When Hailey Bieber included the peptide lip treatment among the debut offerings from her cosmetics label Rhode in June 2022, many underestimated not only its popularity but also its efficacy. It was a year marked by many celebrity beauty launches, and a collectsive pessimism permeated the discourse—few anticipated Bieber’s POV would resonate so strongly with just one humble lip product; so much so that it helped catapult Rhode to a billion-dollar brand just three years later.
This is not to say that Rhode’s lip balm was the first to add peptides to its formula, but it surely was the one that popularized the trend—at a time when the ingredient was just joining the skin-care conversation, let alone the then-niche, now standard category of skincare-makeup hybrids. And in 2026, peptides are becoming more popular than ever. “Peptides are short chains of amino acids that are the building blocks of proteins like collagen and elastin, which helps our skin maintain firmness and elasticity,” board-certified dermatologist Azadeh Shirazi tells Vogue. “In skin care, peptides trick your skin into producing more of these supportive proteins. When used in lip products, peptides like palmitoyl tripeptide signal the skin to produce more collagen, leading to plumper, firmer, more hydrated lips over time.”
Vogue’s Favorite Peptide Lip Treatments
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She goes on to explain that the skin on our lips is much thinner, more delicate, and more vulnerable to environmental stressors compared to the rest of our face, so the gentleness of peptides makes them incredibly effective at improving fine lines, dryness, and volume loss. “Plus, they’re incredibly versatile, as they hydrate, smooth, and subtly plump without causing irritation,” Dr. Shirazi.
That said, it’s no surprise that the whole “peptide lip treatment” trend has taken off the way it has—blending efficacy with modern, tasteful tints suited for no-makeup days, or dressed up with a lip liner. “We’re living in a time where skin care meets glam,” celebrity makeup artist Lauren D’Amelio Ventre says. “Consumers are no longer choosing between beauty and function: They want both. These formulas are working overtime to support barrier health, smooth texture, and even stimulate collagen. But yes, there’s also a certain glassy, plush aesthetic that makes them totally addictive.”
Best Viral: Rhode Peptide Lip Tint
- Why We Love It: A certified cult favorite, Rhode’s Peptide Lip Tint delivers on both nourishment and tint. “I love how it delivers both immediate moisture and long-term lip-smoothing benefits without feeling sticky,” Dr. Shirazi says. “Lightweight but still healing,” Ventre boasts. “This formula nails the balance of hydration and shine, great for a nighttime treatment, or layered under gloss.” Go for the shade Ribbon for a sheer pink (like Ciarlo, above), Espresso for a rich, chocolatey brown, or the new Lemontini for a shimmering gold.
- Editor’s Experience: “What I love most about Rhode’s lip balm is how lightweight they feel—this formula never feels heavy on the lips while still being super hydrating. All the colors are so lovely; and while they’re still definitely not opaque, they deliver more color payoff than most lip balms. Plus, they’re so skinny that they fit seamlessly into your pocket—or on the phone case.” —Conçetta Ciarlo, beauty shopping writer
- Key Ingredients: Shea butter, peptides, cupuaçu, babassu
- Shades: 7 (with 4 additional limited-edition, scented options)
- Fragrance: Both scented and unscented options are available
- Size: 0.3 fl oz
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Hydrating, high-shine formula | Some experience their product developing a grainy texture overtime |
| Non-sticky finish | |
| Buildable color |
Best Exfoliating: Eadem Le Couchou Peptide Lip Balm
- Why We Love It: What sets Eadem’s lip balm apart from others on this list is that it gently exfoliates the lips—a benefit that makes Ventre dub it a smart multitasker, ideal to create “a smooth canvas without harsh scrubs.” The idea here is to offer three properties in one formula—exfoliating, moisturizing, and lip color—via six modern shades that impart a sheen finish. Vegan, cruelty-free, and dermatologist-tested, what’s not to love?
