This has been an upside down year in so many ways. Yet, many of us still want to create, learn, and share with others. These 8 lip scrub recipes are a cheap way to make something special for yourself and a friend, while staying frugal and healthy.
Need ideas for teachers that can easily be spent in the mail? How about Aunts and cousins and friends?
These lip scrub recipes also make great wedding favors when added to small tins and tied with a pretty ribbon.
Why Lip Scrubs?
Lip scrubs are made to literally do what the name says, gently scrub lips.
Winter months can create chapped lips with layers of skin that can become sore when peeled. Having a lip scrub to gently exfoliate lips will help smooth and sloth off dead skin so lips can heal faster and stay healthy.
Lip scrubs are most often made with oils so that, while your lips are exfoliated, they are hydrated and nourished at the same time.
The Ingredients
Oils
Oils are one way to heal sun burned or winter dry lips.
Feel free to switch out the oils in the recipes below. oils that I like to use are:
- Sweet almond oil
- Apricot kernel oil
- Coconut oil
- Castor Oil
- Avocado Oil
- Emu Oil
- Rosehip Oil
- Temanu Oil
- Argan Oil
There are many other oils to choose from, and some bring more nutritional benefits than others, but feel free to use what is on hand or your favorite oil. For example, I did not list grapeseed, rice bran, olive, or other oils like corn, vegetable, or canola oil.
Olive oil has been tainted with GMO and toxic chemicals in the past years and it’s harder to find a good brand. Grapeseed and rice bran oils can become rancid quickly, but if you have a fresh source then please use. I don’t use corn, vegetable (soy), or canola unless they are organic since they are so full of toxins because of mass production in America now.
Keep in mind that butters can also be added to or even replace an oil in a recipe. Shea and Mango butters mix well with sugars and can be applied easily.
Exfoliators
Sugar is the number one exfoliator in body or lip scrubs. You can use salts, but they can sometimes be too harsh.
There are different types of sugars that can be used. You may use regular sugar cane crystals (unbleached is preferrable). You can also use brown sugar, raw or turbinado sugar.
Coffee grounds and ground oats can also be used as exfoliators, just as they are in soap recipes.
Other Ingredients
Honey is very hydrating and an excellent addition to a lip scrub or body scrub.
Fresh mashed fruit (strawberries or other berries) can be added as well. Just keep in mind that they will need to be used that day. So choose this option if you are making the scrub to be used yourself or with friends on the day you will be using it.
Essential Oils are a wonderful addition. Just keep in mind that some do not taste good, some can be “hot” oils, and some citrus can make your lips more likely to get sun burned.
Essential Oils to use in lip scrubs:
- Peppermint – My favorite essential oil to use is peppermint. Peppermint essential oil increases blood flow to the area of use and can “plump” the lips slightly with use. Plus, it tastes good and it uplifting.
- You can also use lavender (though it doesn’t taste good)
- Citruses are fine if they are steam distilled. There’s the catch though. Why would you steam distill a peel that’s full of oil? Companies cold press them. In this case, choose bergamot, blood orange, sweet orange, or mandarin. They are not considered photo-toxic.
- Ylang Ylang
- Jasmine
- Rose
- Vanilla
- Eucalyptus
- Patchouli
8 Lip Scrub Recipes
Don’t forget that you can mix and match and add what sounds good to the recipes below. Change up the oil and the essential oils to what you have on hand and smells, or sounds good to you. Have fun!
Vanilla Brown Sugar Lip Scrub
Ingredients:
- 1 teaspoon brown sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon castor oil
- 1/2 teaspoon coconut oil
- 1/4 teaspoon vanilla oil (you can use extract or the inside of a bean if needed)
Directions:
- Combine all ingredients and transfer to a half ounce container if storing or giving as a gift.
- To use: Using a clean finger, apply a small amount to your lips and rub in a circular motion. Let sit for 1-2 minutes, rinse, pat dry.
Strawberry Honey Lip Scrub
Ingredients:
- 1 strawberry, mashed
- 1/2 teaspoon honey
- 1/2 teaspoon sugar
Directions:
- Combine all ingredients.
- To use: Using a clean finger, apply a small amount to your lips and rub in a circular motion. Let sit for 1-2 minutes, rinse, pat dry.
Chocolate Mint Sugar Lip Scrub
Ingredients:
- 1 teaspoon raw sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon sweet almond oil
- 1/2 teaspoon cocoa powder
- 1 drop peppermint essential oil
Directions:
- Combine all ingredients and transfer to a half ounce container if storing or giving as a gift.
- To use: Using a clean finger, apply a small amount to your lips and rub in a circular motion. Let sit for 1-2 minutes, rinse, pat dry.
Coffee and Honey Lip Scrub
Ingredients:
- 1 teaspoon coffee grounds
- 1/2 teaspoon honey
- 1/2 teaspoon coconut oil
- 1/4 teaspoon vanilla oil (you can use extract or the inside of a bean if needed)
Directions:
- Combine all ingredients and transfer to a half ounce container if storing or giving as a gift.
- To use: Using a clean finger, apply a small amount to your lips and rub in a circular motion. Let sit for 1-2 minutes, rinse, pat dry.
Shea Orange Lip Scrub
Ingredients:
- 1 Tablespoon shea butter
- 1 Tablespoon sugar
- 1-2 drops sweet orange essential oil
Directions:
- Combine all ingredients and transfer to a one ounce container if storing or giving as a gift.
- To use: Using a clean finger, apply a small amount to your lips and rub in a circular motion. Let sit for 1-2 minutes, rinse, pat dry.
Rose Petal Mint Lip Scrub
Ingredients:
- 1 Tablespoon dried rose petals
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon argan oil
- 1-2 drops peppermint essential oil
Directions:
- Combine all ingredients and transfer to a one ounce container if storing or giving as a gift.
- To use: Using a clean finger, apply a small amount to your lips and rub in a circular motion. Let sit for 1-2 minutes, rinse, pat dry.
Patchouli Eucalyptus Lip Scrub
Ingredients:
- 1 teaspoon brown sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon apricot kernel oil
- 1/2 teaspoon castor oil
- 1 drop patchouli essential oil
- 1 drop eucalyptus essential oil
Directions:
- Combine all ingredients and transfer to a half ounce container if storing or giving as a gift.
- To use: Using a clean finger, apply a small amount to your lips and rub in a circular motion. Let sit for 1-2 minutes, rinse, pat dry.
Chamomile Herbal Lip Scrub
Ingredients:
- 1 teaspoon sugar sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon emu oil
- 1/2 teaspoon mango butter
- 1/2 dried chamomile flowers
- 1 drop chamomile essential oil
Directions:
- Combine all ingredients and transfer to a half ounce container if storing or giving as a gift.
- To use: Using a clean finger, apply a small amount to your lips and rub in a circular motion. Let sit for 1-2 minutes, rinse, pat dry.
Any of these recipes can be doubled, tripled, etc to make a body scrub (also great gifts).
What is your favorite recipe?
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