July
1,
2009
Expert Beauty Tips
Now more than ever, skin is IN! Is yours at its absolute best? With these Expert Beauty Tips, our pros have absolutely all of your skin concerns under control. Oily skin? Nothing to worry about. Facials? Easy! Getting your perfect skin is just around the corner.
- House of Style: Stylists' VIP Hideouts
- Sensitive Skin
- Damaged Skin
- Large Pores
- Redness
- Facial Hair
- Blackheads
- Wrinkle Prevention
- Wrinkles
- Under Eye Puffiness
- Acne
- Under-Eye Circles
- Blemishes
- Oily Skin
- Dry Lips
- Inflammation
- Brown Spots
- Stretch Marks
- Facials
- Freckles
- Eye Creams
- Too Many Products
- Sunburns
- Daily Sunscreen
- Acne Scars
- Chapped Lips
- Scaly Skin
- Dull Skin
- Skin Lightening
Sunburns
By Ying Chu
Q: I was recently exposed to quite a bit more sunlight than I expected. While I did have sunblock on, my lips seem to have taken the brunt of it. They are sore, peeling, and dark around the edges. Is there anything you can recommend?
A: The best thing you can do after a sunburn is moisturize. A vitamin E or aloe gel (fresh aloe is even better!) will help with healing, and if you store them in the fridge, the coolness with soothe your lips. Follow with a rich lip balm containing shea or cocoa butter—and reapply every hour. If your lips are really painful, you could try Neutrogena Skin Aid All-In-One Skin Recovery Treatment or Neosporin Plus Pain Relief First Aid Antibiotic Cream. Both are ointments with a mild topical analgesic that numbs the pain; Neosporin will also help prevent infection (if they're cracked). And it might be tempting, but try not to lick your lips—that'll just dry them out more.
No matter what your skin type is, ward off skin cancer and sun damage by following these top tips:
1. Apply Yourself. The American Cancer Society suggests spreading about a palmful of sunscreen on your body and a squirt the size of a silver dollar on your face. Reapply every 40 to 80 minutes if you're outdoors. Most of us apply less sunscreen than we should (and never reapply), which can render an SPF 30 only as effective as an SPF 7.
2. Dry Off After Swimming The sun's rays penetrate wet skin more than dry skin, says Min-Wei Christine Lee, M.D., a dermatologic surgeon and director of the East Bay Laser & Skin Care Center in Walnut Creek, CA.
3. Go Undercover Slather on sunscreen— under your swimsuit. UV rays can get through most fabrics.
4. Aim High If you're exercising outdoors, go for a sunscreen with an SPF of 45 or higher. In general, higher SPFs stay put best, says Dr. Lee.
5. Do Your Research Check the labels of any oral drugs you're taking for warnings of photosensitivity. Some antibiotics, diabetes treatments and diuretics make you more prone to sun damage— even while wearing sunscreen.
A: The best thing you can do after a sunburn is moisturize. A vitamin E or aloe gel (fresh aloe is even better!) will help with healing, and if you store them in the fridge, the coolness with soothe your lips. Follow with a rich lip balm containing shea or cocoa butter—and reapply every hour. If your lips are really painful, you could try Neutrogena Skin Aid All-In-One Skin Recovery Treatment or Neosporin Plus Pain Relief First Aid Antibiotic Cream. Both are ointments with a mild topical analgesic that numbs the pain; Neosporin will also help prevent infection (if they're cracked). And it might be tempting, but try not to lick your lips—that'll just dry them out more.
No matter what your skin type is, ward off skin cancer and sun damage by following these top tips:
1. Apply Yourself. The American Cancer Society suggests spreading about a palmful of sunscreen on your body and a squirt the size of a silver dollar on your face. Reapply every 40 to 80 minutes if you're outdoors. Most of us apply less sunscreen than we should (and never reapply), which can render an SPF 30 only as effective as an SPF 7.
2. Dry Off After Swimming The sun's rays penetrate wet skin more than dry skin, says Min-Wei Christine Lee, M.D., a dermatologic surgeon and director of the East Bay Laser & Skin Care Center in Walnut Creek, CA.
3. Go Undercover Slather on sunscreen— under your swimsuit. UV rays can get through most fabrics.
4. Aim High If you're exercising outdoors, go for a sunscreen with an SPF of 45 or higher. In general, higher SPFs stay put best, says Dr. Lee.
5. Do Your Research Check the labels of any oral drugs you're taking for warnings of photosensitivity. Some antibiotics, diabetes treatments and diuretics make you more prone to sun damage— even while wearing sunscreen.
