One brutal side effect that has come with both of my pregnancies is very dry, sometimes cracked lips. It was such a quick change both times that I didn’t have a real transition to go through. It seemed to go from smooth lips one day, to “Okay, you need to sand those babies down!” I realized that I spent a lot of idle time picking at my lips, sometimes without even realizing it until J started mimicking me.  My real come to Jesus moment was scrolling through a few photos I had taken to showcase a few new matte lip stains and lipsticks I purchased. If you know anything about “matte” coverage, you know it leaves nothing to the imagination. What you see is what you get, and when I tell you I saw layers… it was embarrassing!

 

I know a crucial reason for this slight dehydration (I drink tons of water but apparently I need to drink an entire ocean to reach proper amounts for both baby and I) so I want to stress that INTERNAL care is the best way to keep dry lips at bay.

In addition to drinking plenty of water, I’m now on board with proper lip exfoliation and what an important role in plays in pretty, pouty, kissable lips. Oh, don’t forget your favorite lip balm too!

I decided to whip up a batch of a lip scrub/exfoliant rather than buying one– a.) because I love getting in a DIY project every chance I get and b.) it’s far less expensive making it yourself. It was a no brainer. Here is the magic behind the lovely concoction I created:

 

1 teaspoon of coconut oil

1 teaspoon of brown sugar

a few drops of honey

a few drops of olive oil (optional)

Of course I eyeballed the entire recipe (and I apologize for that because I know when I’m following a recipe I like to follow exact measurements) but the beauty in this creation is that you can add as you see fit. For example, when I initially whipped everything together, it was a bit runnier than I wanted (as the coconut oil began to melt) so I added a bit more sugar. The possibilities are endless when adding preferred ingredients for this lip scrub. The key ingredients are coconut oil for moisture (and my chosen base) and sugar for the “gritty” consistency.

I saw an immediate change in how my lips looked and felt after using this lip scrub. (The first photo was BEFORE adding my EOS balm, or any additional product.) I’m looking forward to incorporating this into my beauty regimen, at least every few days. Of course, don’t forget to follow up with a lip balm to seal in moisture, and stay hydrated like nobody’s business!

 

Note: If you store your lip scrub in the refrigerator, allow it to sit for a couple of minutes before reapplying it, because as coconut oil solidifies it will be very hard. Also, don’t be surprised if your ingredients separate as it hardens. This is totally normal and can be transformed into a uniform mixture again if you stir as it melts. 🙂

I’m wishing you all kissable lips and the power to change the world!