- Editor’s Experience: “I can’t emphasize enough how much I love this lip balm. I got my first tube from my friend Isan, and within an hour of applying it, my chapped pout was back to being smooth. I especially appreciate that the tinted options never cling to dry patches. A few months later, I’ve already gone through two more tubes. In fact, I need another!” —Conçetta Ciarlo, beauty shopping writer
- Key Ingredients: Hibiscus enzymes, lactic acid, pyruvic acid, Brazilian acai butter, African mongongo butter, moringa oil, hexapeptide, Spreadit polymer technology
- Shades: 8
- Fragrance: Both scented and unscented options are available
- Size: 0.5 oz
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Exfoliates dry lips, while imparting hydration | Texture is richer than other lip balms on this list (not a con, per se) |
| Vegan, cruelty-free, and dermatologist-tested | |
| Cooling metal applicator |
Best K-Beauty: Unleashia Sunset Dazzle Gloss Balm
- Why We Love It: The butter balm trend, it seems, is a global phenomenon. Case in point? Unleashia’s K-beauty formula. “I keep asking myself, How many more tinted balms can I have? Well, clearly, I can always have more,” K-Beauty expert and former Allure EIC Michelle Lee previously told Vogue. “The formula is divine—rich and creamy without feeling heavy—and it’s super moisturizing.” Another sensorial perk is its silicone donut-tip applicator, which she said makes application pleasantly smooth. Plus, the shade range recently doubled—so there’s plenty of tints with subtle shimmer to choose from.
- Editor’s Experience: “Use after use, I’m shocked how pigmented this lip balm is. It delivers exceptional, non-streaky color in a single swipe. The buttery texture give it excellent slip—I like to wear it in place of a traditional lipstick.” —Kiana Murden, beauty editor, shopping
- Key Ingredients: Meadowfoam seed oil, sunflower seed oil, jojoba seed oil, peptides
- Shades: 11
- Fragrance: Yes
- Size: 0.12 oz.
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Ultra-hydrating formula with a non-sticky feel | Some find the formula can get a bit clogged in the applicator |
| Fan-loved, pleasant scent |
Best Stick: Augustinus Bader x Sofia Coppola The Tinted Lip Balm
- Why We Love It: When Bader collaborated with Sophia Coppola on a tinted lip balm in three shades, the duo combined high-performing skin-care with the director’s iconic coquette-ish aesthetic. “This is a luxurious option for those with dry or damaged lips,” Dr. Shirazi previously told Vogue. The spend-y price point is due in part to the brand’s signature TFC8 blend—a plumping mix of lipids, peptides, and vitamins. Plus, the formula also contains emollient shea butter and castor seed oil for added hydration. The balms come in three flushed shades (Plum, Raspberry, or Strawberry) for a sheer wash of color that, in fact, looks like you’ve just bitten into a juicy, fresh fruit.
- Editor’s Experience: “Initially, I was pulled in by the sheer fact of the Sofia Coppola collab—yes, I did judge a book by its cover. But getting down to business, this formula is so hydrating—like a buttery shea balm, plus the tints are rosy, subtle, and gorg.” —Conçetta Ciarlo, beauty shopping writer
- Key Ingredients: TFC8 (a proprietary blend of vitamins, lipids, peptides), lip-plumping complex, castor seed oil, shea butter, glycerin, peptides, antioxidants including vitamin E
- Shades: 3
- Fragrance: No
- Size: 0.14 oz
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Luxurious, buttery formula akin to a traditional lip balm | A pricier pick |
| Easy to use, twist up packaging | Some report color can settle unevenly over time |
| Subtle color great for everyday |
Best Long-Lasting: Topicals Slick Salve Lip Balm
- Why We Love It: If you want an intensive treatment that’ll last for hours without fail, look no further than the Topicals Slick Salve. I keep one tube of its cocktail of peptides, ceramides, hyaluronic acid, and shea butter at my bedside and another in my purse for reapplication when needed, though its “cling technology,” (i.e. a blend of fixing polymers) makes the need for reapplying infrequent. Absorbings quickly into lips and non-sticky, it is recommended by Dr. Shirazi “for those who have lip sensitivities or chapped lips, because of the CBD and humectant properties.”
