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Top 20 DIY Lip Scrubs With Homemade Ingredients

DIY lip scrub

There’s nothing more irritating than flaky, dry lips. And we all know how difficult it is to stop our teeth from tearing the already flaking lip skin. It’ll eventually make the lips bleed, but who cares? At least that itch to peel the shredding lip skin is gone. How does the guilt feel huh? We all know the damaging after-effects and how it just drifts us apart from our desire to have rosy pink and plump lips. Solution? Have a good lip care routine in place; one that must include a DIY lip scrub! 

Using a lip scrub regularly helps slough off the dead cells and smoothens and softens the skin. Follow it up immediately with a lip balm to let the moisturizing ingredients soak deep and moisturize the lips well. Of course, applying a lip scrub is also an amazing way to prime your lips before applying lip glosses or lipsticks. This helps them last longer and enables a seamless application. And did we say that DIY lip scrubs are incredibly easy to make, apply, and comes cheap? Find below a roundup of 20 effective homemade lip scrubs that are gentle on the skin and leaves your lips silky soft after application. 




2-Ingredient DIY Lip Scrub

1. Toothbrush & Water 

What You Need
  • Toothbrush
  • Water
How To Use

The easiest DIY lip scrub on the list requires just your toothbrush and water. I do this daily. After brushing my teeth at night, I (very) gently in circular motions exfoliate my lips with the toothbrush while it’s still wet. I follow it up with a lip balm and wake up with silky smooth lips each day. Try it today when you brush your teeth before going to bed and don’t forget to apply your favorite moisturizer afterward. 

Why This Works

This works on the same principle as the body bristle brush. The bristles of your toothbrush help slough off the dead cells from your lips and enhance the absorption of lip balm to moisturize your pout better. 

P.S.: It might not work for women who have extremely dry skin and more accumulation of dead cells. It also is less effective in harsh weather. So, for the winter seasons, we’d recommend you go with other options on the list. 

2. Coffee & Honey Easy Lip Scrub

What You Need
  • 1 tsp coffee powder
  • 2 tsp honey
How To Use

Mix both honey and coffee powder and apply immediately otherwise the pack will coalesce. Gently massage in circular motions and leave on for 5 to 10 minutes. Rinse off and pack a good lip balm soon after drying your lips. 

Why This Works

Coffee is a great exfoliator as it gently scrubs away the dead skin cells and works wonders for healthy skin. A 2013 study proved that caffeic acid fights premature aging of cells, boosts collagen levels, and has antimicrobial properties. Honey, on the other hand, has fabulous moisturizing properties. A 2020 study showed that honey, honey extracts, and bee products can hydrate the skin well and improve its barrier properties. 

3. Semolina & Curd Instant Lip Scrub

What You Need
  • 2 tsp Semolina (suji)
  • 1 tsp curd or yogurt
How To Use

Mix both semolina and yogurt well. You can add a bit of water if the consistency is thick. Massage the pack in circular motions on your lips. Rub it for 2 to 3 minutes and rinse off with lukewarm water. Apply a lip balm straight away or pat some almond oil as a natural moisturizer.  

Why This Works

Semolina powder goes deep inside the skin pores to eliminate dead cells and clear the pores. The staple kitchen ingredient is also a great natural cleanser for your face. In fact, you can apply the same pack on your face too if you’ve dry to normal skin. Those with oily or acne-prone skin should avoid the application of curd. 

Yogurt or curd is rich in lactic acid and dissolves dead skin cells. It also has mild bleaching properties, so if you’re looking for a DIY lip scrub to lighten dark lips – this is the one! Scientifically, a 2011 study showed that yogurt face packs improved moisture, brightness, and elasticity of treated skin. 

4. Olive Oil & Sugar Homemade Lip Scrub

What You Need
  • 2 tbsp olive oil (buy a cold-pressed one suitable for beauty purposes here)
  • 2 tbsp sugar 
How To Use

Take the above-mentioned quantities of sugar and olive oil in a bowl. Mix them well and start scrubbing with gentle hands the pack on your lips. The sugar will fall down a lot so we recommend doing this over the skin. Do it for around 2-3 minutes and wash off with lukewarm water. Since olive oil is already a natural moisturizer, you might need just a very thin layer of lip balm afterward. 

