Honestly, lip scrubs are one of those things you either swear by or completely ignore until your lipstick starts looking like a cracked desert floor. We've all been there. You apply a gorgeous matte red, look in the mirror, and realize your lips are peeling in ways you didn't even know were possible. It’s annoying. That is exactly where the ColourPop Winnie the Pooh lip scrub enters the chat. Technically called the "Hunny Pot" scrub, it's part of a massive collaboration that leaned hard into the nostalgia of the Hundred Acre Wood.
People bought it for the packaging. I mean, it’s a tiny honey pot. But is the formula actually doing anything, or are we just paying for the Disney licensing?
Most "collab" makeup is hit or miss. Usually miss. Brands often slap a character on a generic formula and call it a day. But ColourPop has this weirdly consistent track record with their Lippie Scrubs. They use a sugar-based exfoliant that doesn't feel like you're rubbing jagged glass on your face. When you open that little yellow pot, you're hit with this sweet, warm scent that isn't quite synthetic honey—it’s more like a honeycomb dipped in vanilla. It's pleasant. Not overpowering.
What’s Actually Inside the Hunny Pot?
Let’s talk texture. A lot of scrubs are too dry. You try to scoop some out and it just crumbles into your sink, wasting five dollars every time you use it. The ColourPop Winnie the Pooh lip scrub has a much "goopier" consistency in the best way possible. It’s a blend of sucrose (that’s the sugar) and various seed oils. We’re talking jojoba oil and shea butter. These aren't just buzzwords; they’re what prevent the scrub from being purely abrasive.
Sugar is a humectant. That means it draws moisture into the skin while it sloughs off the dead stuff. If you use a salt scrub on your lips, you’re going to regret it—salt dehydrates. Sugar heals.
The inclusion of Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil is the real MVP here. Jojoba oil is chemically very similar to the sebum our own skin produces. This means your lips actually recognize it and soak it up rather than just letting it sit on the surface like a wax. When you’re scrubbing away the flakes left over from a long day of wearing liquid lipstick, that oil is sinking into the fresh skin underneath. It’s a two-in-one deal. You exfoliate. You hydrate. Simple.
Why This Specific Winnie the Pooh Version Hits Different
It’s the ritual of it. There is something fundamentally soothing about a product that looks like it belongs in a storybook. In a world of clinical, "clean girl" aesthetic packaging that looks like it was designed in a hospital, the ColourPop Winnie the Pooh lip scrub is just... fun. It’s tactile. The pot is rounded, heavy enough to feel substantial, and the bright yellow cap is easy to find in a messy drawer.
But there’s a nuance to using it correctly that most people skip.
Don't just rub it on and wipe it off immediately. That’s a waste. To get the most out of the oils, you should apply a generous amount, massage in circular motions for about thirty seconds, and then let it sit for a minute. Let those oils do the heavy lifting. When you finally wipe it away with a damp cloth—don't use a dry tissue, it's too harsh—your lips feel plump. Not just smooth. Plump.
Common Misconceptions About Lip Exfoliation
People think they need to scrub their lips every single morning. Stop doing that. You’re thinning the delicate skin barrier. Your lips don't have sweat glands, and they have very few oil glands, which is why they dry out so fast. Over-exfoliating with the ColourPop Winnie the Pooh lip scrub will actually lead to more peeling because your body will overcompensate for the irritation.
Two times a week. That’s the sweet spot. Maybe three if it’s the dead of winter and the heater in your office is set to "Sahara Desert" levels.
Another mistake? Using too much pressure. You aren't sanding down a piece of furniture. Use your ring finger—it’s the weakest finger—to apply the scrub. This ensures you aren't tugging at the corners of your mouth, which can lead to tiny tears or even cold sore flare-ups if you’re prone to them.
Comparing the "Hunny Pot" to High-End Alternatives
If you go to Sephora, you can easily spend thirty or forty dollars on a lip scrub from a luxury brand. Is the ColourPop Winnie the Pooh lip scrub better?
Honestly? It's comparable.
Luxury scrubs often use fancy extracts like Bulgarian rose or crushed pearls. Do those things help? Sure, a little. But at the end of the day, a lip scrub is a rinse-off product. You are literally washing it down the drain. Paying $40 for something that stays on your face for sixty seconds is a tough sell for most people. ColourPop keeps the price point accessible while maintaining a formula that doesn't feel "cheap." It doesn't have that waxy, candle-like aftertaste that a lot of drugstore scrubs have. It tastes like sugar. Because it is sugar.
