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Beauty questions?

Our beauty consultants answer your skincare and makeup questions.

Cleansers Toners Moisturizers Boosters Fine line fighters Masks

Eye care Exfoliants Oily skin care UV care Body care Men's skincare

Hair care Makeup Baby care Fragrance Special sets Other questions

I love having moist lips, but hate balms that feel waxy or greasy. Any suggestions?

Everyone has their own preference when it comes to lip care textures, and DHC Vitamin C White Stick is an excellent choice for those seeking a more velvety finish. It contains natural humectants that hydrate, tone, and plump your lips, but with soft, matte results. You can use it as an anytime treatment or apply your favorite DHC lipstick right over it.

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My pregnancy has changed the condition of my skin, and I'm seeing discoloration. What can I do about it?

Pregnancy—and the resulting hormonal havoc it often causes—can bring chaos to your complexion. Your skin type may change, breakouts can occur, and sometimes melanin production increases, resulting in spots and discoloration around your cheeks, nose, lips, and forehead. To help relieve some of these issues, try DHC Alpha-Arbutin White Powder. It can be used alone or mixed with another moisturizer, like DHC Olive Virgin Oil. Just combine the powder and a couple of drops of oil in your palm and apply. And bear in mind that UV rays can exacerbate discoloration, so don't forget to finish your skincare routine with the DHC sunscreen of your choice. DHC White Sunscreen is a great option. It contains broad-spectrum UV protection plus brightening alpha-arbutin to help get you on the road to a more even skin tone and radiant complexion.

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Lately, I've been hearing a lot about the benefits of soy in skincare. What makes it so special?

Extracts of soybeans contain phytoestrogens—plant-based compounds with estrogen-like activity—called isoflavones. Our body's estrogen levels gradually decrease as we age leading to rougher skin texture, sagging, and an increase in fine lines. DHC Fermented Soy Milk Essence, a silky-feeling booster, helps refine tone and texture and brings radiance to your complexion while helping to provide precious moisture, your skin simply drinks it in. You'll also find soy in DHC Wrinkle Essence'use this light gel serum to fight fine lines and help revitalize your complexion.

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Cold weather makes my hands rough and chapped. What can I do?

Winter can be very harsh on your skin. The combination of cold, dry, and windy weather can lead to dry, chapped, and cracked skin. Many of us switch to a heavier facial moisturizer in the winter, but should you switch your hand cream as well? Yes! Hands take a lot of environmental abuse, and frequent hand washing, although necessary, can lead to dryness. Fortunately for you, DHC UR Cream provides long-lasting relief from scaly winter hands. Lab-developed urea helps exfoliate and moisturize at the same time. Massage this lush cream on your hands and other rough areas, including knees, elbows, and feet, immediately after washing or bathing. Keep a tube of UR Cream on your sink right next to DHC Hand Soap.

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I keep hearing about coenzyme Q10. What's so great about it?

Coenzyme Q10, also known as ubiquinone, exists naturally in our body, although our level of coenzyme Q10 normally declines with age. Coenzyme Q10 gives energy to our cells and allows them to reproduce healthily. In addition, coenzyme Q10 is a powerful antioxidant and free radical scavenger. (Free radicals are unstable molecules that hinder collagen and elastin production and lead to premature aging.) Coenzyme Q10 also helps protect cells from damage caused by environmental factors, such as exposure to sunlight, cigarette smoke, and more. In short, using coenzyme Q10 helps you defend your skin and lessens the look of fine lines. You'll find this firming and smoothing ingredient in DHC's Q10 series'available in full-sized products or as a convenient travel set. See and feel the difference for yourself.

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Why are amino acids good for your skin?

Amino acids are the building blocks of protein, and protein is what your skin is made up of. They have excellent moisture retention ability and support collagen and elastin, helping to make fine lines and wrinkles appear less visible. Amino acids can also help normalize sensitive and problematic skin.

You'll find amino acids, including glycine, serine, and lysine, in DHC Amino Acid Powder. Use this powder alone or add it to your favorite DHC moisturizer to help achieve healthier-looking skin. DHC Botanical Plakoenta is another option. Rye placental protein is naturally rich in amino acids and has a nourishing effect on your skin.

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DHC claims to be fragrance-free, yet I've noticed that several of your products do have a scent. Please explain.

All of our facial skincare products are 100% fragrance-free, meaning that they contain no ingredients added solely for the purpose of providing a scent. Any scent that you may detect in our products emanates purely from their natural ingredients. For example, the fruity aroma of Acerola Lotion is simply the all-natural scent of the acerola extract, while the sodium hyaluronate (a most excellent humectant) lends its redolence to our Emollient Balm. These natural scents remain because we do not add anything to enhance, mask, or even neutralize them. Such excess additives, while pleasant to the nose, may irritate and clog sensitive skin. DHC uses only ingredients that either help your skin or help the product to help your skin, and nothing extra. What you get is a natural aroma from the blend of carefully chosen ingredients and products that make your skin feel beautiful.

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You have three products in your Ceramide series, and I hear that ceramide is also an ingredient in others. What is it and what does it do?

