How to Have Pink Lips Naturally

Co-authored by Lydia Shedlofsky, DO

Last Updated: July 31, 2024 References

The best way to get naturally pink lips is to take care of them through exfoliation and hydration. Exfoliation will remove dead, dry skin that can cause discoloration, and hydrating your lips will keep them from getting dry and discolored in the first place. You can also use natural lip stains you make yourself to lightly tint your lips.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Ridding Your Lips of Dry Skin

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1
Exfoliate your lips twice a week. Using an exfoliant twice a week is enough to get rid of any build up of dead skin. You don't need to do this very often on your lips because the skin is sensitive.^{[1]
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- If you do it too much, you risk leaving your lips raw.
2
Use a hydrating lip balm before you exfoliate. Apply a plain lip balm to your lips so you aren't rubbing the exfoliant on dry, chapped lips.^{[2]
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Expert Source

Lydia Shedlofsky, DO
Dermatologist

Expert Interview. 14 May 2021.} If you don't have a lip balm, use a little coconut oil or olive oil and rub that over your lips instead.^{[3]
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- Make sure to completely cover your lips in the balm.
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For a single batch, use 0.25 teaspoons (1.2 mL), 0.25 teaspoons (1 g) coconut oil, and 0.25 teaspoons (1 g) brown sugar. Stir the ingredients with a small spoon until they are thoroughly combined.^{[4]
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4
Use a commercial scrub for ease and hydration. If you don't feel like making your own lip scrub, you'll find plenty of options at your local drug store and big box store. Opt for one that has hydrating ingredients, like coconut oil, jojoba oil, aloe vera, or honey.^{[5]
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- Find lip scrubs near the lipsticks and lip balms.
5
Apply the scrub gently and wipe it off in a few minutes. Use your fingers to gently rub the scrub on your lips. You don't really need to rub it in hard. Just apply it thickly across your lips and let it sit for 5 minutes or so.^{[6]
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- After 5 minutes, use a wet washcloth to gently remove the scrub.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Hydrating Your Lips

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Hydrate your body to keep your lips plump and pink. Dry lips can lead to discoloration and dry skin, not the naturally pink look you want. Staying hydrated will help your lips stay hydrated, too. Drink water when you're thirsty, making sure your urine comes out clear. The darker your urine, the more dehydrated you are.
- Try drinking sparkling water or water with cucumbers, strawberries, or orange slices in it to make it more refreshing.
2
Pick a lip balm with hydrating ingredients. Try lip balms with ingredients like jojoba oil, shea butter, vitamin E, almond oil, and castor oil, which help reduce dryness. Beeswax and petroleum jelly will provide a barrier to protect your lips.^{[7]
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Lydia Shedlofsky, DO
Dermatologist

Expert Interview. 14 May 2021.}^{[8]
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- Skip products that are flavored with mint, cinnamon, or menthol, which can actually dry out your lips.
- If you don't want to use lip balm, try a bit of coconut oil, almond oil, or olive oil instead.
While it seems contradictory, licking your lips can actually dry them out, leading to flaky, chapped lips and occasional discoloration. When you catch yourself licking your lips, stop. Reach for your hydrating lip balm instead.
4
Set up a humidifier when the air is dry. A humidifier will help particularly in the winter, when the air is cold enough outside to keep the humidity low in your home, particularly with the heater going. Running a humidifier in your room through the night will help your lips and skin stay hydrated.^{[9]
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- Make sure to clean your humidifier regularly, as it can breed mold over time.
If you use a facial cleanser, the acids in it can dry out your lips. Put on a layer of lip balm, beeswax, or petroleum jelly before you scrub your face down, and your lips won't get as dried out.^{[10]
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Skip salty and spicy foods for a little while. These foods can dry out your lips, leading to flaky and chapped skin. If you do eat these foods, try to put them directly in your mouth so you don't get as much on your lips.^{[11]
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- For instance, if you're eating buffalo wings, pull bites off with your fingers so you're not getting buffalo sauce all over your lips.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Getting Natural Color

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1
Rub raw beets on your lips. Take a small piece of raw beet, just large enough to go over one lip at a time. Run the beet over your lips several times to quickly stain them a light pink color.^{[12]
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- You can also juice raw beets and use the juice as a lip stain. Add a couple of drops of lemon juice to it and keep it in the refrigerator for 1-2 weeks.
- Try adding a layer of almond oil, olive oil, or coconut oil on top to seal in the color.
2
Create a natural lip tint from raspberries, blackberries, and olive oil. Add 2 raspberries and 3 blackberries to a bowl. Smash them up completely with a fork, then add 0.5 teaspoons (2.5 mL) of olive oil to the bowl. Mix the berries and olive oil together completely. Place the mixture in 1 layer of cheesecloth or a fine strainer and strain the oil and juice out into a small container. Refrigerate it for 2-3 hours to let it harden.^{[13]
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- Apply with a lip brush or your finger for a light pink color. For a pinker color, add 2 more raspberries. Keep this in the refrigerator for up to a week.
- To make it a bit more vibrant, try adding the juice from 2-3 pomegranate seeds.
3
Mix pink food coloring into coconut oil. Find pink food coloring at your local grocery store. If they don't have pink, opt for red. Heat 1 tablespoon (13 g) of coconut oil in the microwave for 5-10 seconds if it's not already liquid. Add 5-10 drops of food coloring to the oil and mix them together completely. Let the mixture cool down until it's room temperature, then test it on your lips to see if you like the color.^{[14]
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- If the color isn't intense enough, add a few more drops of food coloring and mix them in.
4
Apply a lip moisturizer in the morning with sunscreen. Make sure the sunscreen is SPF 15 or higher. The moisturizer will provide hydration while protecting your lips from the sun.^{[15]
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Expert Source

Lydia Shedlofsky, DO
Dermatologist

Expert Interview. 14 May 2021.}
- The sun can damage your lips over time, leading to dark spots.

Expert Q&A

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Question

How do I fix my dark lips?

Lydia Shedlofsky, DO
Dermatologist
Dr. Lydia Shedlofsky is a Resident Dermatologist who joined Affiliated Dermatology in July of 2019 after completing a traditional rotating internship at Larkin Community Hospital in Miami, Florida. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology at Guilford College in Greensboro, North Carolina. After graduation, she moved to Beira, Mozambique, and worked as a research assistant and intern at a free clinic. She completed a Post-Baccalaureate program and subsequently earned a Master's Degree in Medical Education and a Doctorate of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) from the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine.

Lydia Shedlofsky, DO

Dermatologist

Expert Answer

Sun-damage and dry skin can both make your lips less pink. I recommend moisturizing with an emollient balm containing SPF multiple times throughout the day.

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How often should I use raw beets on my lips in a week?

Jessie Zhang

Community Answer

At most, 2 or 3 times a week. You don't want to rub raw beets too much. You can also use moisturizers on lips and try to not lick your lips.

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Tips

If your lips stay chapped or inflamed and nothing seems to help, talk to a dermatologist. You may have an allergy or an underlying skin condition.^{[16]
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