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Winter weather means cold air and, for many of us, chapped lips. I like using sugar lip scrubs (like a sugar cookie lip scrub) to help eliminate the excess skin and tacky feeling that can go along with damaged lips. This DIY mint chocolate lip scrub helps gently exfoliate away dead skin cells for softer, smoother lips!
DIY Mint Chocolate Lip Scrub
I’ve come up with a few body scrub recipes over the years to help exfoliate away dry skin cells. A lip scrub also removes dead skin but often with more gentle ingredients. I like that this mint chocolate scrub feels almost creamy, plus it smells (and tastes) delicious! Here’s a breakdown of the natural ingredients and why I chose them.
Cocoa Powder
There’s nothing quite like a warm cup of healthy hot chocolate. This superfood isn’t just good for eating, though. A 2013 review, Health Benefits of Cocoa, reported cocoa is a potent antioxidant that fights harmful free radical damage. The bean even reduces inflammation in the body. According to a 2014 study in Nutrients,
“Flavanol-rich cocoa consumption improves dermal blood flow, increases photoprotection, and contributes to the maintenance of skin health.”
Cocoa powder is rich in magnesium, copper, potassium, and iron. In animal studies, cocoa compounds in skincare helped improve skin tone and elasticity. They also helped stop wrinkle damage caused by UV rays. So you can have your chocolate cake and eat it too.
Since cocoa is mildly exfoliating, it helps this gentle lip scrub smooth out lips without being too rough.
Choosing a Sugar
You all know I’m not a fan of eating white sugar and the damage it can do. Sugar makes an excellent exfoliant though for body scrubs and lip scrubs. Slightly more refined sugar does work better as a lip exfoliator in my experience, so I’ve opted for unbleached organic cane sugar.
Peppermint Essential Oil
Refreshing and invigorating, peppermint essential oil is a common favorite. It can be harsh on the skin if it’s not diluted enough, but we’re only using a few drops in the entire recipe. I also like adding peppermint essential oil to my whipped body butter recipe during the holidays.
The cocoa and peppermint combined remind me of a popular chocolate mint candy, but for your lips!
Coconut Oil
Last but certainly not least is moisturizing coconut oil. I’ve documented over 100 uses for coconut oil when it comes to food and beauty recipes. Needless to say, coconut oil gets used a lot around our house. In this DIY mint chocolate lip scrub, the coconut oil helps the exfoliating ingredients glide over the lips.
Since it’s solid at room temperature, coconut oil helps hold the lip scrub together and makes it easier to use. If your house is really cold, though, you could replace up to half the coconut oil with a neutral-smelling liquid oil, like sweet almond, avocado, or grapeseed. Real olive oil has a strong scent that will likely overpower the cocoa and peppermint.
I used virgin unrefined coconut oil here, but organic refined would also work. You can also add a few drops of vitamin E oil to increase the shelf life and add extra antioxidants.
‘Tis the Season for Gifts
Mint chocolate lip scrub also makes a great DIY Christmas gift. It’s affordable to make, yet it can look (and smell) so luxurious. Little glass jars, like these, are one of my favorite ways to package scrubs when gifting. You could include it in a gift basket with items like body butter, homemade soap, and body scrub. Or use it as a stocking stuffer.
How to Use DIY Lip Scrub
This can get messy, so you’ll want to lean over the sink while using the natural lip scrub. Apply a fingerful of lip scrub to your lips and massage in a circular motion. Rinse off with warm water and follow it up with lip balm if desired.
Mint Chocolate Lip Scrub Recipe
Get softer, smoother lips in under a minute with this lip scrub recipe! It smells amazing and also makes a great gift.
Yield: 4 ounces
Instructions
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Add all the ingredients to a mixing bowl. Use the whisk on your mixer until the ingredients start to look creamy and fluffy. If you don’t have a mixer, then use a rubber spatula to mash the ingredients together.
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Transfer the mint chocolate lip scrub to your jars.
Notes
- Store in a cool, dry place away from direct light and heat.
- Always use a clean dry finger when scooping some out to avoid contaminating the lip scrub.
- This should last for 6-12 months when stored properly.
What are some of your favorite ways to pamper your lips? Leave us a comment and be sure to share this post with a friend!
Sources:
- Latif R. (2013). Health benefits of cocoa. Current opinion in clinical nutrition and metabolic care, 16(6), 669–674.
- Scapagnini, G., et al. (2014). Cocoa bioactive compounds: significance and potential for the maintenance of skin health. Nutrients, 6(8), 3202–3213.
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