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Looking to clear clogged pores? Surprisingly, the process isn’t as complicated as you might think. Keep reading as we clarify (pun intended) how to unclog pores and the best skincare products for clogged pores. At this very moment, your skin is hard at work. It interacts with pollution, sweat, makeup, and bacteria daily. Even when we are taking the time to care for our skin, our surrounding environment can rest heavy on our faces, resulting in clogged pores. This frustrating experience can leave you feeling defeated—but worry not. There are proven tips and products that help target clogged pores. Here is everything you need to know about how to unclog pores.Clogged Pores 101Pores are the small openings on the top layer of your skin that release sweat and oil, and they tend to be most visible on the oiliest areas of your face, like your T-zone (forehead, nose, and chin). Clogged pores can occur for several reasons. One of the most common is the natural renewal process of generating new skin cells. This can lead dead skin cells to become trapped on the surface of your skin, leading to not only an excess of dead skin cells but also an increase and buildup of oil production, dirt, and makeup. Soon, pores can become clogged.Clogged pores can also be caused by a variety of other factors including bacteria, sweat, hormones, irritating makeup, or incorrect skincare products. Genetics is also a major factor, leading you to have skin that is more prone to excessive oil and sebum, which in turn might cause clogged pores if not regularly exfoliated with the right exfoliator for your skin’s needs. While there is nothing unsightly about clogged pores, and treating them is a personal preference, clogged pores can lead to other occurrences when left to their own devices. These dead skin cells, dirt, debris, and sebum can clog pores, which can result in the appearance of enlarged pores, blackheads, and blemishes.How do you know if you have clogged pores? The pores themselves tend to become enlarged and appear more visible. Additionally, you might see a buildup of dryness around the skin, as well as blackheads and blemishes. Overall, skin may also appear rough or dull looking. If any of these qualities fit your skin, you might have clogged pores.How To Unclog PoresThe most effective way to care for clogged pores is to ensure that you are removing dead skin cells, debris, and other impurities, which is done by properly cleansing and exfoliating the skin. Here are the three most vital steps to treating clogged pores.Step 1 to Unclog Pores: Remove MakeupRemoving your makeup at the end of the day is an important step that helps prevent pores from becoming clogged overnight, ensuring that you truly get your beauty sleep (although it helps to choose makeup for oily skin that won’t clog pores to begin with). Incorporating a cleansing oil into your nightly ritual as the first step in your skincare routine is vital. Cleansing oils easily dissolve makeup, sunscreen, and other oils while leaving skin feeling supple and smooth. Generously massaging a cleansing oil into the face, targeting areas where clogged pores are present has gone viral on social media recently, with dermatologists and video creators showcasing how well an oil cleanser can help draw out debris. This technique is also the first step in a double-cleansing routine, also known as the Kyoto Cleanse in Japan, which is proven to more effectively cleanse the skin.Step 2 to Unclog Pores: CleanseGiving your skin a clean, fresh canvas is the most ideal way to prepare it for the rest of your skincare ritual, and is an imperative step in your clogged-pore-fighting skincare routine both morning and night. Properly cleansing with a pore-purifying cleanser allows you to wash away impurities, restore balance, and condition the skin. While the majority of us probably cleanse daily, many aren’t following the most ideal techniques to ensure skin is thoroughly washed. First, use the most ideal cleanser for your skin type. For example, oily skin will likely thrive with a more targeted and clarifying cleanser, while dry skin may treasure a hydrating and nourishing wash. Second, ensure you're taking the time to actually cleanse the skin—ideally 30 to 60 seconds. This ensures every inch of the face gets a gentle massage and debris is targeted. Rather than looking at this as a task, reframe the cleanse as a moment of self-care and reflection, with 30 to 60 seconds to check in and reflect on the day.Step 3 to Unclog Pores: ExfoliateProper exfoliation is one of the most overlooked yet important steps in your skincare routine when addressing clogged pores. The process of exfoliation removes dead skin cells and impurities from the outermost layer of your skin’s surface, which is vital, but it also helps the rest of your skincare products achieve their maximum potential. You can utilize either a chemical exfoliant or a physical exfoliant—both are great at unclogging pores.While it may seem tempting to apply the strongest percentage exfoliant or most aggressive mechanical scrub to counteract buildup, this vigorous approach is likely to disturb your skin barrier, leading to not only further clogged pores but also sensitized skin. It’s best to take the gentle approach to exfoliation, ensuring the formula isn’t too intense, and start exfoliating a few times a week at first to give skin an adjustment period.The Best Skincare to Unclog PoresWhile many products zero in on claims to be ‘skincare for clogged pores’, the process doesn’t have to include targeted and complicated treatments. Many of your daily products likely can help minimize and address the appearance of clogged pores, the key is to utilize them correctly. Here are the most effective and best skincare products for clogged pores.Best Makeup Remover For Clogged PoresThe Camellia Cleansing Oil The first step in your double-cleansing skincare routine is a cleansing oil. The key to using a cleansing oil correctly is to apply it with dry (clean!) hands onto a dry face. Massage the oil into skin with soft circular motions, then add a few drops of water and continue to dissolve makeup, sunscreen, and the day away. Our favorite cleansing oil is The Camellia Cleansing Oil, which gently melts away impurities, leaving behind pure, silky-soft skin. The oil will emulsify into a creamy milk, melting away all debris and stubborn woes (even waterproof makeup) effortlessly. Importantly, the Camellia Cleansing Oil doesn’t strip the skin of its natural moisture, a key feature when treating clogged pores—gentle is more effective than harsh when it comes to skincare. This cleansing oil is also one of the best products for clogged pores with sensitive skin—a tricky issue for many as most formulas rely on harsh, intense ingredients that trigger sensitive skin.Best Cleanser For Clogged PoresThe Matcha Cleanse Cleansing is one of the most important aspects of your daily skincare ritual and this is especially true for those wanting to unclog pores. Our new Matcha Cleanse is perfect for you, it’s specially formulated to target clogged pores. The fragrance- and soap-free gel cleanser decongests pores and balances the skin, without intense formulations. Instead, the cleanser harnesses kind-to-skin powerhouse ingredients (including Japanese Kyo-Matcha, coix seed, and willow bark) that target pores, control shine, reduce excess oil (immediately and over time), and maintain the skin’s moisture barrier. The Matcha Cleanse proves unclogging pores doesn’t have to be harsh or complicated.Best Exfoliant For Clogged PoresThe Rice PolishThe Texture Tonic At Tatcha, our exfoliators are formulated to ensure they’re effective, but never harmful to your skin barrier, meaning you can utilize either our liquid or physical exfoliants without irritation.If you prefer physical exfoliation, try our award-winning Rice Polish. The unique formula is a water-activated exfoliant, giving your skin a new beginning through Japanese ingredients that transform into a creamy, cloud-like foam. The non-abrasive formula of The Rice Polish makes it safe to use daily. Finely ground rice bran and papaya enzymes promote natural skin turnover—aka help unclog pores—while the pH-neutral, amino acid-base formula provides effective cleansing without stripping skin of essential moisture or damaging the skin barrier, leaving skin baby soft and supple. If you’d like a deeper exfoliation, try The Rice Polish: Deep, which features wild rose to help tighten the look of pores and clarify skin.If you enjoy a liquid exfoliant, you’ll love The Texture Tonic. The liquid exfoliating treatment has AHAs to address dead skin cells and clogged pores, as well as niacinamide, Japanese mugwort, and wild rose to visibly even skin tone and texture—without stripping skin’s essential moisture.Addressing clogged pores can feel like an uphill battle. However, taking the time to care for your skin properly is not only an act of self-care (whose effects are long-lasting both mentally and physically) but also allows you to treat each pore on your face with the utmost respect. You’ll likely find when you take the time to be mindful and intentional about your skin, it’ll respond by looking its best, one unclogged pore at a time.

