As the air becomes cooler in the autumn and winter months, the transition of the seasons tends to dry out my lips. We’re talking peeling, rough, cracked lips that no amount of lip balm [1] can fix. This simple, all-natural Pink Grapefruit Lip Scrub can be made in minutes, and will keep your lips kissably soft all winter long.
Between pampering your skin, hair, and nails, it can be easy to forget about your lips. A lip scrub is an effective way to strip away the drying effects of summer and put some much-needed moisture back into your lips.
I’m all about simple, frugal beauty hacks. Homemade scrubs are an easy way to fake a trip to the nail salon or a spa. You can use simple household ingredients to create amazing scrubs for your feet, hands, face, and lips. Sugar, sea salt, oatmeal, honey, and even coffee grinds can all be used as natural exfoliants.
Natural Ingredients
Shea Butter
Luxuriously creamy and nourishing, shea butter replenishes dry hair and skin. It is rich in fatty acids in addition to vitamins A and E, making it perfect for the skin and hair. Its moisturizing properties are second to none. With a buttery texture, shea butter adds a velvety consistency when mixed with other carrier oils.
Vitamin E Oil
Vitamin E oil helps to block free radicals as well as providing antioxidant properties for the body to help keep wrinkles at bay and keep skin looking youthful! Because of these properties, many of our personal care recipes [2] contain Vitamin E oil.
It is a fat-soluble carrier oil [3] that is easily absorbed by the skin. Its chemical composition makes it ideal for mixing with essential oils. Vitamin E oil can prolong the shelf life of other carrier oils when combined.
Coconut Oil
You will find this ingredient in so many of our recipes [4]. Coconut oil has a myriad of uses, our favorite being in skin care recipes due to its light and non-greasy consistency. It is rich in lauric acid and other medium-chain fatty acids.
Coconut oil comes in both liquid (fractionated) or solid form. If you are seeking a thicker consistency in a recipe such as in a body butter [5], you would use solid coconut oil. At room temperature, it will return to solid form. You will also find coconut oil in dozens of our custom roller-ball recipes.
Grapefruit Essential Oil
There is something so bright and cheery about Grapefruit essential oil [6]. Maybe it’s the sweet, uplifting citrus aroma. I use it daily in my citrus water [7] or in a diffuser recipe. Grapefruit has been used historically to aid in healthy digestion, boost immune system function and as a miracle tonic for the skin.
Sugar
Who doesn’t love sugar? Sugar may not be so great for your body systems, but it sure is great for exfoliating your skin. Sugar is an affordable and common household ingredient that most people always have on hand. Add it to your beauty routine or your favorite cookie recipe [8] and make everyone in your family happy.
New to essential oils? Learn more about how we use them and why you should use them as well. [9]
Pink Grapefruit Lip Scrub
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon shea butter [10]
- 1/2 teaspoon vitamin E oil [11]
- 1 tablespoon coconut oil [12]
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 10 drops grapefruit essential oil
- Beetroot powder [13] (optional)
Directions
- In a saucepan, melt the coconut oil and shea butter down to a liquid.
- Remove pan from flame and let cool for 10-15 minutes.
- Add vitamin E oil and grapefruit essential oil. Swirl to combine.
- Spoon in sugar and mix well.
- Add a pinch of beetroot powder to give it a light pink tint (optional).
- Scoop into a container and allow it to fully cool before use.
To Use
- Add a quarter-size amount to your lips. Rub vigorously onto the entire surface of your lips for 20-30 seconds.
- Rinse thoroughly or wipe clean.
- Follow up with your favorite lip balm or carrier oil to seal in the moisture.
- Repeat as needed. Mix before reusing as the sugar may settle to the bottom.
Recipes Notes and Substitutions
- The shelf life of this scrub is relatively short, only about 2-3 weeks, so you’ll want to make it in small quantities. These 1-ounce cosmetic pots [14] are the perfect size for a lip scrub.
- If you find the white sugar to be too rough on your lips, you can substitute brown sugar. If your lips are already pretty soft and healthy, brown sugar should be mild enough for a light scrub.
- We also like bergamot, orange, and lavender essential oils for their skin-soothing properties.
- This Pink Grapefruit Lip Scrub makes the perfect gift! Add it to our Spa Gift Basket [15] or invite your besties over for a Spa Make & Take Party [16].