Beauty Q and A: Should I Use a Lip Scrub Before Applying Lipstick?

Chapped lips can make it difficult to get a flawless lipstick application. For a soft, smooth canvas, a lip scrub is a must-have. To find out just how and why to incorporate lip scrubs into your lip routine, we talked to Sara Happ, lip expert and founder of the eponymous brand. Read on for her tips so you can start swiping on the hottest summer lip colors with ease.

The Benefits of Using a Lip Scrub

 “Using a lip scrub gives you smooth lips that make a great base for lipstick to adhere to,” Happ says. A scrub is especially key if you’re wearing a matte liquid lipstick, like the L’Oréal Infallible Pro-Matte Liquid Lipstick, which can emphasize texture if you don’t exfoliate.  

To ensure safe use, you want to make sure you’re scrubbing your lips with products that are built to smooth and moisturize your pout. “Avoid using scrubs with ingredients that could hurt your lips — such as bits of almonds or other sharp materials,” Happ says. Look for nourishing oils, like jojoba and almond, with sugar to exfoliate, like the Sara Happ The Lip Scrub in Pink Grapefruit.

Sara Happ The Lip Scrub in Pink Grapefruit

How to Use a Lip Scrub

To properly use a lip scrub, massage the product onto dry lips with your fingers, then wipe away flakes with a tissue. Follow up with a moisturizing lip balm to prevent lips from drying out.

Happ recommends using a scrub every day to help “maintain healthy, smooth lips even throughout harsh weather or travel.” It’s important to note, however, that you should be mindful of avoiding irritation. “Don’t scrub cracked or bleeding lips,” Happ notes. Instead, use a product like The Lip Slip Gloss to help rehydrate. “Once they’re healthy again, start scrubbing every day,” she explains. Scrubbing cracked lips will make them worse, which is why it’s important to make sure they are moisturized beforehand.

Upgrade Your Selfie Game With These Editor-Approved Ring Lights

Whether you’re trying to upgrade your selfie quality or want the best light possible for filming makeup tutorials, ring lights should be on your radar. The perfect addition to every vanity, ring lights cast an even light onto your face, reduce shadows, illuminate your eyes and even minimize the look of blemishes. There are plenty of ring lights out there— each with different functions and lighting options — making it tricky to figure out which one is best for you. To make it easier, we’ve narrowed down our favorite ring lights on Amazon, ahead. 

ring-lights

UBeeSize 12’’ Ring Light with Tripod

Never worry about bad lighting again. With this ring light, you can choose between five color temperatures and 10 brightness levels to find the best possible lighting for video calls, interviews, vlogs and makeup tutorials. 

ring-lights

Riki Skinny Light Vanity Makeup Mirror

Although it’s on the pricier side, this mirror has received the praises of celebs, makeup artists and beauty gurus for a reason: it’s magnifying mirror ensures flawless makeup application every single time. Plus, the lighting can’t be beat.

ring-lights

Neweer Selfie Ring Light 

Filming how-to videos and TikToks has never been so easy. This portable ring light provides top-notch lighting wherever you go and even has a clamp to hold your phone for hands-free recording. 

ring-lights

AIXPI LED Ring Light

With its own height-adjusting tripod that rotates 360 degrees, this ring light offers optimal lighting at every angle.

ring-lights

Yarrashop Ring Light Stand and Phone Holder

Don’t let poor lighting wash out your complexion on screen. Shop this desktop ring light complete with adjustable brightness levels and lighting will never be an issue again.

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Body Lotions Are Not Created Equally—These Will Leave Your Skin Glowing

There are several things you can do to achieve glowing skin. Exfoliation can help get rid of dead skin cells and reveal a smoother, newer layer. Using tools like a gua sha can help with circulation. Applying a vitamin C serum can brighten your complexion and even out the skin tone. And just making sure your lifestyle habits are in check can help, too, like getting enough sleep and drinking enough water.

You can’t forget the crucial step of hydrating and moisturizing your skin, though. That is key to radiant, glowy, and plump skin. But it can also be tough, especially if your skin is prone to dryness or if you’re exposed to weather or environmental factors that could dry out your skin. That’s why having the right body lotion is essential here. When you find one that works with your skin, it can work wonders for you—leaving you with smooth, glowy, and radiant skin.

If you need help choosing the right one, below are some of our favorite body lotions for that otherworldly glow.

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1. Sol de Janeiro Bom Dia Bright Body Cream

Sol de Janeiro Bom Dia Bright Body Cream

Sol de Janeiro Bom Dia Bright Body Cream ($45)

Sol de Janeiro’s body cream contains fruit alpha-hydroxy acids and vitamin C to reveal brighter and smoother skin. It’s also formulated with cupuaçu butter to provide intense moisture.