Somewhere between a gloss and a balm lies a relatively new kind of product, called a lip serum, capable of delivering souped-up benefits—from plumping wrinkles to exfoliating dryness—to delicate lip skin. The skincare market has a lot to offer—with more and more options being invented every day. For most of history, people have used topical formulas to care for their skin, with evidence that even the ancient Egyptians moisturized with scented oils and used ointments to cleanse their skin of makeup. Centuries later, the industry has only become more sophisticated, constantly inventing new ingredients and delivery methods for them—ever active, ever effective. This is how the skin serum was born.Skin serums are a skincare category unto their own. Designed to be applied to skin after cleansing but before moisturizing, these formulas are made with powerful active ingredients that deliver targeted benefits to the skin, from redness relief to pore cleansing. Serums provide an opportunity to customize your routine to your unique skin goals.There are serums for your face, there are serums for your body, and there are serums for your lips. It’s a good thing, too: The skin on our lips is unlike the skin anywhere else on our body—it’s constantly in use, and lacks the sebaceous glands that help skin self-moisturize. As a result, it needs a little extra TLC from us, who often employ skincare, like lip balms or masks, to do the job.Lip serums are a slightly different breed. Not quite like lip balms, lip serums also include active ingredients that do more than just moisturize; by plumping skin, or protecting from the sun, or doing something else entirely. What is lip serum?Lip serums are a fairly young category of beauty product, and are much younger than their cousins for the face. Unlike lip sticks or glosses, these are firmly a kind of skincare product—better designed to nourish lips than tint them. But lip serums are also distinct from other common skincare products applied to lips, if you compare them side by side:Serums vs. balmsWe know lip balms and love lip balms, perhaps the most common skincare product of all. Lip balms lay down a seal of moisture atop dry lip skin. But serums are designed to reach deeper than surface level, ferrying any number of benefits or particular ingredients to where they’re needed. They often are lighter in weight, too—more like a glaze than a jelly, and never a balm, though layering a serum under a balm may help amplify the benefits of both products. Serums vs. oilsAs the product term suggests, lip oils are lightweight in consistency. Considering that many balms are oil-based, you can think of lip oil as a balm in a different shape. Though it may not be as moisturizing as a heavier formula, oils both moisturize and sink down into lip skin, and some are even tinted with hints of refreshing color. They work similarly to serums, but may lack some of the specialized skincare ingredients usually found in lip serum. Serums vs. glossAlso in the lightweight class: Lip glosses. These products are based in thick, slippery materials, like waxes or jellies, and when applied to lips, they refract the light brilliantly, making them look almost wet. Many glosses are pigmented, or blended with particles like fine glitters. But despite their medium-heavy texture, lip gloss is typically considered closer to makeup than skincare, for its cosmetic effects. By contrast, a lip serum is unlikely to be worn on its own as makeup, and may require an added tint or texture before it’s visibly apparent. Types of lip serums and their benefitsThe chances are, if you have a particular skincare goal for your lips, there is a formula or ingredient out there uniquely suited to help you reach it. The challenge is finding it. There are an abundance of lip serums out there, and while some are similar, there’s a much wider breadth of difference than among lip balms. You can winnow down your search to a couple commonly-seen categories of lip serum, whose intended benefits suggest the types of ingredients that may be found within them.Plumping serums. Perhaps the most commonly seen (and sought-after) form of lip serum, these formulas endeavor to make lips look and feel fuller after application by employing proprietary peptides or humectants that bind water molecules.Smoothing serums. These formulas may not promise volume, but are instead trained to target fine lines and lip wrinkles using ingredients like retinol, and may be found tucked within “anti-aging” skincare ranges.Exfoliating serums. You can think of these as the more sophisticated sibling of lip scrubs: Exfoliating lip serums use chemical exfoliants such as acids or extracts to refine the texture of chapped, flaky lip skin. The best lip serumLip serums are typically sought out for their specific benefits, which often correspond to a particular lip-related concern. For example, those who worry about lip volume may find a plumping formula that gives them a helpful boost. A good place to take your lip-related observations would be your local dermatologist’s office, where a local expert can recommend ingredients and formulas suited to your skin goals. Some skincare brands have taken up the lip care mantle, devoting entire categories of their product lines toward the unique skin on our lips. Tatcha, the Japanese-inspired label whose lip care has gained a cult following, has spent years building its Kissu lip ritual, a collection of lip skincare. The latest addition is The Kissu Lip Treatment, a concentrated dosage of lip hydrating and moisturizing ingredients. A combination of sea fern and the brand’s proprietary blend of actives work to plump lips, aided by a peptide-like carob fruit extract. Its effects were studied on a group of users over time, and after a week of daily use, 97% noticed an increase in lip plumpness.* The recently-launched Kissu Lip Tints distills lip skincare benefits into a curated wardrobe of floral shades. More than simply makeup, these tints are designed to smooth and moisturize lips with a combination of botanical lanolin and biosimilar silk protein. They also provide SPF 25 ultraviolet protection, to shield them from the degenerative effects of sun overexposure. Drier lips, or those in search of a little extra plumpness, may combine a lighter-weight lip serum under a heavier-weight balm or mask, especially overnight. The Kissu Jelly Lip Mask works best during those twilight hours to restore fullness and softness to lips—thanks to a mix of moisturizing squalane and camellia oil, plus a juicy peach extract (that is also a centuries-old secret beauty ingredient). In a consumer study, 100% of participants showed improvement in plumpness, softness and suppleness after using The Kissu Lip Mask overnight.** And who doesn’t want a kiss before bed?*Based on a clinical study on 40 panelists using The Kissu Lip Treatment**Based on a clinical study of 41 panelists using The Kissu Lip Mask

Each person is blessed with a unique shade of natural lip color. So why does it fade as we get older, and how can we restore it to its former luster? The skin on our lips is unique in a few ways. For one, our lips don’t have pores, which means they also lack the sebaceous glands and hair follicles found almost everywhere else on the skin.For another, the skin on our lips is much thinner than the skin on our cheeks and arms and legs and feet. While facial skin may be around 15 to upwards of 30 cell layers deep, lips only have about four or five. The skin here is more translucent, shaded by the blood vessels beneath—and giving them their natural hue.It’s human nature to paint our lips, and it’s a human pastime to make, market, buy, and wear lip sticks and tints. But at the end of the day, after we wash our makeup off, we go to bed in our natural lip color. Our natural lip color varies according to things like our complexion and undertones, and even indicates certain health conditions. Studies have also shown that, as we age, the number of blood vessels under our lips diminish, and they become less red over time.It’s hard to notice color loss, and yet so easy to wonder: Are they as red as they used to be? But lip color can be restored, using a variety