Do you ever find yourself dealing with chapped lips in the winter? If so, the good news is having a sugar lip scrub like this coconut oil lip scrub works wonders on exfoliating dead skin.
And the best part, it is made with all-natural, eco-friendly ingredients.
Homemade lip scrub
Homemade lip scrubs have tremendous benefits for the skin and are especially helpful for dry skin by exfoliating the dry, flakey skin from the lips.
Now, this is not meant to be an alternative to chapstick but should be used in addition to prepping the lips before using chapstick. Think wind-chapped or lips exposed to dry, cold, or both types of weather.
In addition to “fixing” dried lips, lip scrubs can be used daily for skin that becomes dry or flakey easily. If you’re unsure how often to use a lip scrub, once or twice a week is usually sufficient.
Keep in mind if the skin becomes raw or irritated, you may be exfoliating too frequently.
PIN IT FOR LATER
Top 3 favorite lip scrub recipes
Each DIY lip scrub is easy to make and works great! I prefer to make skincare recipes like these myself, saving so much money! Plus, you know exactly what you are putting on your skin by making your own.
Each recipe below is an excellent lip exfoliator but with its own unique benefits.
This post contains affiliate links, which means I make a small commission at no extra cost to you. Get my full disclosure HERE.
COCONUT OIL LIP SCRUB
INGREDIENTS
- 2 tablespoons sugar (preferably organic). White or brown sugar will work in this recipe.
- 1 teaspoon unrefined coconut oil
- 1/2 teaspoon sweet almond oil
- 5 drops lavender essential oil
INSTRUCTIONS
- Add all the ingredients to a small glass bowl.
- Stir until ingredients are well combined. I use a fork to work it all together.
- Store in a small airtight container or mason jar.
BENEFITS
Coconut oil is excellent for dry and chapped lips. It can restore lips’ natural moisture, protect the lips from the elements, and is relatively inexpensive.
The added sugar will exfoliate the skin and clean dirt from the pores, leaving the skin fresh and rejuvenated.
This one is my personal favorite! I am obsessed with anything coconut oil for my skin and love how it moisturizes.
I use coconut oil in so many DIYs: my anti-aging serum, makeup remover, face moisturizer, and body butter. Why not use it for my lips, too? I mean, it is a superfood! 😉
HONEY LIP SCRUB
INGREDIENTS
- 2 tablespoons of organic sugar
- 1 teaspoon raw honey
- 1/2 teaspoon jojoba oil
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 5 drops peppermint essential oil
INSTRUCTIONS
- Add all the ingredients to a small glass bowl.
- Stir together with a fork until well combined.
- Store in a small airtight container or mason jar.
NOTE: Substitute honey for agave to make this lip exfoliator completely vegan.
BENEFITS
Honey has so many benefits for the skin. Its antibacterial properties make it great for natural skincare.
In addition, honey, as a natural humectant, helps the skin retain moisture. Of course, raw, local honey is best, but if you can’t find that in your area, I found this honey to be the next best thing.
BROWN SUGAR LIP SCRUB
INGREDIENTS
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar (preferably organic)
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- 5 drops chamomile essential oil
INSTRUCTIONS
- Add all the ingredients to a small glass bowl.
- Mash with a fork and stir until all ingredients are well combined.
- Store in a small airtight container or mason jar.
BENEFITS
Organic brown sugar makes an excellent exfoliator for your lips. It is less abrasive than white sugar, making it a great option for sensitive skin.
Your skin will thank you after this one! This combination will leave those lips feeling incredibly soft and moisturized.
What is a lip scrub?
A lip scrub is similar to a homemade body scrub in that they both exfoliate the skin. However, lip scrubs differ in that they are specifically designed for sensitive skin on the lips.
Since the skin on the lip is thinner and more delicate than the skin covering the rest of the body, a scrub specifically designed for the lips MUST be used.
Some hand, body, or even homemade foot exfoliators may use gentle enough ingredients, but most don’t. Just be sure to do your research before using any of those.
Most sugar lip scrubs are made with a combination of sugar or honey, coconut oil, and essential oils.
What do lip scrubs do specifically? In addition to exfoliating dead or loose skin, sugar lip scrubs give new skin cells a chance to grow, soften the skin, and make it easier for homemade chapstick and DIY lip balms to do their jobs.
HOW TO USE SUGAR LIP SCRUB?
Use your finger to spread a small amount of scrub to both lips. Rub lips together to gently exfoliate for about 20-30 seconds.
Wipe away the scrub with a warm, damp cloth.
There are plenty of different ways to use a lip scrub. Some will work it in with their finger; others use a soft bristle toothbrush to scrub into the lips gently.
