Lip Balm or Lip Scrub: Which One Do You Really Need?

Have flaky, chapped lips been a persistent worry lately? The concern brings you face-front to a string of lip care products. Looking at the catalogue highlighting lip balms and lip scrubs, these products promise healthy, lush lips. However, which of these do you really need? Let’s explore the benefits and differences between lip scrub and lip balm to help you make an informed decision for your lip care routine.

Why do Lips need Special Care?

We all have structured skincare routines for the rest of the face and conveniently forget to extend the same care to the lips. Unlike the rest of the skin, lips do not have sebaceous glands that secrete sebum to keep them moisturized. Their skin barrier is thinner than the rest, making them more susceptible to dryness and irritation. Moreover, lifestyle and environmental factors, such as sun exposure and erratic weather, can further contribute to dehydration and damage the skin (chapping). Hence, it is essential to invest in an effective lip care routine, consisting of a lip balm and scrub, that not only moisturizes the skin but also protects it from external irritants.

Lip balm: For Hydration and Protection

Lip balms are essentially designed to function as occlusive and emollient agents. The former acts as a protective barrier, while the latter softens and smoothens the skin by filling in the gaps, creating a supple effect. This product not only ensures hydration to the lip but also helps prevent moisture loss. The occlusive and emollient ingredients used in lip balm are beeswax, petroleum jelly, shea butter, cocoa butter, etc.

While the lip balms for men are generally non-colored, for women, they come in a range of hues, which makes it easier for re-application. Most lip balms also include SPF in them for sun protection, which can be advantageous to boost skin health.

Lip scrub: the Exfoliation Expert

Lip scrubs, on the other hand, have a significantly different approach in lip care. They are used to gently target the dead skin cells on the surface of the lip. The process is swift and uses physical ingredients, such as sugar crystals or jojoba beads. The result: smoother skin that boosts better absorption of moisture and a visibly plumped appearance. It is a game changer, right?

Understanding how to physically exfoliate is essential to reduce inflammation while getting desired results. Here’s how to exfoliate lips effectively:

Choose a lip scrub with a gentle formula and avoid harsh scrubs, which can cause irritation.
Massage the product gently on the lips in circular motions for about 30 seconds or less.
Clean the residue with a damp cloth or luke warm water.
Follow with a lip balm to lock in the moisture.

Conclusion

Through this article, we found that both lip scrub and lip balm play an essential part in maintaining the health and hydration levels of your lips. A comprehensive care routine, followed regularly, helps ensure that your lips remain plump, moisturized, and protected throughout the day. Flaky, chapped lips are a thing of the past; welcome a perfect pout with a lip care routine of your own.