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 collective 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.”
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Unleashia Sunset Dazzle Gloss Balm
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EADEM Le Couchou Peptide Lip Balm
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U Beauty The Plasma Lip Compound
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Topicals Slick Salve Glossy Lip Balm
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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.”
