How To Exfoliate Your Lips: A Beginner's Guide To Getting Smooth Soft Lips
Not only are our lips pretty to look at, but they are also quite delicate. The skin on the lips is thinner than the skin on other parts of the body, making it more vulnerable and readily prone to damage. Thin skin also makes it susceptible to rapid moisture loss, leading to dryness, chapping and flaky skin. Winters are a testing time when it comes to lip care, but to always keep the lips soft and supple, it's important to take care of your lips all year round. Dry air, heat and pollution can dry the skin and lack of attention and carelessness can lead to painful cracks and unsightly peeling of the skin. The problem amplifies if you are fond of wearing lipsticks and no lipstick lover would be caught dead with her lipstick bleeding away or cracking on the pout.
So, apart from the usual moisturising, what other methods can help keep your pout soft and beautiful?
The answer is exfoliation.
Yes, it’s not just for the face or the body, but also for your lips. Scrubbing the lips once or twice a week can remove dead skin cells and get rid of loose skin that might end up hanging on the skin’s surface unnecessarily. When done correctly, scrubbing also improves blood circulation, making the lips look naturally pink and healthy.
But, it’s important to know how to exfoliate lips properly so that you don’t cause any more damage.
Why you should consider exfoliating your lips?
Dry or rough lips not only ruin a polished look, but they can also cause you significant pain and discomfort. Even if you are in the habit of whipping out a lip balm frequently, you might see peeling, flaky skin every now and then. While factors like extreme wind, exposure to direct sunlight and pollution can dehydrate your lips, simple acts like licking the lips and not drinking enough water can also cause dryness.
Exfoliating the lips before moisturising sloughs off loose and dead skin from the skin’s surface, making them smooth and soft. Also, exfoliating the lips right before applying lipstick will give you a more polished look and better colour payoff.
Tips to exfoliate correctly
When exfoliating your lips, remember these important tips:
Be gentle: Do not exfoliate the lips for too long and avoid exerting too much pressure.
Don’t over scrub: Lips are different from your face as the skin is very delicate. Limit your lip exfoliation to once or maximum twice a week. During winter, don’t scrub them more than once a week.
Always moisturise after exfoliating: Layer your lips with a rich lip balm before you start to exfoliate. This will prevent dryness during and after the routine.
What will you need?
Apart from being rough on your lips, you must avoid using anything that is harsh. Coarse, large exfoliating particles can be abrasive and end up damaging thin skin.
While picking a lip scrub, look for natural ingredients and fine particles that will gently scrub the surface without making the lips sore or dry. The most common things used to exfoliate the lips are coconut or olive oil with sugar, Vaseline with a toothbrush, lip masks, scrubs and loofahs.
Lip scrubs are quite handy and give you great results when it comes to caring for your lips. It’s a non-messy way to exfoliate the lips, not to mention, easy to carry.
Why do you need a lip scrub?
Lip scrubs have found its place in our beauty arsenal due to its various benefits. A lip scrub also hydrates the lips, polishes it, and may also add a tint. Not to mention they are incredibly convenient and handy.
What are lip scrubs made of?
Lip scrubs generally contain two components: an emollient and an exfoliant. The emollient provides a hydrating base for the exfoliant, making the product easier to apply to the lips. Emollients in lip scrubs are typically natural oils and/or butter-like jojoba oil, olive oil, shea butter etc. The exfoliant has fine to medium coarse particles that delicately strip the extra skin. The emollient and exfoliant work together to moisturise and smooth your lips.
