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How to make your own exfoliating lip scrub

How to make your own exfoliating lip scrub

This tip was inspired by Jennifer S., a reader from Las Vegas, NV. Jennifer wrote in asking us whether we had any advice for an effective yet simple and inexpensive treatment for dry, flaky lips — and of course we did! So here it is, a do-it-yourself tip for getting a kissably soft smoocher.

What You’ll Need:

  • 1/2 tsp. sugar
  • 1 solid, “stick” lip balm (the kind that twists up out of its container, NOT the kind that comes in a little pot). Make sure that this is one that you don’t mind reserving only for this specific treatment
  • 1 moisturizing lip balm (any type works fine)
  • Tissue

Directions:

  1. Start out with your solid, “twist up” lip balm. Remove the cap and dip the end of the lip balm into the sugar. The sugar should easily stick to the balm. Just make sure that the exposed end of the lip balm is well coated.
  2. Apply the sugar-coated balm to your lips and gently massage in circles over the entire lip area, taking extra care to concentrate on dry, flaky areas. This step may get a little messy, so you might want to do this over a sink.
  3. Once you have gently massaged your lips with your “sugar balm”, gently rub off the excess sugar with a tissue.
  4. Apply the other (non-sugared) lip balm to help seal in moisture and prevent future peeling.
    5. More: Beauty Secrets | Lips .

    DISCUSSION:

      

    14 comments so far...

    • 1 Queen Cocoa // Nov 11, 2008 at 6:31 pm

      Thanks so much for this tip! I’ve purchased lip exfoliators from Studio Gear, Philosphy, and Smashbox, but this is truly the most inexpensive and effective way I’ve found. Pouts up to you!

    • 2 allyraleen // Dec 1, 2008 at 7:47 am

      wow, what a nice and unique solution! I’ll absolutely try that.

    • 3 HeleneC // Dec 20, 2008 at 6:01 pm

      Wow I’ll have to try this! Thanks for posting!

    • 4 Sandra // Dec 22, 2008 at 2:45 pm

      Wow, this was great! I just tried it, & it worked perfectly! Seriously, thanks for this!

    • 5 Bianca // Dec 27, 2008 at 1:19 pm

      Sugar is a great way to exfoliate ur hands. Just grab lotion and get a handful of sugar and rub away

    • 6 H // Dec 30, 2008 at 12:49 pm

      I do the same thing, except I get a small pot and mash up the lip balm with a little sugar. I find it good to use different types of sugar too – a little fine caster sugar and a little rougher demerara does two jobs in one – exfoliates flaky skin and then smoothes the lips further.

    • 7 Jackie // Jan 5, 2009 at 4:50 pm

      this sadly cut my lip…
      I usually exfoliate my lips with a tooth brush but this works very well too.

    • 8 Ooh La La.. // Jul 21, 2009 at 9:36 am

      This worked wonderfully!

      Simply brilliant. (:

      Thanks so much.

    • 9 Becki // Sep 24, 2009 at 1:29 pm

      I just did this and it worked really well :)
      I used to spend a fair amount of money on lip exfoliators but this is free (well, I have plenty sugar and lip balm by default so it feels free anyway) and works at least as well as the expensive ones – thanks!

    • 10 KennyC // Dec 14, 2009 at 8:55 am

      OMG! so awesome! it worked great! ill reccomend it to my friends.
      its inexpensive, and easy!!

    • 11 frugalmom // Jul 14, 2010 at 3:54 pm

      Sugar is a great all around exfoliator. I used to spend a ton of money on body scrubs but finally realized I could make my own with sugar and baby oil. I make a huge bowl of it then put it in a plastic container with a lid. I keep it in the shower and use it 3-4 times a week. Very gentle on skin and CHEAP! Works AWESOME! You can add fragrance or brown sugar if you like the smell. Use it right before you get out and rinse it off but don’t use soap to wash it off. You will not need a body lotion.

    • 12 JustMy2Cents // Jul 26, 2010 at 2:33 pm

      I actually use my toothbrush with toothpaste about once a week while brushing my teeth and I have super soft lips…well at least that’s what my hubby tells me. Be careful not to brush too hard…follow with your fav lip balm.

    • 13 Valerie // Aug 18, 2011 at 11:27 am

      I tried this a couple days ago and my lips are still really soft!! I loved this, it worked really good! If you want a body scrub just mix sugar and baby oil, and you have your own body scrub!!

    • 14 Juliet // Nov 27, 2011 at 4:03 pm

      If you use a drop of oil (any type ) a bit of sugar (brown or white) (2pinches ) and honey (small teaspoon) and some cinnamon (a pinch or two) and mix those together and rub the mixture on your lips (for three min) and then wipe off gently with a warm wet cloth and aply lip balm right after to lock in moisture it’ll leave ur lips soft and smooth :)

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