

7 Things You Didn't Know Were Keeping Your Lips Dry
Having ashy lips may be worse than having ashy knees. It's true. And now that it's getting colder, it's getting harder to keep our skin moisturized, and the skin on our lips is no different. Dry lips can be painful and uncomfortable. In extreme cases, they can even lead to bleeding and infections. So how can you keep your lips moisturized during the fall and winter months?
Here are a few tips to keep your lips soft, supple, and healthy!
1.Caffeine
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If you're a coffee or tea lover, you've probably noticed that your lips tend to feel dry and chapped after you've had a cup or two. That's because caffeine is a diuretic, which helps regulate how much water your body retains. When you drink caffeine, your body starts to expel water, which can lead to dehydration. As a result, your lips become dry and cracked, and you may even notice that your skin feels dry and tight.
2.Licking your lips
While it might feel like licking your lips is providing a much-needed dose of moisture, it can worsen the situation. When you lick your lips, the saliva evaporates quickly, leaving your lips even drier than before. In addition, saliva can contain enzymes that break down the natural oils on your skin, further contributing to dryness and irritation.
3.Salty and spicy foods
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If you're a fan of salty and spicy foods, you might notice that your lips feel a little dry after you eat them. That's because these foods can cause your lips to lose moisture. When you expose your lips to salt or spices, they absorb the molecules of these substances. This process draws moisture out of your lips, leaving them feeling dry and cracked.
4.Yeast
That's right - the same yeast that's used in baking bread and brewing beer can also cause your lips to become dry and irritated. When the yeast on your skin is unbalanced, it can lead to angular cheilitis, which manifests as red, scaly patches around the corners of your mouth. In severe cases, the yeast can even penetrate the skin and cause an infection.
5.Dehydration
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When we're dehydrated, our skin dries out and can become irritated, flaky, and even cracked. However, drinking enough water can help keep our skin hydrated and looking its best. Water helps to flush out toxins and impurities from our skin, and it also helps to deliver essential nutrients to cells. In addition, water aids in the production of collagen and elastin, two important proteins that keep skin looking firm and youthful.
6.Lip balm
Not gloss. Balm. Non-irritating lip balms are great for restoring moisture to your lips. Lip balm helps restore moisture to the lips, relieving the discomfort of dryness. However, not all lip balms are created equal. Some contain camphor, lanolin, and methanol which can irritate the lips, making the problem worse. That's why it's important to choose a lip balm specifically designed to be non-irritating. These balms typically use natural ingredients like beeswax, castor seed oil, mineral oil, and shea butter to moisturize the lips. Apply lip balm throughout the day and before you sleep at night.
7.Dry air
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One way to combat dry lips is to use a humidifier. Humidifiers help prevent your lips from drying out by increasing the moisture in the air during winter because cold air tends to be dry. A humidifier can also relieve other symptoms of dryness, such as dry hands, a sore throat, and flu-like symptoms.
These simple tips should help keep your pout healthy and moisturized all year round! Have fun trying different techniques and products to find what works best for you.
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- Give Your Skin The "Autumn Pampering Treatment" By Doing This ›
- Your Skin Is BEGGING You To Do This Right About Now ›
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Get To Know 'Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story' Star India Amarteifio
Actress India Amarteifio has enchanted audiences with her captivating performance of a young Queen Charlotte in Netflix's latest hit Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story.
The limited series, a prequel to Bridgerton, follows the young queen as her marriage to King George of England causes a societal shift. Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story debuted on Netflix earlier this month to rave reviews from fans and critics alike.
The show had left many in awe of the stars' portrayal of each character and its riveting storylines, so much so that it excelled in the streaming platform's top ten charts landing at number one when it premiered.
Since then, Amarteifio and her castmates have been trending on social media for various reasons. The list includes many sharing their remarks regarding the love story between Queen Charlotte and King George and social media users wanting to know more about the actors and actresses.
Although few details have been released about Amarteifio and her life, many would be surprised to know some uncovered facts about the star, unveiled recently during her promotional tour of Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story.
India Was a Trained Dancer
Prior to focusing on acting full-time, Amarteifio was a trained dancer.
Marie Claire magazine reports Amarteifio --who grew up in England-- attended the Richmond Academy of Dance when she was 11. The following year, Amarteifio received a scholarship for Sylvia Young Theatre School. But the star's dancing journey would ultimately be cut short when she was 12 after sustaining a hamstring tear.