The main difference you'll find is the grit. Some high-end scrubs are incredibly fine-milled. The Pooh scrub has a medium grit. It’s effective. You can feel the granules working. If you have extremely sensitive skin, you might find it a bit "toothy," but for the average person, it’s exactly what’s needed to get the job done.
The Longevity Factor: Does It Dry Out?
This is a huge gripe with sugar scrubs. You buy it, use it twice, forget about it for a month, and when you open it again, it’s a solid brick of cement.
Because the ColourPop Winnie the Pooh lip scrub has a higher oil-to-sugar ratio than their older formulas, it stays soft longer. However, physics is physics. If you leave the lid loose, the moisture will evaporate. Keep that honey pot sealed tight. If it does start to get a bit stiff, don't throw it away. A tiny drop of vitamin E oil or even a bit of coconut oil stirred into the pot with a toothpick will bring it back to life instantly.
A Note on the Scent and Flavor
We have to talk about the "taste." You aren't supposed to eat it, obviously. It’s a cosmetic. But it’s on your lips. Some of it is going to get in your mouth.
Unlike some of ColourPop’s other themed scrubs—like the ones that smell like artificial watermelon or "blue raspberry"—the Winnie the Pooh version is much more grounded. It’s a "warm" scent. It feels appropriate for a nighttime skincare routine. It’s comforting. It doesn't have that biting chemical sting that some flavored products do. It’s just sweet.
Is It Still Available?
This is the tricky part with ColourPop. They are the kings of "Limited Edition." The Winnie the Pooh collection has been restocked a few times because of its massive popularity, but it does tend to vanish. If you see it on the site, you usually have to grab it.
If it’s out of stock, they often have their "Sol Body" or "Fourth Ray Beauty" versions which are essentially the same formula but without the cute honey pot. But let’s be real—we want the pot. If you're hunting for it on resale sites, just make sure it's sealed. Buying used lip products is a hard no. Hygiene matters.
The Best Way to Layer After Scrubbing
Exfoliating is only half the battle. Once you’ve used the ColourPop Winnie the Pooh lip scrub, your lips are essentially a blank canvas. They are primed to absorb whatever you put on next.
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Don't go straight for a drying matte lipstick.
Instead, follow up with a thick lip mask. If you want to stay in the family, the Winnie the Pooh collection also included a "Hunny Pot" lip mask. It’s a thick, almost balmy texture that seals in the moisture you just uncovered. If you don't have that, a simple swipe of Aquaphor or a high-quality lanolin balm works wonders.
Doing this right before bed is a game changer. You wake up with lips that feel completely different. No flakes. No tightness. Just soft skin. It makes your morning makeup application so much faster because you aren't fighting with your own skin texture.
Actionable Steps for Your Lip Care Routine
If you’ve got the scrub or you're planning on picking it up, here is the most effective way to integrate it without ruining your skin barrier.
- Steam first: Use the scrub right after you get out of the shower. The steam softens the dead skin cells, making the exfoliation much more effective and less abrasive.
- The "Double Scrub" is a myth: Do not scrub twice in one session. If you still have flakes after one go, leave them alone. They are likely still attached to live skin, and pulling them off will cause bleeding.
- Clean the rim: Use a tissue to wipe the threads of the jar before closing it. Sugar granules stuck in the lid will prevent a tight seal, leading to the product drying out faster.
- Use it as a hand hack: If you have dry cuticles, take a tiny bit of the Pooh scrub and rub it around your nail beds. The oils and sugar work just as well on ragged cuticles as they do on lips.
- Check the expiration: Most lip scrubs are good for about 12 months. Because this contains natural oils, they can go rancid eventually. If it starts to smell like old crayons instead of sweet honey, it's time to let Pooh go back to the forest.
The ColourPop Winnie the Pooh lip scrub isn't just a gimmick. It’s a solid, oil-rich exfoliant that happens to look adorable on a vanity. It handles the basics of skincare—manual exfoliation and lipid replenishment—with a price tag that doesn't hurt. Use it sparingly, seal it tight, and always follow up with a heavy balm. Your lipstick will thank you.