of means—both skincare, cosmetic, and downright physical. The many colors of the lipThe most specific term available for lip color might be vermilion—an orange-pink red shade derived from the natural color of cinnabar ore—that refers to the skin on our upper and lower lips. Additionally, the lip line is known as the vermilion border, where the skin on our lips meets the skin around our mouths.One’s natural vermilion shade is determined by, among other things, their genetics and the thickness of their lips. As one study, commissioned by the luxury conglomerate LVMH (who manufacture various cosmetics), determined, natural lip color is highly variable. A lip may carry tones of yellow, or red, or blue, or all of the above; these changes can be observed both within and across ethnicities, indicating that our lip color may just be as personal as our fingerprint.This is not to say that one’s lips remain the same color throughout their life, or even throughout the day. In fact, lip color can be subject to many changes in gradation, in response to many different things: Lips can seem redder when you’re overheated, or pale during times of dryness, or weakened immunity. Paying attention to your lip color is a diagnostic technique that dates back to ancient East Asian medicine, the idea being that one’s lips—and the window into the circulatory system they offer, via their natural color—can give clues as to what’s going on inside someone’s body. Natural lip color over timeAs time wears on, so does natural lip color wear out.It’s a fact of life: Age causes some of our body’s regenerative processes to slow, including ones that replenish the skin. This becomes obvious to the naked eye as structural proteins like collagen and elastin denature, leading to skin sagging and wrinkling. With time, lips become thinner and drier. Their natural color also becomes less intense, as a result of decreasing vasculature, or disappearing blood vessels.It’s possible, if difficult, to notice the slow drain of natural color from lips, but it’s one of the many different ways that our bodies—and the way they look—change with time. And, even if its effects can be vexing, aging is a privilege, and something we’re always happy to do. But it’s not the only thing we can do, when it comes to our lip color. Skincare to restore lip colorFirst of all, it’s important to ask: Can one restore natural lip color?The answer is: Yes and no. To start with the affirmative, it’s true that natural lip color can be restored. Over time, and due to a variety of factors—ranging from hardwired genetics to softer lifestyle habits—our lips can become hyperpigmented. This is a skincare issue that can be treated with the right lip care routine, lip-safe ingredients and techniques. An intensive lip serum can provide potent, targeted care that goes beyond a balm to address specific concerns. The Kissu Lip Treatment gives lips new life, restoring lost lip color and definition with sea kelp (wakame) over time. In clinical tests, 92% of panelists showed an improvement in lip color after 2 weeks of use.*The same number of people also agreed their lips looked more defined.* A decadent lip mask can help skin regenerate by forming a protective moisture barrier over top that “seals” in and helps lips retain necessary hydration. The Kissu Jelly Lip Mask, a cult-favorite lip moisturizer, uses a form of squalane that mimics some of the components that make up the skin barrier and instantly absorbs into lip skin. It also utilizes a juicy peach extract that has been used in Japan for centuries to repair damaged lips. Lips can also become paler due to a build-up of dead skin, and using a lip exfoliant is a good way to keep lips clear and bright. Dull lips are no match for the Kissu Lip Scrub, which suspends a konjac scrub in an oil-based moisturizer. If lips are looking suddenly lackluster, try a lip scrub, and see if you don’t like the results.Makeup to restore lip colorWhat’s the best way to restore your natural lip color? Using a nude lipstick, of course. There are thousands of nude shades to choose from, each with different overtones and undertones and consistencies and ingredients. All you have to do is find the right one, and your natural lip color is restored!…If only it were that easy. Of course, many makeup products can “restore” natural lip color by painting over lips. But what about choosing a makeup product containing active ingredients that actually benefit lip skin on the cellular level? In this light, it’s possible to choose a product that not only lends a little color to lips, but helps restore them to fullness of shape and color in the long run. The Kissu Lip Tint was created to span this hybrid category of lip skincare-and-makeup. Not only does it dispense a hint of color—in a wardrobe of wearable shades—but it’s also dosed with ingredients that moisturize lips, like botanical lanolin and silk protein. Most importantly, it’s made with SPF 25 UV filters that protect delicate lip skin from the degenerative effects of UV overexposure. The only way to prevent photoaging is sunscreen; if you don’t apply SPF to lips, but are worried about the symptoms of skin aging, it may be a good idea to incorporate lip sunscreen into your routine. And what better way, than a highly wearable lip tint? A trick to restoring lip colorHere’s a tip from behind the scenes: When makeup artists are looking to match models to their best natural lip colors, they rub them with a slightly abrasive surface, like a lip scrub or a towel. Then the blood vessels expand, and the natural color shines through. You can imitate this trick at home by learning how to exfoliate your lips in a healthy way.It’s a short-term solution, but a useful one. Increasing blood flow to the lips will help restore natural lip color. You can do this over time by practicing good skincare, including exfoliating and moisturizing lips regularly. But in a pinch, just massage your lips, and watch them flush. And take note, in case you need to match the shade.*based on a clinical study of 40 panelists

Vitamin C is endlessly impressive. Here is everything you need to know about what vitamin C does for your skin, product efficacy tips, and expected results. Vitamin C is one of the most impressive (and science-backed) ingredients in skincare. The dermatologist-recommended antioxidant is renowned for its remarkable ability to brighten skin, improve the appearance of fine lines and dark spots, and leave a radiant glow. But vitamin C can also do so much more. Here is everything you need to know about what vitamin C does for your skin, product efficacy tips, and expected results.What is Vitamin C?Vitamin C is a potent, water-soluble antioxidant that neutralizes the free radicals that occur from sun exposure, which can encourage premature aging. Vitamin C also assists in your skin’s natural regeneration process, which helps your body repair damaged skin cells.What Does Vitamin C Do For Your Skin?The list of vitamin C skincare benefits is highly intriguing. Here are the most impressive and scientifically proven benefits when consistently utilizing topical vitamin C.Improvement in the Appearance of Fine LinesVitamin C has been clinically studied and proven to improve the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. In one 2017 study, consistent and daily use of vitamin C noticeably improved the look of fine lines and wrinkles on the face and neck.Improvement in Skin Texture and ToneIn one double-blind dermatological study, daily use of vitamin C improved the overall appearance—particularly the texture and tone—of skin.Increase in Collagen Production and HydrationIn that same double-blind study from 2002, biopsies showed an increase in collagen production, an improvement in hydration, and zero evidence of inflammation. Collagen production is directly linked to the firmness of skin, so this noticeable increase in the skin’s collagen production is impressive.Reduction in the Appearance of Dark SpotsThe appearance of dark spots can be improved with consistent vitamin C usage, suggests one clinical trial. The majority of participants in the trial saw a noticeable reduction in dark spots, with Vitamin C not only