11 Expert-Approved Scrubs for Your Smoothest Lips Ever
A special exfoliator intended only for use on one tiny area of the face may seem like it would rank high on the list of Superfluous Beauty Products That Just Take Up Space, but when it comes to lip scrubs, hear us out: Not only can they go a long way toward preventing the dryness and flakes so many of us go through multiple tubes of lip balm trying to correct in the first place, but they can also help said balms work more effectively and even improve lip color's staying power.
"Lip scrubs are great as a pre-treatment to a bold lip makeup statement," New York City-based makeup artist Daniel Martin, whose clients include Meghan Markle, Nicola Coughlan, Rachel McAdams and Ali Wong, tells Fashionista. He also suggests using them as part of a bedtime skin-care routine: "After you brush your teeth, do this ritual to lift off any dead skin and then moisturize with your favorite lip balm or mask before bed."
The key to finding an effective lip scrub is to focus on gentle ones, according to Los Angeles-based celebrity makeup artist Melissa Hernandez. Overly coarse, gritty scrubs can actually exacerbate dryness and irritation. Hernandez favors lip scrubs that rely on "gentle exfoliants like sugar crystals," as they dissolve during use, reducing flakiness "without being too harsh." She also looks for moisturizing ingredients, like shea butter or coconut oil, in her scrubs for a built-in shot of moisture.
Using a lip scrub is relatively straightforward. "Apply a small amount of scrub to your lips using a fingertip and gently rub in circular motions for about one to two minutes," Hernandez explains. "After exfoliating, rinse off the scrub with lukewarm water or wipe it off with a damp cloth. Once the lips are clean, apply a hydrating lip balm to lock in moisture."
Hernandez's go-to lip scrubs include La Mer Lip Polish, which is spiked with the brand's signature "miracle broth" for its supposed rejuvenating powers, and Fresh Sugar Lip Polish Exfoliator, which is formulated with a "blend of brown sugar crystals and natural oils." Martin, who's a Tatcha brand ambassador, loves its Kissu Lip Scrub because "it's made with a root vegetable called konjac and peach seed as the exfoliating ingredient" and has "no synthetic fragrance or mineral oil base."
Keep scrolling to see (and shop!) our roundup of expert-approved lip scrubs at every price point.
E.l.f. Cosmetics Lip Exfoliator, $5, available here
Is Clinical Lip Polish, $38, available here
Fenty Beauty Pro Kiss'r Lip-Loving Scrubstick, $16, available here
La Mer Lip Polish, $80, available here
Fresh Sugar Lip Polish Exfoliator, $21, available here
Tatcha The Kissu Lip Scrub, $28, available here
Makeup by Mario Perfecting Lip Scrub, $24, available here
Dr. Brandt Skincare Microdermabrasion Smoothing Lip Scrub, $30, available here
Winky Lux Sugared Watermelon Lip Scrub, $16, available here
Milani Supercharged Lip Scrub, $10, available here
Marie Hunter Beauty Sugar Lip Scrub, $26, available here
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