- which, like the above-mentioned petroleum jelly, can also lead to increased dryness and lip-balm-dependency in the long run. (If you need some suggestions for good, natural lip-balms, please feel free to ask -- I've tried many!)

A few other tips:

• Raw honey is fantastic for healing and hydrating sore, cracked lips: simply slick it on like lipgloss for immediate relief.
• If your lips are so chapped that even brushing your teeth irritates them, apply a protective coat of natural lip balm before you brush.
• And speaking of brushing, avoid drying and irritating sodium-lauryl-sulfate-containing toothpastes (as well as alcohol-based mouthwashes).

And finally, remember (as I try to): lips are for talking, smiling, and kissing -- not picking, biting, and licking! Happy -- and comfortable -- smiling, everyone!

Electric Smile...

My dentist considers Halle Berry to have the ideal smile. Perhaps she uses the Sonicare...

I'm not a big "beauty gadgets" person. But there are a couple I consider must-haves -- I've extolled the virtues of one of these in a previous post; the other is my electric toothbrush. I know -- not the most glam gadget, but after my post on teeth whitening, several people expressed to me their concerns about going the bleaching route and asked about basic maintenance options that would help control staining and enhance the natural whiteness of their teeth. In my experience, a good electric toothbrush makes all the difference.

Not that I ever thought I'd be an electric-toothbrush type person -- to me, they seemed like a pointless gadget that cluttered up your bathroom counter with ugly cords. Then someone gave me one for Christmas several years ago -- with no "return gift card" included. I decided to give it a whirl, and have been a devoted user ever since. My dentist Dr. Kwong says that the electric toothbrush is for people who are "really, really concerned about taking care of their teeth". Um, that would be me. I come by it honestly -- my mom used to stand over us kids, making sure we brushed each tooth ten times -- and an obsession was born. (I admit it: I'm one of those floss-twice-a-day people, too).

There are a few well-known brands out there, but the Sonicare, in my and Dr. Kwong's opinion, wins hands down. It has proven oral health benefits (awesome tartar control) and purports to naturally whiten teeth up to two-and-a-half shades whiter in two weeks.

So if, like me, the thought of exposing your sensitive gums to a potent bleaching solution gives you the same shivers as does someone running their fingernails down a chalkboard -- you might want to invest in a Sonicare (or get someone to give you one for Christmas).

Also, a reader emailed me to ask what kind of toothpaste I use. Well, I hope my dentist isn't reading this, but I use a non-fluoridated, natural toothpaste. Right now, I'm using Weleda, a holistic brand that was founded in Switzerland, and now produced in the UK and available world-wide. I like their Plant Gel formula, which purports to be extremely gentle on tooth enamel. There's a lot of controversy out there regarding fluoridated toothpastes, and adamant arguments on both the "pro" and "no" sides. I made a personal decision to avoid fluoridated toothpastes.

But aside from the fluoride concerns, I especially dislike some other ingredients found in conventional toothpastes. I really don't want to be putting artificial sweeteners and colourants, sudsing agents, and other toxic chemicals into my mouth. The toothpaste companies warn you not to swallow the stuff, but of course it still gets absorbed into your system to a certain degree.

Anyway, as a reader commented, a great smile definitely wins over artificial enhancements like make-up... And as my dentist says, what really makes a great smile is a healthy smile -- I've found the Sonicare-natural-toothpaste combo to work well for me. Along with, of course, regular professional cleanings (there you go: a reason to smile, even at the dentist's office)!

Pearly

Apparently, Catherine Zeta Jones uses strawberries to keep her teeth white and bright...

Recently, a reader emailed me asking if I had heard of using strawberries to whiten teeth. "Do mushing strawberries on your teeth really work or should I go the bleaching route? And if I do, is it safe? Do those whitening strips work? Or should I spend the bucks for professional bleaching? Help!" she wrote.

I have heard of the strawberries-for-whitening-teeth trick -- apparently, some Hollywood actors use it -- but I've never tried it. And I don't know much about teeth bleaching -- but I knew the perfect person to ask: Dr. Wilson Kwong. Dr. Kwong is a top cosmetic dentist who has been helping people achieve healthy beautiful smiles for the past 20 years. Based in Vancouver, he shares his expertise in New York, London and California, and has earned an international reputation as a leader in the industry. In other words, this man knows teeth. We chatted recently on what makes a smile beautiful. Here's part of our interview, where I got the scoop on teeth bleaching and side-effects; do-it-yourself-versus-professional treatments; and how white is too white!

