The Lip Product That Celebrity Makeup Artists Swear By

If you want your lips to truly shine and feel smooth, a lip exfoliator can do wonders. Lips tend to build up dry and flaky skin, especially in the winter. As explained by Healthline, an exfoliator is the perfect way to remove dead skin cells and even out the surface of the lip. However, Healthline cautions against over-exfoliation, which can lead to irritated lips and even cracks and breaks in the skin, worsening the problem. Therefore, make sure you are exfoliating only once or twice per week. It's also important to choose a gentle exfoliator that contains moisture.

So, what product is going to do the best job at exfoliating while helping your lips retain moisture? According to makeup artist Amy Strozzi reporting for Byrdie, the Revlon Kiss Exfoliating Balm is the perfect solution. Not only is the balm inexpensive, selling for only $4.49 at Target, but it contains ultra-hydrating ingredients to protect the lips, including beeswax, coconut oil, and shea butter. The exfoliator is sugar crystals, a natural skin-cell remover that adds a sweet finish.

If you have particularly sensitive lips or prefer a brand that does not use parabens, Burt's Bees is another option (via Independent). Burt's Bees offers a conditioning lip scrub made with honey crystals to give you a very sweet and gentle exfoliation. Along with honey, other hydrating ingredients in the simple formula include beeswax and cocoa seed butter. Plus, the product sells for just $8.99 at Ulta.

It is also important to think about what not to use on your journey to smooth, plump lips. As noted by Healthline, some ingredients in lip exfoliation products can be irritating and cause a burning, stinging, or tingling sensation. Those include camphor, cinnamon, eucalyptus, menthol, mint, peppermint fragrances, octinoxate, and oxybenzone. Keep in mind that you may not react to some or any of these products depending on your sensitivity level. You can always perform a patch test on the underside of your wrist to see whether your skin gets irritated. However, the skin on your lips may react differently because it is much thinner than the skin on your wrist. Whether you choose to exfoliate or not, always remember to hydrate your lips afterward and apply an SPF lip balm for smooth, healthy lips (via Cosmopolitan).