Why This Works

Sugar is a natural, pure source of glycolic acid, a form of AHA, that gently dissolves the dead skin cells and increases cell turnover. Olive oil is a common addition to exfoliators because of its gentle moisturizing properties. A 2018 study combining skin-barrier repair and anti-inflammatory effects showed olive oil to be an effective natural moisturizer, and anti-aging agent. If you’re suffering from dry, chapped lips, a homemade lip scrub with olive oil is your best pick. 




5. Strawberry & Brown Sugar Lip Scrub You Can Store

What You Need
  • 2 tbsp strawberry pulp
  • 1 tbsp brown sugar (buy an organic one here)
How To Use

Mix the ingredients in the bowl and massage it with gentle hands on your lips. Keep going for 2 to 3 minutes. You can wash off after scrubbing or leave the pack on for extra 5 minutes. This lets the strawberry work its lightning, smoothening magic on your lips. Wash off and follow it up with a moisturizer. 

Why This Works

This DIY lip scrub is best for rosy pink lips because it has strawberries. Berries have a reputation to impart a natural, pinkish tint to your lips and to your face as well. They are rich in antioxidants and vitamin content that reduces hyperpigmentation and makes lips look healthy and luscious. Besides the strawberry pulp, brown sugar is the finest and least abrasive sugar form to use as a scrub on the skin. The sugar’s natural glycolic acid peels off the dead skin cells from lips and reveals the smoother, radiant lip skin beneath. Protect it by layering with a good moisturizing lip balm. 

You can store this scrub in your fridge for up to a month. Trust me though, you’ll use all this edible lip scrub in no time. You can also add honey for extra moisturization. 

6. Rose Petals & Milk DIY Lip Scrub for Pink Lips

What You Need
  • 10 to 15 Rose Petals
  • 6 to 7 tbsp Raw Milk
How To Use

Soak the rose petals in raw milk overnight. In the morning, drain the excess milk. Mash them gently and smear the resulting paste generously on your lips for 2-3 minutes. Leave on for 5 to 10 minutes before washing off. Lips will be tingly, fresh, and pink instantly.

Why This Works

The combination of rose petals and milk has been used to get rosy lips since ancient times. Rose petals have natural oils and anti-inflammatory properties that are amazing for your lips. Their effectiveness of topical application on skin has also been proven by a 2018 study. Milk present in this time-tested remedy is rich in lactic acid that helps with dissolving dead skin cells and increases cell turnover. The acid is also really effective at lightening the skin. No wonders the powerful duo works magic in reducing lip pigmentation and scrubs off those pesky dead skin cells too! 

 

7. Himalayan Pink Salt & Coconut Oil Homemade Lip Scrub You Can Store

What You Need
  • 2 teaspoon Himalayan Pink Salt (buy an organic grade here)
  • 1 tbsp Coconut Oil (buy cold-pressed, pure one here)
How To Use

Mix these ingredients in a small bowl until they form a grainy paste. To apply, spread the scrub over lips and massage well for 5 minutes. Rinse thoroughly with warm water and apply a hydrating lip moisturizer. You can store this salt scrub for 2 to 3 weeks at room temperature. 

Why This Works

Coconut oil acts as a powerful exfoliator as it deeply cleanses the pores and removes all those dead skin cells from within (gross, but true). The oil also had great moisturizing benefits and acts as an emollient in many facial, body, and lip scrubs. If you’ve dry skin, we’d definitely recommend scrubbing with an oil-based exfoliant. While all salts have great exfoliating action, Himalayan pink salt works the best and will leave your lips with a healthy shine after use. 

8. Your Favorite Lip Balm & Toothbrush 

What You Need
  • A teaspoon of your lip balm (Vaseline works too)
  • Toothbrush
How To Use

This lip scrub is a slight upgrade from the easy-peasy one mentioned in the first one. To use, wet your toothbrush and apply some lip balm on the bristles. Scrub the lips in circular motions for a minute or two. Wash with lukewarm water and pat a generous layer of lip balm. 