lightening the pigmentation, but also blocking the production of pigmentation altogether. Reduction in Acne (and Acne Pigmentation)Vitamin C can potentially help with the appearance of acne dark spots (as noted above), also known as post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, which are patches of melanin released by the skin in response to acne inflammation. But additionally, vitamin C has shown promising results in helping reduce acne thanks to the antioxidant’s natural anti-inflammatory properties. In a 2010 clinical trial, participants saw a noticeable reduction in acne when vitamin C was applied morning and night. The study notes this improvement is likely from vitamin C’s anti-inflammatory properties that can potentially control sebum production within the skin. Improves Sunscreen’s Efficacy Vitamin C and SPF are best friends, a dynamic duo that, when worn together, can better neutralize free radicals from sun exposure. In a 2008 clinical study, vitamin C was shown to protect better from harmful UV rays when combined with broad-spectrum sunscreen. Long term, vitamin C can even prevent damage from sun exposure, noted another study.What to Look for in a Vitamin C ProductVitamin C is incredibly sensitive to sun, heat, and light. Any exposure to these elements will cause it to become unstable and ineffective, notes one study. Look for a product that is in protective packaging, including tinted or completely covered—this will shield the product from light. And a pump, versus a dropper (which will expose the formula to the elements) is great, too.Are There Skin Types That Should Not Use Vitamin C Serum?While almost all skin types can benefit from using vitamin C skincare products, those with sensitive skin may experience redness or allergies. Begin by spot testing to ensure no negative irritation occurs, then incorporate a lower concentration of vitamin C into your skincare ritual and concurrently build up to the suggested usage on the packaging.What Should You Use with Vitamin C Skincare Products?SPF is always the essential last step of any skincare regimen. Using vitamin C can potentially make your skin more sensitive to the sun and UV light, so applying sunscreen becomes even more important. We recommend our Silken Pore Perfecting Sunscreen, which is a weightless sunscreen with broad spectrum SPF 35 that blends effortlessly and invisibly for a matte finish and blurred pores. Or try our newest SPF innovation: The Silk Sunscreen, a broad-spectrum formula that protects against UVA and UVB rays with 10 percent zinc oxide for a mineral, reef-safe filter. The silky, lightweight sunscreen provides 50+ mineral protection yet disappears into the skin for invisible coverage. Best Vitamin C ProductsAt Tatcha, we not only have a vitamin C serum, but also a vitamin C mask—all to soften and smooth skin for a more radiant, even-toned appearance.Try: Violet-C Brightening Serum This brightening serum packs a powerful punch with 20 percent Vitamin C and 10 percent AHAs. When combined, the award-winning serum helps reveal brighter skin, resurface dullness and uneven texture, and reduce the look of dark spots, discoloration, hyperpigmentation, and post-acne scarring. The formula includes an innovative mix of two forms of pure vitamin C, antioxidant-rich Japanese beautyberry for brightening, mild fruit AHAs of seven fruit extracts for resurfacing, and Japanese angelica root for targeting dark spots. In just eight weeks of use, you can expect to see an improvement in skin texture and the appearance of fine lines.Try: Violet-C Radiance Mask This creamy, hydrating vitamin C mask targets the signs of premature aging. In addition to the same brightening and resurfacing benefits as our Violet-C Brightening Serum, it contains Hadasei-3, our proprietary complex of double-fermented Uji green tea, Akita rice, and Okinawa algae to help reduce the signs of aging and leave skin feeling plump and supple. Leave on for 15 to 20 minutes, then wash off to reveal brighter skin and a more translucent, healthy-looking glow. Best Vitamin C ProductsAt Tatcha, we proudly have a handful of vitamin C products that work in tandem to provide a smoother, more radiant, and even-toned appearance. While many formulations on the market pride themselves in super high percentages, we aim for products that provide brilliant results, but don’t irritate or require weeks of integration or complications to use them. Take the fast track to brighter skin with these vitamin-C boosted skincare products.The Brightening Serum The first signs of aging can include a loss of firmness and unexpected dullness. Address both of these with the brilliant Brightening Serum. The formula has been perfected at Tatcha’s Tokyo Institute, where traditional Japanese ingredients are paired with cutting innovation to create the best of both worlds. The brightening and firming serum works overtime to brighten dull and uneven skin tone, visibly firm, and target hyperpigmentation for rapid results.Here are a few ingredients that make these impressive claims possible. Target dullness and unevenness with 12-hour time-release vitamin C which continuously brightens all day long for results that are impressive—with less irritation. Address hyperpigmentation and boost firmness and elasticity with ferulic acid and the cherished vitamin C-rich Japanese plum (beloved in Japan for not only its health benefits when eaten but also its brightening effects when applied to the skin). Support the skin barrier, which is beneficial for the health of all skin types, and alleviate hyperpigmentation with glutathione—a buzzy ingredient that is one of your skin’s most powerful naturally-occurring antioxidants. The Brightening Serum’s Pro-Glutathione Antioxidant Booster takes things a step further though, thanks to it being 13 times more powerful* than pure ascorbic acid (aka vitamin C).The ultra-light, non-sticky, and revolutionary serum will upend your beliefs about vitamin C: This new option is potent yet safe.The Brightening Eye Cream Dark circles making you look tired? Tatcha’s newest eye innovation The Brightening Eye Cream is here to brighten your day—and under eyes. Reduce the look of dark circles, while visibly firming, lifting, and depuffing with this multipurpose eye cream. Ultra-lightweight with a whipped texture, this cream can be used morning and night for around-the-clock care for rapid results. Also, the light-reflecting pigments illuminate the eye area to provide an instant awakened look (that also layers beautifully under concealer).The delicate eye area can be sensitive, which is why harsh, vitamin-C-boosted formulas may have irritated you previously. But The Brightening Eye Cream is in a league of its own, thanks to a bevy of effective yet kind ingredients. 12-hour time-release vitamin C ensures that the formula provides transformative brightening results, but the slow release mechanism allows it to not irritate the delicate skin. Japanese plum, naturally rich in vitamin C, aids in visibly reducing dark circles, while encapsulated niacinamide helps target hyperpigmentation, support the skin barrier, and reduce redness. If that wasn’t impressive enough, to top off the cream a unique Pro-Glutathione Antioxidant Booster targets hyperpigmentation and boosts the skin barrier. Glutathione is a unique and buzzy ingredient and the skin recognizes it easily because it's one of the most powerful naturally occurring antioxidants in our own skin (a potent antioxidant that decreases as we age).Reduce the look of dark circles, visibly firms, targets hyperpigmentation, strengthens the skin barrier, and leaves eyes looking more rested? What can’t the new Brightening Eye Cream do?Violet-C Radiance Mask This creamy, hydrating vitamin C face mask targets the signs of premature aging. In addition to the same brightening and resurfacing benefits as our Violet-C Brightening Serum, it contains Hadasei-3, our proprietary complex of double-fermented Uji green tea, Akita rice, and Okinawa algae to help reduce the signs of aging and leave skin feeling plump and supple. Leave on for 15 to 20 minutes, then wash off to reveal brighter skin and a more translucent, healthy-looking glow.

