What Is A Lip Exfoliator?

A lip exfoliator is a cosmetic product that can be used to remove dry skin and leave the lips with a smoother appearance. It typically consists of a powder or sugar formula, which can be safely applied to the mouth area. 

Exfoliators like lip scrubs stimulate new cell production and help lips to stay moistened and retain moisture. They are easy to apply, and simple to use.

Yes, you should be exfoliating your lips regularly (a couple of times a week). Not sure where to start? Here’s everything you need to know to get and maintain soft lips!

See Related: Why Are My Lips Always Dry And Peeling?

BENEFITS OF EXFOLIATING LIPS

1. IT REMOVES DRY, CHAPPED SKIN.

Lips are constantly exposed to the elements, including weather, wind, and sun damage, which can cause dry skin to accumulate. Lip exfoliators, also known as lip scrubs, apply a fine layer of powder or sugar that acts as an abrasive to wipe away dead cells. 

This process can also prevent the skin under your lips from thickening with age, leaving it smoother and firmer. The result is a well-moisturized area that’s easy to apply lipstick or lip gloss upon.

2. IT WILL HELP TO HYDRATE YOUR DRY LIPS.

Exfoliating your lips also stimulates new cell production, which means that the skin on your lips will become more hydrated. Since the lip is made of a thin layer of skin, it’s susceptible to drying out and cracking. 

It’s important to keep it moisturized, particularly during winter months when indoor heating tends to dry out everyone’s skin. The loss of hydration makes the skin on your lips more prone to cracking and splitting, which leads to the build-up of dead cells. 

Over time, this can cause a deeper layer of skin to form over your lips. This can be a painful process that makes it hard for you to eat, drink, smile, and even speak.

3. YOUR LIPSTICK WILL LOOK BETTER.

Exfoliating your lips can make your lipstick last longer. A lip scrub can destroy the oily layer that releases free agents, or irritants, that make your formula skimpier and less effective. 

A fresh layer of skin will form on the lips, which will create a more even surface to adhere to. This means better coverage with lip color and gloss and a smoother look when applied.

4. LIP SCRUBS CAN CLEAR UP IRRITATION AND CHAPPED LIPS.

A lip scrub can also help to clear up a dry, irritating skin condition on the lips that is often mistaken for a sign of a cold or herpes virus. A sugar lip scrub’s natural physical properties help it to penetrate through tough skin layers, which can effectively dissolve and remove any inflammation and irritation in the lip. 

This is especially helpful for conditions such as acne on the lips, and can even help with general dry skin conditions such as eczema.

5. NEUTRALIZES DISCOLORATION.

Lip scrubs are often made from a mixture of ingredients that have the potential to neutralize discoloration on your lips, including tea tree oil. This means that the fine-grained sugar lip scrub can effectively eradicate dark spots caused by acne, allowing your lips to look more vibrant.

HOW TO EXFOLIATE LIPS PROPERLY

1. MAKE SURE THEY’RE CLEAN

A clean, dry lip is the best way to begin your exfoliation process. Sanitizing your lips with a cleanser or soap can help to prevent any bacteria that may remain after an overnight mouthwash and reattach themselves to your lips when you start the exfoliation process.

2. GENTLY EXFOLIATE

Lightly tapping your lips with the exfoliator can help to activate the powder or sugar. Use a lip scrub in a soft, circular motion increasing the pressure as needed. It’s important to pay close attention so that you don’t irritate your skin.

3. MOISTURIZE

It’s a good idea to moisturize your lips before you start exfoliating them if you have particularly dry skin. Gently applying a moisturizer over your lips will help to prevent any cracking or flaking so that you can continue to exfoliate with ease. 

Look for natural and hydrating lip products that contain important emollients such as shea butter, coconut oil, cocoa butter, and jojoba oil.

3. IMMEDIATELY RE-HYDRATE

After exfoliating your lips with a lip scrub, immediately apply moisturizer. The exfoliation process can be quite abrasive and create a lot of friction on the skin, potentially causing damage to the lip if it’s not properly moisturized.

HOW TO EXFOLIATE LIPS – THE BEST WAYS?

1. SCRUB IT IN

First, wash your hands. You’ll want to lightly scrub in a circular motion with your lips slightly open, moving around the entire lip area (including the outer edges).

