Health Living and Beauty,

  If you love sporting a favorite lipstick or choosing your colors to suit your moods, you are all too familiar with the challenge of how to make that color last throughout the day. Every bite, every sip and every smile can wear away your lip color – but we can help. First, let’s start with some basic care to make sure your lips are always ready for your color of choice. Everyday lip care KEEP LIPS HYDRATED Lips love water, so drink it up all day long. Seriously, we can’t over-emphasize the need for water. Make sure you’re drinking plenty and using a humidifier in your home, especially during the winter months or if you live in an arid climate. Use a lip balm, like  Artistry Studio™ Tinted Lip Balms,  to maintain that healthy, hydrated lip, too. HOW TO REDUCE LIP LINES Do you have fine lines forming above your lips? Over time, most of us do. They’re caused by sun exposure, age and smoking. (Another good reason to quit!) Apply a product with retinol on the area around the lips to help s

  What is zinc? Zinc might be the second-to-last element of the periodic table, but it’s definitely an essential worker. According to the U.S. National Institute of Health, zinc is an essential nutrient found in cells throughout our body and is needed for healthy development and to maintain optimal health. What does zinc do for the body? Because our bodies don’t store zinc, we need a daily dose to aid in growth, DNA synthesis, immune function and more. Just a little bit of zinc can go a long way to realize the benefits. Zinc is a super-nutrient responsible for functions that span supporting your immune system to providing you with a proper sense of taste and smell. It supports your health in myriad ways. Here are some examples. 1. Zinc helps our bodies grow and develop During pregnancy, infancy and childhood, zinc is important to maintain proper growth. Why? Because our bodies need it to perform key functions, such as making proteins, DNA and genetic material. 2. Zinc is good for your 

  When you’re trying to lose weight, it’s easy to focus on all the things you are denying yourself. Salty snacks and sweet treats can be had in moderation, but you can’t lose weight if you’re regularly consuming bottomless bags of chips, giant hot fudge sundaes and pasta slathered in butter-laden sauces. Dwelling on that can leave you feeling pretty glum. Time to change your outlook: Focus on what you  can  have. Whether you’re counting calories, simply avoiding unhealthy foods or following a different weight loss strategy, there are several foods that can be consumed in any amount without derailing your weight loss goals. Free foods In fact, the list ranges from A (asparagus) to Z (zucchini). Of course we’re talking about colorful vegetables, which are high in water and fiber content, not to mention vitamins and phytonutrients. In many weight-loss programs, non-starchy vegetables are considered free foods. “This is because they provide very few calories and lots of nutrition, includin

  Are you still keeping your New Year’s resolutions? If the answer is yes, congratulations! You survived Quitter’s Day! Fitness app-maker Strava looked at 12 months of user data for more than 98.3 million fitness activities and determined that  Jan. 19 is the day most people are likely to call it quits  when it comes to sticking with their resolutions. Others point to the second Friday in January as the turning point. If you are one of the many to succumb to the statistic, do not fret. There are no rules against starting your “new year” again. Plus, we have tips to make this time different so Quitter’s Day will come and go while you are staying committed to your goals. 1. Make a plan Whatever your goal, planning is the first step to getting it done. You can’t just jump out of bed one day and start eating better if you’re your home is still filled with sweets and treats. You need to spend time writing a plan and outlining how you will keep your resolutions. Writing it out makes it real