Your body produces a variety of ceramides, several of which are found in skin. Ceramide is an intercellular lipid-a fluid that exists between skin cells, keeping them hydrated and healthy. As we age, we produce less of our own natural ceramide, resulting in very dry skin. Worse, lowered levels of ceramide decrease the skin's natural defenses, which can cause problems such as hypersensitivity or easily irritated skin. True to its name, fast-acting Ceramide Quick rapidly infuses botanical ceramide deep into your skin to help restore lost ceramide.

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Why do my cheeks become red, sensitive, and flaky in the winter?

You may be suffering from a condition called rosacea. This condition primarily affects the facial area and is characterized by redness, pimples, and thickened skin. No one knows exactly what causes rosacea, but some believe that the tendency to develop the disease is inherited. Because this is a medical condition, be sure to ask your doctor about prescription products that might treat the disease. Colorants and fragrances in your skincare products can be irritating to skin sensitized by winter weather. As you know, at DHC, we formulate our products without adding unnecessary coloring agents or irritating fragrances. Such additives can cause a burning sensation on sensitive skin'especially on complexions compromised by rosacea. Try using gentle and soothing products on your skin; for example, DHC Deep Cleansing Oil removes makeup without overdrying your skin, and DHC Velvet Skin Coat instantly makes skin feel softer and smoother. If any product you use is unsuitable for your skin or causes irritation, please discontinue use. Continued use might aggravate the irritation.

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What is the ingredient "trehalose" and what does it do?

In the desert, certain plants known as "resurrection plants" have unique survival skills. They are able to endure prolonged droughts because of a natural sugar called trehalose that forms a protective coat to help capture and contain moisture during dry spells and prevents the cells from deteriorating. Although the plants appear to be lifeless during severe conditions, they revive with the first signs of moisture. Experience this protective super-hydrator in these revitalizing and restorative DHC products: Skin Softener, Olive Leaf Lotion, Tocophero E Cream, and Wrinkle Essence.

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I see that DHC products originate in Japan. Are they formulated specifically for Asian skin, or will they work for others?

DHC products are formulated for everyone's skin. The four basic skin levels, classified from the lightest to the darkest for SPF testing purposes, are more alike than many people realize. All skin spans the entire spectrum of skin types: dry, normal, oily, and combination, regardless of genealogy. Looking through this catalog, you'll notice that DHC offers an extensive variety of products. Sometimes we provide variations of the same product, such as richer Ceramide Cream, the lighter Ceramide Milk, and the lightest Ceramide Quick. This is to ensure that we offer products that will meet the diverse and ever-changing needs of everyone's skin. Our basic skincare products are free of colorants and fragrances which can potentially aggravate certain skin types. As the cornerstone of our skincare line we use extra virgin olive oil, an excellent nutrient-rich hydrator, that helps fight free radicals. Remember: Allow your skin type, not color, to dictate your skincare routine.

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Many DHC ingredients have exotic names that I've never seen before. Why is that?

Many of these unusual botanicals flourish throughout Asia, especially Japan, where our products are formulated and where some of these ingredients have been used for thousands of years. Kudzu, a natural skin illuminator, is found in most of our brightening products, such as the Acerola and Alpha-Arbutin series. It's also a powerful humectant that attracts and retains moisture within the skin. Pick up DHC Micro Skin Water for a revitalizing blast of houttuynia (also known as chameleon leaf), which helps to detoxify and stimulate cell turnover. Perilla, a gentle but effective skin-soother that works to smooth and calm skin is found in many of our baby products. Citrus unshiu (also as know as Satsuma mandarin), is popular all over Asia where its dried peel is used in many skincare products for its toning capabilities. Look for it in our DHC Toning Body Tonic and DHC Cleansing Foam. If you ever see an ingredient that you are confused by or even just curious about, please give us a call or visit our website glossary.

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I've purchased several different DHC products and have noticed that on some of the products and packaging there is Japanese writing. What's going on?

All of our products are formulated and created in Japan. They are sold domestically in Japan and also exported to all DHC branches worldwide. We don't repackage our products for each separate market, so DHC products appear in their original Japanese packaging in all countries, including the United States. Although some information may appear in Japanese, you'll be able to find the same information in English elsewhere within the packaging. To most packages, we apply a sticker listing the ingredients and giving instructions for use in English. Some of our packaging still has the original instruction insert in Japanese inside the box, but again, the English version of this information is usually applied to the same package. Within every parcel we ship to you, we include our most recent catalog and a blue pamphlet entitled "Product Directions Guide." This guide includes instructions on how to use all DHC products, so if you hang onto that, you'll have a handy reference about everything DHC. Can't find it? Try our website, www.dhccare.com'under the product detail listing you'll find a description, a list of ingredients, and instructions on how to use every product. If you still need help or clarification, please call us. We're always happy to help!

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Why do some DHC products have ingredients that separate in the bottle or rush out of the tube so quickly?

DHC is committed to using the highest-quality ingredients available and not adding unnecessary agents. Only beneficial elements are deemed essential. And because no chemical binding agents are used, these natural ingredients sometimes undergo a normal separation process in the bottle or tube (something you can see for yourself in DHC Water Base Face Color and DHC Moisturizer). You may also have experienced this separation process while using the upright tubes of DHC Less Hair Skin Cream and DHC Dual Defense SPF 25. Usually, giving the product a good shake before applying will do the trick.

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