SEAL THAT KISS
PUT DOWN THE TOOTHBRUSH — THERE’S A NICER WAY TO EXFOLIATE DRY LIPS
Exfoliating our skin is part of many people’s weekly beauty routines, but have you ever heard of exfoliating your lips? With the weather cooling down and drying out, it’s a top tactic in the quest for supple, soft lips. Make-up artist Alana Mevissen says scrubs should go hand-in-hand with balm in the colder months.
“Lip scrubs are an essential part of your beauty routine if you want soft, luscious lips,” Alana says.
“They work by exfoliating the dead, dry skin off your lips leaving you with lips ready for balm to moisturise. Just like the skin on your face, if you don’t get rid of the dry, old skin on the top, the balm or moisturiser can’t get into your lips to really nourish.
“Basically, without the scrub you’re wasting your time and money on lip balms.”
Alana says she recently started using a lip scrub and can’t believe it took her so long to cotton on to the beauty product.
“I’m now in my early 40s and I wish I started looking after my lips earlier,” she says.
“Your lips seem to get forgotten in your beauty routine. In winter everything is dry. A good lip scrub will do wonders for dry lips in the cooler months.
“Exfoliating your lips two to three times a week is plenty and at night is a good time, before bed and prior to a lip balm.”
When choosing a lip scrub or exfoliator, it’s important to look for natural ingredients as what goes on our lips inevitably ends up being ingested. Many lip exfoliants use sugar to scrub away excess skin gently.
“The ingredients should be totally natural. You should be able to lick the excess scrub off your lips when you’re done,” Alana says.
As for the old tip of scrubbing away at your lips with an old toothbrush, Alana says it’s best to opt for a method that’s going to be kinder to such a sensitive area.
“That’s a good option but a good scrub will also give your lips what they need so that they absorb all the good bits of the balm you put on after the scrub. Not to mention they taste good and feel so luxurious.”