Lip balms have always been a big part of my beauty routine because my lips are always dry. In addition to my nightly routine of putting on a thick lip mask, I also like to have a lot of balms and treatments on hand to use throughout the day. Because of this, I’ve always thought of myself as an expert on the best ways to get a super-soft pout. Then Hailey Bieber released her Rhode lip treatments, and all of a sudden there was a new buzzword on the lip-balm block (not a real place, but I can dream)—the peptide lip balm.
These hard-working balms are called the holy grail of lip formulas because they promise to keep your lips soft and hydrated and also aim to firm fine lines and make things look fuller and plumper. They do this by using a mix of peptides and the moisturising ingredients we expect to find in lip balms, such as shea butter and ceramides. But are they better than regular lip balm? To find out, I called Dr. Simon Ourian, who is a co-founder of Simon Ourian MD and a well-known cosmetic dermatologist. Of course, I’ve also put together a list of my favourite peptide lip balms below.
Find the Best Peptide Lip Balms
- Rhode Peptide Lip Treatment, £20, is the best overall.
- Nudestix Hydra-Peptide Lip Butter, £19, is the best for dry lips.
- The best light balm is Simon Ourian MD Hollywood Tripeptide Lip Treatment, which costs £35.
- Paula’s Choice Pro-Collagen Peptide Gloss Balm is the best for older skin. It costs £26.
- Rhode Peptide Lip Boost, £23, is the best for plumping.
1. Lip Treatment with Rhode Peptide
The best peptide lip balms
(Image credit: Jazzria Harris)
Rhode + Peptide Lip Treatment Unscented is the best overall.
Rhode Peptide Lip Treatment costs £20.
Shea butter and vitamin E are two important ingredients.
You probably already know about Rhode’s lip treatment because you’ve seen the grey tubes (or tinted) tubes all over Instagram and TikTok. But when it comes to the actual formula, it really works. It doesn’t make you greasy, it makes your skin look shiny and it’s very easy to wear. Along with the original shown above, I really like the Espresso shade because it adds a touch of rich brown colour without drying out my lips.
Pros It’s light and nourishing. Cons Some people say the formula is gritty, but I think the brand has fixed this problem.
2. Nudestix Hydra-Peptide Lip Butter Best for Dry Lips
Nudestix Hydra-Peptide Lip Butter Best for Dry Lips
Main Ingredients Shea butter and avocado butter
Nudestix’s lip butter is my favourite peptide lip balm. It feels almost creamy on the lips which makes it very comfortable to wear. It has shea and avocado butter to nourish the skin and a mix of tripeptides that boost collagen, so lips not only feel very soft but they also look fuller.
Good things A formula that really nourishes
Cons A little thick texture
3. The Hollywood Tripeptide Lip Treatment by Simon Ourian MD
The best lightweight balm is Simon Ourian MD Hollywood Tripeptide Lip Treatment.
Dr Simon Ourian
Hollywood Tripeptide Lip Treatment costs £35.
Main Ingredients Shea butter and ceramides
I recommend Simon Ourian’s Tripeptide Lip Treatment if you want a formula that works hard but doesn’t feel too heavy or sticky on your lips. It has a lot of ceramides, peptides, and healthy fatty acids, but it doesn’t feel heavy or sticky. It also has a very slight menthol taste, which cools the lips without making them tingle. I want to put it back on as soon as this sinks in.
4. Paula’s Choice Pro-Collagen Peptide Gloss Balm
Jazzria Harris putting on Paula’s Choice Pro-Collagen Peptide Gloss Balm
Paula’s Choice Pro-Collagen Peptide Gloss Balm is best for older skin.
Paula’s Choice
Shea butter and castor seed oil are the main ingredients.
First, let’s talk about the packaging first. I think Paula’s Choice’s Gloss Balm has the best applicator I’ve ever used. It not only covers your lips in one swipe, but it also curves to fit them perfectly. If you care about how a product feels when you use it, you should give this a shot.
The formula is good for your skin doesn’t make it greasy, and is easy to wear. This is a great choice if you want a peptide balm with a natural sheen. Others on this list give more shine (Byoma’s Lip Oil is the best).
Pros Great applicator
Hydrating Cons Not as shiny as they say
5. Rhode Peptide Lip Boost peptide lip balms
Peptide Lip Boost Unscented — Default TitleBest for Plumping
rhode
Hyaluronic acid and ceramides are the main ingredients.
Grace Day a beauty writer, says, “I’ve always loved Rhode’s Peptide Lip Treatment, but the new Peptide Lip Boost is even better.” “It feels very soothing and nourishing, with a thick, serum-like texture, but it isn’t heavy or sticky at all. It makes my lips look fuller right away, and it doesn’t tingle or hurt. It lasts for hours.
Pros Not sticky
Not irritating Cons Only available online right now
6. Ole Henriksen Pout Preserve Peptide Lip Treatment
Ole Henriksen Pout Preserve Peptide Lip Treatment is the best for nourishing.
Ole Henriksen
Mango seed butter and cloudberry oil are two of the most important ingredients.
A lot of people have been talking about Ole Henriksen’s Lip Treatment on TikTok lately, so I had to see if it was as good as people say it is. The brand has tinted and shimmer options, but Citrus Sunshine is the clear shade. The formula is thick and moisturising, and it definitely makes my lips look plump and hydrated. I like to use this balm instead of a lip mask at night because it makes my lips soft and moisturised when I wake up.
Good for you bad for you
Texture that sticks
7. The Inkey List Tripeptide Lip Balm that makes your lips look fuller
Jazzria Harris is wearing The Inkey List Tripeptide Plumping Lip Balm.
Best Cheap Lip Balm Tripeptide Plumping Lip Balm
The Inkey List Tripeptide Plumping Lip Balm costs £11, but it’s on sale for £8 right now.
Main ingredients castor seed oil, shea butter, and mango seed oil
The Inkey List Plumping Lip Balm is one of the best cheap lip balms out there. The tripeptide complex helps lips look fuller and plumper while also keeping moisture in. This balm may not be the most exciting one on this list, but for £11, it works hard and does what it says it will do.
Pros Cheap
Tripeptide complex Cons Doesn’t feel very fancy
8. Byoma Liptide Lip Oil
Byoma Liptide Lip Oil 5ml is the best oil lip balm.
Avocado and tamanu oil are two important ingredients.
Byoma calls its lip treatment an oil instead of a balm because it has a mix of avocado and tamanu nut oil, ceramides, and peptides. This doesn’t feel greasy or slippery like other lip oils do. Instead, it has a thicker texture and feels almost like jelly on the lips, which I really like. The wand applicator makes it easy to use, so this is the best oil-balm to take with you.
Pros Wand applicator that is easy to use
Like jelly Cons A more powerful (but still effective) formula
What Are Peptides?
“Peptides are short chains of amino acids,” Dr Ourian says. “These amino acids tell the skin to make more collagen and elastin.
What Do Peptide Lip Balms Do?
Dr Ourian says, “Peptide lip balms go beyond traditional formulas by using advanced ingredients that boost collagen production, making lips look fuller and smoother over time.” These treatments go deeper than regular lip balms, which mostly just hydrate the surface only. They improve elasticity, smooth out fine lines, and support the lips natural barrier. They’re a great choice for anyone who wants to keep their lips looking young and hydrated while getting long term benefits.