Why This Works

The reasoning is simple. Lip balms act as the perfect emollient for the scrub and gently scrubs off the dead skin cells with the effective action of brush bristles. It’s surely an easy DIY lip scrub and one you can use on a daily basis. A good alternative when you don’t have time but the flaky skin on your lips is bothering you the hell out of you!




3-Ingredient DIY Lip Scrub

9. Brown Sugar, Honey & Coconut Oil

What You Need
  • 2 tsp brown sugar (buy an organic one here)
  • 2 tsp honey 
  • 1 tsp coconut oil 
How To Use

Mix all the ingredients together in a bowl till gritty paste forms. If too thin, add some more sugar, if too thick, add coconut oil. When the desired consistency is reached, scrub the paste well onto your lips and leave for a minute or two. Wash it off well with lukewarm water. Lather a rich lip balm after this mini self-care session. 

Why This Works

Brown sugar is a natural exfoliator that gets rid of dead skin cells in the outer skin. Both brown sugar and honey acts as a humectant and draw moisture from the environment to the lip skin leaving them hydrated, soft, and supple. Coconut oil is yet another great ingredient that clears the dead skin cells from deep within and heals the skin barrier to increase the moisturization of lips over time. 

This homemade lip scrub can be stored for 2-3 weeks. 

10. Vaseline, Sugar & Lemon Juice DIY Lip Scrub for dark lips

What You Need
  • 1 teaspoon vaseline
  • 2 tablespoons sugar
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
How To Use

Mix the sugar with petroleum jelly and then add lemon juice to the mixture. Swab the lips with this resulting pack immediately and massage well for 1 to 2 minutes. Rinse off and follow up with a rich, hydrating lip balm. 

Why This Works

Vaseline is a great occlusive to add to scrubs. It makes for a great base and is cheap, affordable, and seals the moisture present in the lips. Sugar is an amazing exfoliant for any part of the body. If you’ve sensitive skin though, we’d recommend brown sugar as it’s quite gentle when compared with its counterparts. Lemon juice in the scrub is an amazing bleaching agent and a game-changer for those suffering from pigmented lip skin. Daily use for 2 weeks will definitely lighten your lip color. 

Related: 10 Homemade Neem Face Packs For Flawless, Glowing Skin

11. Almond Oil, Honey, Brown Sugar

What You Need
  • 2 tbsp almond oil
  • 1 tbsp honey
  • 2 tbsp brown sugar
How To Use

Mix all the ingredients together. Adjust the dry & liquid ingredients if the scrub is too thick or runny. Rub the paste in circular motions on your lips for 2-3 minutes. 

Why This Works

This homemade lip scrub is superb for dry, chapped lips. Since it has almond oil and honey, the exfoliation will be quite effective but gentle. While we’ve already listed the benefits of honey and brown sugar, here’s why almond oil makes a great ingredient in the lip care regimen. It’s a great emollient and has sclerosant properties that hydrate the lips, evens out the lip color, and removes the dead skin cells. Apart from a lip scrub, you can also use the oil as a lip moisturizer. Due to its lightening properties, it’s a commonly recommended natural remedy for dark circles and pigmented lips.  

You can store this scrub for 2-3 weeks. 

12. Cinnamon Powder, Honey, Olive Oil

What You Need
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon powder
  • ½ tbsp olive oil
  • ½ tbsp honey
How To Use

Combine the ingredients together in a mixing bowl and scrub it on your lips using your fingertips. Don’t do it for over a minute, because cinnamon can cause a burning sensation on dry lips. Rinse off and apply a light coating of lip balm or petroleum jelly. 

Why This Works

Cinnamon is a natural exfoliant for lips; it gently dissolves the upper layer of dead skin cells and lightens the lips. To your happy surprise, cinnamon is also natural lip plumper and gives you a plump pout without any lip injections. Olive oil and honey are great conditioners for your pout and leaves them soft & smooth. You can also add a bit of lemon juice to clear skin pigmentation. 




13. Orange Peel Powder, Almond Oil, Brown Sugar 

What You Need
  • 1 tbsp orange peel powder (buy here)
  • 2 tbsp almond oil
  • ½ tbsp brown sugar 
How To Use

Mix all the ingredients together in a bowl and once a grainy paste is formed, rub it with a gentle, circular motion on your lips. Leave it on for 2-3 minutes and rinse off with warm water. As usual, slather on a lip balm and let your lips rejoice in the luxury treatment they’ve just received. 

