Exfoliating one's lips: a guide for smoother lips
The skin on our lips is thinner than most of the skin on our body, making it prone to flaking, peeling, dryness, and cracking. But with a few simple steps and natural ingredients, you can exfoliate your lips to reveal smoother, more hydrated skin.
The American Academy of Dermatology Association recommends looking for lip products with healing ingredients like castor seed oil, ceramides, hemp seed oil, mineral oil, petrolatum, shea butter, and white petroleum jelly when purchasing exfoliating lip scrubs. For a more natural approach, you can create your own lip scrub at home.
A combination of a physical exfoliant and an emollient is recommended for gentle lip exfoliation. Common exfoliants include sugar, cinnamon, or a soft toothbrush, and common emollients include honey, olive oil, or petroleum jelly products.
To safely and effectively exfoliate lips using natural products and emollients, use gentle abrasive ingredients like sugar or turmeric powder combined with moisturizing agents such as oils (jojoba, avocado, coconut), aloe vera, honey, or petroleum jelly. These combinations remove dead skin without causing irritation, while hydrating and nourishing the sensitive lip skin.
A common natural exfoliation method involves mixing: - A gentle natural abrasive (e.g., 1 teaspoon of sugar or turmeric powder) - An emollient or moisturizing oil (e.g., 1 teaspoon jojoba oil, avocado oil, or petroleum jelly) - Optional soothing/hydrating additions like aloe vera gel, honey, or vitamin E oil
Application steps: 1. Mix the ingredients to form a paste or scrub. 2. Gently massage the mixture onto slightly moistened lips in circular motions for 30–60 seconds, applying light pressure to avoid damage. 3. Rinse off with water and pat lips dry. 4. Follow with a balm or emollient to lock in moisture.
Exfoliate no more than twice a week to prevent irritation. Avoid exfoliation if lips are cracked or sore, and always use fresh, clean ingredients.
Examples of natural exfoliating recipes include: - Turmeric (1 tsp), aloe vera (1 tsp), and vitamin E oil (1 tsp) to brighten and moisturize lips, particularly sun-damaged ones[1]. - Sugar (1 tsp) combined with Vaseline or petroleum jelly (1 tsp) gently removes dead skin while hydrating[2]. - Sugar with coconut oil and vanilla oil forms a crumbly, nourishing scrub that soothes and softens lips[4].
Maintaining hydration by drinking plenty of water can help prevent dry, chapped lips. Using a lip balm with ingredients like petroleum jelly and shea butter can help maintain healthy, moisturized lips. Avoiding constant touching, licking, or chewing of the lips can also help maintain healthy, moist lips.
The AAD recommends avoiding lip scrubs containing eucalyptus, menthol, or salicylic acid for those with chapped lips. Using a lip balm with an SPF ingredient can protect the lips from UV rays.
Environmental factors like wind, sun, smoking, and changes in temperature can cause dry or chapped lips. By following these simple steps and using natural ingredients, you can keep your lips healthy, hydrated, and smooth.
- The American Academy of Dermatology Association suggests seeking lip products that contain healing ingredients, such as castor seed oil, ceramides, hemp seed oil, mineral oil, and petrolatum.
- For a more natural approach, one can create a homemade lip scrub by combining exfoliants like sugar or cinnamon with emollients like honey, olive oil, or petroleum jelly.
- To effectively exfoliate lips using natural products and emollients, you can mix a gentle abrasive like sugar or turmeric powder with moisturizing agents like oils (jojoba, avocado, coconut), aloe vera, honey, or petroleum jelly.
- Maintaining hydration by drinking plenty of water can help prevent dry, chapped lips; using a lip balm with ingredients like petroleum jelly and shea butter can also aid in this.
