The best lip scrubs are a nonnegotiable the minute winter hits and your lips start flaking like a stale croissant. While we often baby our faces with humectant-packed moisturizers, our lips are left chapped and begging for help. That’s where the best lip scrubs come in. These exfoliants slough away dead skin and flakes. “When used gently and in moderation, light exfoliation once or twice a week can help them appear smoother and more hydrated,” says Dendy Engelman, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City. She recommends following up with a nourishing layer of lip balm to keep that fresh pout moisturized and soft.
If you’re searching for the right one, we’ve done the work for you. We tapped Glamour testers to put over a dozen dermatologist-approved scrubs to the test over a a few weeks and found formulas that we loved the most. Our top overall pick was the Fresh Beauty Sugar Lip Polish, because it’s dermatologist-recommended, gentle, leaves your skin feeling plush, and won’t make you feel stripped. We also found other best sellers from the drugstore, plus a chemical lip exfoliant and ones perfect for makeup prep.
The best lip scrubs, at a glance
How we tested
To find the best lip scrubs, Glamour testers tried formulas for several weeks, paying close attention to texture, how they made our lips feel post-application, and their efficacy in softening the skin. The best ones had finely milled particles that didn’t scratch or make our skin feel raw or stripped. Instead, these small particles were able to slough off dead skin with just a few passes gently, and they also contained hydrating ingredients like nourishing butters and oils to leave the skin soft. The ones we opted for made our lips feel fresh post-application and didn’t cause any unpleasant burning or stinging. Finally, these lip scrubs actually made our lips feel smoother and soft, and made it easy for our lip liners and lipsticks to glide effortlessly the rest of the day.
Best Overall: Fresh Beauty Sugar Lip Polish
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Pros: Smells delicious; gentle; conditions lips for a smooth and flake-free finish
Cons: Slightly sticky
“With brown sugar crystals as the exfoliant and shea and jojoba oils, this lip scrub leaves the lips super smooth and hydrated,” says Brooke Jeffy, MD and board-certified dermatologist in Arizona, who shares that this is one of her go-to lip scrubs. The particles are finely milled and gentle to the touch. The formula is sweet and addictive, too, and will be a nice treat right before your makeup routine. At $21, this sugar scrub also made the best on our list because a little goes a long way.
Testing notes: “I was expecting this lip scrub to be harsh on my lips, but it was actually gentle while still managing to scrub away dead skin cells. I rubbed it in without any scratching and was left with a soft pout and no dryness,” says Glamour senior commerce editor Jenifer Calle.
Best Drugstore: e.l.f. Beauty Lip Exfoliator
Pros: Seven scents; hands-free application
Cons: Fragrance may irritate sensitive skin
For an under $10-treatment, we’re huge fans of this exfoliating lip balm treatment. It has sugar crystals for exfoliation, plus vitamin E and jojoba oil to hydrate and soothe the lips gently. It comes in a tube, making it easy and hands-free for exfoliating.
Testing notes: “Going into the wintertime, my lips have been extra dry. I love the application of this product; it is not messy in the slightest. After applying the product, I put on lip balm and noticed my lips were considerably less dry and smoother, even after one use. This product will be a staple in my beauty routine this winter,” says Glamour contributor Sarah Cassuto.
Best for Chapped Lips: Cosrx Lip Care Scrub for Dry Chapped Lips
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Pros: Gentle; doubles as a balm; hypoallergenic
Cons: Can be a little messy; easy to scoop out too much product
If your lips veer red, flaky, or easily irritated, this K-beauty balm-scrub hybrid will be your new bestie. Unlike the other lip scrubs on this list, the exfoliating particles in the formula are suspended in a creamy lip balm, making over-exfoliating practically impossible. It buffs without irritation and leaves behind a creamy veil of hydration.
Testing notes: “This is probably one of the coolest lip scrubs I’ve ever tried,” says Glamour commerce writer, Alanna Martine Kilkeary. “It has a really buttery texture with tiny particles that exfoliate without discomfort, and works really well on flaky, chapped areas. I’ve been reaching for this almost every single night since the weather has gotten colder in NYC, and my lips look and feel plush and soft all day long.”
Best for Dry Skin: Tatcha The Kissu Lip Scrub Moisturizing Lip Exfoliant
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Pros: Comes in an easy-to-use tube; makes lips soft
Cons: Pricey compared to some of the other scrubs on this list
We’re already huge fans of Tatcha’s skin care to begin with, so it’s no surprise that we also fell in love with the brand’s lip exfoliant. This gentle scrub is packed with Japanese camellia oil to seal in moisture and restore cracked skin. It also has a blend of konjac and peach seed in the scrub, which gently removes flakes for smoother, brighter lips.
Testing notes: “In dry weather, I always deal with chapped skin, especially on my lips. But my skin is sensitive too, so I have to be careful what I put on it. I’ve tried making my own oil and sugar masks but this one was definitely better. It’s sugar-polished my lips without leaving them feeling raw, leaving them smooth and rosy. I like that it had a sweet aftertaste, and I’m excited to keep using it,” says Glamour commerce editor, Malia Griggs.