However you choose to apply it, the key is to be gentle and not over-exfoliate.
ESSENTIAL OILS FOR CHAPPED LIPS
Adding essential oils to these homemade lip scrubs is optional but will add so many benefits. Many essential oils are great for dry, chapped skin.
It is important to note that essential oils are very concentrated. You will only need a few drops of essential oils to scent the homemade lip scrub.
I am using 5 drops for the above recipes. If you wish to add more or less, you can adjust this amount; this really varies from person to person.
If you have sensitive skin or have not used essential oils before, start with 1-2 drops and add more as needed.
I picked these oils below because they are generally gentle enough for delicate lips. Please be sure to use pure, ethically sourced oils. Additionally, perform a patch test on the back of your hand to check for irritations.
Lavender
Lavender is one of my go-to oils for all things skin. It can be found in my clear skin roller bottle, sugar scrub, and face wash. In addition, lavender is a very gentle essential oil, making it perfect for a lip scrub.
Lavender has cleansing and purifying properties, can moisturize the skin, reduce skin blemishes and irritations, and be really helpful for burns. (source)
It has a beautiful floral scent and will make your sugar lip scrub smell wonderful.
Peppermint
I love the cooling effect peppermint has on the lips and skin. Peppermint oil is my favorite to use in my DIY chapstick and my peppermint face scrub, as it feels very soothing on dry, cracked skin.
Be sure to use caution with peppermint, as it can burn the eyes if it gets in or close to them. Wash hands thoroughly after applying the lip scrub to keep this from happening.
Roman Chamomile
Like lavender essential oil, chamomile is another gentle oil that is great for the skin. It smells beautiful and has a wide variety of uses for the skin.
Tea Tree
Tea tree is an excellent option for anything skin-related as it has cleansing and purifying properties.
Not that we are ingesting this lip scrub, but it does have a rather unpleasant taste that may stay on the lips after washing away.
Myrrh
Because of its antioxidant properties, myrrh has fantastic benefits for the skin and has anti-aging properties. Apply myrrh to skin imperfections to help cleanse and purify that spot. (source)
Myrrh is also very moisturizing for the skin, making it great for dry, chapped lips.
Learn more about myrrh essential oil.
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Key Takeaways
I hope you loved this easy DIY! With three variations on this recipe, you are sure to have the ingredients on hand for at least one!
I have even used this as a lip plumper by adding a few pinches of cinnamon to the scrub and leaving it on for a few minutes! Trust me when I say the results were amazing!
Anyway, if you are looking for more great beauty product favorites, I would have to suggest these below!
If you made this lip scrub and loved it, I would love for you to come back and leave a review!
Coconut Oil Lip Scrub
Equipment
- Small Jar
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons organic sugar
- 1 teaspoon unrefined coconut oil
- ½ teaspoon sweet almond oil
- 5 drops lavender essential oil
Instructions
- Stir together all ingredients in a small glass bowl. (I use a fork to "mash" everything until well incorporated)
- Transfer to a glass container for storage.
- Use a finger to spread the scrub onto your lips.
- Rub lips together to gently exfoliate for 20-30 seconds.
- Wipe clean with a warm, damp cloth.
Barbara says
Hello Laura, I subscribed so I can learn more about making my own facial products. Looking forward to your wisdom. The lip scrub is something that I will try. However, I need something for the above the lip vertical wrinkles and my face to diminish wrinkles and fine lines. I hope I will find that in some of your recipes. Any suggestions?
Thank you.
Linda says
I just made 6 of these for Christmas gifts, one of which is for me! They’re so easy to make and, based on the ingredients and texture of the scrub, I know I’m going to love it! I hope my friends and family will too! Thanks Laura for posting all of your recipes to your website, and for including links to purchase the proper ingredients and tools! The links have saved me lots of time this Christmas!
Tracey says
Hi there!
Can frankincense be used in the lip scrubs?
Laura says
Yes!
Praj says
Hi Laura
Which one of these will help to lighten cosmetically turned dark lips.
Thanks
Tery says
Can you use coconut sugar as your exfoliant?
Laura says
Yes!
Alexis says
What if the shelf life of this lip scrub?
Laura says
It will be good for 6 months.
Jennifer says
I was excited to make the coconut lip scrub when I saw the recipe! But then there were More and more rexipes❣️ Now everyone I K ow is going to get to try something! Lol
I’m wondering, do you have a liquid/roller lip gloss recipe?
Thank you so much! ☺️
Laura says
Yes, I do! Search lip gloss on my site and it will pop right up!
Jay Dhurga Vijakumara says
Hello, the ingredients seems so perfect and easy to do, 3 lip scrub last up to how many months? Thank you so much.