2. POLISH IT OUT

Using a sugar lip scrub, gently scrub the lip area to rub away dead skin for around 30 seconds and then rinse off with lukewarm water.

3. DON’T TOUCH MY DEAD SKIN

Apply moisturizer immediately after exfoliating. That way, you won’t have any dry flakes between your lips and the moisturizer you’re applying. 

4. THE LIPSTICK KISS TEST

Do a “lipstick kiss test” to see if you have enough dry skin gone, before applying your lip color or lipgloss. Apply some moisturizer and then quickly rub it up against something like the back of your hand or your other hand. If you can get lip color or gloss on either one, then you aren’t finished exfoliating yet.

HOW OFTEN SHOULD YOU EXFOLIATE YOUR LIPS?

It’s best to practice lip exfoliation twice a week, or once every couple of days. Do so after washing your face in the morning, before putting on any makeup like a mineral foundation. This ensures that the skin on your lips is as smooth as possible before applying lip color or gloss.

TIPS AND TRICKS TO EXFOLIATE LIPS?

1. BE GENTLE

Treat your lips like the skin on your face, as it’s very sensitive. Don’t go overboard with the exfoliation to avoid injury. Use a lip scrub with very fine grains. 

The exfoliation should be gentle and mild. You don’t want to irritate your lips. The exfoliation will help to clean them and soften the skin for better lip color.

2. DON’T OVER-EXFOLIATE

Be careful not to over-exfoliate too often, especially if you have dry skin. This can make your lips feel sore for days afterward. 

The ingredients might also be irritating your lips. You should only exfoliate once a week or so.

3. PROTECT YOUR LIPS

You should protect your lips after exfoliating them. They’ll be more prone to dryness than usual if you have been exfoliating regularly. Apply a moisturizer or balm after exfoliating. Lip gloss is also a good way to protect your lips.

4. DON’T EXFOLIATE ON DRY SKIN

If you have dry skin, avoid exfoliating more than twice a week to give your lips time to recover. Use a lip masque, vitamin e, or shea butter balm during the day to moisturize your lips and keep them healthy. 

The skin on your lips is more sensitive than the rest of your face and will get damaged more easily.

5. STOP WITH IRRITATION

If you are exfoliating frequently and your lips keep getting irritated, stop and give them a break for a couple of months. If they don’t feel better after a couple of weeks, see your dermatologist. The irritation may be due to a medical condition.

6. ALWAYS EXFOLIATE AT NIGHT

You should always exfoliate your lips at night, before bed. You’ll be sleeping on your lips, so it’s important that they are clean and healthy.

Bonus: When To Exfoliate In Your Skin Care Routine

WHAT TO AVOID WHEN YOU EXFOLIATE YOUR LIPS?

1. TAKE IT EASY.

Don’t scrub your lips off. You don’t want to exfoliate them so much that the skin starts flaking off. Use gentle circular motions with only a small amount of product on one finger. Be sure to use warm water to rinse off as well.

2. DON’T USE STONES, NUTS, OR CORE-BASED SCRUBS.

Don’t use scrubs such as pumice stones or products that contain large or sharp abrasives on your lips. They can irritate and even cut or scratch your skin.

3. AVOID EXFOLIATION WHEN YOUR LIPS ARE IRRITATED

If you think that your lips are irritated or if you have extremely delicate skin, don’t exfoliate. The irritation can worsen, causing even more dead skin cell buildup.

4. DO NOT USE BODY SCRUBS ON THE LIPS

Body scrubs are made to scrub off dirt and oil on your body. They are too harsh for your lips. Use a sugar lip scrub instead.

5. AVOID EXFOLIATING TOO OFTEN

Use a scrub at least once a week, but not more than 3 times a week, or your lips will become dry and irritated. Use moisturizer and lip hydrator during the days in between to keep them healthy.

WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU OVER-EXFOLIATE YOUR LIPS?

1. AN INCREASE IN SENSITIVITY TO OTHER PRODUCTS IN YOUR ROUTINE

Over-exfoliation can make your lips more sensitive to other products. You may experience a stinging sensation when applying lip products and you may experience dry, chapped lips when applying makeup.

2. BREAKOUTS

Exfoliation can cause clogged pores and breakouts. This is because the dead skin cells that you are rinsing off with water or exfoliating scrub are clogging your pores. 

