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The 10 Best Peptide Lip Balms Worth the Hype
These top-rated balms go above and beyond healing dry lips
If there were a "most popular" award for skincare ingredients, "peptides" would surely make the podium. These short-chain amino acids are seemingly everywhere in moisturizers, eye creams, and other top-rated products thanks to their skin-repairing properties. And that characteristic makes them a go-to ingredient for lip treatments, too.
Shop the Best Peptide Lip Balms
"I recommend peptides to treat dry, chapped lips," says Ron Robinson, a cosmetic chemist and founder of skincare brand BeautyStat. Formulas containing peptides help not only moisturize dry lips but repair them too. "Our lips are thinner and have fewer layers of skin than the skin on the rest of our face," he says. "They do not have any sebaceous glands, so less sebum means they are more prone to drying out and chapping."
The question is, which peptide-packed formula should you try? Ahead, find a few of the best peptide lip balms, including picks from Robinson along with favorites from Bazaar beauty editors.
Related: The Best Tinted Lip Balms of All Time
Pros
- They taste like dessert
Cons
- Some reviewers say they can feel sticky
Robinson may be partial to this popular pick as he's the cosmetic chemist in residence for Rhode, but there's no denying the product's influence. "I love that it’s rich and balmy and the peptides help to plump," he says of the It lip treatment, which is now available in a limited-edition cinnamon roll flavor, inspired by the treats founder Hailey Bieber bakes for friends.
- Number of shades: nine
- Key ingredients: shea butter, cupuaçu, babassu
Customer review: "I’m obsessed with all the Rhode products. I have to stop myself every day from buying 5+ items every day. I just tried your lip peptide and now I’m afraid I’ll have to buy them all. Love you Hailey! Keep it up." —Jess M.
Pros
- Has a plumping effect
Cons
- Pricey
"Not only are there so many shades of this peptide lip balm, but the cooling metal applicator feels like a trip to the spa on dry, chapped lips," says Bazaar beauty director Jenna Rosenstein. Robinson is a fan as well, saying "I love how this gently smoothes as it plumps the lips."
- Number of shades: 17
- Key ingredients: shea butter, ceramides, AHA
Customer review: "Since I started using this serum my skin was never this soft and my texture looks amazing. Here’s to 51." —Erica T.
Pros
- Creamy and non-sticky
Cons
- Some reviewers don't like the strong scent
"Every time I try a new lip balm, I wonder how different this one could be from every other formula I’ve tried, but the Olehenriksen Pout Preserve quickly earned a prime spot in all of my bags," says Bazaar associate beauty editor Katie Intner. "The balm is very silky-yet-plush and hydrates the lips for hours, while many balms often perform a disappearing act an hour after you apply them." Although there is a range of shades and flavors, her favorite at the moment "is the Strawberry Sorbet Pout Preserve, made in collaboration with Anine Bing, that boasts a bronzy shimmery hue that can be worn day or night."
- Number of shades: five
- Key ingredients: kokum butter, mango seed butter, cloudberry oil
Customer review: "I bought this product and fell in love with it. I have every flavor, It smooths my lips and heals them when dry with ease. I love the creamy texture and the smell is nice as well." —Jillian P.
Pros
- Just the right amount of pigment
Cons
- Some reviewers noted the packaging can leak
If you prefer a gloss, Robinson recommends this moisturizing formula from Kosas, made with peptides and hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid. "I like its sheerness, but it also hydrates and plumps," says the cosmetic chemist.
- Number of shades: nine
- Key ingredients: hyaluronic acid, evening primrose oil, avocado oil
Customer review: "It's very pigmented and not uncomfortable or sticky. It does not dry my lips at all. The only thing is that you need to reapply it every few hours if you want more color, but even as it fades it leaves a nice color." —Sophie05
Pros
- Long-lasting
Cons
- The tube is on the small side at 0.25 oz
“This no-frills balm from Biba de Sousa is one of my favorite peptide lip balms of all time," says Bazaar associate beauty commerce editor Tiffany Dodson Davis. "A little goes a long way with its formula, which immediately sinks into my lips and keeps them hydrated for hours on end.”
