I don’t know about you but during the cold winter months and the hot summer months my lips need a little bit more TLC (tender love and care) than they normally require.  Chapped, dry, and/or cracked lips are not only not attractive but they can also be aggravating and sometimes painful.

To combat the cold dry air of winter or the hot summer heat I have a lip care routine that I like to do a couple times a week! (I also prep my lips before apply lipsticks especially when wearing matte lipsticks.)

Step 1 :

You have to exfoliate those lips! Lips scrubs serve a dual purpose, it will help you remove that dry layer of chapped skin, it will also help to moisturize your lips as well.  Once complete you’re left with soft and supple lips. For this step I enjoy using sugar scrubs.

Here are a few recipes to make your own sugar scrubs at home!  I suggest picking up some plastic travel containers from your local dollar tree. That way you can save the scrub for later use.

Vanilla Latte Sugar Scrub:

1 cup of brown sugar

1/2 cup of coconut oil

1/2 cup of coffee grounds

2 tsp of vanilla extract

 

Coconut Vanilla Sugar Scrub:

1 cup of white sugar

1/4 cup of coconut oil

1 tsp of coconut extract

2 tsp of vanilla extract

 

Cinnamon Sugar Scrub:

2 tbsp of granulated white sugar

1 tsp of ground cinnamon

3 drops of cinnamon essential oil

1 tbsp of coconut oil

1/2 tsp of vitamin e oil

 

Once you’ve mixed the ingredients together apply a finger tip amount of the lip scrub to your lips and rub in a circular motion.  This will help loosen the dry skin away from your lips and moisturize the remaining skin.

Rinse your lips with warm water and pat dry.

Now that your lips are clean and freshly exfoliated

Step 2:

Apply your favorite moisturizing lip balm

 

Step 3:

If you are applying lipstick, apply it over your moisturizing lip balm. This will help give you a clean even coated application of your lip color while allowing the lip balm underneath to keep your lips moisturized.

 

Nightly tip:  Apply a generous layer of vaseline or lip balm to your lips at night.  Skin repairs itself at night so this will help to moisturize your lips while you’re asleep.