Scrub My What?
But what about your lips? Shouldn't they enjoy the same benefits as your arms, legs, and rest of your face and body do? Exfoliating your lips not only helps the skin hold more moisture and prevent chapping, it also makes your lips silky smooth and kissable (pay attention boys) and helps your lipstick stay on better (hmmm, most boys can skip that part).
Lip Scrubbing
Why do we tend to ignore our lips when it comes to exfoliating?One word - YUCK! Most body and facial scrubs taste disgusting or have ingredients in them that we definately do not want in our mouths. Let's face it, if you scrub your lips, you're going to taste it, at least a little bit.
I have an easy home-made method of lip exfoliation that is:
Easy
Quick
Cheap!
Pleasant Tasting
Effective
All Natural
Exfoliation
Smooth that skin...........
Exfoliated skin is able to better retain moisture as well, so it is particularly helpful to lips.
Although it sounds painful (and some extreme methods are), the method I am speaking of here involves what are called "scrubs" which is usually sugar or salt as an abrasive.These methods contain no environmentally or biologically harmful chemicals or additives.
Exfoliation - The Nitty Gritty
Exfoliation involves the removal of the oldest dead skin cells on the skin's outermost surface, and has been used for many years to help maintain the skin. Exfoliation is involved in the process of a facial and during body treatments at spas.Anitra Brown. What is Exfoliation? Retrieved on 2008-03-03. Exfoliation can be achieved through mechanical or chemical means.Joe
Ball. New Skin - Via Exfoliation. Retrieved on 2008-03-03.
The Benefits
Exfoliated lips are less prone to chapping.
Visible wrinkles around the mouth are less noticeable.
Lip stick stays on better.
No harsh chemicals.
Environmentally friendly.
KISSING!! Definately. Soft lips. Better for kissing.
The Benefits of Making Your Own
The ingredients are all natural, with no chemical additives which could potentially be harmful.
It works! This scrub makes your lips silky smooth.
Since you just make up what you need each time - your scrub is always fresh AND you aren't wasting extra packaging by buying a separate product.
Put Down The Salt Shaker
Although salt scrubs may be fine on the body, it's best to stick with sugar for the lips. Salt can be irritating to the sensitive lip skin. Also, HONEY + SALT = NOT SO YUMMY.
My Method
Take approximately 2 tablespoons of plain table sugar in a small bowl. Add honey, one teaspoon at a time, until it reaches a nice, thick, sticky, consistancy. If you want to add a moisture element, add a few drops of Olive Oil and blend well.
At the sink, get a bit of the mixture, and start gently rubbing it on your clean lips (remove any lipstick, gloss, or balms first). Go gently! Make sure you lightly scrub all lip surfaces and the corners.
Rinse off and follow with a nice lip balm.
Viola' Smooth, Soft, and Kissable Lips!!
You can, if you desire, add a few drops of rosewater to tone the skin and change the taste a bit.
Brushing, Not Flossing
You can use a plain, SOFT toothbrush to lightly use the exfoliator with. Don't brush too hard! Another option, is to use an infant toothbrush - the soft silcone kind that you slip on your finger.
Ingredient Benefits
Sugar - acts as the abrasive and it dissolves so you don't need to worry about "grit" getting in your mouth.
Honey - has anti-bacterial properties, is usually non-allergenic, and tastes good.
Olive Oil - Moisturizes, protects, soothes, is tasteless in the scrub, and is non-toxic and generally non-allergenic. It won't clog your pores around the mouth either.
Lip Balm - A good lip balm applied right after exfoliating will nourish and moisturize the newly exposed skin.
Organic Bath and Body Treats
Juliet's Room makes organic, paraben-free, and phthalate-free products.
Cocoa Butter
If you notice small whiteheads around your lips, check the label on your lip products. You may be sensitive to cocoa butter. Look for products with alternatives like shea butter, oils, hemp butter, or others.
Handmade Lip Balms
Cocoa Butter Free Lip Balms by Karina
Calendula
Calendula has been used for centuries to treat cuts, scrapes, burns, and skin irritation. Herbalists use the whole, ground flower head and apply directly to the skin, in tinctures, or in soothing oils.Calendula is aseptic, it does not kill bacteria, but it does have properties to prevent thier growth.
Applied topically, it can stop the bleeding from superficial cuts. Calendula is also a popular ingredient in moisturizers, soaps, lip balms, and bath products.
Read More Here
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Don't Fry Them
Remember, if you are out in the sun, wear a lip balm with a sunscreen in it! Lips can burn.
PUCKER UP!!!
Red Lips Mug
Price: 12.50 
Red Lips Tote Bag
Price: 14.50
RED HOT LIPS Women's Cap Sleeve T-Shirt
Price: 18.99
Lips Jr. Jersey T-Shirt
Price: 21.99
Lips Messenger Bag
Price: 21.99
If You Try My Technique, Let Me Know What You Think!!!
ebourne wrote...
Fabulous tips! My lips are eager for me to try exfoliation--although at first I said, "you want me to do what to my lips?" ;-)
Posted November 12, 2008
RecommendationsFromRebecca wrote...
At the end of the day, I put organic olive oil on my lips to keep them soft and moisturized.
Posted October 19, 2008
barose wrote...
I need to try this recipe! I prefer sugar scrubs over salt for my entire body actually. Salt can be painful (if you have scratches, hangnails, etc) and a little drying.
Posted October 16, 2008
OrganicGiftsByDiana wrote...
Thank you for your article about how to Exfoliate your Lips AKA Lip scrub :
Honey is such a valuable item to have in your all natural beauty and/or first aid kit.
Many flowers and herbs are wonderful helpers too.
I can not use sugar, but that would be a nice and easy way to exfoliate your lips that most folks could do.
I use a special lip balm with my organically grown red roses in it to exfoliate my lips.
You are so right, people forget about taking take of their lips until they are already chapped or peeling.
I wear my exfoliating lip balm at least once a week (I wear one of my other handmade lip balm on the other days) and I never have any more problems with my lips.
The commercial lip balms and scrubs always irritated me - I think because of some of the chemical sin them. This is why I started making my own.
Organically Yours,
Diana
Posted October 07, 2008
by The_Homeopath
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