Dry, chapped lips are not just a winter skin woe, a lot of women experience it all year round. If you often find the skin on your lips looking dry and flaky or notice your lipstick settling into cracks, it’s possible that you’re skipping an important step in your skincare routine — exfoliating the lips.

Just like how you would exfoliate your skin to get rid of dead skin cells, it’s also necessary to exfoliate your lips regularly. Exfoliating your lips at least once a week using a lip scrub will give you smooth and soft lips instantly. It will help remove dead skin cells and also correct discolouration if any.

right way to exfoliate lips

- What to use

The first step is to find a good lip scrub; now, you can buy one from the store or make one at home using the most basic ingredients. The easiest one you can make is by mixing brown sugar with coconut or olive oil. Some people also use a mixture of soda bicarbonate and water. It is important that your lips scrub contains both exfoliating and moisturising ingredients, so choose wisely.

- How to use

You can use your fingertips to gently scrub your lips in circular motions. A soft toothbrush can also be used for a little extra exfoliation. Make sure you use this brush for this purpose only. Leave the scrub on your lips for a minute or two and wash off with a damp cloth.

- How often

In the winter when your skin tends to get drier, you can exfoliate up to twice a week. Make sure to not overdo it; the skin on your lips is delicate, so don’t apply the same exfoliating rules as the rest of your body. During other seasons, stick to exfoliating your lips once a week to get soft and pink lips.