This skin cell buildup can also get trapped under the surface of your skin, so it will not be thoroughly washed away during the next routine.

3. INFLAMMATION

Over-exfoliation can irritate your skin and make it more prone to infections. You’ll probably start to notice an increase in dry, red patches on your lips and it may start to feel sore and painful when you’re trying to put on lip color.

4. REDNESS

Over-exfoliation can cause damage to the skin on your lips and make them redder than usual. This is because the acid from the exfoliator can damage the skin and increase blood flow to the area, which will make your lips turn redder.

5. IRRITATION.

If you keep exfoliating your lips, you’ll end up with really dry and irritated skin. This can make your lips look a lot worse than they were before you started exfoliating.

6. PEELING

As your lips are becoming drier and more irritated, it can become easier for dry skin to peel away from your skin and become trapped under your skin. If you’re not careful, this can cause you to have a small rash on your lips that might look like a burn or bubbly peeling skin.

7. BURNING

The exfoliator you are using can also have other chemicals or ingredients which can cause a stinging sensation. This is usually because the exfoliator contains ingredients that are too harsh for the skin on your lips. You should make sure that you check the ingredients before you start scrubbing away at your lips.

WHEN CAN YOU START EXFOLIATING YOUR LIPS AGAIN?

1. AFTER YOUR SKIN GETS DRY AND IT HAS HAD TIME TO REST

Your lips need time to rest and recover after they’ve been over-exfoliated. This can make them look much better after a couple of weeks. Because your skin is more sensitive, it will be more prone to irritation and infection if you over-exfoliate it soon after it’s been scrubbed away.

2. IF YOU’RE NOT EXPERIENCING ANY IRRITATION.

If you are exfoliating and the skin on your lips isn’t getting irritated, and they are still dry and chapped, then you can leave it at that. After a while, your skin will become healthier and it won’t feel as dry as it did before.

3. IF YOU USE THIS EXFOLIATOR CORRECTLY

If you are using an exfoliator correctly, your lips will be very healthy after a couple of weeks. If you have been exfoliating and your lips are still dry and chapped, then you are probably using the wrong type of exfoliator for your lips. Make sure that you avoid too much scrubbing or too much acid in the product.

4. AFTER YOU APPLY LIP BALM/SMOOTHING SERUM

If your lips are dry and chapped, you can use a smoothing serum or lip balm before bed to give your lips some more moisture. It may take a couple of weeks for this to get rid of the dryness on your lips, but it’s guaranteed to work. You don’t need to exfoliate your lips before you apply the balm or serum.

WHAT CAN YOU DO IF YOU’VE MADE YOUR LIPS TOO RED?

The redness from over-exfoliation can last for around 2 days to a week, depending on how sensitive your skin is. During this time, it may be best if you do not wear make-up on your lips. 

The redness will also go away much faster if you are wearing a lip balm or smooth serum every night before bed. The acid in the exfoliator can damage the skin, so you should treat it gently with a smoothing serum or balm so that it can recover quicker.

Exfoliate your lips at least once a week and much less often if you’re using an exfoliating scrub. Use a moisturizer and lip balm after the scrub to help your lips recover from exfoliation. 

If you have sensitive skin, wait at least 2 weeks before you can start receiving the benefits of exfoliating again. Don’t over-exfoliate your lips, or it could be more damaging than beneficial for them in the long run.

FINAL THOUGHTS

We all want smooth lips, especially when dryer seasons (like Fall and Winter) come around! Dry skin buildup is a regular part of life, however, it does not need to be! Fortunately, there are simple solutions available like lip scrubs. 

There are countless free, DIY lip scrub recipes you can find online if you cannot afford a lip scrub. When you use a lip scrub, you slough away dead skin. In turn, this has multiple benefits: smoother lipstick application, and smooth skin on your lips overall! 

However, this process can remove natural oils, so be sure to immediately follow up with a hydrating lip balm or other natural oils such as coconut oil, jojoba oil, and even olive oil! 

Now that you now know more than you ever thought possible about lip exfoliators, it is time to put your newfound knowledge into action!

Keep Reading: What Does Hyaluronic Acid Do For Acne?

—

For over 60 years, Viviane Woodard has represented “The Purity of Skincare”. We are the leading beauty brand for skin care products and promote the importance of good skin hydration. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest for skin care tips, product discounts, and more.