If you’re still swiping on the balm that’s been at the bottom of your bag whenever your lips are feeling dry or chapped, you could be missing out on a major opportunity to actually treat the skin on (and around) your lips with nourishing serums.
Sure, adding one more product to your skin care routine might seem a little stressful, but your lips should never go unnoticed. Why? Just like the eye and neck areas, the skin surrounding your lip line is very delicate and can show signs of aging.
In fact, wrinkles that naturally occur from drinking through a straw or simply pursing your lips can be so aggravating to deal with once they’re there — but with a lip serum, you can treat existing lines and prevent future ones from happening.
Here’s everything you need to know about shopping for a lip serum and what ingredients to look for in one, according to dermatologists and estheticians — plus a few editor-favorite picks as well.
Overall best lip serum$undefined$28.00
Splurge-worthy editor favorite$undefined$42.00
What is a lip serum?
“A lip serum is a targeted treatment designed to nourish and enhance the health of your lips at a deeper level,” explains Dr. Shuting Hu, cosmetic chemist and founder of Acaderma.
Instead of just offering momentary comfort from dry, cracked lips, “a lip serum delivers active ingredients that work to improve the overall condition of your lips,” says Hu. “It hydrates, repairs and rejuvenates, giving your lips long-lasting benefits.”
The best lip serums, according to experts
Best drugstore serum: Aquaphor Lip Repair + Protect Broad Spectrum SPF 30
- Affordable
- Suitable for daily use
- Some say it has an odd taste
Shades: 1 | Key ingredients: Shea butter, SPF
“This is my top pick because it not only moisturizes but also provides sun protection — an essential but often overlooked part of lip care,” says Brownlee. Just like with your skin care, lip care should include a daily SPF. You can even use it if you have sensitive skin.
Best for anti-aging: fresh Sugar Advanced Therapy Lip Rescue Ointment
- Clean formula
- Silicone free
- Not the best absorption
Shades: 1 | Key ingredients: Sugar, ceramides
The inclusion of sugar in this formula can actually help produce a lasting hydration effect on lips. Plus, according to Dr. Gary Goldenberg, a cosmetic dermatologist, this Fresh serum has an “anti-aging formula with acmella flower extract, which helps reduce the appearance of fine lines around the lips, and Kigelia Africana fruit extract to improve firmness.”
Best with hyaluronic acid: Paula's Choice Hyaluronic Acid + Peptide Lip Booster
- Lightweight
- Non-greasy formula
- Product can leak from tube
Colors: 1 | Key ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, peptides
Hu says hyaluronic acid is a must-have ingredient in any lip serum you choose. This one from Paula’s Choice is affordable and contains both hyaluronic acid as well as peptides. The formula also includes squalane for hydrating, soothing and reparative effects.
Best restorative treatment: Tatcha The Kissu Lip Treatment Volume-Restoring Lip Serum
- Helps restore lip volume
- Applicator gets clogged easily
Shades: 1 | Key ingredients: Peptide-like carob extract
The Tatcha Kissu lip treatment is packed with carob extract that mimics peptides and sea fern to help plump and restore lips over time. Sylvia Brownlee, esthetician and founder of Skin By Brownlee & Co., says, “I love this serum for its luxurious feel and how it delivers lasting moisture, leaving lips soft and smooth.”
Best lip serums, according to editors
For some shimmer: Cosmedix Lumi Crystal Liquid Crystal Lip Hydrator
- Helps reduce fine lines
- Good for morning and night
- Needs reapplying, per shoppers
Shades: 1 | Key ingredients: Liquid crystal base
This is one of my favorite lip serums on the market. It’s made with a clean formula so you don’t have to worry about ingesting any gross toxins or chemicals, and it contains a 90% pure liquid crystal base along with peptides that help plump your lips.
Formulated with vitamin C: Revision Skincare YouthFull Lip Replenisher
- Helps plump lips
- Has a nice scent
- Some reviews say it's sticky
Shades: 1 | Key ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, vitamin E, shea butter, peptides
Adrianna Brach, the editorial director at Shop TODAY, recommends this lip treatment that's packed with all of the ingredients you should want in a lip serum. Not only do the ingredients work for help reduce fine lines in your lip area, but they also help with plumping.
Ingredients to look for in a lip serum
When shopping for a lip serum, Dr. Hu says to look for a few stand-out ingredients:
- Hyaluronic acid: Just like for your face, hyaluronic acid “is essential for deep hydration, helping to attract and retain moisture,” says Hu.
- Peptides: Not only do peptides help support collagen production, but they condition the skin and help lips appear fuller and smoother, says Hu. great for supporting collagen production,
- Antioxidants: Think vitamin C and E to “protect the delicate lip area from environmental damage,” explains Hu. Other antioxidants to look out for include natural oils like jojoba or rosehip oil, which “provide nourishment without feeling heavy. It’s all about balancing efficacy with gentle care for long-lasting results,” Hu adds.
Frequently Asked Questions
While both a lip balm and a lip serum help hydrate and condition the lips, there are a few key differences.
“A lip balm provides more of a protective, temporary sheen and often requires reapplication throughout the day to maintain moisture,” explains Brownlee. “A lip serum is more treatment-focused. I would use a lip serum a few times at night to deeply nourish and repair the lips while using a balm daily to lock in moisture and protect them from environmental factors,” she says.
How we chose
Before choosing the best lip serums, we spoke with an esthetician, a cosmetic chemist and a cosmetic dermatologist to learn about the product benefits and ingredients to look for. The experts then recommended their go-to lip serums to shop.
Meet the experts
- Sylvia Brownlee is an esthetician and founder of Skin By Brownlee & Co.
- Dr. Shuting Hu is a cosmetic chemist and founder of Acaderma.
- Dr. Gary Goldenberg is a cosmetic dermatologist based in Manhattan.
