All About Lip Exfoliators: How to Use and Get the Most Out of This Crucial Lip Care Step
There’s a mindless habit many of us do that indicates our lips are in desperate need of a little TLC. Do you know what it is? If you’re thinking it’s picking or biting at your lip skin, you’d be right.
Lip care isn’t complete if you aren’t addressing the rough skin on your lips. Your lip balm won’t be effective, and your lip color will end up looking patchy. Luckily, there’s a way to fix it: regular lip exfoliation. And if you want soft, healthy lips, you’d better be using one. Don’t know where to start? Our lip exfoliation guide will teach you everything you need to know about this essential lip care step.
Scrub-Based Exfoliators
Scrub-based exfoliators are typically made of sugar. Yum! The fine granules of the sugar make it the perfect exfoliant as it gently buffs away the dead skin. Since sugar is natural, and scrub exfoliators tend to have short ingredient lists, this makes them the perfect candidate for being organic. And we all know organic will always be the superior choice for safe cosmetics. Just make sure to check for organic callouts when finding your scrub.
Chemical-Based Exfoliators
Chemical-based exfoliators are made of, well, chemicals. (Who would’ve thunk?) They typically use acids to remove the dead lip skin. However, be warned. Chemical exfoliants can burn your lips, aren’t organic, and can leave your lips feeling irritated after use—especially if you have sensitive skin. For this reason, we’re leaving chemical-based exfoliators behind and will focus on scrubs from here on out because your health will always be our priority. And chemical exfoliators simply don’t cut it.
Regular exfoliation allows the rest of your lip care to do what they were designed to do, whether that’s hydrate or nourish. Your lip color will also apply more evenly instead of catching on rough flakes. And, of course, we can’t leave out how your lips will look more appealing and feel softer over time. That means better kisses *wink wink.*
Step 1: Start with clean, dry lips.
Step 2: Apply a small amount of exfoliator to your lips.
Step 3: Gently massage in circular motions (10–30 seconds).
Step 4: Rinse away with warm water.
Step 5: Follow immediately with the rest of your lip care (lip balm, serum, etc.)
Step 6: Enjoy healthy, hydrated lips
Easy peasy, right?
Lip exfoliation should be the very first step in your lip care routine. That way your balms, serums, and/or masks can do their job without dead lip skin getting in the way. Need a lip care routine? Check out our HENNE method, which we created to give you your softest lips yet.

So, in short, it’s difficult to overdo exfoliation. If you do find your lips feeling sensitive or irritated, make sure you aren’t applying too much pressure when exfoliating. If that’s not the problem, then simply reduce the number of times you exfoliate each week.
Let us make your search a little easier by introducing you to our line of Lip Exfoliators. Featuring three delectable scents and a natural ingredient list, our exfoliators smell good and leave your lips feeling good, too. Give them a try and discover just how soft your lips can truly be.
Lip care isn’t complete if you aren’t addressing the rough skin on your lips. Your lip balm won’t be effective, and your lip color will end up looking patchy. Luckily, there’s a way to fix it: regular lip exfoliation. And if you want soft, healthy lips, you’d better be using one. Don’t know where to start? Our lip exfoliation guide will teach you everything you need to know about this essential lip care step.
What is a Lip Exfoliator?
Go ahead and rub a finger across your lips. Do they feel rough and bumpy? Our lips shed skin just like the rest of our bodies do, and that skin can build up on our lips, leaving us with that rough texture. Lip exfoliators were created for that exact purpose—to remove the dead lip skin. But not all lip exfoliators are created equal. There are two varieties you’ll find when shopping around: scrubs and chemicals. Let’s talk about them and explain why one is superior to the other.Scrub-Based Exfoliators
Scrub-based exfoliators are typically made of sugar. Yum! The fine granules of the sugar make it the perfect exfoliant as it gently buffs away the dead skin. Since sugar is natural, and scrub exfoliators tend to have short ingredient lists, this makes them the perfect candidate for being organic. And we all know organic will always be the superior choice for safe cosmetics. Just make sure to check for organic callouts when finding your scrub.
Chemical-Based Exfoliators
Chemical-based exfoliators are made of, well, chemicals. (Who would’ve thunk?) They typically use acids to remove the dead lip skin. However, be warned. Chemical exfoliants can burn your lips, aren’t organic, and can leave your lips feeling irritated after use—especially if you have sensitive skin. For this reason, we’re leaving chemical-based exfoliators behind and will focus on scrubs from here on out because your health will always be our priority. And chemical exfoliators simply don’t cut it.
Why Exfoliate?
Think lip balm is enough? Think again. When you have dead skin sitting on your lips, lip balms and serums are unable to penetrate. That leaves you missing out on hydration and nutrients, leaving your lips feeling dry, rough, and your lip color patchy.Regular exfoliation allows the rest of your lip care to do what they were designed to do, whether that’s hydrate or nourish. Your lip color will also apply more evenly instead of catching on rough flakes. And, of course, we can’t leave out how your lips will look more appealing and feel softer over time. That means better kisses *wink wink.*
How to Use a Lip Exfoliator: Your Step-by-Step Guide
Not sure how to use a lip exfoliator? We all start somewhere! Follow these steps and relish in your newer, fresher lips:Step 1: Start with clean, dry lips.
Step 2: Apply a small amount of exfoliator to your lips.
Step 3: Gently massage in circular motions (10–30 seconds).
Step 4: Rinse away with warm water.
Step 5: Follow immediately with the rest of your lip care (lip balm, serum, etc.)
Step 6: Enjoy healthy, hydrated lips
Easy peasy, right?
Tips, Tricks, and Frequently Asked Questions
You have questions. We have answers.Where Do Lip Exfoliators Fit into a Lip Care Routine?
Exfoliation alone won’t give you healthy, soft lips, but it is 100% necessary to get them. Balms and other hydrating lip products won’t work on dead lip skin, so exfoliation is needed to remove dead lip skin first.Lip exfoliation should be the very first step in your lip care routine. That way your balms, serums, and/or masks can do their job without dead lip skin getting in the way. Need a lip care routine? Check out our HENNE method, which we created to give you your softest lips yet.
Can You Overdo Lip Exfoliation?
Short answer, yes. Long answer, you don’t really need to worry about overdoing it. That’s because our lip skin is different from the skin on the rest of our face. Exfoliating 3-4 times per week is ideal for soft, healthy lips. If you have sensitive lips, reduce it to 1-2 times per week to prevent irritation.
So, in short, it’s difficult to overdo exfoliation. If you do find your lips feeling sensitive or irritated, make sure you aren’t applying too much pressure when exfoliating. If that’s not the problem, then simply reduce the number of times you exfoliate each week.
Who Needs a Lip Exfoliator?
We strongly believe everyone benefits from a lip exfoliator. But if you are someone who struggles with chronically dry and peeling lips, then a lip exfoliator needs to be a mandatory step in your lip care routine.How to Choose the Right Lip Exfoliator
Your next lip exfoliator should feature clean, natural ingredients like sugar, balms, and butters. Avoid exfoliators that use synthetic chemicals like acids and peels so your lips remain healthy.Let us make your search a little easier by introducing you to our line of Lip Exfoliators. Featuring three delectable scents and a natural ingredient list, our exfoliators smell good and leave your lips feeling good, too. Give them a try and discover just how soft your lips can truly be.