- Editor’s Experience: “Writing this caption is reminding me that I need to grab another tube of the Topicals Slick Salve. My desert island lip balm? Yes, it’s that good. A frequent lip balm re-applicator, I find that this lasts on my lips for hours. There’s nothing on the market quite like it.” —Kiana Murden, beauty editor, shopping
- Key Ingredients: Peptides, ceramide blend, hyaluronic acid, shea butter, castor seed oil, lysine, lanolin
- Shades: 3
- Fragrance: No
- Size: 0.5 oz
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Hydrating and long-lasting with a cushiony feel | Some find this particularly sticky due to the “cling technology” |
| Requires infrequrent reapplication as the hydration lasts so long |
Best Plumping: La Mer The Lip Volumizer
- Why We Love It: La Mer’s Lip Volumizer surprised me. “This is more of a treatment than a gloss or balm—it smooths, hydrates, and plumps over time, leaving a silky, balm-like finish,” pro makeup artist Ash K. Holm previously told Vogue. The nourishing properties (via the Miracle Broth formula La Mer is known for) are a given, but what’s less expected is the subtle yet lovely aesthetic finish that’s to the two sheer shades. Plus, the formula is slightly plumping due to the heavy dose of hydration, yet it feels super lightweight. That said, as with all La Mer products, this pick comes at a premium price point.
- Editor’s Experience: “La Mer’s Lip Volumizer sits somewhere at the convergence of gloss and hydrating lip care. The formula is totally non-sticky—almost like whipped jelly—and applies to lips with a barely-there feel, without forsaking tint and shine. For all those reasons, it’s also an excellent choice for mature skin types who want understated makeup with skin-plumping benefits (I’ve gifted this to maternal figures in my life!). That said, there’s no denying that nearly $100 for a single lip product is totally a splurge.” —Conçetta Ciarlo, beauty shopping writer
- Key Ingredients: Miracle Broth, hyaluronic acid, coconut oil
- Shades: 5
- Fragrance: No
- Size: 7 mL
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Provides plumping hydration | A premium price point |
| High shine, non-sticky formula with subtle color |
Best Reparative: U Beauty The Plasma Lip Compound
- Why We Love It: U Beauty’s Plasma Lip Compound is a favorite of Dr. Shirazi’s “due to the stem cell technology [that] deeply nourishes while subtly firming without feeling heavy.” Its Siren Capsule Technology, in particular, works to optimize skin’s collagen for lip renewal, while a blend of peptides, ceramides, hyaluronic acid spheres, and plant extracts alleviate signs of dehydration. And with a whopping 16 shades to choose from, there’s a hue for any skin tone—or occasion.
- Key Ingredients: Peptides, ceramides, alpha-hydroxy acid, poly-hydroxy acid, shea butter, salicylic acid, beeswax
- Shades: 16
- Fragrance: Yes
- Size: 0.5 fl oz
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Intensely hydrating and plumping | One of the pricier options on our list |
| Gently exfoliates via AHA and PHA | |
| Cooling metal applicator |
Best J-Beauty: Tatcha The Melting Lip Balm
- Why We Love It: Tatcha just launched its lip balm this month, drawing inspiration from the Geisha tradition of melting candy on their lips to achieve a glossy finish—arguably the original lip gloss. The balm-to-oil formula and carefully chosen shades pay homage to this practice, while the thoughtfully crafted J-Beauty formula features Japanese tamanu oil for deep hydration, along with a blend of peptides and algae extract to visibly plump the lips.
- Editor’s Experience: “I’m a big Tatcha fan, so I had high expectations for its lip balm. Fortunately, it lived up to my standards and then some. It’s very comfortable—on the buttery side of the spectrum. So far, I like that the color wears quite natural; shade Moka is a skin-like cinnamon brown that I plan on wearing all through summer.” —K.M.
- Key Ingredients: Japanese tamanu oil, peptides, algae extract, vitamin F
- Shades: 4
- Fragrance: Yes
- Size: 0.4 fl. oz.