Why This Works

If you’ve been suffering from dry, chapped lips for a while, this DIY lip scrub is your best bet. This has gentle exfoliants that do the job of removing dead skin cells well without irritating the flaky skin. Orange peel powder is also rich in Vitamin C (peel has more of it than the orange itself) which stimulates collagen production giving you plump, smooth lips with just one application. Lastly, almond oil is a great moisturizer because it gets absorbed deep into the skin, and is very lightweight. 

You can store this scrub for a week. 

14. Sugar, Green Tea & Olive Oil

What You Need
  • ½ tbsp Sugar
  • 1 Green Tea Bag
  • 1 tbsp Olive Oil
How To Use

Rip open a used green tea bag and add sugar and olive oil to it. Mix well with your fingertips and scrub well for a minute or two. Rinse off and apply a lip balm straight away. You can use it 3-4 times a week. 

Why This Works

The scrubs consist of the goodness of sugar, green tea leaves, and olive oil. While the natural exfoliator sugar gets rid of dead skin, anti-oxidant-rich green tea repairs the lip skin, and olive oil effectively hydrates. This is the best homemade lip scrub without honey that works well for cracked lips. 

15. Coconut Oil, Honey, Sugar

What You Need
  • 1 tbsp coconut oil
  • 1 tbsp honey
  • 2 tbsp sugar
How To Use

Mix all the ingredients together in a bowl till they’re thoroughly combined. Apply to lips using your fingertips, massaging in very small circular motions. Keep scrubbing for 3 minutes or so before washing off with tap water. Your lips may feel a little sensitive; soothe them using a dab of moisturizing lip balm or some aloe vera. 

Why This Works

Sugar works as a great exfoliant and honey are the best natural moisturizer. Moreover, coconut oil improves the skin barrier (study), which basically means softer, more supple lips over time. This DIY lip scrub with honey will give your soft, pink lips in no time

You can store this DIY lip scrub for 4 weeks. 

16. Gram Flour, Almond Oil, Milk

What You Need
  • 1 tbsp gram flour
  • ¼ tbsp almond oil
  • ½ tbsp raw milk
How To Use

Mix all the ingredients together in a bowl until smooth paste forms. Rub the pack on your lips using your fingertips for 2-3 minutes. Leave on for a minute before rinsing off. Pat some lip balm after you’re done. 

Why This Works

Gram flour has excellent exfoliating properties and has been used as a natural cleanser for ages. It’s very gentle on the skin and dissolves any dry, dead skin cells. Milk present has a lactic acid which is also great at removing dead skin cells and increasing cell turnover. Almond oil acts as a great moisturizer and lightening agent leaving your lips soft, smooth, and pink with time. 

Related: Potato Juice Is The Best DIY For Dark Circles & Eye Bags




17. Brown Sugar, Honey, Lemon Juice DIY Lip Scrub For Pink Lips

What You Need
  • 1 tbsp brown sugar
  • 1 tbsp honey
  • ½ tbsp lemon juice
How To Use

Mix the ingredients together and apply immediately otherwise the sugar particles dissolve in lemon juice. Rub the scrub well on your fingertips; adjust the pressure as it’s comfortable for you. Keep massaging for 2-3 minutes, wash off with a warm washcloth, and apply lip balm as usual. 

Why This Works

Brown sugar is a gentle home remedy to remove dead skin cells from any part of your body. Honey hydrates the dry lip skin while lemon juice acts as a mild bleaching agent to lighten the lips and give them a rosy pinkish glow over time. 

4 or More Ingredients DIY Homemade Lip Scrub

18. Cocoa Powder, White Granulated Sugar, Olive Oil, Vanilla Extract, Honey Scrub For Dry Lips

What You Need
  • 1 tbsp cocoa powder (buy a pure, natural one here)
  • 1 tbsp white granulated sugar
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 tbsp honey
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract (get here)
How To Use

Mix all the ingredients well in a glass bowl. Apply the mask on your lips using your fingertips. Massage the mask well for a minute or two. Leave on for 5 minutes. We know you want to, but please don’t eat it. Wash well with lukewarm water and follow with a hydrating lip product.  

