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Neither matte, nor chapped, but smoochably soft! If ever, you’ve experienced chapped lips that made your lipstick uneven or feel something awkward; this is the call to inject a lip scrub into your beauty routine. In no time, this simple yet underrated step will make your lips feel soft, hydrated, and ready for lipstick application. But before you take any lip scrub, let’s quickly scan over the correct procedure for its application for maximum results, along with some extra tips for keeping your pout in pristine condition. What is a Lip Scrub?A lip scrub but one step behind the curtain, performing its oh-so-necessary magic on your lips. If your lipstick has ever clung to flaky patches of skin or if your lips have felt not-so-gently in lieu of soft, lip scrubs will step in and save the day. A lip scrub is a mixture of exfoliating ingredients such as sugar or finely milled particles and nourishing oils/butters made to scrub off dead skin cells, leaving lips smooth and hydrated. It is light basically skin care for the lips that helps restore softness and moisten dry areas to allow even application of a makeup product.Top-notch lip scrubs are made with honey, coconut oil, and shea butter, all of which exfoliate but also provide a deep level of hydration to the delicate skin of the lips. Just like the skin anywhere else in the body, the lips need some tender loving care, and a good scrub is a great way to pamper them.How to Use Lip Scrub: The Right WayApplying lip scrub correctly is vital to obtain maximum benefits. Improper use can result in over-scrubbing of the delicate lip skin or using harsh products that may irritate already dry and chapped lips even further. Follow this professional guide of step-wise procedure for lip scrubbing:Step 1: Clean Lips FirstThe first step in every lip care is to ensure clean lips. Use a damp washcloth or micellar water to cleanse your lips of all makeup or any products, dirt, oil, etc., that would interfere with the scrub working its magic. Once the lips are clean, the scrub may work better.Step 2: Put On ScrubSqueeze out a small amount of Lip Scrub, about a pea-size, and apply it to wet lips. Using your fingertips, massage the scrub gently over the lips in small circular motions. Resist every urge to push harder since this is not an arm workout! Just firm enough to not aggravate the tender skin.Step 3: Give it Time to WorkGenerally, lip scrubs are packed with nourishing oils, so if time permits, leave the scrub on for a minute. This allows the scrub ingredients to penetrate the soft tissues of the lips and hydrate them well before being wiped off.Phase 4: Rinse and RevelLet the scrub work its magic for a while and rinse your lips with lukewarm water, or rub them with a damp cloth. Avoid strong rubbing; this should be the careful moving away of the scrub to reveal smooth and rejuvenated lips.Step 5: Retain MoistureExfoliation will usually be followed by sealing in that moisture using your favorite nourishing lip balm or oil. Your lips will now be in a very good condition for any lipstick or gloss to apply on them later, but don’t skip this! It’s the same as using moisturizer after a facial-your lips need that hydration to be soft and smooth.Lip Scrub Ingredients to Look For-and What to AvoidThe right ingredients can make all the difference when choosing a lip scrub. Here is a brief rundown about what to find in your lip scrub and what to avoid.Sugar: This is the king ingredient in any lip scrub; sugar exfoliates but isn’t so harsh on the lips. Brown sugar or fine cane sugar works equally well to buff off dead skin without harshness.Oils: Hydration is key! Look for scrubs with nourishing oils like coconut, jojoba, almond, or argan. These will keep lips smooth and hydrated after scrub.Shea Butter/Cocoa Butter: Natural conditioners lock the moisture in and give the plumpy-soft feeling.Honey or Aloe Vera: It may provide more soothing properties: Honey or aloe can help to soothe irritation and keep lips moisturized.Vitamin E: It is an antioxidant; it protects the lips from environmental damage and supports recovery.Adverse Elements:Artificially Used Scents and Dyes: They irritate the lips and in turn dry them out. Use natural or essential oils for fragrance instead.Rough Exfoliants (Salt and Walnut Shells): Salt and crushed walnut shells are much more aggressive abrasive exfoliating agents than those suitable for use on the lip surface. They cause wounds and abrasions. Use softer exfoliants.Menthol, Eucalyptus, and Peppermint: While these may be refreshing, they can dry out your lips or otherwise irritate them. Hence these should remain in your balm, not scrub.After Scrub- Maintain Your Pout Perfect Keeping Your Pout in Top Shape:After exfoliation, the lips are at their most delicate. Proper care is thus important to keep them smooth and