2. Summer Fridays Summer Skin Nourishing Body Lotion

Summer Fridays Summer Skin Nourishing Body Lotion

Summer Fridays Summer Skin Nourishing Body Lotion ($26)

You don’t have to worry about reapplying this lotion throughout the day—it melts into the skin and has you covered all day long.

3. Paula’s Choice Resist Skin Revealing Body Lotion 10% AHA

Paula's Choice Resist Skin Revealing Body Lotion 10% AHA

Paula’s Choice Resist Skin Revealing Body Lotion 10% AHA ($28)

This body lotion is formulated with 10% AHA, so it works to exfoliate dead skin cells and improve any clogged, red bumps on your arms and legs. 

4. Burt’s Bees Radiance Body Lotion

Burt's Bees Radiance Body Lotion

Burt’s Bees Radiance Body Lotion ($14)

The key glowy ingredient in this body lotion is royal jelly, which is a nourishing, light-reflecting mineral. Your skin will be left radiant and softer.

5. Nécessaire The Body Lotion

Nécessaire The Body Lotion

Nécessaire The Body Lotion ($25)

Nécessaire’s body lotion is an editor favorite. The fast-absorbing formula contains niacinamide, vitamins A, B3, C, and E, omegas 6 and 9, and antioxidants. It’s also fragrance-free, which is a bonus if you are allergic to scents.

6. Mario Badescu Summer Shine Body Lotion

Mario Badescu Summer Shine Body Lotion

Mario Badescu Summer Shine Body Lotion ($10)

Mario Badescu’s body lotion has a subtle shimmer and is enriched with vitamin E and moisture-retaining ingredients like beeswax and peanut oil.

7. Glossier Body Hero Daily Perfecting Cream

Glossier Body Hero Daily Perfecting Cream

Glossier Body Hero Daily Perfecting Cream ($22)

Glossier’s popular Body Hero contains tiny light-reflecting particles and brightening plant extracts for a glowy finish. It also doesn’t leave an annoying greasy feel.

8. Vaseline Intensive Care Body Lotion, Cocoa Radiant

Vaseline Intensive Care Body Lotion, Cocoa Radiant

Vaseline Intensive Care Body Lotion, Cocoa Radiant ($18)

This ultra-moisturizing body lotion is infused with 100% cocoa and shea butters to boost radiance. And even though it’s a rich formula that doesn’t mean it’s greasy or super heavy.

9. Glytone Exfoliating Body Lotion

Glytone Exfoliating Body Lotion

Glytone Exfoliating Body Lotion ($43)

Glytone’s body lotion has 17.5% glycolic acid for exfoliation benefits, meaning you’ll see improved skin texture and smoother, radiant skin. It also contains vitamin E for antioxidant protection.

10. SheaMoisture 100% Virgin Coconut Oil Shimmering Body Lotion

Sheamoisture 100% Virgin Coconut Oil Shimmering Body Lotion

Sheamoisture 100% Virgin Coconut Oil Shimmering Body Lotion ($5)

This body lotion will give you that sun-kissed glow that we all dream about. It’s infused with organic raw shea butter to moisturize; coconut oil and coconut milk to condition the skin; and acacia Senegal to lock in moisture.

11. Love Beauty and Planet Delicious Glow Body Lotion

Love Beauty and Planet Delicious Glow Lotion

Love Beauty and Planet Delicious Glow Lotion ($7)

With a name like Delicious Glow, this product is bound to deliver. The formula contains murumuru butter and rose to soften the skin and leave it glowing.

12. Alpha Skin Care Renewal Body Lotion

Alpha Skin Care Renewal Body Lotion

Alpha Skin Care Renewal Body Lotion ($17)

Alpha Skin Care’s Renewal Body Lotion is always a bestseller with our readers. It’s formulated with 12% glycolic acid to gently remove dead skin cells, encourage collagen production, and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

13. Farmacy Honey Glow Body 12% AHA/BHA Resurfacing Body Serum

Farmacy Honeymoon Glow Body 12% AHA/BHA Resurfacing Body Serum

Farmacy Honeymoon Glow Body 12% AHA/BHA Resurfacing Body Serum ($40)

This body resurfacing serum is formulated with 12% AHAs and BHAs to exfoliate to reveal smoother and brighter skin. Other ingredients include a proprietary honey blend and shea butter which act as humectants (aka they draw water in).

14. Drunk Elephant Sili Body Lotion

Drunk Elephant Sili Body Lotion

Drunk Elephant Sili Body Lotion ($20)

Drunk Elephant’s body lotion is just packed with amazing nourishing ingredients: marula butter, a five-ceramide blend, and shea butter. Your skin will be hydrated and softer.

15. Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Pink Dream Body Cream

Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow AHA Pink Dream Body Cream

Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow AHA Pink Dream Body Cream ($28)

Glow Recipe’s body cream is lightweight and has a delicious watermelon scent, so it’s so soothing and refreshing. The hibiscus AHA in the formula smooths and exfoliates to reveal glowy skin.

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More Glowy Body Products to Try

Neutrogena Body Oil

Neutrogena Body Oil ($15)

A body oil is an easy way to get dewy skin. This one from Neutrogena absorbs easily and deeply hydrates the skin.

Fenty Beauty Body Lava Body Luminizer

Fenty Beauty Body Lava Body Luminizer ($59)

For extra shimmer you can apply a body luminizer, like this one from Fenty Beauty which has a high-shine finish.

Supergoop Glowscreen Body SPF 40

Supergoop Glowscreen Body SPF 40 ($42)

I’m already obsessed with Supergoop’s Glowscreen face sunscreen so this one is on my wishlist. It gives you the same sun protection and shimmery glow all over your body.

Goop Goopglow Body Luminizer

Goop Goopglow Body Luminizer ($48)

Goop’s body luminizer is formulated with light-reflecting minerals for a radiant finish. Other ingredients include Australian kakadu plum (which is rich in vitamin C), hyaluronic acid, and squalane.

Next: THE VERY BEST BODY OILS THAT WILL LEAVE YOUR SKIN SO DANG GLOWY

Creamy DIY Lip + Cheek Stain

If you’ve read this blog for a long, then you know we make a lot of stuff. I mean, you should see my bathroom. It’s a nightmare of bottles and jars of concoctions to test out. Some make the cut, and some sit for so long I completely forget what’s in them (apparently that’s what labels are for).

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But this DIY, this recipe is one I am so excited about. Because I love, love, love it. It’s easy to make (3 ingredients!) and makes the prettiest color for your cheeks and lips. It’s lightweight and perfect for summer.

I’m all about ‘no makeup’ in the summer. Multi-use makeup that I can apply with my finger is even better. Just swipe on your lips and cheeks for a healthy pink glow. It goes on easily and feels somewhere between a balm and a gloss on the lips. To apply, use your fingertip to dot a small amount onto your cheeks or lips and blend into skin.

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Even if the stain starts a little strong, it’s easy enough to blend out to a sun-kissed flush that looks completely natural. I’m already obsessed! I like to bring it across my nose, too—a couple of tiny dabs make for the perfect, I just came from the beach look. 

And that’s not even the best part—this stain is good enough to eat. Using beetroot powder for coloring is the perfect natural option for getting that flawless glow without resorting to using conventional products, some of which are irritating and not cruelty-free.

Most blushes rely on carmine for red pigment, which comes from crushed-up bugs. Ew! Plus, the combination of super-nourishing shea butter and castor oil makes for the perfect base.

DIY Lip + Cheek Stain Ingredients

Ingredients for Creamy DIY Lip Stain

Here’s a rundown of the 3 ingredients:

Castor oil

Castor oil is very hydrating (it works great on eyelashes) and has a nice, thick texture that makes this recipe feel smooth and glossy. It is known for preserving moisture, and its fatty acids leave the skin feeling nourished.

Shea butter

Shea butter is such a silky, creamy ingredient. It provides healing moisture and also gives the blush its staying power on the cheeks.

Beet powder

I had no idea you could get beet powder in pill form. The powder is a super bright hot pink, but don’t let that scare you! If you want to tone down the pink, you could add a tiny, tiny bit of turmeric or cocoa powder.

How to make a DIY lip gloss with beet root powder

I’ve been more than a little afraid of venturing into make-your-own makeup territory, but this DIY might just have changed my mind! To keep this stain fresh for as long as possible, keep it in a cool, dark drawer or even better, the fridge. If you have a skincare mini-fridge, that would be perfect.

Because our ingredients are good enough to eat and we’re not relying on preservatives, it’s important to store our DIY products properly. If it begins to separate or smell a little funny, then you know it’s time to let go of this batch and whip up a new one, tout de suite!

Creamy DIY Lip + Cheek Stain

Beet Lip + Cheek Stain

With just 3 ingredients, this lip + cheek stain makes the prettiest color for your cheeks and lips. It’s lightweight and perfect for summer.

Prep Time: 10mins Total Time: 10mins

Course: Natural Beauty Cuisine: DIY Keyword: lip balm

Yield: 2ounces Author: Crystal Lee Cost: $5

Equipment

  • Measuring cup
  • saucepan

Materials

Instructions

  1. Measure ingredients into a small glass measuring cup, then set in simmering water until shea butter melts.
  2. Stir in the beet powder and pour into a small jar and allow the mixture to cool.

Notes

Store in a dark area away from heat. Stored properly, the blush should last up to 6 months.