Why This Works

Cocoa Powder is rich in antioxidants, fatty acids, and omegas that restores the moisture in your skin repairs the skin, and leaves them smooth and soft. Sugar effectively breaks the dead skin cells with a little massage and olive oil and honey helps in repairing flaky lip skin as well. If you continually suffer from dry, chapped lips, this is the best DIY lip scrub for you. And yes! Vanilla extracts in the mask have calming properties so they won’t irritate your severely dry, peeling lips. 

19. Shea Butter, Almond Oil, Sugar, Peppermint Oil

What You Need
  • 1 tablespoon shea butter (buy organic African grade here)
  • ¼ tbsp almond oil
  • 1 tablespoon sugar
  • 3-4 drops of peppermint oil (get here)
How To Use

Mix the ingredients well with each other and scrub them on your lips for 2-3 minutes. Leave for 5 minutes and rinse with lukewarm water. Since this homemade lip scrub already has moisturizing ingredients, you don’t have to apply a thick layer of lip balm. Just a thin pat would do! 

Why This Works

Shea butter is infused with fatty acids and vitamins that hydrate the skin layers from deep within and make them soft and supple. Peppermint oil, on the other hand, is an active ingredient in lip balms and other lip care products because it soothes and heals damaged skin. With so many goody-goody ingredients, this lip scrub is a savior for ladies suffering from dry, pigmented lips. 

You can store the scrub for a week. 

20. Papaya Pulp, Vitamin E Capsule, Honey, Sea Salt 

What You Need
  • 1 tbsp papaya pulp
  • 1 Vitamin E capsule
  • ½ tbsp honey
  • 2 tbsp sea salt 
How To Use

Mix all the ingredients in a bowl and scrub for 2-3 minutes using your fingertips. Leave on for 5 minutes and then wash off with normal tap water. Follow up with a good layer of lip balm. 

Why This Works

Papain in papaya is an amazing exfoliator and is used in many skincare & haircare products meant to exfoliate the skin. It breaks down the dead skin cells with ease and leaves smooth, fresh skin behind. Combined with sea salt, this DIY lip scrub makes for an amazing exfoliator. Vitamin E in the pack helps in healing dry, cracked lip skin while honey acts as a humectant and draws in moisture from the environment to keep your lips smooth and soft. 




FAQ’s On DIY Lip Scrub

Can you refrigerate a lip scrub?

You can’t refrigerate all lip scrubs, some are perishable while others aren’t. We have mentioned at the end of the description which lip scrubs you can refrigerate and for how long. An easy one can be a mixture of shea butter (get an organic one here) and brown sugar (get an organic one here). You can store them for around 2 weeks and use them regularly. 

What ingredients are the best for pink lips?

If you want a DIY lip scrub for soft pink lips, try one with lemon juice, and dairy products. Both of them are naturally occurring lightning agents that will treat hyperpigmentation and give you pink lips. One with strawberries is great to tint your lips pink too. 




Can you exfoliate your lips every day?

Yes, you can. I exfoliate my lips with a toothbrush daily and sometimes also use the DIYs mentioned above to treat them a little extra. If you’ve got the habit of biting your lips, then you should definitely make exfoliation a daily part of your routine. Saliva contains digestive enzymes which wear down the skin of the lips and cause them to build up dead skin cells and dry up. We’d recommend exfoliating lips 3-4 times a week at least and applying lip balm every day before going to bed. 

What are some good store-bought lip scrubs?

Here are the ones we think have the nicest reviews overall: 

  • Dot & Key Lip Polish (get here)
  • Urbanguru Lip Scrub for lightening lips (get here)
  • Mancode Chocomit Lip Scrub (get here)
  • Nicolips Lip Scrub (get here)

Conclusion: 

DIY lip scrubs have 2 ingredients in general – an exfoliant like sugar, salt, etc., and an emollient or hydrating agent like honey, milk, shea butter, etc. An important thing to remember after scrubbing is to moisturize the lips well. My favorite lip balms are Nivea The Original Care, Kama Ayurveda Almond & Coconut, and Fabindia Vanilla Lip Balm

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