Your New Lip Hydration Cheat Code: Chemical Exfoliation

The irritation that comes with having uncomfortably dry lips is a familiar feeling for most of us. The worst part? Once that rough, tight feeling sets in, it’s one you can’t ignore. Reaching for your most reliable lip balm, like our Squalane + Amino Acids Lip Balm, is likely your first and best instinct. Balms help hydrate and soften the lips—and quickly. But what if we told you there was a pre-lip balm step you could take to improve both the performance of your balm and the look of your lips?

A chemical-powered PHA serum that gently exfoliates the lips without abrasion or friction. Let’s be real, we know lip exfoliation is hardly a groundbreaking concept, but we’ve formulated ours using a not-so-ordinary approach. We swapped out the small particles traditionally used to create physical exfoliators and formulated ours using polyhydroxy acids—gentle exfoliating molecules. Polyhydroxy acids (PHAs) gently break down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together, allowing newer, more radiant skin to emerge.

So why does regular exfoliation translate to less dehydrated lips? Well, first off, lip skin is among the thinnest skin on your face. As a result, moisture escapes them more easily, or in other, more scientifically-rooted words, they are more susceptible to transepidermal water loss. Transepidermal water loss is essentially the process of water naturally evaporating from the skin, which can lead to dryness and flaking. To maintain highly moisturized lips, regular exfoliation isn’t just recommended, it’s key. And here’s why: Our skin cells are naturally renewed about every 28 days. During this process, old skin cells travel from the foundational layer of the skin before finally emerging to the surface layer, where they are sloughed away in a process known as desquamation.

By regularly exfoliating with a gentle formulation like our new PHA 5% Exfoliating Lip Serum, you help your lips shed old and dry skin cells more effectively. Allowing newer, healthier, more hydrated skin cells to emerge on the skin's surface more consistently. By maintaining a smooth surface for your lips, you not only help improve their appearance, but you also remove barriers that would stand in the way of optimal product absorption (i.e. dead skin buildup).

While most lip exfoliators contain small particles and rely on manually removing dead skin cells through scrubbing, opting for a chemical exfoliator is actually a great option for your lips. Firstly, when you opt for a chemical exfoliator instead of a scrub, you drastically reduce the risk of potential over exfoliation. The strength of chemical exfoliators are predetermined based on the concentration levels of the product, making their potency more predictable. The effectiveness and strength of a physical exfoliator, on the other hand, relies more heavily on the pressure you apply, along with the kind and size of the particles that you use.

For gentle, balanced, chemical exfoliation, PHAs are the most suitable molecules to use. When compared to other chemical exfoliants, like AHAs and BHAs, PHA molecules are much larger in size, so they typically remain on the surface of the skin as opposed to seeping in deeper. This is what makes PHAs ideal for sensitive skin, like the skin on your lips. Not to mention the fact that PHAs are also humectants, meaning they draw in water to the skin.

Formulated to smooth and hydrate your lips, our PHA 5% Exfoliating Lip Serum is powered by PHAs to be a gentle chemical exfoliator that targets the surface of your lips, leaving them resurfaced, hydrated and more plump. Along with PHAs, our water-based serum is formulated with Daucus Carota Sativa (Black Carrot)—an antioxidant-rich ingredient with a vibrant hue that disappears on application, leaving only smoother, more conditioned lips over time.

For the best results, we recommend nighttime use. Apply a thin layer to clean and dry lips, allowing the product to dry down completely before applying any additional products to the lip.

For your lips to truly live up to their plumpest, smoothest, most hydrated potential, supporting their natural renewal process is essential. Our PHA 5% Exfoliating Lip Serumnot only gently smooths away dead skin but also nourishes your lips in the process. Meaning you’re left with not only smoother lips, but longer-lasting hydration, a softer texture over time and better balm absorption. Not to mention lips with undeniable chemistry.