Exfoliation can be a powerful step in anyone’s skincare routine—and a daunting one, if not properly understood. This guide helps break it down, from acids to scrubs, and from head to toe. One of the basic elements of skincare is a good cleanse. So basic, in fact, that it’s a daily ritual. In order to keep our skin healthy, we rinse it of makeup, dirt, pollutants, or other impurities that may have collected on our faces throughout the day. The process of exfoliation takes cleansing to the next level by resurfacing the outermost layer of skin, purging dead cells to clear the way. But this step, which happens less often than daily, is just as basic.Your skin type and concern should dictate the frequency and format of your exfoliation. Below are some common questions about exfoliants—how to use them, when to use them, why to use them—and a few beloved recommendations. Why should I exfoliate?Exfoliation is highly beneficial for most areas of your skin. In the cutaneous sense, exfoliation describes the act of removing dead skin cells and build-up from the outermost layer of skin by one of a few means. When an exfoliant is applied, it reacts with this layer to dissolve bonds between old and new cells, and effectively resurfaces the skin, making it touchably softer, smoother, and in some cases more radiant than it was before.Skin builds up almost everywhere, which means you can exfoliate almost anything. There are face exfoliants, formulated for every skin type; there are even exfoliants for lips, some of the most delicate skin on our bodies. Our vast beauty market is filled with exfoliant options, distinguished by how they’re made and where they go. The ancient Egyptians would be astonished at how we’ve advanced the practice.The benefits of exfoliation are manifold, and include:Improved look and feel of skin. When dead skin builds up on the skin, it can make it look ashen or change its texture to something scaly and craggy. Dry skin can be moisturized, but dead skin needs to be exfoliated. Immediately after exfoliating, you’ll notice a softness and sheen, and over time, an improvement in skin texture.Stimulates skin’s turnover process. When you exfoliate, what you are doing is speeding up the “desquamification” process by which our skin naturally sheds its dead cells. Some exfoliants can also boost collagen production, or curb the production of extra sebum that caulks dead skin cells together. Many also boost circulation to the area they’re applied, especially in the case of scrubs.Better product absorption. By clearing away excess dead skin, you give the other steps in your skincare routine—be they actives for the face, lotion on the body, or anything—unimpeded access to nourish your healthy skin, which is why many experts recommend exfoliation as part of a full skincare routine.Improved makeup application. Those who wear makeup understand the difference between exfoliated and unexfoliated skin. Pigmented products, from concealers to lipsticks, get much better color payoff and wear on the smooth canvas of the former, making exfoliation a makeup lover's essential step.Are there different kinds of exfoliants?Exfoliants can typically be divided into one of two categories: Physical or chemical.A more common term for physical exfoliants are scrubs, those ancient bathing instruments. That’s because physical exfoliation describes the use of finely milled particles, like the seeds-in-oil of yore, to slough away built-up dead skin. We use these kinds of scrubs all over; some are even gentle enough to apply to lips.Meanwhile there are chemical exfoliants, which rely less on friction and more on reactions. These water-weight formulas often contain acids, like alpha hydroxy acid, which dissolve the bonds between healthy skin cells and dead ones. Many people who exfoliate choose their desired product based on their skin type, and their preference. The result is the same, even if the mechanism is different.There is a third type of technique, known as mechanical exfoliation. Rather than employing a store bought product, like a scrub or acid, mechanical exfoliation uses tools like handheld blades or machines that can provide targeted resurfacing. But this kind of exfoliation is unlikely to be found outside of a dermatologist’s office or medical spa, given the skill required to perform it. For all of your at-home exfoliating needs, a physical or chemical formula will get the job done. When do I use an exfoliant? Exfoliants like The Rice Polish should be used after your cleanse, but before your serum or moisturizer. We wash our skin every day because it gets reliably dirty every day. Be it makeup, dirt, or particles in the air, stuff gets into your skin. And when you arrive to the mirror at night, it’s the first step of your skincare routine to rinse it away so it doesn’t get stuck in your pores. Then you exfoliate for a deeper clean.Dead skin doesn’t build up so quickly, though you can see when it does. Skin that is paved in dead skin might appear grayer than usual, and be rough to the touch. On our faces, dead skin can become visible when it gets trapped in a pore and becomes a blemish. Exfoliation can help immediately improve the look and feel of skin, but continued exfoliation can help sustain skin’s health and appearance over time. Your dermatologist can help you suss out the right formula for your skincare goals. How do I apply exfoliants?How to apply your exfoliant depends on what kind of exfoliant it is. Here are a few common exfoliant types, how to apply them, and where they usually fit into a skincare routine.Face scrubs can be applied after cleansing and before using a serum and moisturizer. Usually a pea size of product is enough for the whole face and neck. Some face scrubs are activated with a little water. All require rinsing. Body scrubs can be applied in the shower on wet skin after body wash. Rinse thoroughly before applying lotion. Lip scrubs can be gently applied to lips, rinsed, and followed with balm or mask. Exfoliating acid toners can be pat onto freshly cleansed skin with fingers or a cotton pad. No rinse necessary. Exfoliating acid masks can be applied to clean skin and left on for as long as directed. After rinsing, they can be followed with a moisturizer or hydrating mask. How often should I exfoliate?Most exfoliants, be they physical or chemical, are only recommended up to a few (1–4) times each week. This ensures you’re getting the benefits of regular exfoliation without over-exfoliating your skin and subsequently damaging your skin barrier.Though exfoliation is an essential step in countless skincare routines, dermatologists note that it’s not for everyone. Some, including those with sensitive skin, might find exfoliation too harsh. (As the American Academy of Dermatology Association notes, improper exfoliation can do more harm than good.) Though there are gentle forms of exfoliation, you should talk to your own dermatologist to figure out if exfoliation (and which form of exfoliation) is right for you. They can also give you more specific recommendations on frequency. How long have we been exfoliating? Exfoliation isn’t a newfangled skincare concept. There’s evidence in the historical record that suggests the ancient Egyptians made some of the earliest exfoliators known to man from ground seeds and stones suspended in luxurious oils and balms. In 18th century Japan, geisha performers, the “it-girls” of their time and place, took meticulous care of their skin by cleansing and exfoliating it. Their ministrations were recorded in a three-volume series called the Miyakofuzoku Kewaiden or Capital Beauty and Style Handbook, which was published in 1813. While some of its tips are outdated—like the lead-based oshiroi white face paint it recommended—others are simply timeless, like their use of camellia oil as a cleanser and skin-softener.The Handbook described how geisha performers and their trainees would not only paint their makeup, but also care for the skin beneath it. If skin was treated properly and consistently, it could begin to take on the bouncy qualities of rice confections—in Japanese, “mochi hada,” or mochi skin. Cleansing and moisturizing are essential to achieving this level of softness, but a little exfoliation can also help you get there, too, if you know how to choose the right one. What are some of the best exfoliants?The best exfoliants will offer you noticeable benefits to your skin right after using. It may include ingredients that have worked for centuries, or newfangled chemicals given to us by modern science. But the most important quality of an exfoliant is something you will routinely use, as consistency begets the most benefits.When she was working on developing the Tatcha skincare range, founder Vicky Tsai looked back in time: to the Capital Beauty and Style Handbook, and the beauty routines of Japan’s pre-Meiji It girls. It was there she discovered a beloved exfoliant from antiquity, in rice bran. This powerful ingredient is a diet staple for a reason, including a host of vitamins and antioxidants, as well as compounds known to hydrate and repair skin.When it’s ground up into a fine scrub, rice bran’s benefits can be applied and amplified. This inspired the Rice Polish, Tatcha’s best-selling gentle exfoliant. When mixed with water, the Rice Polish lathers into a cloudlike foam. Rice bran helps to smooth the skin, while added papaya enzymes—a natural acid alternative—provide further exfoliation and help coax out skin’s glow. It’s so popular that it has inspired other versions tailored to different skin types, from dry to oily. There’s a rice polish for every face. Those curious about chemical exfoliation might be more interested in the Texture Tonic, an exfoliating toner powered by fruit-derived alpha hydroxy acids. Inspired by the watery lotions Japanese women traditionally applied to cool, tighten, and balance skin, the Texture Tonic also reduces redness and visibly tightens pores. Exfoliants can’t do everything, but they can do a lot.