- Number of shades: one
- Key ingredients: squalane, vegetable collagen, vitamin E
Customer review: "This is a great lip balm that creates a nice moisture barrier and makes my lips feel protected in dry weather. I like to use a lip scrub and then put this on to help with the healing process and for cellular turnover. It looks like a lip gloss but actually is very long-lasting and doesn't irritate my lips even when I wear it all day." —Anonymous
Pros
- As shiny as a gloss but still deeply moisturizing
Cons
- Often out of stock
Smoothing, moisturizing, and plumping, this best-selling tube from Eadem does it all (in a sleek silver tube at that). The sheer, glossy shades are perfect to wear as your daily lip color, or if you want an unscented clear balm, go for the adorably named Butter Mochi.
- Number of shades: five
- Key ingredients: acai butter, African mongongo butter, moringa oil, lactic acid
Customer review: "Very moisturizing and smoothing on the lips. The texture is thick but not greasy. The color is pretty. Sheer to start but buildable." —Mary
Pros
- Buttery and non-sticky
Cons
- The tube is on the small side at 0.25 oz
This little lip balm is the "if you know, you know" formula for those seeking a no-frills formula that works and works incredibly well. Not only does it instantly soothe chapped lips, but the polypeptide complex also plumps over time.
- Number of shades: one
- Key ingredients: avocado oil, vitamin E
Customer review: "This stuff seriously works! It has a super pleasant citrus scent that is unobtrusive and most importantly, it works! I feel like my lips are constantly dry and this is one of the only products I’ve found that keeps my lips from getting chapped. Can’t recommend it enough." —Anonymous
Pros
- Yummy vanilla scent
Cons
Forget the tingly, spicy lip plumpers of long ago—this formula from Paula's Choice helps boost fullness without any discomfort and supports collagen the more you use it. In a universal pink tint, it's also the perfect glossy balm texture for everyday use.
- Number of shades: one
- Key ingredients: plant emollients
Customer review: "I recently tried my hands on Paula's Choice Pro-Collagen Peptide Gloss Balm and it is incredibly hydrating, leaving my lips smooth and plump without feeling sticky. It has a beautiful, subtle shine that enhances the natural color of my lips. Plus, the peptide blend feels like it's giving my lips some extra care, making them feel soft and moisturized throughout the day. " —khush
Pros
- Universally flattering sheer colors
Cons
- Contains hazelnut so not suitable for those with nut allergies
A swipe or two of this glossy balm is all you need for sheer color, a bit of shine, and a subtle plumping effect that lasts up to 12 hours. And because it's in a traditional stick form, as opposed to a tube, you don't have to worry about any product spillage in your bag.
- Number of shades: four
- Key ingredients: sweetbriar rose oil, jojoba oil
Customer review: "I’m loving this lip balm! It’s very pigmented and makes my lips feel so soft and hydrated. I also love how a little product goes a long way, and it’s very long-lasting. It’s the perfect balm for summer, and I’m really liking the natural finish." —okam28
Pros
- Has a fresh minty flavor
Cons
- The colors may be too sheer for deeper skin tones
With two percent peptides, this lip butter has serious plumping and smoothing magic. The formula is also on the richer side, so those with especially chapped lips can wear it without worrying about having to constantly reapply.
- Number of shades: four
- Key ingredients: avocado butter, vitamin A, vitamin E
Customer review: "I am a lip product junkie. Months ago I found my lips very dry and nothing seemed to make a difference. I took a chance on this lip butter and it healed my lips quickly and now they feel great!" —hooplvr23
What are the benefits of peptide lip balms?
As a reminder, "Peptides are short chains of amino acids," explains Robinson. "When applied topically, they can act like messengers by triggering cells to produce more collagen and elastin, and they can help soothe the lips as well as help repair skin’s barrier." As a bonus, "They can also help to visibly plump and reduce the look of lines around the lip area."
Can peptides plump lips?
It's true! "Yes, they can [plump lips] with continued use," explains Robinson. Even better, they do so without causing stinging or irritation, as some of the plumping formulas of the past were known to do.
Meet the experts
- Ron Robinson is a cosmetic chemist and founder of the skincare brand BeautyStat. He is also the cosmetic chemist in residence for Rhode.
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