Best for Makeup Prep: Makeup By Mario Perfecting Lip Scrub
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Pros: Easy to use applicator; great smell; creates a smooth canvas
Cons: Finer grains can get messy
If you live in matte lipstick, this is the prep step you need. Sugar crystals, coconut oil, and vitamin E gently exfoliate and even out texture and tone. The formula also contains sodium hyaluronate to keep lips moisturized for hours, and the tube applicator gives a light massage that can help stimulate collagen.
Testing notes: “If you know me, you know I’m obsessed with a matte lip,” says Glamour’s Kilkeary. “Matte lipsticks tend to crack throughout the day, though, especially if you don’t prep your lips correctly. So I’ve been reaching for this scrub to help slough away the dead skin and chapped areas of my lips for a smooth, silky finish that allows my favorite matte lippies to glide on with ease. My lips look super smooth and bouncy, without a fine line in sight when I use this. Needless to say, I’m impressed, and my matte lip routine will forever include this product.”
Best for Lip Discoloration: The Ordinary PHA 5% Exfoliating Lip Serum
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Pros: Evens tone; hydrating; nonirritating
Cons: Liquid format isn’t as intuitive as a scrub
For dull or discolored lips, we recommend trying this chemical lip treatment. Unlike the other scrubs on this list, this one is a gentle liquid that you apply to the lips to boost hydration, brightness, and radiance. It has a blend of PHAs (poly-hydroxy-acids), ectoin, glycerin, and AHAs (alpha-hydroxy-acids) to chemically exfoliate away dead skin and make the lips look more even-toned.
Testing notes: “I was a bit intimidated to try this lip exfoliator at first, as I’ve never tried anything like it before. I was afraid that it would sting or cause redness on my lips (after all, chemical exfoliants can be a little powerful), but I am pleased to report that it was the complete opposite experience. The serum felt really hydrating upon application and didn’t burn in the slightest. I applied it and waited about five minutes before applying a lip gloss over top, and was kind of shocked at how soft and supple my lips felt. Throughout the day, my lips stayed flake-free, and I was totally satisfied with the results. Truly, this one is worth the try,” says Glamour’s Kilkeary.
Best Scent: Lush Sticky Dates Lip Scrub
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Pros: Amazing scent; gentle; hydrating
Cons: Sticky
If you're scent-obsessed, LUSH delivers every time. The brand’s cruelty-free lip scrubs are some of the best we’ve ever put on our mouths. This castor sugar formula contains jojoba oil to keep lips moisturized and soft, while also keeping them hydrated and fresh.
Testing notes: “I’ve been using Lush lip scrubs since high school. (Bubblegum was always my fave.) So it’s no surprise that I still find myself reaching for them in adulthood. Sticky Dates is a deliciously addicting scrub that glides onto the lips for super gentle exfoliation, and will give you soft lips without irritation or dryness. Fair warning, these taste just as good as they smell,” says Glamour’s Kilkeary.
Frequently asked questions
Do dermatologists recommend lip scrubs?
Yes, when used carefully and in moderation. “Just like the rest of our skin, the lips naturally shed dead cells, and light exfoliation can help them appear smoother and more hydrated,” says Dr. Engelman. She suggests using a gentle scrub once or twice a week, followed by a nourishing balm or lip mask, rich in shea butter or ceramides, to restore moisture and protect the barrier.
What's the proper way to use a lip scrub?
“Just like other areas of the skin, physical scrubs can be irritating if used excessively,” says Brooke Jeffy, MD and board-certified dermatologist based in Arizona. That’s why it’s key to use a lip scrub a few times per week, or before lipstick application on a special occasion.
Start with clean, slightly damp lips. Apply a small amount of the scrub using your fingertip, and massage gently in circular motions for about 30 seconds, says Dr. Engelman. Rinse with lukewarm water or wipe away with a soft, damp cloth. Immediately follow with a hydrating lip balm or ointment.
What is the best thing to do if you have severely dry lips?
Exfoliate them gently to remove dead skin cells that could inhibit absorption of your lip products, Dr. Engelman says. Next, use a thick, occlusive balm containing shea butter, ceramides, or lanolin, which can help lock in moisture and repair cracks. “It’s important to avoid licking your lips or using harsh exfoliants, which can worsen dryness,” she says. Instead, stick to applying lip balm multiple times a day (tinted options and ones with SPF are our favorites), and use a humidifier if your environment is dry. “If lips remain painfully chapped or cracked after consistent care, see a dermatologist to rule out eczema, contact irritation, or vitamin deficiencies,” Dr. Engelman adds.
When should you not use a lip scrub?
“If your lips are irritated, sensitive or chapped, focus on moisturizing with a fragrance-free product, not exfoliating,” says Dr. Jeffy. It’s also key to avoid a lip scrub whenever your lips are cracked, bleeding, peeling, or actively irritated. You’ll also want to skip scrubbing if you’ve recently had sunburn, cold sores, or cosmetic treatments. “Exfoliating in those conditions can make tiny tears worse, delay healing, and increase sensitivity or infection risk,” says Dr. Engelman.
Meet the experts
- Dendy Engelman, MD and board-certified dermatologist based in New York City
- Brooke Jeffy, MD and board-certified dermatologist based in Arizona