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Cruelty-free and dermatologist-tested | Fragrance can be a bit sweet for sum |
| Botanically-derived, plumping ingredients | |
| Lightly tinted and comfortable feel |
Best High Shine: Anfisa Skin Ân-Gloss Ceramide Lip Tint
- Why We Love It: After launching last year, Anfisa Skin’s lip balm created almost instant buzz. The formula is stacked with five types of ceramides and two forms of peptide, for a result that’s both exceptionally hydrating and high shine. The wear of this pick is also particularly lightweight, gliding on with a texture that sits at the convergence of an oil and balm. Plus, the metal tip imparts a cooling sensation with each application.
- Editor’s Experience: “This is another example of a scented lip product that’s won my heart despite my usual imperviousness—the shade Angel Food smells totally delicious and nostalgic. Plus, the sheer baby pink finish is so lovely, and the metal applicator adds a bit of luxury.” —Conçetta Ciarlo, beauty shopping writer
- Key Ingredients: Squalane, pomegranate seed oil, cucumber seed oil, hibiscus seed oil, murumuru seed butter, mango seed butter, ceramides, peptides
- Shades: 4
- Fragrance: Both scented and unscented options are available
- Size: 0.5 fl oz
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Deeply hydrating formula with a high gloss finish | One of the pricier options on our list |
| Cooling metal applicator |
Best Collagen Activating: Violette_FR Balm Amour Nourishing Lip treatment
- Why We Love It: Despite launching only last July, Balm Amour’s formula was six years in the making before founder Violette Serrat felt it was perfect. The transparent finish imparts a buttery, lightweight, and non-sticky feel. Meanwhile, skin-care-grade ingredients like phyto-collagen, peptides, and botanical-derived butters and oils help hydrate and soften lips. And as an added bonus, there’s a cooling ceramic applicator.
- Editor’s Experience: “Just when I thought I didn’t need another lip balm to keep in rotation, I met Balm Amour. On immediate application, the product comfortably clings to lips without feeling sticky or heavy. I’ve been using it as my nightly lip product, plus keeping it on hand to pair with lip liner for a more natural-looking lip combo. The ceramic applicator adds a chic, sensorial touch, too.” —C.C.
- Key Ingredients: Phyto collagen complex, peptides, vitamin E, cocoa seed butter, sunflower seed oil, tocopheryl acetate, albus seed extract
- Shades: 1
- Fragrance: Yes
- Size: 0.08 oz
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Cooling ceramic applicator | Smaller amount of product per tube |
| Scent is subtle, and barely noticeable | |
| Nourishing and comfortable formula |
Everything You Need To Know
Do peptide lip treatments really work?
With the right formulation and consistency, Dr. Shirazi says, yes, peptide lip treatments really do work. “You’re not going to get the dramatic plumping of an injectable, but, like with most skin-care products, consistent use and patience will show improvements in lip hydration, texture, and fine lines,” she shares. “I always tell my patients that they should think of peptides as long-term care with a little instant gratification, especially in the sense of a lip product. They can support the skin’s natural collagen production, which contributes to a firmer, fuller look over time. That said, their immediate effects are more about hydrating, nourishing, and repairing the lip barrier, while the plumping benefits are subtle and gradual.”
How We Tested
When we test and review a product, we take a holistic approach to deliver well-rounded product recommendations. First, we lean on Vogue’s vast network of experts—from board-certified dermatologists to celebrity estheticians and makeup artists—to gain professional acumen on the industry’s standout products, ones these specialists would actually use on their clients. We pair their expertise with our editorial best practices to curate the thoughtful edits you read on our site.
As it relates to peptide lip treatments, we selected the best based on the following characteristics: ingredients, texture, shades, and the skin care concerns they address. To do this, we paired our own personal tests of each formula with expert guidance and reviewer insights to determine which we would recommend to you.
Meet the Experts
- Dr. Azadeh Shirazi is a board-certified dermatologist based in La Jolla, California.
- Lauren D’Amelio Ventre is a celebrity makeup artist, global beauty educator, and founder of The Art of Enhancement.
