Do you have dry chapped lips that are dull in look? Do you feel it difficult to wear lipstick on your lips? Is it so that your lips never look seductive no matter how much lipstick and lip gloss you put over them? Dry chapped lips are a common problem among many people.

Although people claim to eat a healthy diet and drink plenty of water throughout the day still this problem seems to prevail, especially in winter due to harsh weather conditions. It can also be caused by smoking, licking the lips (since saliva is drying), medications and vitamin deficiency, using harsh skin care products, excessive exposure to the sun without protection, obstructed breathing, fungal infection and dermatitis.http://www.beauty-advices.com/how-to-treat-and-prevent-dry-chapped-lips-properly/ Many lip products contain harsh ingredients such as capsaicin, menthol, mint, and phenol which may be irritating for the lips and thus result in lip dryness.http://www.allhairlosstreatments.com/blog/dry-and-chapped-lips-remedy/

Although there are plenty of options to treat dry chapped lips, the best way is to exfoliate them to slough off the dead layer and flakes from the top and bring out the fresh smooth lips. Exfoliating though is not a difficult process yet it needs care since chapped lips already tend to hurt and exfoliating with much pressure can lead to further damage. So get ready to exfoliate your dry chapped lips to get that perfect kisser that you always dream of having –just follow these simple steps.

Exfoliation with a soft toothbrush is an excellent way to remove dead skin from your lips. The brush bristles peel the smallest of flakes that are attached to your lips. Gently rubbing the toothbrush in circular motions all over your lips will reap many benefits as you’ll notice later. Just make sure to use very slow and light motions or you’ll end up sore and bleeding. Below are just some effective ways to use a toothbrush as a lip exfoliator.

1. Only Toothbrush –Wet your lips and toothbrush thoroughly. Now rub the toothbrush gently all over lips in gentle circular motions.
2. Toothbrush with Moisturizing Cream –Smear some cold cream or thick moisturizing cream all over your lips. Now gently rub a soft dry toothbrush all over the lips using small circular motions. Wipe off the remaining cream that is not absorbed. This will make sure your lips get a moisturizing treatment along with exfoliation.
3. Toothbrush with Petroleum Jelly –Apply some petroleum jelly generously all over your lips. Now gently rub a soft dry toothbrush all over lips in circular motions gently. Wipe off the remaining jelly left after exfoliation.
4. Toothbrush with Toothpaste –While you’re brushing your teeth, gently rub the toothbrush over your lips in circular motion along with the toothpaste foam. It can dry your lips yet it will make sure that the dead layer is removed.

Toothbrush exfoliation can be painful and risky. For a gentler exfoliation use a washcloth. A washcloth is a net, mesh, sponge or slightly abrasive terrycloth that is used for washing your face and body. It is used mostly for cleansing and exfoliating either alone or with a cleanser. For lips it can be a great option since it lightly exfoliates the skin. Just make sure that it is not harsh. Avoid mesh and sponge washcloths since these can be quite coarse on lips. It is best to do this type of exfoliation in the shower.

You have to choose a softer washcloth that is not that harsh on lips since the skin on the lips is quite delicate. Soak a soft washcloth in lukewarm water for about 5 minutes. Take it out and wring it to remove extra water. Now cover the tip of your finger (the finger used to exfoliate lips) with this washcloth and start rubbing your lips with it using small circular motions. http://www.howtodothings.com/fashion-personal-care/how-to-exfoliate-your-dry-chapped-lips Make sure not to apply pressure on lips, just sail smoothly all over them. You can also apply some moisturizer or petroleum jelly either on your lips or over the washcloth (a small amount) for smoother, easier motions.

Scrubs are a good way to exfoliate lips since they not only exfoliate but also add other benefits including moisturizing, toning and/or cleansing. You can use a natural homemade scrub or a commercial scrub specially formulated for lips. Some good scrubs formulated especially for exfoliating lips are Philosophy Kiss Me Exfoliating Lip Scrub and Colorscience Lip Exfoliator. For a natural exfoliator you can use any of the following options:

1. Mix together powdered white sugar and olive oil in equal quantity to make a thick paste. Rub it using your fingertips on lips in circular motions for about a minute. the olive oil will moisturize the lips while the sugar exfoliates them.http://www.howtodothings.com/fashion-personal-care/how-to-exfoliate-your-dry-chapped-lips
2. Take some coffee granules and scrub them on wet lips gently in circular motions. You can also add these granules in some honey to make a thick paste. Honey will take care of your lips’ moisture while the coffee will exfoliate.
3. If you need some extra treat, exfoliate your lips with cinnamon powder and water mixed into a thick paste. Cinnamon not only exfoliates the lips but also draws the blood to the surface and colors them with a nice cinnamon color.
4. Mix some powdered sugar or salt in some moisturizing cream, lip balm or petroleum jelly such that it looks and feels like a scrub. Gently use it over lips since salt can be harsh to lips.

The content in this page is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please contact a doctor before using the information presented here.