Unleash Ruby Red Lips: Kiss Dryness Goodbye with These 5 Exfoliation Secrets

Brown Sugar and Honey Lip Scrub

Shannon Lee, a licensed esthetician, recommends creating a natural lip scrub using brown sugar and honey. Brown sugar, according to Lee, is a gentle exfoliant that effectively removes dead skin cells. It’s also humectant and contains glycolic acid (a natural AHA) to help resurface skin cells. Honey, with its antibacterial, antioxidant, and humectant properties, combines with brown sugar to create a luscious treat for your lips.

Ingredients:

– Honey
– Brown sugar

Instructions: Mix one tablespoon honey with one tablespoon brown sugar. Use the mixture to gently massage your lips in circular motions. Leave it on for 5-10 minutes, then rinse your lips with warm water. Finish with a lip balm to keep your lips soft and supple.

Brown Sugar and Oil Lip Scrub

Dr. Ferzli shares his favorite at-home lip exfoliation method, which combines brown sugar with an emollient-rich cream like Aquaphor or Vaseline to prevent moisture evaporation. Ferzli suggests that brown sugar is preferable to white sugar because it’s softer and has larger granules, providing exfoliation without irritating the lips. The sugar scrubs away dead skin, while the oil conditions and hydrates.

Ingredients:

– Vaseline or similar product
– Olive oil
– Brown sugar

Instructions: Scoop out a dime-sized amount of the emollient into the palm of your hand. If using Vaseline, you can use a mini jar for convenience. Add a few drops of olive oil. Sprinkle in brown sugar at a ratio of 3 parts oil to 1 part brown sugar and mix together. Use the mixture to gently massage your lips for about 30 seconds, then rinse with warm water. Finish with a layer of your favorite lip balm to lock in moisture.

Pineapple Lip Scrub

Lee offers a fresh take on lip exfoliation with the sweet scent of the tropics: pineapple. Rich in natural enzymes that break down dead skin cells, pineapple not only brightens lips but also provides antioxidant benefits thanks to its high vitamin C content. It’s paired with coconut sugar (a gentle exfoliant that’s rich in iron, zinc, and calcium) and moisturizing coconut oil.

Ingredients:

– Pineapple
– Coconut sugar
– Coconut oil

Puree a tablespoon of pineapple and combine it with a tablespoon of coconut sugar. Then, stir in a half teaspoon of coconut oil until well blended. Use the mixture to gently massage your lips in circular motions. Leave it on for 5-10 minutes, then rinse with warm water. Finish with a moisturizing lip balm or your favorite lip mask for soft, smooth lips.

Coffee Grounds Lip Scrub

Repurposing coffee grounds not only reduces waste but also creates an excellent natural lip scrub. A blend of coffee grounds, brown sugar, honey, and coconut oil provides an invigorating exfoliation. Coconut oil not only moisturizes but also protects the skin thanks to its antimicrobial properties and fatty acids, which help strengthen the skin’s barrier and combat environmental stressors.

Ingredients:

– Coffee grounds
– Brown sugar
– Honey
– Coconut oil

Combine one part coffee grounds with two parts brown sugar and honey, mixing until you achieve a thick paste. Adjust the measurements as needed. Then, stir in a tablespoon of coconut oil and mix until well blended. Apply the mixture to your lips, massaging gently in circular motions, then rinse. Follow with your favorite lip balm or mask for soft, smooth lips.

Brown Sugar and Cucumber Lip Scrub

Use leftover cucumber slices from your eye treatments to create a refreshing lip scrub. Cucumber provides hydration, and it’s also rich in vitamins A and C, both of which benefit skin health overall, says Lee.

Ingredients:

– Cucumber
– Brown sugar

Begin by mashing half a cucumber and mixing it with one tablespoon of brown sugar. Apply the mixture to your lips, gently massaging in circular motions. Leave it on for 5-10 minutes before rinsing with warm water. Finish with your favorite lip balm or mask to keep your lips soft and supple.