Today, I am thrilled to welcome Rachel Downey, a health and wellness advocate, to discuss how to avoid toxins in personal care products. Rachel, a mom of three, began her journey eight years ago, driven by her desire to make safer choices for her children. 

Rachel shares that her journey started when her daughter experienced reactions to certain products, prompting her to explore and switch to safer alternatives. She emphasizes the importance of making "swaps," or replacing commonly used products with safer options. For example, when shopping for baby shampoo, instead of grabbing a familiar brand, she advises turning the product over and examining the ingredients. 

Many of us are aware that toxic ingredients in beauty products can cause issues like dry eyes. Rachel highlights some com...

Today, I am thrilled to welcome Rachel Downey, a health and wellness advocate, to discuss how to avoid toxins in personal care products. Rachel, a mom of three, began her journey eight years ago, driven by her desire to make safer choices for her children. 

Rachel shares that her journey started when her daughter experienced reactions to certain products, prompting her to explore and switch to safer alternatives.

 What's a "Swap"?

Rachel emphasizes the importance of making "swaps," or replacing commonly used products with safer options. This is the simple act of swapping out one of your regular personal care items for another that contains less toxins. Overtime, using one product that is better for your health after another, you can notice significant changes to the way your skin and ey...

Spring brings a burst of colors and fragrances, but for many, it also marks the onset of ocular allergy symptoms. Itchy, watery eyes and incessant sneezing can make enjoying the season a challenge. However, with a few proactive steps, you can alleviate these symptoms and embrace the beauty of spring with clarity and comfort.

How do you know if it's an allergy?

There are a couple of symptoms that are the same between dry eyes and allergies so it can be hard to distinguish between the two problems. However, timing seems to play a big part in ocular allergies. If you suddenly notice the symptoms below, it's most likely to be allergy. 

• redness
• watering
• Itching - this is the hallmark sign of allergy
• Eyelid swelling
• Mucus or stringy discharge
• Topical antihistamine eye drops improve sym
...

Let's dive into the world of Oculaire Skincare, the ultimate destination for eye-enhancing products that promise to make you feel, look, and even see better!

Today, I'm joined by Jessica Rosales, a skincare expert from Oculaire Skincare, who will take us on a journey through their incredible product line designed specifically for sensitive eyes and skin. Get ready to unlock the secrets to youthful and radiant eyes naturally! 

Oculaire Mousse d'or - The Gentle Foaming Face and Lid Wash

Jessica introduces us to the wonder of Oculaire Mousse d'or, a foaming face and lid wash that's perfect for daily use. Mousse d'or is a calming formulation that helps eliminate demodex, alleviate symptoms of blepharitis, reduce lid swelling, and address skin inflammation. Its gentle and scent-free formula...

In 2021, I was invited to serve as a member of the Public Awareness Committee for the TFOS Lifestyle Workshop. This is a global initiative where doctors, scientists, and researchers come together to gather information and make recommendations. The purpose of the Tear Film and Ocular Surface Society’s newest workshop was to produce evidence-based education about the lifestyle choices patients are making which cause ocular surface disease.  

The purpose of these TFOS workshops is to gather the known evidence-based research and compile it. This helps to gather a consensus from research to help guide treatment protocols. It also answers questions about disease progression and uncovers areas that have not yet been fully researched. In fact, each subcommittee report has a section to suggest whe...

Happy 4th of July!  Summer is here.  Let's go over three great tips to take care of your eyes this summer.  As dry eye suffers, there is a new challenge with every season of the year.  In the winter, the air is dry.  In the spring, there is too much pollen in the air.  Both allergies and dryness play a role in your management plan. 

In the summer, there's a lot of light and many dry eye sufferers have sensitivity to light.  And, there may be some water sports that you want to be involved in.  I've got a few tips and tricks that you can use to be more comfortable.

Tip #1) Use Protection

Protect the skin around your eyes

Have you ever wondered what sunscreen is safe for you to use around your eyes?  Especially when your eyes are dry, they tend to be sensitive to everything.  Opulence Bea...

This week, we have a guest blog by Kristen Steward to learn all about pollen allergies.  If you would like to read the blog in its original format, you can check it out here.

Otherwise, just keep reading...

Many people welcome spring with its warmer weather, longer days, and blossoming flowers and trees. For the more than 26 million Americans who suffer from allergic rhinitis including pollen allergies, however, this season can be full of misery.¹

WHAT IS POLLEN?

Pollen is a very fine powdery substance that’s usually yellow in color. It’s generated in a structure on the end of the stamen (the male reproductive part of the flower) known as the anther and its purpose is to fertilize other plants in the same species. In order for pollination to occur, pollen grains must be transferred fro...