For a transformative lip experience no matter what season we’re in, lip scrubs take the cake. Similar to the sensation of a warm bubble bath or a carefully curated skincare routine, these rejuvenating formulas impart an undeniable softness and smoothness to your lips, making them prime for the rest of your lip regimen.
From sugar-based concoctions to more exotic blends, these gems of the beauty world offer a thrilling, sensorial experience. They whisk away dry, flaky skin and leave a soft, supple finish that’s primed for hydration. In the world of lip care, these scrubs certainly earn their stripes, offering an indulgence that’s both practical and luxurious.
The beauty of lip scrubs comes in various forms – tubes, pots, and sticks – but the goal is the same: Apply directly and gently exfoliate with your fingertips or a soft toothbrush. Even if you’ve been a tad enthusiastic with the scrubbing, a dab of your favorite lip balm can soothe any residual sensation.
The application? Nothing short of an indulgent ritual. Simply massage the scrub on your lips in gentle, circular motions, allow it a moment to work its magic, then rinse or wipe away. Voilà! You’re left with a rejuvenated pout that feels fresh, smooth, and oh-so-soft.
We’ve meticulously studied and tested an array of scrubs, culminating in a curated list of the crème de la crème. For that extra dose of exfoliation and nourishment your lips crave, it’s time to explore the best lip scrubs.
1. Makeup By Mario Perfecting Lip Scrub
If you’re looking for a lip scrub that will help you get the most out of your lipsticks, this is one of our top picks. The sugar-based scrub by makeup artist Mario Dedivanovic is everything you could ask for: it exfoliates, hydrates, and conditions your lips so that they’re ready for an extra-long day of wear.
Its micro-fine sugar crystals gently yet effectively reveal smoother and softer lips, while coconut oil conditions and restores dryness and flakiness. Vitamin E also protects skin against free radicals and environmental aggressors. It helps stimulate collagen and cellular turnover, so your lips are primed for maximum plumping effect!
This product can be used as a lip prep step or alone as a treatment. Its convenient tube packaging ensures that you’ll always have this little gem on hand.
2. Burt’s Bees Conditioning Lip Scrub
Burt’s Bees’ Conditioning Lip Scrub is the perfect way to keep your lips looking and feeling beautiful.
This gentle exfoliator, formulated with honey crystals, helps your lips look smooth and feel hydrated. The formula also primes for a smooth lip balm or lipstick application—so you can skip the lip prep step and go straight for that perfect pout!
Besides the fact that it feels amazing on your lips (like a sweet, fragrant kiss), the product also contains nutrient-rich beeswax and exotic oils like coconut oil and shea butter. These ingredients help moisturize your lips while they gently scrub away dead skin cells and bacteria.
3. REFY Lip Buff
REFY Beauty’s Lip Buff is a lip care treatment that instantly creates long lasting, naturally fuller pout.
To our delight, it has a unique applicator and formula that are designed to exfoliate the lips. The clear serum contains a plant-based plumping agent and combines amino acids and a complex of five hyaluronic acids to help keep lips feeling nourished and hydrated.
Moreover, the applicator is designed to buff the lips, removing dead skin cells while weightless will quickly absorb into the pout.
“I love this product as someone who has very dry lips. It gently removes the dry skin and also gives me a super hydrated finish,” wrote one tester.
4. Kaja Strawberry Rosé Balmy Bento
A two-in-one lip duo that’s as pretty as it is practical. Kaja’s stacked rosé lip balm and strawberry lip scrub is a unique combination of two nourishing formulas that work together to soften, smooth, and hydrate lips.
The lip scrub gently buffs away dry flakes and exfoliates lips with strawberry fruit extract. The base twists off for easy access to the scrub, which you can apply directly onto your lips and massage in circular motions until it melts into a buttery texture.
Then, use the rosé balm as a top coat to seal in moisture and lock in color. It softens and smooths your pout while providing long-lasting hydration thanks to its grape seed oil base.
5. Fresh Sugar Lip Polish Exfoliator
If you’re not already a big fan of lip scrubs, you will be after trying fresh’s Brown Sugar Lip Polish Exfoliator. This product gently buffs and smooths dry, flaky lips, making them an essential prep step for any lip color.
The brown sugar crystals act as natural humectants, preventing moisture loss. Meanwhile, shea butter and jojoba oil nourish the skin while leaving your pout silky smooth.
It also effective at smoothing out fine lines around the mouth area, so if you have any concerns about wrinkles in that area (or just want to prevent them), this is an excellent product to use in conjunction with a retinol cream!
6. Milani Supercharged Lip Scrub
Milani’s Supercharged Lip Scrub is a budget-friendly way to gently exfoliate and condition your lips.
It creates smoothed, polished lips while imparting a sweet citrus flavor. Moreover, a custom oil blend composed of citrus, ginseng, turmeric extracts moisturizes and replenishes the lip area.
The scrub gently polishes away dead skin cells, revealing your baby-soft lips underneath—all with a sweet citrus scent! You can use it before applying lipstick or gloss for an extra smooth application and shine boost.
