Smokers lips are quite identifiable when you meet someone. Unlike the normal lip color which is pink, smoker lips tend to get stained and darkened due to constant smoking. While they look unpleasant and unattractive, even a tint of pink lip balm may fail to hide the decolorization, especially in men. Months and years of chain smoking can be a major cause behind the staining of lips. While the best way to prevent getting smokers lips is to abstain from smoking but in the event if you have already developed smokers lips then here are few effective home remedies that can effectively lighten smokers lips.
Home Remedies to Lighten Smokers Lips
Cigarettes contain a high amount of nicotine and tar which accumulates each time you inhale the smoke, leaving unruly stains that blacken your lips. The tar residue settles in the lip wrinkles and may not leave easily regardless of constant washing which results in unlikable dry, parched and dark lips.
While many suggest medical help or advice to quit smoking – which ideally is a good suggestion; there are remedies too that include the usage of ingredients you can find in your kitchen. Without spending a fortune on an expensive lip cream, bleach or a surgeon, here are some local ingredients which can be an effective home remedy to lighten dark lips caused due to smoking:
Home Remedy Using Sugar & Coconut Oil to Lighten Dark Lips from Smoking
Sweet sugar crystals are more than just sweeteners for your food. A cleansing program – be it skin or lips – needs a good scrub and that is where sugar plays a vital role in exfoliating the dry and dead skin accumulated on the lips. A mixture of sugar and coconut oil works best as a home remedy as it not only removes the dark residue from your lips, but, also smoothens the texture and leaves it moisturized. You can also substitute the oil with a tablespoon of butter to leave the skin moisturized. The flavor may be more edible than plain coconut oil.
Applying Turmeric Paste Can help Lighten the Color of Smokers Lips
Considering that women have tender lip skin and are more sensitive to pressure, a sugar scrub might just be a bit harsh if rubbed vigorously. Replacing sugar with turmeric and oil for milk will be a good idea for a homemade mask. Two tablespoons of freshly ground turmeric with a tablespoon of raw milk will make for a good disinfectant that takes care of dark lips while leaving it smooth and stain-free. To begin with – scrub your lips gently with the toothbrush applying some warm water. Post the scrub you can mask your lips with the turmeric paste and leave it untouched for at least 2-3 minutes. Once slightly dried you can use the same brush and warm water to rub off the paste and immediately pat it dry with a soft cotton hand towel. Apply a tint of bee wax lip balm (avoid flavored ones as they stain). Ensure you do this before going to bed every alternate day of the week for quicker results.
How Applying Lemon Juice Acts As Bleaching Agent to Lighten Smokers Lips?
Lemon juice is generally known for its high amount of acidity which works as a bleaching agent to lighten dark spots and dark lips. Besides working wonders as a disinfectant and eradicating bad smoking odor, a few drops of it mixed with oat meal or lightly powdered sugar can make for a good scrub. In case you use a toothbrush to scrub off the dry and chapped skin on your lips, you can always massage your lips with a squeezed lemon or use cotton to dab it softly. While it may burn slightly due to the cuts on your lips, ensure you mix it with some sort of sweetening or moisturizing ingredient for pink and rosy lips.
Berries Can be an Effective Home Remedy to Help Cleanse Your Lips
Berries are a delicious option to fight dark smoker lips. They contain a high amount of vitamin C – a good remedy for lightening dark lips. Crush a few raspberries, blackberries and strawberries and mix it well with two tablespoons of aloe vera juice and honey before applying it as a mask for your lips. Leave it untouched for five minutes and wash it with lukewarm water and apply a non-flavored lip balm. Practicing this every day will leave you with good results.
Honey to Help Get Rid of Dark Lips Due to Smoking
Alongside acting as a substitute for sugar, honey is a natural moisturizer, not only does it softens the dry skin but also leaves it fresh and aromatic and acts as helpful home remedy to get rid of smokers lips. Honey is normally used as a part of a scrub mixture like with sugar, oatmeal or even semolina (suji) granules and acts like a softening ingredient and heals the not-so-smooth parts of your lips.
How Beetroot Can Help Bring Back the ‘Pink’ in Your Lips?
Beetroot is a good component in terms of coloring and sweetening. Not only is it rich in vitamins and minerals, the vegetable also contains a strong coloring agent which lightens the dark skin. It might be a slow process before results show; however, regular application of freshly brazed beetroot will leave you with pink and soft lips and will give your lips a better as opposed to leaving them chapped.
Massaging Your Lips with Olive Oil before Sleeping is an Effective Home Remedy to Lighten Smokers Lips?
A subtle and gentle massage using extra virgin olive oil before sleeping will soothe your skin and will ensure vital vitamins and minerals work their magic to lighten dark stains overnight. Regular use for three weeks will have effective results.
Even though these home remedies are effective to lighten smoker lips, there are few personal-care tips one needs to undertake on a regular basis:
- Quit smoking at the earliest as it is not just your lips you damage, but also your lungs and body.
- Apply a tinted and non-flavored lip balm or a bee-wax lip cream, which you can get at supermarkets, to keep your lips from getting chapped
- Scrub your lips every morning after brushing your teeth. This will help exfoliate your lips
- Massage your lips with ice every night before sleeping
- Do not keep licking your lips as that can cause darkening.