Amarteifio told L'Officiel what made her fully transition into acting, in addition to her injury, was that she was "constantly" falling ill. Amarteifio shared that because she loved "the acting element through dance," becoming an actress was a "natural" switch.
"I always wanted to dance. I went to performing arts school when I was 11 to 16. Then I really badly injured myself, and it made me question the industry and the lifestyle of something so reliant on my body," she said. "I constantly was getting injured and ill, and it made me look at the reality of the life of a dancer. I always loved the acting element through dance, so I made the natural transition that way. But I always wanted to perform—acting is just more of a newish venture."
India Started Acting Really Young
Despite Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story being Amarteifio's breakout role, the star has been a part of the entertainment industry since she was a baby.
In an April interview with Vogue magazine, Amarteifio revealed that she landed her first acting opportunity alongside her mother in a commercial for Vodafone when she was eight months old. A few years later, Amarteifio would land theater jobs, including The Lion King, where she played the role of young Nala, Matilda, and Charlie and The Chocolate Factory.
"I was in a Vodafone advert with my mum when I was eight months old. I only found out about it the other day – she told me they did an open call and she just rocked up with me," she said." Growing up, I loved theatre and dance, and when I was nine, I auditioned for The Lion King in the West End. I did that for about a year, then moved on to Matilda, then Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Around that time, I got a scholarship to Sylvia Young Theatre School."
After Amarteifio's injury at 12 and fully deciding to pursue acting as a career choice, she would go on to get minor roles in Doctor Who, The Tunnel, and Sex Education.
"We had a careers evening when I was 14, and I started thinking, 'If I keep doing this, I'll have a short career.' So, I started focusing on acting and ended up getting small roles in Doctor Who, The Tunnel and Sex Education," she said.
India On Being Mixed Race And How She Related To Her Character
As the conversation shifted to how Amarteifio could relate to her Queen Charlotte character, the actress shared that because of her mixed background, she felt she could identify with the idea of not knowing where to "fit in."
Amarteifio's mother is white, while her father, who is Black. Further in the interview, Amarteifio recalled what it felt like being the "only person of color" to enter a room and compared those instances to Queen Charlotte's experiences early on in Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story.
"I'm mixed race. I've got a white mum and my dad is Black – born in London, but with Ghanaian ancestry – so I can relate to her in terms of not really knowing where you fit in. I know what it's like to walk into a room and have everyone look at you because you're the only person of color. There are so many scenes, especially early on in the series where Charlotte does exactly that," she stated. "In those moments, you feel alone and awkward, and it can be uncomfortable to talk about it, but by writing those scenes, Shonda's starting that conversation and showing people that they aren't alone."
India Prepared For Queen Charlotte: A Briderton Story By Watching The Crown
Earlier this month, Amarteifio opened up about how she prepped for her starring role in Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story.
In an interview with Bustle, the actress disclosed that she binged-watch Netflix's The Crown to get another perspective on being a royal. Amarteifio also shared that her co-star Corey Mylchreest suggested it after they were informed that they would be doing a coronation scene.
"Corey [Mylchreest] actually recommended [that I] watch The Crown because we were doing the coronation scene [in Queen Charlotte]. In Season 1 [of The Crown], the Queen is going through a coronation, and it was interesting to see how that was done—because it's a ritual, it's a very similar experience, and to see the behind-the-scenes elements that they showed in The Crown was actually helpful," she explained.
Amarteifio also mentioned that portraying Queen Charlotte and watching The Crown helped her understand the royal family more as people.
"I definitely understand the royal family more, in the sense of knowing who people are in relation to other people—that's because when I was filming, I binge-watched The Crown. So I feel like I know them all. I know their secrets," she said. "But [Queen Charlotte] didn't give me any further insight into them because we don't delve into that. We're taking from history, but we're retelling it."
India On How The Queen Charlotte Role Impacted Her
In the same interview, Amarteifio provided details about how portraying the role of Queen Charlotte positively impacted her life.
Amarteifio stated that before taking the role of Queen Charlotte, she was often nervous to ask questions out of fear that she would "rock the boat." Still, after playing the character, the star started opening up more because she realized that even if she didn't receive any answers, it made situations much easier to handle.
"I see her as a very different entity. [But] not being embarrassed or afraid of asking questions is probably one of the things that I took away, because she asks questions and gets answers. Sometimes she doesn't get answers, but at least she tried. Sometimes I feel like I'm a bit nervous to ask questions or rock the boat — but actually, it just makes things easier," she stated.
Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story is now streaming on Netflix.
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