Lip Scrubs: What are They, How are They Made, and When to Use Them
Lip scrubs are an important part of caring for the sensitive skin on our lips. This is especially true over the winter months when the cold air can dry the skin out, and throughout the warm summer when the sun can easily damage the lips. However, unlike lip balms, which are simply made of soft butters and waxes that help to hydrate and moisturize the skin, smoothing it out, lip scrubs are a little bit more complex.
In this article we’ll look at exactly what lip scrubs are and how they can help, we’ll answer important questions such as ‘can you make lip scrubs from Vaseline?’ and ‘is Vaseline safe for lips?’, and we’ll discuss when you should, and when you shouldn’t, use a lip scrub on your lips. Here’s everything you’ve ever wanted to know about lip scrubs and how they can help keep you skin looking and feeling great.
What Are Lip Scrubs?
Lip scrubs are quite similar to lip balms. They’re usually made from waxes, oils, fats, and butters, which help to hydrate and moisturize the skin. Lip scrubs will feel quite rough to the touch, and that’s because they’ll also contain an exfoliating product, which works to gently remove any dry skin from your lips. They’re ideal for smoothing and preparing the lips before applying your favorite lipstick for a flawless finish.
How Are Lip Scrubs Made?
Lip scrubs that are purchased off the shelf are usually made with a combination of hydrating butters and waxes such as shea butter (just like you’d find in a regular lip balm) and sugars, which act as an exfoliator, helping to remove any dry skin and leave you with smooth, soft lips. The sugars, of course, are slightly rough, which helps to dislodge any rough, tough areas of skin, exposing newer, softer skin.
However, sugar isn’t the only option for a lip exfoliator. If you’re making your own lip scrub at home – which is actually much simpler than it sounds – you have many more choices. Anything that’s gentle on skin and yet mildly exfoliating will do the job nicely. You could consider using coffee grounds, coarsely ground cinnamon, shredded coconut, or nutmeg. There’s lots of different combinations to try.
To make your own lip scrub at home, simply mix in your chosen exfoliator with some petroleum jelly, like Vaseline. Is Vaseline safe for lips? It’s a completely pure product so there isn’t anything in there that could pose a risk to your skin, or your health. It doesn’t matter how much exfoliator you choose to add – add less for a gentle lip scrub, and add more for an intensive lip scrub suitable for more stubborn dry patches.
When Should I Use a Lip Scrub?
Lip scrubs are great for removing small amounts of dry skin and they’re also a great preventative measure for preventing dry skin from forming because they keep your lips hydrated and moisturized. However, if you’re suffering with very badly cracked skin on your lips, which may occur if you’ve recently had a common cold, exfoliating may not be the best option. In fact, it could make your lips quite sore.
If your lips are very dry and very sore, a good alternative is to just use the Vaseline jelly on its own, without adding any exfoliating products to it. We’ve already addressed the question of ‘is Vaseline safe for lips?’, so there’s no need to worry that you’d be making your skin worse. Or simply use a good old lip balm on your lips instead to help add more moisture to the skin and get the healing process underway.
Editor’s Note: I made up 4 small batches of lip scrubs. Cinnamon, white sugar, sea salt and pink candy sprinkles.
To make the Lip Scrubs. 1 added 1 teaspoon of Vaseline to 1 teaspoon of ingredient. I really loved the sea salt and the cinnamon the most. The mixture can be used for multiple treatments. Just store in a container with a lid.
