Your lips themselves carry very little dead skin. [5] X Research source A little exfoliation might help, especially if the skin around your lips is flaky, but moisturizing is often more important. This scrub does both. If all of your sugar dissolves, just add in more until the mixture is a little gritty.
If you’re looking to keep your lips moisturized long-term, apply homemade lip balm after rinsing.
If the honey crystallizes, just place the container in a shallow bowl of hot tap water until the honey melts. Honey is a natural preservative, making this safer than most homemade scrubs. [9] X Research source It is much less effective when diluted, so don’t expect an oil-heavy recipe to last too long. [10] X Research source
If your lips are extra-dry, add another 2 tsp (10mL) oil. [11] X Research source If your lips are sore or rubbed raw, mix in more honey until the scrub feels soft against your lips. If your lips still feel flaky after scrubbing, try a lip balm first. You can try to add more sugar to the scrub instead, but this can backfire by making your lips raw and damaged.
If these feel too greasy to you, try jojoba oil or another light, extra-moisturizing oil. Petroleum jelly is not a great choice for a lip scrub since the lips won’t absorb it. [13] X Research source It’s better in a lip balm, where it sits on top of your lips and stops moisture from evaporating.
These extracts do contain alcohol, which can dry out your lips. [14] X Research source
Lavender, sweet orange, and green mandarin essential oils are typically safe for lips. [17] X Research source [18] X Research source Peppermint, spearmint, cornmint, and tea tree oils are popular choices, but should never be used on young children. Overuse can also dry out your lips. [19] X Research source “Synthetic Flavor Oils” are non-natural alternatives that are generally safe for lips. [20] X Research source
