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14 Ways to Get Healthy-Looking Lips
Medically reviewed by Cynthia Cobb, DNP, APRN on November 27, 2018 — Written by Kathryn Watson
Overview
Exfoliate
Lip scrubs
Hydration
Products
Vitamin E
Moisturize
Berry scrubs
Citrus
Sun protection
Natural plant dyes
Limit toxins
Makeup removal
Peppermint oil
Prep your lips
Takeaway
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Healthy lips
Soft, full-looking lips may look nice, but keeping your lips hydrated and healthy is most important. If you’re like most people, though, your lips won’t look soft, pink, and plump without paying a little extra attention to the skin on your mouth. Keep reading to learn 14 home remedies for hydrated, healthy lips.

1. Exfoliate your lips
Before you head to bed at night, apply a good quality lip balm. After waking up, use a damp washcloth or a toothbrush to gently rub off any dead or dry skin. This will also boost circulation to the area.

2. Try a homemade lip scrub
Using this recipe, you can exfoliate the thin skin on your lips with raw sugar while you lock in moisture with almond oil and honey.

Shop for almond oil and honey.

3. Stay hydrated
One of the most common causes of dry skin is not drinking enough water. Getting eight glasses of water a day will benefit your body in lots of ways, and fuller-looking lips are an added benefit.

4. Check your medicine cabinet
Not all beauty products for lips are created equal. Lip balms that contain shea butter, cocoa butter, and coconut oil give your lips a natural barrier of protection from heat and pollution. But other ingredients, such as camphor, can dry out your lips. Make sure you also toss any expired products.

Shop for lip balms with shea butter, cocoa butter, and coconut oil.

5. Use vitamin E
If you have vitamin E capsules, you can simply cut one open and apply the product right to your lips. Vitamin E boosts circulation and may help generate new skin cells, making your lips softer.

Shop for vitamin E capsules.

6. Moisturize with aloe vera
You can purchase pure aloe vera gel or even crack a leaf from an aloe plant in your home for this remedy. Aloe vera has soothing and healing properties, helping lips to look their best.

Shop for aloe vera products.

7. Use a berry-based lip scrub
Strawberries are rich in antioxidants and vitamin C, which makes them a great ingredient for nourishing the skin on your lips.

Crushing up a strawberry and adding it to a honey and olive oil mixture is the basic recipe for this home remedy. Feel free to experiment with antioxidant-packed blueberry variations as well.

8. Wake up lips with citrus
Using a few drops of lemon juice, you can make your lips appear brighter and slough off dead skin. Just rub the lemon juice on to your skin and watch your skin brighten up before your eyes. Make sure your lips aren’t cracked or super dry before you use this remedy, as it may sting and make things worse.

9. Protect lips from the sun
It’s common knowledge that the skin on your face is subject to damaging sun exposure. But, one 2005 studyTrusted Source found that of 299 people who applied sunscreen to their body correctly, only 37 percent also used lip protection.

Using daily SPF 15 or above, even on cloudy or cold days, helps slow the signs of aging. Your lips can become damaged by UV rays from sun exposure or even sunless tanning beds.

Make sure you’re using a lip balm with an SPF ingredient. Reapplying sunscreen hourly to your lips will give you the best results.

Shop for lip balm with SPF.

10. Use natural plant dyes
If you’re going after an even lip color that’s slightly more reddish than your skin tone, natural plant dyes are a good place to start. They also won’t irritate or dry out lips like heavy lipsticks. Raspberry juice or pomegranate juice applied directly to your lips can temporarily stain your lips a pinkish color.

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11. Limit exposure to toxins
Polluted air, smoke, and chemicals can prematurely age skin, making lips look dark or wrinkled. Habits like smoking can aggravate this effect and give your lip color a faded appearance.

Avoiding cigarettes and secondhand smoke can improve the way your lips look. Wearing a scarf to cover lips may also protect them from overexposure.

12. Take off your makeup before bed
Sleeping in your makeup isn’t good for your skin, and your lips are no exception. Even if there’s no visible lipstick or product on your lips at the end of the day, give them a gentle swipe with a makeup-removing wipe before you hit the pillow.

Shop for makeup wipes.

13. Try peppermint oil to boost circulation
Using peppermint oil on your lips may boost circulation to the area. It also provides a cooling sensation that can soothe lips that feel dry.

Mixing peppermint oil with a carrier oil, such as almond oil or coconut oil, makes for a luxurious DIY lip balm that you can reapply throughout the day.

Sold on peppermint oil? Buy it now.

14. Always prep before using lipstick
Even when you’re using lip color products that aim to minimize skin damage, it’s still a good idea to coat your lips with a primer to stop them from getting dried out before you put on lipstick.

Use a cotton swab or lip brush to prime lips with coconut oil or almond oil. Let it fully soak in before you perfect your pout with a swipe of your favorite lip stain.

Shop for coconut oil products.

The bottom line
Remember that different skin tones will look better with different lip colors. Don’t be discouraged if your lips don’t look exactly like your favorite celebrities or the product ads you see in magazines. Aiming for lips that are healthy, hydrated, and smooth should be your goal with these and any other home remedy for your lips.

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