hydra.Hydrate, Hydrate, HydrateMoisture is indeed as necessary for lips as it is for skin. Like a person does not skip on moisturizer after a scrub on the face one would, however, not skip on the preferred hydrating balm for lips after scrubbing. Such balm would constitute shea butter, hyaluronic acid, or vitamin E for the locking up moisture and preventing dryness.Give Your Lips a BreakThose beautifully exfoliated lips need some time to breathe. Avoid bold matte lipsticks right away. Allow your lips a good 15-20 minutes after applying the balm before putting on anything, especially matte formulas that can further dry out your lips. If you really need some color, a tinted balm or creamy lipstick is best.Protect Your PoutIf going out in the sun, do not forget to apply lip balm with SPF. Your lips are quite exposed post-exfoliation and need ample protection against damaging rays from the sun by applying a balm with SPF 30+ to avoid burns.How often should you use a lip scrub?Less is more! You may hurt your lips if over-exfoliating them, so

Pregnancy is exciting and full of expectations and, for some, an emotional tempest. With so many things to think about while preparing for the tiny one—baby nursery, doctor visits, names, and so on—skin needs may get neglected. Truth is, a good skincare regimen will maintain a healthy glow and, at the same time, will nourish and comfort the skin through all the changes your body is undergoing. If you are pregnant and looking for ways to keep your skin safe and glowing, look no further. We have collected a comprehensive list of pregnancy-safe products to keep your skin happy and your baby safe.Pregnancy Glow: On the Ups and DownsYou might have heard about the pregnancy glow, a phenomenon when many a woman has had smooth, glowy skin while others have had skin challenges due to hormonal changes. New challenges may arise with skin maintenance as the hormones fluctuate: dryness, breakouts, or even stretch marks may form. Hormones, together with dehydration, nausea, and fatigue at times, suffer is the complexion. The good news is you can accentuate that natural glow using the right skincare products that are completely safe for you and your baby.This is a guide to pregnancy skincare, which includes preparations for feeding the skin for glowing and radiant skin, in and post-delivery of pregnancy.What to Avoid While PregnantBefore taking a dive into pregnancy safe skin care products, it must read what to avoid. After all, you can not control everything during the course of the pregnancy, but certainly, you can control what goes onto your skin.Fragrance-free Products: Your senses become more sensitive during pregnancy. It is quite possible that you may have a headache, cause of nausea, or even both from strong smells and certain perfume ingredients irritating your skin. Choose fragrance-free products or those scented naturally as they are much kinder to your body.Harsh Chemicals: A number of ingredients-including retinoids, salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide, and chemical sunscreens-are often associated with skin irritation, especially in sensitive cases. All these ingredients may also go into the bloodstream, and thus, they can be harmful to your baby. The ingredient which is considered as a nasties by every skincare label is supposed to be read and avoided.Avoid Several Different TreatmentsThere are really no invasive treatments while you can still enjoy shaving, waxing, or light massages during your pregnancy. These invasive ones include chemical peeling, laser therapy, and Botox. They all seem too harsh on your skin while pregnant and might not be safe for your baby.Keep It Simple: Pregnancy time is really the simplest part of life. The basics should be the only concern for your skincare routine. The skin is then energized and protected without overloading it with unnecessary products. CSMS-skin care system: Cleanser, Serum, Moisturizer, and Sunscreen will give you healthy, shimmery skin without the fuss.Best Pregnancy Safe Skincare ProductsAll right, now let’s turn to those pregnancy-safe skincare products. These are products specially formulated to be gentle on the skin but nourishing, for both you and your baby.Pregnancy Safe CleanserA very gentle cleanser forms the basis of every skin care routine during any phase, and pregnancy is no exception. Increased sensitivity of the skin during pregnancy makes it imperative to use cleansers that are not stripping the natural oils of the skin.Look for a mild non-foaming hydrating cleanser. Aloe vera, chamomile, or glycerin are welcome for cleansing and soothing the skin without the burning sensations usually associated with irritation.CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser: The ideal gentle, fragrance-free cleanser for sensitive skin. Moisturizing ceramides and hyaluronic acid nourish skin vitality and restore the moisture balance in it.