The Ultimate Guide to Lip Scrubs

Not only do chapped lips look unkempt, but it can also be very painful. What causes chapped lips? It can be due to a combined effect of dehydration and climatic conditions. It could also be because, like me, you are a mom of three who at times can barely find time to sit and peacefully have a glass of water, let alone follow a skincare routine.

So I decide to find easy ways to avoid and fix chapped lips; lip scrub was the answer that I got. Let’s start with the basics of what lip scrubs are and which ingredients are used to make lip scrub before we dive into how to use lip scrubs and their benefits.  Oh and don’t forget to go through a crazy mama’s very own tried and tested coconut oil sugar scrubs recipes while you are at it.

What is Lip Scrub

Lip scrubs belong to the wider category of exfoliators and are considered as the basics when it comes to skin care and makeup application. Exfoliating your lips is an integral part of home lip treatment.

 Lip scrub is an exfoliator which is relatively mild and gentle on the lips as compared to body scrubs. These are usually semi-liquid or solid at room temperature with granule particles to scrub the dead skin off your lips. Lip scrubs are designed to mechanically (not chemically) exfoliate your skin, leaving it smooth. Mostly lip scrubs come in small lip balm tubes for easy application.

How are Lip Scrubs Made?

The basic ingredient used in lip scrubs is emollient, which helps to keep your skin soft and moisturized. Coconut butter, Shea butter, and jojoba oil are the most commonly used emollients for lip scrubs in combination with exfoliants like sugar, brown sugar, coffee, cinnamon and oats. Chap sticks, lip scrubs, and lip balms are made up of pretty much the same base ingredients; wax, Shea/coconut butter. These can be easily made at home as well. There is a variety of natural exfoliants available or probably in your pantry right now for a quick DIY lip scrub. Among the vast variety of lip scrubs available both commercially and diy, sugar lips scrub are most commonly used.

Top 5 Benefits of Using Lip Scrubs:

Exfoliating your skin routinely will get rid of dead skin and support regeneration of skin, which in turn will surely keep you looking young and rejuvenated.

• A good lip scrub helps to deep cleanse your lips; It helps to get rid of dead skin
• It improves blood circulation to that area, hence preventing fine lines around your lips.
• Prepping your lips by using a lip scrub before applying lip color gives a smooth lipstick application.
• Using chapstick or a lip balm on exfoliated lips helps to keep your lips hydrated and moisturized. It results in better absorption of lip oils and serums.
• Although it’s recommended by experts to exfoliate your lips daily, it is best not to overdo it, because that might irritate your skin.

How to use lip Scrubs:

Now that you have your answer to what do lip scrubs do, let us move on to how do you use lip scrubs without actually peeling your lips off.

• Cleanse your lips thoroughly; you can use a commercial cleanser, or you can opt for natural products like coconut oil.
• You can use a lip scrub brush or apply the scrub using your finger; generously spread the lip scrub on your lips and massage gently in a circular motion.
• Use a lip mask at least once a week as an after care. DIY lip masks are an excellent alternative to lip mask sheets commercially available and loaded with chemicals.

Crazy mama tip: I tried exfoliating with a soft bristle toothbrush, the results were equally good.

Three Things to Avoid While Exfoliating Lips:

Although scrubbing the dead skin off your body routinely is important, but doing it too often can lead to sore skin and cause irritation.

• Using a lip scrub once daily (preferably before bedtime) is more than enough. Too much scrubbing can disturb your skin’s natural oil and remove the healthy cells.
• Lip scrubs can be harmful if your lips are bruised or cracked (not chapped).
• Do not massage vigorously, be very gentle.
• While using a

Lip Scrub Aftercare:

Always moisturize your lips after exfoliating them.  Apply a lip balm or Vaseline once you are done exfoliating. Not moisturizing your lips after exfoliation can cause more harm than good.

Which Ingredients to Avoid While Buying a Lip Scrub?

• Say no to scrubs that have salicylic acid. Using salicylic acid can make your skin very sensitive especially to sunlight.
• Avoid using scrubs with sharp exfoliants, such as almonds.
• Scrubs with artificial flavours and fragrances along with lanolin (hydrator) can cause allergic reactions in some people. Making your own lip scrub is pretty easy. The Vaseline lip scrub is a very good and easy option for people with sensitive skin.
• Just like other skin care products, never buy lip scrubs that do not have ingredients listed on its label. The lip scrub might contain harmful or harsh preservatives and chemicals if not listed.

The Basic DIY Lip Scrub Recipe:

Homemade lip scrubs are equally effective if commercial lip scrubs don’t suit you or you find them unaffordable.  After researching and trying out a variety of DIY lip scrubs I’ve concluded that the basic recipe for all varieties of lip scrubs is the same. By the way, Vaseline and sugar lip scrub worked like a charm for me. An added benefit of making your lip scrubs is that you can even make a vegan lip scrub at home. How cool is that?

• Emmoliant of your choice (shea/cocoa butter/vaseline)
• Exfoliant of your choice (granulated sugar/coffee/ brown sugar)
• A Lip balm/lip oil or Vaseline after exfoliation.

Lip Scrub Directions:

Mix the emollient and exfoliant in equal ratio. Damp your lips and spread the lip scrub generously on your lips. Now massage very gently in a circular direction. How long should I scrub my lips for? A rule of thumb that I follow is that I count till ten in a clockwise circular motion, and then I switch to anti-clockwise circular motion and again count till ten. Wipe your lips clean with a damp towel and apply a lip balm.

I personally prefer using my homemade lip oil free from chemicals and preservatives as an aftercare product. It is light on my pocket too and it is edible (just in case one of the kids licks it, which happens a lot.)