To Scrub? Or Not to Scrub? That is the Question!

As an Esthetician there is never a cap on learning more to enhance your craft. Yes, we know a lot about skin, however we don't know everything. In fact beauty school teaches us skin care techniques, product use and placement, and how these products interact with the body as well as how to do so in a sanitary manner. While this is all great information, there is so much more the beauty professional has to educate themselves on, post graduation and licensure.

Beauty Pro or not, many of us know how important exfoliation is to a good skin care routine. In my recent move from North Carolina to Up-state NY the climate change caught my skin off guard! In particular my lips, they were super dry and I thought "surely I need a lip scrub". Of course I go to the mecca of information that is Youtube and race to one of my favorite dermatology pages Doctorly where Dr. Maxfield and Dr. Shah shared some enlightening tips. The lips lack the same stratum corneum (protective outer layer) as the rest of the skin. Over exfoliation isn't needed, it can actually disrupt the homeostasis of the lips and scrub away good skin cells and disrupt oil glands on the lips. Long story short lip exfoliation isn't necessary everyday and can cause more harm than good.

The doctors gave a few recommendations of lip masks which consisted of the Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask and Tatcha Lip Mask . While those masks are more on the high end, there was a nod to the CeraVe Healing Ointment. I always love a good product recommendation, but we all love tips that help us utilize what we already have in a more proficient way! Dr. Shah explained how you can get the same lip quenching results by layering serums and moisturizer on your lips like the rest of your skin, then adding an emollient like Vaseline to seal in the moisture. Immediately my wheels are spinning and I proceed to try this tip and my lips have been more moisturized than ever. This was like "slugging" for your lips and no harsh abrasive lip scrubs were needed!

I found this video super helpful and hopefully if you suffer from dry, chapped lips this will help you as well.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jajfu5VBFWI