Okay, I’m just gonna say it:
My lips were crustier than a three-day-old bagel.

There, it’s out in the open.

It wasn’t always like this. I used to be one of those people who bought fancy lip scrubs that came in little glass jars with names like Rose Kiss Polish or Sweet Agave Night Buff. You know the ones. They smell like dessert, cost more than dinner, and you kinda wonder if you’re supposed to eat them or not (spoiler: I 100% did).

But a couple weeks ago, I hit a low. I reached into my bag during a Zoom call (camera off, thank god) to grab my $18 lip scrub, and it was—gone. Vanished. Either my dog ate it or it got sucked into that cursed vortex where hair ties and left socks disappear.

So I did what any slightly unhinged person does in a beauty emergency:
I raided my kitchen.

And that, my friends, is how I learned to make my own lip scrub in literal minutes. Using stuff I already had. No beauty degree required. No tiny gold spoon necessary. Just vibes.

The Real MVP: Sugar

You ever notice how 98% of DIY lip scrub recipes start with sugar? That’s because sugar is basically the Beyoncé of natural exfoliants. It’s gritty but not too gritty, and it dissolves gently—like, “I care about you” gently.

You can use brown sugar if you want that warm, caramel-y feel (and it smells like cookies, which… yes). Or white sugar if you’re going for that classic, “I’m clean and efficient and don’t have time for sticky nonsense” vibe.

I once tried salt instead of sugar. My lips were MAD.
So yeah. Stick with sugar.

Quick Story: The Time I Made a Lip Scrub and My Roommate Thought It Was a Snack

Not even kidding. I left my first batch on the kitchen counter in a little mason jar labeled “Coconut Sugar Thing” because I forgot what I was doing halfway through making it (classic me).

She comes home, sees the jar, grabs a spoon, and goes:

“Omg did you make a healthy dessert?”

Me: “That’s for my face, Kayla.”
Her: “…I already swallowed it.”

Good news: she lived. Also, that’s how I knew it was safe enough to put on my mouth.

Let’s Get to the Actually Useful Part

✨ The Easiest DIY Lip Scrub (a.k.a. The Lazy Girl Special)

You’ll need:

  • 1 tablespoon sugar
  • 1 teaspoon honey
  • 1/2 teaspoon coconut oil (or olive oil, if you’re like me and only own one type of oil at a time)

What you do:

  1. Mix it in a tiny bowl with whatever spoon isn’t in the dishwasher.
  2. Rub it gently on your lips using your finger (clean fingers, please—this isn’t college).
  3. Leave it on for a minute or two if you’re feeling dramatic.
  4. Wipe it off with a warm cloth or lick it off if you’re alone and judgment-free.
  5. Apply your favorite lip balm or Vaseline. Smile at your reflection. You did it.

Variations for the Extra (but Still Cheap) Queens

🍓 Strawberry Shortcake Scrub

Add: a drop of vanilla extract and a smidge of mashed strawberry

  • Smells like summer
  • Tastes like Pop-Tarts
  • You will get it everywhere

☕ Mocha Madness

Add: a pinch of instant coffee or cocoa powder

  • Perfect for when you’re pretending to be a fancy café
  • May stain your sink if you leave it there for 3 days (not that I’d know…)

🥥 Minty Fresh

Add: 1 drop peppermint essential oil

  • Feels tingly, like you kissed a snowman
  • Smells like gum in the best way

Storage? Or Nah.

You can store these in tiny containers like a TikTok girlie. I used a cleaned-out contact lens case once and felt very DIY-chic.
But let’s be real—you’ll probably make just enough for a couple uses and forget about it in a week.

If you do store it, keep it in the fridge (especially if you added fresh fruit). And label it, for the love of all things, so nobody mistakes it for a midnight snack.

Image Suggestion: A tiny mason jar labeled “NOT FOOD” sitting beside a toothbrush and lip balm. Soft yellow lighting.
Filename: diy-lip-scrub-not-food.jpg

Real Talk: Why Not Just Buy One?

Oh, I hear you.

“I could just buy one at Ulta.”

Sure. Go for it. They work. They’re cute. I’ve got nothing against capitalism in small doses.

But there’s something ridiculously satisfying about making your own. Like, “I did this. I fixed my crusty lips with pantry magic.”

It also weirdly scratches that itch to be productive while doing nothing important. You feel accomplished without actually cleaning the kitchen. Win-win.

Stuff I Learned the Hard Way

  • Don’t use too much oil unless you want to look like you made out with a butter stick.
  • Don’t skip balm afterward. Your lips need love post-scrub. Like a post-game hug.
  • Avoid lemon juice unless you want to feel like your lips are burning off. Seriously. Don’t do it. Even if TikTok says so.

What I Do Now (Every Sunday-ish, Kinda)

I make a batch while watching trash TV (shoutout Love Is Blind), scrub my lips, and pretend I’m a responsible adult. Sometimes I even put it in a little tin like I’m gonna give it to friends as a gift. I never do. But I could.

Also, it’s a cute way to trick your brain into thinking you’ve got your life together.
You’re like, “Oh I exfoliated my lips today. I am self-care.”
Meanwhile the laundry is still in the washer from two days ago. But whatever.

Random Outbound Links (Totally Worth It):

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