Lip scrubs can be almost-instant game changers for your lips—improving the look, volume, and hue in just 30 seconds. But not all lip exfoliators are alike—here’s what to look for in the best lip scrub. Chapped, flakey, rough, and dry lips? Blame harsh weather, extensive sun exposure, dehydration, and also your lips’ genetics. Not only is the skin on your lips thinner and more sensitive than the rest of your body (says the Cleveland Clinic), but it also doesn’t contain any oil glands so it cannot self-hydrate—making it the perfect recipe for dry and chapped lips. While lip balms and masks are a great—necessary—step in avoiding chapped lips, dryness can still occur even for the most diligent users. This is where a lip exfoliator (and it’s proper use) steps in to save the day (and your lips). The best lip scrub can help address the look of dry, chapped lips in just 30 seconds. The trick is finding the best lip exfoliator for you and then incorporating the product into a larger lip care routine. We dive into the best lip scrub for lips and how to effectively use one.What Is a Lip Scrub?A lip scrub is an exfoliating formula specifically made to be gentle enough on delicate lip skin but effective enough to remove dead skin cells. Almost all lip scrubs are composed of two ingredients: an exfoliant and an emollient. The physical exfoliant – which can be made from multiple sources including sugar, coffee grounds, ground fruit seeds, or other natural ingredients – buffs. While the emollient hydrates and softens lips, and the most common emollients are oils (like coconut, avocado, jojoba, and grapeseed) and butters (including shea, coconut, and cocoa). When the two base ingredients are combined, a lip scrub can accomplish several things, from the appearance to the health of the delicate lip area.A lip exfoliator buffs away flakiness and dryness, plain and simple. However, it can also have multiple other benefits, too, including:Helping Other Lip Products Apply BetterJust as a facial scrub clears away dead skin cells and debris, thus helping the following products absorb and work more efficiently, a lip scrub works similarly. Using a lip scrub can help your lip treatment, mask, or balm work even deeper and more effectively. Temporarily PlumpingA scrub can stimulate blood circulation to the lip area, giving lips a temporary plumped appearance. Plus, this additional blood flow can also give your pout a flushed appearance, temporarily mimicking the look of a lip tint.Smoother Lipstick Application Speaking of lip products, a lip scrub can help you achieve a more even lipstick (or lip tint, etc.) appearance. After all, dry lips can allow a lip tint or lipstick to settle into lines and cracks, so using a lip scrub before a colored lip product can create a perfect base for better-looking and longer-lasting resultsRemoving Stubborn Lip ProductsWhile all of the above benefits are great before a night on the town, a lip scrub can also be helpful in your evening lip care routine. Stubborn, long-lasting lipstick not budging? A lip scrub can work like a lip makeup remover, especially because it usually contains both an exfoliant and an oil component. It can work its way into every single line, crevice, and corner of lips to remove all obstinate lip products.How To Use a Lip ScrubAs we’ve discovered before, there is a proper—aka the safest and most beneficial—way to use a lip scrub. While using a scrub is a fairly simple process, there are a few tricks that take it to the next level. Follow this four-step process for how to use a lip scrub and achieve a perfect pout every time.Step One: Wet LipsThe friction of an exfoliant on dry lips can be too abrasive. So wet your lips first before applying your scrub to ensure a more gentle experience. While it might feel tempting to get the most intense scrub possible, wetting lips beforehand helps prevent ripping or tearing delicate dry skin.Step Two: Get Scrubbing Apply a generous amount (a pearl-sized is ideal) of your lip scrub and work in small circular motions, softly massaging the product into the skin with a finger. Some products even have an applicator that doubles as a massager to encourage this step. Aim for about 30 seconds of exfoliation for best results, working it into every inch of the lips.Step Three: RinseSome scrub formulas are so effective that they can be a bit burdensome to remove. To get the scrub quickly off, we recommend removing the product with a damp cloth in short, light strokes. Take care with this step as lips are in a fragile state, so aim for gentleness over quickness when removing a scrub from the skin.Step Four: Moisturize and ProtectThe skin has just been exfoliated, so lips crave moisture immediately after. Lock hydration in your freshly exfoliated lips by using your favorite lip balm, treatment, or mask. Is it still daytime? Add the additional step of a lip product with sunscreen protection, too—an often overlooked yet vital step.Best Lip Scrub IngredientsMost scrubs accomplish the same basics, but the best lip exfoliators can take the benefits to the next level. One way to ensure you have the best lip exfoliator for dry lips? Check the ingredient list to make sure your product is packed with the best ingredients for lip scrubs. That way the product isn’t too harsh that it could rip and tear the delicate skin, but also not too gentle that it accomplishes nothing. Here are a few ingredients to seek out when it comes to choosing the best lip scrub.Natural Exfoliants Look to nature and her infinite wisdom when it comes to correctly exfoliating. A formula that includes natural ingredients – like sugar, konjac scrub, and fruit seeds – is a great place to start. The added benefit is that many ingredients, like peach seed scrub, have been used for centuries to restore dry lips, meaning they are tried and tested.Soothing Oils and Butters An emollient is needed in a mask to cushion the scrub. While some formulas can use low-quality options, seek out a scrub that puts care into their emollient, like camellia oil or shea butter, which can soothe and linger long after the scrub is removed.While we’re talking about ingredients, what’s not in the formula is just as important as what is. Here are a few ingredients that are best to avoid. As always, a lip scrub should never be used on compromised, cracked, sunburnt, or bleeding skin and shouldn’t be used too often (which can cause even more irritation).Flavorings and FragranceFlavorings and fragrances can be irritating in a lip scrub. Scents and flavors, most commonly mint, citrus, and cinnamon, are still to be avoided in a lip scrub, just as they are in a lip balm. This is particularly important because the scrub is exfoliating lips, so we’re aiming for as gentle of a product as possible.Powerful Natural IngredientsEucalyptus, menthol, and camphor are powerful natural ingredients, but should absolutely be avoided in lip products. They can sometimes crop up in lip scrubs because of their ‘refreshing’ sensation – but they are far too harsh for the delicate area and will only cause discomfort and irritation with use on the lips.The Best Lip ScrubLip scrubs are potent: you can buff away roughness and reveal softer, more supple lips in just 30 seconds. Here is our favorite pick for the best lip scrub for your precious pout.The Kissu Lip Scrub There are many worthy lip scrubs on the market, but we’re especially partial to a brand-new option. Meet The Kissu Lip Scrub, Tatcha’s first foray into lip scrubs. We were inspired by ancient Japanese practices, harnessing the power of timeless natural ingredients to create a simple daily ritual that polishes, plumps, and protects lips. The Kissu Lip Scrub gently scrubs with two exfoliating ingredients: konjac and peach seed. Konjac refines and smooths skin for a brighter appearance, while peach seed removes flakes for more hydrated and refined lips. When it comes to the emollient, we selected one of the most extraordinary and treasured ingredients available, and one that’s a Tatcha signature, too: Japanese camellia oil. The intensely hydrating oil seals in moisture, while also soothing tired lips. Together, The Kissu Lip Scrub effectively sloughs away flakiness and removes dullness while sealing in moisture for smooth, supple lips.Now that you’ve discovered the best lip scrub, that’s just the beginning of your lip care journey. To ensure you eradicate dry, chapped lips for good, follow this step up with a lip treatment, lip balm or mask, and lip SPF. Put the care back into your lip care routine.

