Main ingredients: Crystalline sugar, jojoba seed oil, grapeseed oil, rice bran extract, rosemary extract, sunflower seed extract
Best brightening: Milani Supercharged Lip Scrub
Why it’s worth it: Milani’s Supercharged Lip Scrub is made with sugar granules that buff away dead skin, but you also get an amazingly toning treatment from this buffer, which is why both Dr. Gordon and Dr. Reed are fans. may be explained). “It revitalizes and conditions your lips, but it’s affordable,” says Dr. Gordon. This formula is infused with extracts of mandarin orange, ginseng, and turmeric (all of which contain the super-powerful natural antioxidant vitamin C) to brighten discolored lips and overall color. .
Editor’s tip: The sweet citrus flavor of this scrub makes it even more delicious to apply.
Main ingredients: Crystal sugar, tangerine extract, ginseng extract, turmeric extract
Best drugstore: Burt’s Bees Conditioning Lip Scrub
Why it’s worth it: The honey crystals in Burt’s Bees Conditioning Lip Scrub exfoliate dead skin cells, leaving lips soft and smooth. But the beeswax oil in drugstore exfoliants helps condition and prepare dry lips, making this really special, and you can opt for a tinted lip balm to keep them moisturized all day. .
Editor’s tip: The honey crystals in this lip scrub dissolve quickly, so think of this product more as a conditioning treatment that gently buffs your skin rather than a classic lip scrub.
Main ingredients: Honey crystals, castor oil, beeswax, cocoa seed butter, lanolin
Why do you need to exfoliate your lips?
Just like any other skin care routine, lip care can also benefit from exfoliation from time to time. According to a board-certified dermatologist in Connecticut, removing all dead skin on the surface is key to achieving super-soft lips. Mona GoharaMD. “Your lips accumulate as many dead skin cells as the rest of your face,” she says. allure. “Exfoliation is key for optimal hydration and to promote absorption of other products.”
This will not only make your lips smoother, but also make your lips appear more vibrant. Note: The exfoliation process can leave your skin a little dry, so hydrate with your go-to lip balm or mask to lock in much-needed moisture for a smooth, plump feel.
When should you exfoliate your lips?
Like any other part of your skin, exfoliating your lips can help create a smooth, soft texture, but overdoing it will only make dryness and flaking worse. “If you see flakes, the first thing I recommend is giving your skin what it needs: hydration.” Joshua ZeichnerMD, a board-certified dermatologist and director of cosmetic and clinical research at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City, previously said: allure. “If you still have flakes after moisturizing your lips, use a gentle sugar scrub.” There’s no exact expiration date like with other daily or weekly products, but if you absolutely need it. Only lathering your lip scrub is key to maintaining the moisture barrier of your lips and the delicate skin around them.
meet an expert
- jennifer gordonMD, board-certified dermatologist at Westlake Dermatology in Austin, Texas
- kelly reedMD, board-certified dermatologist based in Austin, Texas
- Quinn Zhao SartorMD, board-certified dermatologist based in Houston, Texas,
- robert finneyMD, board-certified dermatologist at Dermatology Specialists in New York City
- Mona GoharaMD, board-certified dermatologist based in Branford and Hamden, CT
- Joshua ZeichnerM.D. is a board-certified dermatologist and director of cosmetic and clinical research at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City.
How to test and review products
when allure Once we test a product, our editors look at it from all angles to ensure we can best serve you. We check ingredients, scrutinize brand claims and, when appropriate, research peer-reviewed scientific and medical studies. In addition to testing every product included in each review, we rely on experts in fields such as dermatology, cosmetic chemistry, and medicine to help vet ingredients and formulations.
