Why you should apply your exfoliating lotion on your lips too

Grandma’s advice is not lacking to exfoliate the lips: let a cotton ball of hot water sit on it to soften the small cuticles, prepare a recipe for a “homemade” scrub based on sugar, honey or coconut oil, coconut or coffee, use your toothbrush to brush away the dead skin cells… There’s something for everyone!

Only, if these mechanical exfoliation techniques prove effective in the short term, are they aggressive to the skin. According to dermatologist Shereene Idress, chemical exfoliation, which favors acids to accelerate cell renewal, is less traumatic and gives longer-lasting results.

Apply your exfoliating lotion on the lips, the trick for a very soft mouth

In a TikTok video shared by the magazine rhythmdermatologist Shereene Idress demonstrates the benefits of chemical exfoliation by scrubbing a crescent (RIP) with an abrasive sponge:

Let’s imagine that this croissant is your mouth. If you use a gritty exfoliator on the surface of your lips in hopes of making them look smoother, you’re only damaging the different layers of skin. Conversely, a chemical exfoliator sloughs off dead skin cells evenly.

Who can do it? Virtually everyone but the dermatologist advises people with a history of cold sores to opt for a low-acid formula. “Obviously, we have to avoid [d’exfolier ses lèvres] if you have an active lesion”warns Shereene.

In terms of dosage, you can pass a wad of your exfoliating face lotion on your mouth two or three times a week, and preferably in the evening, after having perfectly removed your make-up and cleansed your skin. “But if you prefer to do it in the morning, it’s also possible, you just need to make sure you protect your lips from the sun with sunscreen”concludes the health professional.

Shopping for facial exfoliating lotions

Front page photo credit: Angela Roma on Pixels