Everyone’s after the plump, naturally full-looking lip right now, but we’re not all interested in having fillers or surgery to achieve it. Luckily, there’s one simple solution: lip exfoliation. If you want to find out more about this, read on!
What is lip exfoliation?
While you may have heard of it before, not everyone is clear on exactly what lip exfoliation is, and how you can achieve it. Of course, we’ll talk more about exactly how to exfoliate your lips later, but for now, let’s find out what the process is all about.
Firstly, lip exfoliation is just like facial exfoliation, as your lip and your face are both made from skin, so there’s not really much difference in terms of the canvas you’re working with. However, your lips are slightly different to the rest of your face, especially as much of their structure differentiates from any other area of skin, so exfoliating them is a little different.
Nonetheless, exfoliating your lips is, simply, the removal of dead skin cells from the surface of your lips in order to reveal fresher, juicer skin beneath. Regular lip exfoliation will also promote moisture in the lips and keep away chapped textures, as well as immediately restoring shine to their surface.
| Recipe Name | Ingredients | Instructions |
|---|---|---|
| Brown Sugar Scrub | – 1 tablespoon brown sugar – 1 teaspoon honey – 1 teaspoon coconut oil | 1. Mix all ingredients in a small bowl 2. Apply the mixture to your lips 3. Gently scrub in circular motions for 1-2 minutes 4. Rinse with warm water and pat dry |
| Honey and Olive Oil Scrub | – 1 tablespoon granulated sugar – 1/2 tablespoon honey – 1/2 tablespoon olive oil | 1. Combine all ingredients in a bowl 2. Apply the mixture to your lips 3. Massage gently for about a minute 4. Rinse off with warm water and pat dry |
Exfoliation of the lips has also been shown to stimulate blood flow to the area immediately afterwards, and this results in fuller, plumper and more voluptuous lips without fillers. Who doesn’t want to reap all of these benefits?!
If you’re excited to find out exactly how you can achieve these benefits through lip exfoliation, you’re in luck. Just read on to discover two different methods of lip exfoliation and decide on the best one for you.
Also read: Should You Exfoliate Every Day? (Based On Skin Type)
Method #1: With a toothbrush
The first method of lip exfoliation involves the use of a toothbrush, or any other hard-bristled brush. You can even purchase lip brushes specifically for exfoliation or use something else. When choosing your tool, the most important thing to keep in mind is that you must choose something which has enough flexibility to move around whilst it scrubs your lips.
Once your tool is chosen and you’re ready, it’s time to start scrubbing!
To begin, you’ll need to take your toothbrush or other chosen tool and use it to scrub clean, dry lips. It’s important that there’s nothing on your lips such as makeup or lip balm as it can interfere with the exfoliation process and prevent the toothbrush from doing its full job.
When scrubbing your lips, make sure to keep working in gentle, circular massaging motions, but don’t be afraid to apply a little pressure – you need enough pressure to actually scrub the lips!
Some people choose to use a lip scrub (more on that later) or another liquid exfoliant on their lips at the same time as they use their toothbrush in order to benefits from the best results. While this step isn’t completely necessary, it can add a little extra to the process, and you may find it works even better for you.
However, if your lips are more sensitive, it may be best to stick with just the toothbrush and avoid adding any extra exfoliants.
Once you’ve finished exfoliating your lips, it’s time for the aftercare. If you have chosen to apply a lip scrub or other exfoliating agent to your lips, make sure to wash this off with warm water. If you want to find out about how to care for your lips post-exfoliation, read on below.
Also read: Best Organic Lip Balm With SPF (My Recommendation)
Method #2: With a lip scrub
The second method you can use to achieve gorgeous, smooth lips is by using a lip scrub, and this is a very popular one. When it comes to using a lip scrub, there are many products available on the market, or you can even choose to mix your own, using household ingredients. There are also many scrub recipes online, and you can find one below!
Honey lip scrub recipe:
To make a honey lip scrub, the method is simple, and you’ll just need a teaspoon of honey along with two teaspoons of sugar. Once you’ve mixed the two ingredients together, massage the scrub into your lips for a few minutes, and then leave it to sit for another ten minutes. Wash it off to reveal soft, hydrated lips that cost almost nothing and used just two household ingredients.
For any other lip scrubs, the process is very similar, and it just requires you to massage the product into the skin of the lips. While every product in itself is different, of course, most products are as simple as a quick massage and rinse.
If you’re looking for some product recommendations, here are some lip scrubs definitely worth trying.
Burt’s Bees 100% Natural Conditioning Lip Scrub with Exfoliating Honey Crystals
- LIP CARE: One 0.25 oz. Burt's Bees Conditioning Honey Lip Scrub gently exfoliates and conditions dry lips and creates a smooth, soft canvas for flawless lipstick or lip balm application
- LIP TREATMENT: Honey crystals gently buff away rough, dry skin when you scrub in a circular motion to exfoliate; rinse lip treatment after scrubbing for a natural healthy glow
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Dr. PAWPAW – Scrub and Nourish Duo Pot
- 2-IN-1 PRODUCT: This petite pot combines a lip scrub and the original Dr. PAWPAW balm. These two simple components make a killer combo in vanquishing chapped lips forever! Cleverly packed in stacking pots: the lip scrub is in the top pot and the award-winning original balm is in the bottom pot.
- SUGAR-SMOOTHING SCRUB: The lip exfoliator provided a gentle relief to chapped lips. Its grains of sugar gently buff away dry, dead skin cells, leaving your lips smooth and soft. Its delicious fragrance of Mango, Orange and Coconut will definitely tempt you to lick it off!
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Kopari Coconut Lip Scrubby
- SOFT, SUPPLE LIPS- Add Coconut Lip Scrubby to your self care routine three times a week for softer, more supple lips.
- REMOVES DRY SKIN- Combines pure coconut oil with fine volcanic ash to gently buff away dry skin and reveal your softest lips ever.
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Once again, you’ll need to remember to take care of your lips properly afterwards, so that’s the next thing we’ll talk about. Exfoliation is no good without aftercare!
How should I take care of my lips post-exfoliation?
We’ve already mentioned how to exfoliate your lips, but that doesn’t tell us exactly how to care for your lips afterwards. While exfoliation can provide some promising benefits, these won’t last in the long term if you don’t take proper care of your lips as well.
The most important thing to remember post-exfoliation is to apply a nourishing lip balm or oil, such as coconut oil, to soother the lips. No matter whether you’ve used method one or two, a lip balm or similar product is essential in order to restore hydration and smoothness.
An additional step you can take to protect your lips is to use an SPF-infused product, as well. While many people don’t recognise the importance of this, or don’t see it as a viable purchase, using an SPF-infused lip product will increase your lips’ protection when in the Sun, and reduced their chance of chapping.
Final thoughts
Now that you know everything there is to know about the process of lip exfoliation, you may even call yourself an expert! There are a variety of different methods and products to use when it comes to exfoliating your lips, and it’s easy once you get to know the process. Get scrubbing for those luscious, juicy, and plump lips, completely naturally!