BeautyCosmopolite

Teeth bleaching is so popular these days! Is it a big part of your practice?

Dr. Wilson Kwong

Teeth whitening is a big part of my practice because people want it. In my office, it's a non-profit endeavour -- it's so competitive now, there's just not a lot of profit to do it. What we're trying to do is motivate people, through the use of bleaching, to keep their teeth healthy. Appearance is an emotional trigger-point for most people -- if someone is happy with their smile, they are more apt to take care of it.

BC

I've heard that teeth bleaching can lead to problems. How safe is it really, and are there side-effects?

WK

What we call teeth "bleaching" has been in use for about 20 years -- the active ingredient is hydrogen peroxide, not bleach. Hydrogen peroxide breaks down into oxygen and water. Are there free radicals being released? Yes. There are also free radicals in barbecued foods, for example. Overall, the safety of this procedure is pretty good.

The number one side effect is irritation to the tooth, which means sensitivity. That can be controlled through the use of desensitizing agents.

BC

How about compromising the actual tooth enamel?

WK

Science hasn't shown that to occur. Obviously, ill-use and abuse can cause damage, probably more to the soft tissue than the teeth themselves. I had one patient use a whole dentist-office prescribed kit in three days! It was not something that was instructed. Sometimes people go a little overboard in what they feel is 'white' and use too much.

BC

Speaking of, can teeth be too white? I met someone a while back who had such stark-white teeth that they were actually a distraction from her pretty features. I don't think her super-bright level of whiteness could have been a result of bleaching, though -- I'm guessing veneers?

WK

If someone asked for veneers, for example, that were really icy-white, I would counsel them about it. Most patients listen. Together, we take into consideration everything from complexion to personality. That being said, people have different ideas about how they want their teeth to look. I think teeth look really good when the person is comfortable with them. The goal is to create a smile that makes the person feel confident, because a confident smile is what makes a beautiful smile!

BC

Are the drugstore, over-the-counter whitening kits safe and do they work?

WK

Yes, they're very safe. They are weaker than the ones we prescribe in the office. They work better on younger people who still have fairly white teeth and just want some brightening. The effects will last a few months. The over-the-counter kits don't work as well for older people who have more staining.

BC

When would you advise professional teeth-whitening versus a do-it-yourself kit?

WK

It really depends on budget. The office procedure is faster and better, and the results last longer, up to a year. Over time it can actually be less expensive. And you can't really get the same result with drugstore kits. But there is no big difference in safety between the two options.

BC

How can we keep our teeth white naturally?

WK

Teeth age with us, and generally get a little darker due to the micro-fractures we create as we use our teeth that allow staining. I've heard of people using lemon and other acidic foods to naturally bleach their teeth. I have no problems with people trying that if they want to. If it works, great!

BC

Have you heard of whitening your teeth with strawberries? Apparently, the malic acid acts as an astringent to remove the surface discolouration. The suggestion is to mash one strawberry with baking soda and apply for five minutes. How safe is this -- assuming you thoroughly brush your teeth afterward of course!

WK

Acid will corrode and erode teeth and teeth matter -- that's how cavities occur. I'm not really recommending that people use anything acidic because it does break down enamel. That being said, our saliva has a natural buffering action against acid. And thoroughly flossing and brushing your teeth after trying something like this is really important. I wouldn't suggest using this method very often.

BC

Speaking of natural methods to remove stains, what do you think about brushing with baking soda?

WK

What you're trying to do with this is use an abrasive source to physically scratch off any debris. However, microscopically, you might be creating little fractures, which will then enhance staining possibilities. You want the teeth to be as smooth as possible, and to use a non-abrasive toothpaste.

BC

You have a great smile and beautiful teeth -- do you bleach them?

WK

Yes!

So there you go. If anyone has tried any of these whitening methods, I'd love to hear how you felt about the results! Thanks to the reader who asked about a topic that a lot of people are interested in. And many thanks to Dr. Wilson Kwong! You can find out more about Dr. Kwong on his Smiles Are Beautiful website.