There’s nothing more unsightly or uncomfortable than flaky, sandpaper lips. Sure, you can tap on your trusty lip balm and be on your way, but once it fades, you’re back to square one. And if you’re wearing lipstick, that uneven texture can be even more noticeable.
That’s where lips scrubs come in, which sloth off dead skin cells to smooth and soften your lips. They’re also the perfect way to prime your pout for the seamless application of lipsticks, stains, and glosses. And did we mention that they’re incredibly easy and cheap to DIY?
Before you get started, it’s super important to know what ingredients are safe to use. “I do not recommend adding any fragrances, colorings, or potentially irritating ingredients like essential oils,” says NYC-based dermatologist Joshua Zeichner, MD, FAAD. “These all may disrupt the outer skin layer leading to dryness, irritation, and rashes.”
Instead, the key to creating a great scrub is combining a gentle exfoliant with natural oils and fatty acids. “You can make a DIY lip scrub using a variety of natural oils like almond, coconut, or jojoba oil. Honey also has skin hydrating properties and is a great ingredient to consider,” says Dr. Zeichner. When it comes to the exfoliant, he recommends sugar as it’s very gentle on the skin. Salt is a great option too.
If you’re looking for help in the fullness department, there are ingredients you can add to pump up the volume. “Lip plumpers work by causing low levels of skin irritation, which results in swelling and pumping up the lips,” says Dr. Zeichner. “Ingredients like cinnamon, peppermint, or cayenne chili powder may be tried.” Be sure to use these ingredients in small quantities to avoid over irritating your lips and the surrounding skin.
And speaking to irritation, it’s critical not to over-exfoliate. Dr. Zeichner recommends only using a scrub once a week. And when you’re done exfoliating, lock in hydration with a protective lip balm like Vaseline Petroleum Jelly or Aquaphor Healing Ointment.
Below, we’ve cherry-picked the best-of-the-best lip scrub recipes from YouTube to try at home. Cheers to (gently) exfoliating.
Best for Lemonade Lovers:
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What you’ll need: brown sugar, olive oil, lemon juice (optional)
Youtuber Alexandra Beth prefers to use sugar since it’s a natural glycolic acid, which is a gentle chemical exfoliant that increases cell turnover.
The Celebrity Favorite:
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What you’ll need: brown sugar, coconut oil, Manuka honey
Dr. Zeichner recommends using coconut oil and brown sugar for a gentle lip scrub. Kourtney Kardashian adds Manuka honey, a natural humectant, to increase the scrub’s moisturizing properties.
Best for Plumping:
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What you’ll need: sugar, honey, olive oil, ground cinnamon
Add a bit of cinnamon to your scrub if you’re looking to plump your lips. Cinnamaldehyde, the compound that gives cinnamon its flavor and scent, is an irritant that can temporarily make the lips appear larger.
Best for Coffee Lovers:
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What you’ll need: coffee grounds, coconut oil
The caffeine in the coffee grounds helps to increase blood flow, which increases color in the lips. We recommend adding a little bit of sugar to make your scrub slightly more abrasive.
Best Fruity Scrub:
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What you’ll need: sugar, coconut oil, strawberries
Since this recipe calls for fresh strawberries, it’s super important to store it in the refrigerator after use.
Best for Chocolate Lovers:
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What you’ll need: sugar, Nesquik, olive oil, honey
This scrub is ideal for summer since cocoa is rich in UV-protecting flavonoids. Try a pure cocoa powder if you want something more potent.
Best Nourishing Scrub:
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What you’ll need: sugar, green tea, olive oil
Green tea, one of the most scientifically-vetted ingredients on the planet, is the perfect addition to your scrub to moisturize, nourish, and soothe. As a bonus, the leaves from the teabag add a bit of additional exfoliation.
Best for Rose Lovers:
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What you’ll need: sugar, rose petals, coconut oil
It’s critical to make sure that the petals you use are not contaminated with pesticides. Dried rose petals are a great alternative if you’re unsure.
Best Salt Scrub:
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What you’ll need: Himalayan pink salt, coconut oil
Grind pink salt using a pestle and mortar into a fine grit to make this scrub less abrasive.
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