How Often to Use a Lip Scrub & Tips How to use Lip Scrubs
Our lips constantly shed and regenerate skin cells. This means that it also needs some TLC.
Lip scrubbing helps to exfoliate dead skin cells from the surface of the lips, making them smoother, healthier and many times, pinker.
And who doesn’t want pink, healthy lips?
But for lip scrubs to work they need to be used correctly and importantly not overused, if not you might be hurting your lips rather than helping them.
So how can we correctly and safely use lip scrubs?
How Often You Should Use A Lip Scrub
First, you need to know how often you can exfoliate your lips with a scrub. Everyone’s lips are different but generally, you should not a lip scrub more than 2-3 times per week.
Some commercial lip scrubs claim to be designed for daily use, but I do not recommend that you use them every day.
Instead, you should keep your lips moisturized and drink a lot of water to prevent your lips from peeling and cracking. Then, you can exfoliate when necessary.
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How To Use A Lip Scrub
Lip scrubs are best used on lips that are not severely cracked or torn to avoid irritation. Here is the general guide on how to use a lip scrub:
- Ensure that your lips are clean. Remove any makeup and lip products by using a gentle cleanser (it could be the same one you use on your face)
- Apply your lip scrub to your fingertips and then smear it all over your lips.
- Use your fingers to gently massage the lip scrub around your lips in circular motions for about 1-2 minutes.
- Wash off the lip scrub and gently pat your lips dry or remove the scrub with a clean cloth.
- Follow up with a lip mask (optional)
- Apply a lip balm (with SPF) afterward to keep your lips moisturized.
- Repeat 2-3 times per week for best results
Many people use lip scrubs as a step in their lip care routine. Everyone’s routine may be different depending on whether they are treating their lips or the general condition of their lips. Some people also need to exfoliate their lips more frequently than others.
You can check out the video below for an example of a great lip care routine:
Video: How to get PLUMP + SOFT PINK LIPS (lip care routine)
What Happens If You Exfoliate Your Lips Too Often
If you exfoliate your lips too often they can become too dry and too irritated, damaging them more.
Over-exfoliation leaves your lips with very little time to actively heal and regenerate. The skin of your lips is much thinner than elsewhere on your face or body, Therefore, it can more easily get big tears that look like cracks or little tears that we cannot even see (called microabrasions).
If you do this daily, you will do more and more damage to your lips without giving them a chance to recover.
To avoid this, only exfoliate your lips when you need to get rid of any dead skin or peeling skin from your lips.
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Helpful Tips For Using Lip Scrubs
- Always make sure your lips are clean
- Choose a scrub that has ingredients that will not be too harsh on your lips.
- There are different ways to exfoliate your lips. If lip scrubs are not right for you, talk to a professional about what else you can do.
- Do not exfoliate your lips more than 2-3 times per week unless you are using your lip scrub for a specific treatment.
- Even when using your lip scrub as a daily treatment, do not use harsh scrubs that will irritate the lips.
- Always keep your lips moisturized by using a lip balm or other lip moisturizing product.
- Always use SPF on your lips. Many lip balms include sunscreen. Be sure to invest in one to avoid sun damage to your baby-soft lips.
- Drink lots of water. Many people see the first signs of dehydration on their lips. They become dry and flaky. To avoid this, keep up your daily water intake.
Common Questions About Using Lip Scrubs
How often should I exfoliate my lips with sugar?
If you are using Sugar to exfoliate your lips it should be used no more than 2-3 times per week.
Sugar is a coarse material that manually exfoliates the lips. It polishes away loose, dead skin cells from the surface of your lips.
Using it too much can damage your lips.
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What happens if you don’t exfoliate your lips?
Neglecting to exfoliate your lips, either with a lip scrub or other kinds of exfoliation, will likely cause your lips to become sore, cracked, and discolored, especially during wintertime.
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Can I use a lip scrub every day?
You can use a lip scrub every day, but this is not recommended unless it is a treatment for a specific condition.
For example, some people with dark lips use a gentle lip scrub every day to help fade their discoloration.
However, if you are just maintaining your lips, you should only use a lip scrub 2-3 times per week.
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Can you leave a lip scrub on overnight?
You should not leave a lip scrub on overnight.
Most lip scrubs are made with sugar or other granular materials that abrade the skin. This means that they physically remove dead skin cells.
While sugar may melt eventually, some other materials do not. Moving your lips together during sleep may cause friction and too much abrasion which will irritate your lips.
And do not forget how messy lip scrubs can get on your sheets and pillows!
Do you wash off lip scrubs?
Yes, lips scrubs can be washed off.
The best way to remove a lip scrub is to use clean water and wash it from your lips, or use a clean, damp cloth to wipe the scrub away.
Sources:
How to Exfoliate Your Lips: 10 DIY Ingredients, Benefits & What to Avoid
How to Exfoliate Lips the Right Way (Because, Yes, There Are Wrong Ways)
