Many people understand the importance of lip exfoliation and it's benefits. But how often should you exfoliate your lips? Read on to learn more!
What Does Exfoliating Mean?
Although the skin naturally sheds skin cells approximately once each month, sometimes the process needs to be sped up in order to minimize clogged pores and dry patches of skin. Manual exfoliation can help to slough away dead skin cells to make way for cleaner and clearer skin. Exfoliation can be done using specially designed chemical formulations or through the use of a mechanical tool or granular scrub.
How Often Should You Exfoliate Your Lips?
The amount of lip exfoliating that you need is dependent on how much lipstick or other products that you use on a daily basis. Most people will benefit from exfoliating their lips one to three times per week.
For the best results, exfoliate at night and then immediately follow the process with an application of quality chapstick or lip balm. This will ensure that you wake up with smooth and plump lips in the morning.
Benefits of Exfoliating Your Lips
Unfortunately, many people neglect the lips in the exfoliation process. However, a proper lip exfoliating routine can provide relief to dry and chapped lips. Additionally, exfoliated lips also will absorb moisture better. Ultimately making them more receptive to soothing lip balms and other products.
Best Lip Exfoliants and Scrubs
Lip exfoliants don't have to be anything extravagant. A simple lip exfoliant that contains a natural abrasive with safe to ingest ingredients is perfect. Here are the top reviewed lip exfoliants available on the market today.
1. Handmade Heroes All Natural Vegan Coconut Lip Scrub
This is an ideal lip exfoliation scrub that is vegan and contains coconut and jojoba oil - perfect for leaving your lips feeling smooth and exfoliated.
- How to use: With a clean and dry finger, take a pea-sized amount of lip scrub and apply to your lips. Gently spread and work the lip exfoliant in using a gentle, circular motion. After gently massaging the entire surface of your lips, rinse off with lukewarm water and pat dry with a clean towel.
- How it works to properly exfoliate your lips: This lip scrub is natural, vegan and cruelty free. It uses a blend of sugar, sweet almond oil, coconut to properly exfoliate and moisturize your skin. No tugging, no scratching. Just some love and major TLC all the way with this scrub.
- What to expect: This natural lip scrub provides gentle exfoliation to even the most sensitive lips with its mix of coconut and sugar. The avocado oil, jojoba oil, and sweet almond oil combine to deliver hydration as it moisturizes chapped and dry lips. There are no parabens, artificial preservatives, or synthetic ingredients used in this delicious lip scrub.
2. Beauty for Real Orange Spice All Natural Exfoliating Sugar Lip Scrub
Another great option is the Beauty for Real all natural exfoliating lip scrub. You really can't go wrong with this wonderful product!
- How to use: With a clean and dry finger, take a pea-sized amount of lip scrub and apply to your lips. Gently spread and work the lip exfoliant in using a gentle, circular motion. After gently massaging the entire surface of your lips, rinse off with lukewarm water and pat dry with a clean towel.
- How it works to properly exfoliate your lips: Exfoliation is truly a game changer. This all natural lip exfoliating scrub contains raw sugars and plant oils that are perfect for exfoliating dry and cracked lips.
- What to expect: Exfoliate and smooth dry lips with this wonderful, all-natural lip exfoliant that is formulated with plant oils and raw sugar. A custom blend of plant waxes and essential oils will hydrate your lips so they look silky smooth despite the weather outside.
How to Use a Lip Exfoliant
- Step 1. Apply a small amount of the scrub to your lips.
- Step 2. Gently massage the scrub into the lips, taking special with cracked or sensitive areas.
- Step 3. Rinse the excess scrub off of the lips with lukewarm water.
- Step 4. Pat the lips dry with a clean towel.
How to Make Your Own DIY Lip Exfoliant
Of all the beauty products on the market today, lip exfoliants are the easiest to make yourself at home. Chances are, you may have all of the ingredients laying around in your kitchen. When looking to combine elements, you want to make sure that your scrub has both an exfoliant and a nourishing agent. The nourishing element provides the moisturizing base while the exfoliant is what works to slough off the dry flakes.
1. Raw Honey and Sugar Lip Scrub
- 1 TBSP Honey
- 1 TBSP Sugar
2. Coconut Oil + Raw Honey and Lip Sugar Scrub
- 1 TBSP Coconut Oil
- 1 TBSP Raw Honey
- 2 TBSP Brown Sugar
3. Coffee and Coconut Oil Lip Scrub
- 1 TBSP Coarse Coffee
- 1 TBSP Coconut Oil
Other ideas include using coffee or cinnamon as the exfoliant and olive oil or almond oil as the nourishing agent. It is hard to mess up making a lip scrub, so have fun with it! Just make sure you use all natural ingredients that are safe to ingest.
FAQ:
Is it good to exfoliate your lips?
Yes, as discussed above there are many benefits to exfoliating your lips. The main benefit is improving the appearance of dry and cracked lips. Additionally, your lips will absorb lip balm better.
Can you exfoliate lips with a toothbrush?
A toothbrush is not required when exfoliating your lips with a lip scrub. However, it may be beneficial if you do not have any lip exfoliants. Simply apply some chap-stick and gentle work it into your lips using a toothbrush.
Does exfoliating your lips make them bigger?
No, exfoliating your lips will not make them bigger.
Can exfoliating your lips prevent dry and cracked skin?
Yes, because the exfoliation process helps remove excess skin cells, chapstick or other lip balms will be absorb better.
Is it bad to exfoliate your lips everyday?
It is possible to over exfoliate if you are doing it too often. Not only is daily lip exfoliation not necessary for healthy lips, but too much of a good thing can potentially dry out the lips. It is recommended to start with a routine of lip exfoliation once to three times per week.
Do you need to buy a lip exfoliant? Are regular body scrubs ok?
An exfoliant specifically designed for the lips is safe to be consumed. Because body scrubs are not formulated to be ingested, you may get an upset stomach or suffer other consequences if they are accidentally ingested. For this reason, it is recommended to stick with exfoliants designed for the lips or to make your own DIY scrub at home.
Can you use AHA or BHA exfoliants on your lips?
Using an AHA or BHA exfoliant is not a good idea because you may accidentally ingest some of the product. For your safety and comfort, stick to lip exfoliants or make your own at home using edible ingredients.