We exfoliate our skin to help purge dead skin cells, clearing the way for healthy skin. But when it comes to the skin on our lips, the question of how to exfoliate becomes a little trickier. Exfoliation and moisturization are uniquely important when it comes to caring for the skin on your lips, which may require more skincare attention than the skin elsewhere on your body. But exfoliating your lips isn’t just good for the skin: It can also help you better apply common makeup products, like lip tints. This guide will not only share recommendations for the best lip exfoliant, but also information on how to exfoliate lips (and how often, too). About the Skin On Your LipsPart of skin’s form and function is as a protective layer, so it makes sense that it would be exposed to the elements—and its own mechanisms for supporting its own health, longevity, and continued renewal. But the skin on our lips is more exposed than we think. In addition to all of the things we use our lips for, they provide a border between the inner and outer linings of our bodies. Unlike the skin elsewhere on our faces and bodies, the skin on lips is also a fraction of the thickness—four or five cell layers, as opposed to the 15 or more on our cheeks.Lips also don’t produce oil, due to a lack of sebaceous glands. This means that our lips can’t moisturize themselves, relying on us—and our trusty lip balms—to do the job when we can. Everybody is familiar with what happens when lips become dry. The skin can be quick to turn flaky and scaly; they can become pale and rough in texture.Lips are also resilient, and regenerative: Beneath even rough, chapped lips, is always new and healthy skin. In order to get to it, you’ll need to exfoliate. What Are Lip Exfoliators?Lip exfoliators are lip care formulas made to effectively remove dead skin cells but still be gentle on the delicate lip skin. Types of Lip ExfoliatorsThe current skincare market has developed to provide a range of options when choosing an exfoliant. Some exfoliants utilize fine particles and friction, while others rely on acids that dissolve bonds between old and new cells; some facialists also use fine blades to “mechanically” exfoliate dead skin. Most exfoliants, but particularly ones for lips, fall into one of two categories.Chemical Lip ExfoliantsChemical exfoliants may also be known as acids, or peels, because of their primary active ingredients: Acidic molecules designed to encourage gentle cell turnover. Alpha hydroxy acid is one such molecule, commonly dusted into all sorts of chemical exfoliants, from masks to toners. These acids are understood to dissolve the bonds between dead and living cells, leaving fresh, glowing skin behind. Physical Lip Exfoliants Physical exfoliants tend to be made by suspending small particles in a product matrix, and skincare scrubs are a common example. The friction caused by massaging these particles into skin helps remove dead skin and build-up. While chemical exfoliants are popular for all sorts of face and body products, most lip exfoliators tend to be finely-milled, gentle scrubs, given the relative fragility of lips. When you exfoliate your lips, odds are you’ll reach for—or be recommended—a lip scrub. How to Exfoliate Your LipsMaybe your lips just need some weekly maintenance, or maybe they’re chapped and are in dire need of a clearing. In any case, there’s an order of operations you’ll want to follow for the best results. Below you’ll find a step-by-step guide enumerating how to exfoliate your lips.Cleanse & Pat DryThe first step for lip skincare—or any skincare—involves a good, gentle cleanse. Using your preferred face wash, make sure your lips are free of makeup or other build-up, and then pat dry.Scrub Your Lips (Gently)It’s time to use your lip scrub. After wetting your lips, apply a pearl-sized amount of lip scrub and work in small circular motions, softly massaging the product into the skin with a finger. 30 seconds of exfoliation is all you need for best results. If lips get a little tingly or numb, it’s part of the process. (If you feel any lip-related pain, make sure to stop scrubbing and talk to your dermatologist.) If you need a little extra pressure, a dry toothbrush or washcloth may help the process along.Rinse WellLips can be rinsed as soon as you’re done scrubbing—and should look a little brighter and more colorful than when you began.Moisturize & TreatRemember what we said about exfoliation and moisturization going hand in hand? If you do, you probably saw this step coming: You can finish your lip routine by sealing the new skin in a layer of balm or other moisturizer (and can even add a lip treatment like a serum beforehand for extra hydration).Benefits of Exfoliating Your LipsThere are a few important reasons why you should exfoliate your lips, including:Improves moisture retentionThe best benefit of exfoliating lips is how it maximizes the other skincare steps you take. By clearing away dead skin, it makes it easier for products like lip balm to hydrate lips and seal in moisture.Primes Them for LipstickIf you’ve ever worn lipstick on dry lips, you know that it might as well be a futile task. Regular exfoliation helps to ensure a smooth surface on which to paint. (Your favorite lip color will thank you!)Maintains lip healthYou can go your whole life without exfoliating your lips, but it might be uncomfortable. Dry, unexfoliated lips can harden until they begin to crack and open up, increasing the potential for infection. How Often to Exfoliate LipsAn exfoliation session can last as little as half a minute, but how many times can you repeat the process throughout the week?The surface of the lips can build up with dead skin faster than skin elsewhere on the body, especially if you live in a dry climate or have lips prone to chapping. Still, experts recommend limiting lip exfoliation to once or twice a week to ensure you’re not damaging the surface of lips. They may require a little extra TLC, but they’re still a sensitive area. You can also help show them love by choosing an exfoliant that’s effective, but easy on skin. The Best Lip Exfoliating ScrubGiven how delicate the skin on lips can be, it’s good to choose a lip exfoliator that you know will get the job as gently as possible. This can be a challenge when it comes to scrubs, which are often intended to pack more punch than your average skincare. But one way to choose a great lip exfoliant is to look within brands and collections that are already known for their superior lip care, and see what kind of exfoliants they offer. Tatcha’s Kissu lip lineup recently welcomed a newcomer: the Kissu Lip Scrub, a gently effective exfoliant that buffs, nourishes, and conditions in one step. True to the brand’s inspiration of using time-tested Japanese botanicals, the exfoliating agent itself comes in part from konjac, a root vegetable native to Japan and commonly used in medicine and cuisine, and in part from peach seeds. They meet in a base made with camellia oil, a featherweight moisturizer prized by geisha performers for centuries. Follow it up with the complementary Kissu Lip serum and lip mask for smooth, exfoliated, moisturized lips at all hours—day and night.