7. Dior Lip Sugar Scrub
If you’re looking for a lip scrub that will take your pout to the next level, Dior’s Lip Sugar Scrub has just the right amount of oomph.
It’s an exfoliating and nourishing stick with grains of sugar that melt away, but it also procures the benefits of a balm with the bonus of exfoliating. It comes in one universal color—a natural rosy pink—and has a sweet scent that’s reminiscent of mangoes.
The texture of the scrub is grainy, so it doesn’t feel like you’re just rubbing sugar across your lips, but rather like you’re infusing your lips with moisturizing ingredients.
Plus, you can use it any time of the day—before bedtime or in the morning before work, when you want something light and refreshing.
8. Wet n Wild Perfect Pout Lip Scrub
When it comes to lip scrubs, it’s all about finding one that works for you—and with the Wet n Wild’s Perfect Pout Lip Scrub, you’re in luck.
This lip scrub is made with fine sugar that will buff away dead skin from your lips, and it also contains murumuru seed butter, tucuma seed butter and vitamin E. That means it’s formulated to deeply moisturize and nourish your lips while removing that unwanted flaky skin.
But what makes this product truly great is its price tag: at $4.79 per tube, it won’t break the bank. Plus, the brand offers several different scents for the lip scrub, including tangerine and watermelon.
9. KNC Beauty Supa Scrub Set
Your lips deserve to be treated like royalty, and KNC Beauty’s Supa Scrub Set is the perfect way to do it!
The lip scrub contains sunflower oil, which has anti-inflammatory properties that are loaded with essential fatty acids and omega-6. It also contains shea butter, which provides deep moisturization and prevents drying of the lips. Moringa oil protects from damage and is full of antioxidants and nutrients.
After using the scrub, you can apply a primer before putting on lipstick or gloss—this will help keep your lips hydrated throughout the day!
10. The Body Shop Mango Lip Scrub
The Body Shop’s Mango Lip Scrub is an excellent, affordable option for anyone looking to keep their lips smooth and soft.
The product is enriched with mango seed oil and shea butter, which help to soften and moisturize dry skin on the lips. It also contains jojoba oil, which helps to hydrate and protect the skin from the elements.
The scrub melts instantly as you smear it onto your lips, so there’s no need to wait for it to dry before using it. Just buff away to leave them soft, supple and kissable.
What to Look for in Lip Scrubs
Ingredients
Lip scrubs are all about the ingredients. They typically contain a blend of nourishing oils and exfoliating elements. Look for natural exfoliants such as sugar or sea salt that gently remove dead skin cells without damaging the sensitive skin on your lips. Ingredients like shea butter, jojoba oil, and vitamin E are also excellent for moisturizing and restoring the lip’s barrier.
Texture
The texture of a lip scrub can significantly influence its exfoliating ability and overall feel on the lips. A scrub with a too coarse texture might be too harsh, while one that’s too smooth may not exfoliate effectively. It should feel gritty but not uncomfortable. Depending on your preference, you can go for a finer or coarser grain.
Flavor/Scent
Most lip scrubs come with a flavor or scent, typically derived from natural ingredients or essential oils. This can enhance the lip scrubbing experience, but be mindful if you have sensitive skin or a sensitivity to certain fragrances. Options range from sweet flavors like vanilla and berry to more refreshing ones like mint or citrus.
Packaging
Packaging isn’t just about aesthetics, it also impacts the product’s usability. Lip scrubs come in jars, tubes, and stick forms. While jars are common and allow you to control the amount you use, they aren’t as hygienic or portable as tubes or sticks. Choose a packaging type that suits your lifestyle and preferences.
FAQ
What is a lip scrub?
A lip scrub is a type of exfoliating product specifically designed for the delicate skin on the lips. It usually contains small particles or granules, such as sugar or microbeads, which help to slough off dead skin cells and leave the lips feeling smooth and soft. Lip scrubs can also help to improve the appearance of the lips and allow for better absorption of other lip products, like lip balm or lipstick.
How do you use a lip scrub?
To use a lip scrub, you would first ensure that your lips are clean and free from any lip products. Then, using your finger, you would apply a small amount of the scrub to your lips and gently rub in a circular motion. This action helps the granules in the scrub to exfoliate the skin. After a minute or so, you would rinse (or wipe) off the scrub with warm water, then follow up with a moisturizing lip balm to keep your lips hydrated.
How do you make lip scrubs?
Making a lip scrub at home can be quite easy. A simple recipe involves mixing together one part honey with two parts granulated sugar, creating a paste-like consistency. You could also add a few drops of your favorite edible essential oil, like peppermint or vanilla, for a pleasant aroma and extra soothing properties. This mixture can then be stored in a small, clean container.
Can you eat lip scrubs?
As for eating lip scrubs, it largely depends on the ingredients. If the scrub is made from all edible ingredients, like the homemade sugar scrub recipe above, it wouldn’t be harmful if a small amount is ingested while using it. However, it’s not recommended to eat large amounts, and it’s certainly not recommended to eat commercial lip scrubs that may contain inedible or potentially harmful ingredients when ingested. Always make sure to read the labels if you’re unsure, and when in doubt, it’s best not to eat it.
