How to Get Smooth Lips, According to Pros

We all know by now that having a consistent skin-care routine is one of the most effective ways to achieve a smooth, luminous complexion. But have you been wondering how to get smooth lips too? Well, your pout deserves its own targeted routine. Reason being: The delicate skin on our lips is completely different from the rest of our face.

“They lack the top layer of our skin, called the stratum corner, so they are susceptible to losing moisture,” says Reshmi Kapoor, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist based in Brooklyn. Lips don’t produce oil either, so they have nothing to naturally moisten them or protect them from drying out as other areas of the face do.

With this in mind, we asked Dr. Kapoor and Milk Makeup’s Director of Artistry Sara Wren to share how to make lips smooth and build the right lip care routine for you.

1. Exfoliate your lips before putting anything on them

One of the most effective ways to achieve smooth, soft lips is with exfoliation. In fact, Sara even recommends exfoliating lips before swiping on any lip product in your makeup bag. “Removing the dead skin before applying nourishing formulas allows them to do their thing,” she explains. Plus, lip colors applied to flaky, dry lips “can end up making your lips look drier and flakier as they absorb into the crevices,” Dr. Kapoor adds.

An easy way to remember to exfoliate your lips? If you use a soft toothbrush, next time you’re done brushing, make sure you use it to go over your lips for some gentle exfoliation.

2. Grab a washcloth for gentle exfoliating

Sara’s go-to lip exfoliant is something you probably already have in the house: a clean washcloth. She takes one dampened with warm water and gently scrubs her lips with it to smooth away flakes and roughness in seconds.

3. Make your own lip scrub

You can hack our new Odyssey Lip Oil Gloss into a hydrating lip scrub. Swatch Journey, the clear shade, onto the back of your hand, combining it with some raw sugar. Then, scrub your lips with your DIY concoction before rinsing it off for a softer, smoother pout.

4. Nourish immediately after scrubbing

No matter how you choose to exfoliate your lips, be sure to rehydrate them immediately after scrubbing with a nourishing lip product like Odyssey or a use lip balmformulated with humectants, such as hyaluronic acid, glycerin, or vitamin E, which Dr. Kapoor says help draw water into lips. Look for products that pack thick emollients, like shea butter and seed oils, to “help lock that moisture in,” she adds. After all, hydrated lips are smooth lips.

5. Always moisturize your lips before you go to bed

Dr. Kapoor’s favorite lip care tip to give her patients is “put a cream-cheese-on-a-bagel thick layer of a greasy emollient overnight to wake up with softer, smoother lips,” she says. Don’t know where to start? Something as simple as using petroleum jelly as a lip mask can get the job done.

6. Try an unexpected primer to make your smooth lip look last

Surprisingly, Sara suggests an alternate use for Milk Makeup’s Hydro Grip Eye Primer: Use it on your lips for an extra layer of hydration and to smooth texture. The skin on your lips is just as thin and delicate as your eyelids, so the primer’s addition of hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, and hemp seed extract work just as effectively to hydrate the dry skin on your pout as your under-eye area. Plus, it’s infused with natural optical-blurring powders that give lips a soft-focus finish that blurs away any fine lines, cracks, and inconsistencies. Go over the primer with a liner, Lip + Cheek, and either Odyssey or Electric Glossy Lip Plumper. “Layering is key to having your lip products last,” Sara adds.

Flying tube of Milk Makeup Odyssey Lip Oil Gloss in Trek on a gradient orange background

Shop Odyssey Lip Oil Gloss

7. Opt for a high-shine lip gloss rather than a matte lipstick

Let’s be real, matte lip products tend to emphasize texture on lips. If you have even the tiniest flake or hint of dryness happening, your lips are sure to look far from smooth. Matte products dry out lips, making them look absolutely parched. Instead, reach for a lip gloss, particularly one packed with nourishing plant oils. Not only will it make lips look smoother instantly, but the oils help smooth them over time. Odyssey is formulated with jojoba oil, cloudberry seed, sunflower, and avocado to make it happen.

8. Crushed gemstones create the illusion of smoothness

Did you know Odyssey gets its multi-dimensional shimmer from crushed rubies and sapphires? Don’t worry, they’re ultra-fine milled, so you can’t even tell they’re there. When the light hits your lips, though, they’ll make your them glint and shine like a pane of glass.

9. Put an emollient underneath all matte lip formulas

If you must have a matte finish on your lips but still want them to look ultra smooth, make sure to moisturize with an emollient-rich balm prior to putting on your matte lip product of choice, Dr. Kapoor says.

10. Play with a lip plumper

The Electric Glossy Lip Plumper is spiked with Sichuan pepper, jojoba seed oil, and vegan collagen to not only make lips appear more voluminous but also deeply hydrate them, Sara says. In the process, your plump lips also look smoother than ever.

11. Don't lick your lips

Although licking your lips may be a tough habit to break, your lips will thank you if you stop. “Saliva is a known irritant for lips and actually dries them out rather than providing them with hydration,” Dr. Kapoor explains. “If you find yourself licking your lips because they feel dry, take the steps necessary to hydrate them and cut the habit.” And in the case that you find yourself constantly with a rim of red, dry, irritated skin around your lips, you may have lip-licker’s dermatitis—yes, that’s a thing—and need treatment with a board-certified dermatologist, she adds.

12. Pay attention to the ingredients in your lip products

Sure, seeking out formulas with emollients and humectants high up on their ingredient lists is key. However, knowing what ingredients consistently dry out your lips and cause flakiness is just as important, Dr. Kapoor says. These ingredients vary from person to person as “some people can become sensitive to common ingredients in lip products,” she adds.

Flying tubes of Milk Makeup Electric Glossy Lip Plumper on a white background.

Shop Electric Glossy Lip Plumper

Meet the Experts

Reshmi Kapoor, M.D. (she/her) is a board-certified dermatologist and owner and founder of Brooklyn Dermatology in New York City. She completed her undergraduate studies at Northwestern University and matriculated into the inaugural class of Northwell School of Medicine. During medical school, she spent a dedicated year at NYU studying dermoscopy of pigmented lesions. She completed her intern year and dermatology residency at the prestigious world-renowned Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and New York Presbyterian-Weill Cornell Hospital. After residency, Dr. Kapoor worked at one of the nation’s largest health systems, Northwell Health, practicing dermatology in an academic setting and actively teaching the next generation of dermatologists. She is now sought after for her expertise in acne, melasma, hair loss, and the entire spectrum of skin tones.

Sara Wren (she/her) is the Director of Artistry at Milk Makeup. In her role, she does all the makeup artistry and direction for our Milk Makeup global campaigns, educates the staff and field team on application methods, stars in the brand’s social media videos, and travels to different markets spreading Milk Makeup’s good vibes. When she’s not on set, Sara loves experimenting with DIY hair colors, eating tacos, watching basketball, and scouring for vintage cosmetics to add to her impressive collection.