The benefits of lip scrub are undersung compared to their balmier cousins, but no skincare formula can refresh and revitalize lips quite like these physically exfoliating formulas. We have scrubbed our skin for centuries. Evidence abounds that ancient cultures, like the Egyptians, used ground up materials from seeds to stones suspended in oils and lotions to smooth and resurface their skin. In this light, our tendency to scrub our skin today dates back to the bathing rituals of African princesses. The royal treatment, indeed.As time has worn on, scrub technology has only become more sophisticated—not to mention widespread. Hundreds of years before today, and hundreds of years after Ancient Egypt, geisha performers in Japan had to be trained in the arts of makeup and skincare as a part of their greater vocation. Their goal was mochi hada, or superlatively soft and clear skin. They maintained mochi hada by regularly purifying their skin after melting off their stage makeup—a technique we might call a “double-cleanse” today was in fact their standard. First, a light and lovely oil lifted off makeup; then, a fine powder of rice bran exfoliated the skin’s top layer.We scrub our bodies to keep them clear of dead skin, and we scrub our faces to rinse out and refine pores, and these two kinds of scrubs are formulated differently for the area they treat. There’s also a third kind of scrub, made just for the skin surrounding our mouths. They’re called lip scrubs, and their benefits extend beyond merely exfoliating the lips. They also prime for makeup, assist with hydration and moisturization, and are specially designed for delicate lip skin—which is unlike any other skin on our bodies. What is a lip scrub?A lip scrub is a physical exfoliant made with fine granules suspended in a solid matrix. When applied to lips, the friction from these particles removes dead skin gently.Exfoliants typically come in one of two categories, chemical or physical. Chemical exfoliants utilize acidic molecules designed to encourage gentle cell turnover by dissolve the bonds between dead and living cells. For this reason, they’re sometimes called acids, or peels. Alpha hydroxy acid is a popular active ingredient in chemical exfoliants.But whereas chemical exfoliants are popular for face and body skincare formulas, they’re not so commonly used to exfoliate the lips, which require a gentler approach. The skin on our lips is much thinner than that on the rest of us. On our cheeks, for example, we have a thick stratum corneum made up of dead skin that protects the inner epidermis and dermis from the environment, but this layer is quite thin on the lips. This is in part why our lips have a natural tint to them; the thin skin offers a glimpse of the blood vessels that lie below.Enter the lip scrub, a physical exfoliant made for lip skin. Distinct from their Chemical counterparts, physical exfoliants use particles instead of acids to resurface skin, and exfoliating scrubs are the best-known example of this category.Why do I need a lip scrub?Lip scrubs are essential for clearing away build-up and dead skin cells, helping to reveal fresh lip skin below.According to popular thought, there are two basic elements of a skincare routine: Cleanser and moisturizer. An exfoliant is often left off this list, or only prescribed to specific skin types. But there’s an argument to be made for an exfoliant being a critical part of any skincare routine. Not only does exfoliation perform a task that cleansers or moisturizers cannot—the clearing away of dead skin—but when used correctly, the step can improve the efficacy of your routine’s other steps, too. There’s another argument to be made that exfoliating the lips is extra critical, thanks to another unique trait of the lip’s skin: A complete lack of sebaceous glands. These glands help our skin self-moisturize on its own. Without them, our lips tend to dry out faster than the skin elsewhere on our bodies. This is why many people carry lip balms with them, especially in drier times and climes. When lips get too dry, and dead skin builds up, they can become chapped lips.Lip scrubs are essential for clearing away build-up to reveal fresh skin below. By removing this interference, they also ensure that other products, like lip serums or balms, are able to reach the lip skin and do their job. This is one of the benefits of lip scrubs: That they improve the efficacy of moisturizers. But there are other lip scrub benefits, too. The benefits of lip scrubA lip balm can do a lot for helping lips feel better, especially when they’re dry, rough, or chapped. But there’s only one solution that can actually refresh and restore lip skin: The lip scrub. Here are 4 of its benefits:1. More hydrated lips. One of the best benefits of lip scrubs is how they maximize the other skincare steps you take. Only when dead skin is removed can a lip serum or balm work to the best of its ability.2. Better makeup application. Applying lipstick to unexfoliated lips is a bit like applying paint to an unprimed wall. It’s not impossible, but the finish may not be exactly what you—or the lipstick itself—intended. Lips that are scrubbed smooth are much easier to layer with color, and ensure better payoff and longer wear.3. Good oral health. All this talk about when lips are exfoliated obscures what happens when they go un-exfoliated: Skin can get so dry and rough that it begins to crack open, increasing the possibility for infections of the skin or mouth. Keeping lips soft, elastic, exfoliated and moisturized minimizes this possibility.4. Gorgeous lips over time. There is evidence to suggest that regular, gentle lip exfoliation improves lip circulation and the health of the skin surrounding the lips, leading them to look better, brighter, and more radiant over time. Some say that consistent scrubbing has even improved the look of fine lines and wrinkles around the lips.The best lip scrub with benefitsWhen it comes to lip exfoliation, one word cannot be repeated enough: Gently. Embracing a gentle skincare routine with gentle exfoliation is key. Exfoliating skin too harshly anywhere can cause the skin barrier to weaken and welcome other issues, but this rule takes on new urgency for the lips, which are too delicate and prone to breaking. With this in mind, the best lip scrub is one that won’t damage your lips, and will be enjoyable enough for you to use regularly. Along with the Kissu Lip Serum and mask, the scrub creates a quick and lovely ritual for smooth, soft lips, and a little bit of everyday decadence; from African princesses, to geisha performers, to you.