5 Exfoliation Hacks for Smoother Lips

Use a Toothbrush 

For a quick fix, grab a clean toothbrush, run it under lukewarm water and gently swirl it across your lips. This will help remove flakes fast. 

Apply a Petrolatum-Based Ointment

Apply a dollop of Vaseline or our personal go-to, the CeraVe Healing Ointment (we love that it also has soothing benefits) on a cotton swab and gently but firmly swirl it over the lips to exfoliate and condition at the same time. 

DIY a Sugar Scrub

Sugar is the star ingredient in many lip scrubs you can buy. Unsurprisingly, it also serves as a great base for a DIY solution. Mix a small amount of sugar with an emollient like coconut oil, olive oil, honey or petrolatum and then use a cotton swab, a clean finger or a clean toothbrush to lightly buff the lips. 

Use a Wet Face Towel

A damp washcloth or towel can also help you manually slough off flakes and dead skin cells. Just make sure it’s clean before gently rubbing a square over your lips. 

Follow Up With a Mask or a Balm 

To keep your lips soft and flake-free, it’s essential to apply a lip mask or nourishing balm immediately after exfoliation. This will help prevent dryness, irritation and make lips even smoother. A favorite formula is the Kiehl’s Buttermask for Lips because it contains coconut oil and mango butter to help repair the moisture barrier and soften chapped lips.