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The Ordinary

PHA 5% Exfoliating Lip Serum.

The Ordinary PHA 5% Exfoliating Lip Serum
Lip

About this product

An exfoliating lip serum from The Ordinary using 5% PHA, formulated to gently smooth and resurface the lips without grit or staining.

Lip

The Guru Index verdict

74%

Approved

Approved · 74%
5Reviewers
3Approved
1Mixed
1Skip
#4 in Best Lip

What the gurus are saying

Gurus consistently praise this product for delivering visible plumping and smoothness within the first use, with soft lips by morning. The gentle PHA formula is widely preferred over traditional gritty lip scrubs, and the high glycerin content provides strong hydration. One reviewer found it ineffective and experienced dryness, citing unclear application instructions as a secondary issue. Most agree minimal product is needed, though layering with a lip balm is recommended to lock in moisture.
Synthesized from 5 expert reviews

Key actives & flags

Fragrance-freeAlcohol-free

Full ingredients

Glycerin, Aqua/​Water/​Eau, Gluconolactone, Ectoin, Daucus Carota Sativa (Carrot) Juice, Citric Acid, Malic Acid, Tartaric Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Xanthan Gum, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate

Every take, in full

What the gurus are saying.

Every take we've logged from this product's reviews across YouTube. Click any row to watch the moment they said it.

All takes Approved only Skip only Mixed only Hide sponsored
Approved
"It really does give the most rejuvenated look around the eyes"
Top Pick: exfoliating lip product
All 11 takes from Sincerely Miss Ash
MY 5 GO-TO PRODUCTS FOR BRIGHT UNDER EYES AND SIGNS OF AGING
"It really does give the most rejuvenated look around the eyes"
THE ORDINARY & NIOD APRIL SALE 2026 | TOP 18 ANTI-AGING PRODUCTS + THE PRODUCTS THAT ALWAYS SELL OUT
"It does a really good job to keep your lips super soft and smooth. All you need is the tiniest little drop and that's it. If you over apply, yes, it's going to get into your mouth and yes, you will taste something, but don't put a lot of product and it won't go in your mouth and you won't taste anything. This is one of the best I've ever used and way better than a gritty lip scrub because lip scrubs actually do more harm than good."
I’VE BEEN USING THE ORDINARY EXFOLIATING LIP SERUM WRONG FOR 4 MONTHS - UNEXPECTED RESULTS UNLOCKED!
"It gives you that nice temporary plump look to the lips and it really looks youthful and full, juicy. And you're getting the benefits of ectoin in here, which is another ingredient that can help to hydrate the lips. It really is a nice nourishing, hydrating, repairing lip serum that also exfoliates at the same time. This is one of my favorites. I haven't used anything like this before. This is the only thing that I will put on my lips to exfoliate. I love the results so much that I wanted to see if this would perform in other areas. It has 50% glycerin, it also has ectoin and it has those gentle PHAs. Within the second day of using this on a dry, flaky area, that flaky, dry, crusty, crepey looking area smoothed right out within 2 days."
10 NEW ORDINARY PRODUCTS RANKED - SOME ACTUALLY SURPRISED ME | NEWEST LAUNCHES EXPLAINED & REVIEWED
"The Ordinary PHA 5% Exfoliating Lip Serum, I've been loving this and this is truly 10 out of 10. The first ingredient is glycerin, so this product is pretty much glycerin which is very hydrating and plumping because it's a humectant. It really keeps the lips nice and hydrated and plump, and that is really why I love this so much because of how plump my lips go. I don't really have dry lips, but this is just a product that ensures the lips remain soft and smooth. I hate lip scrubs because they're very scratchy and I feel like they do more harm than good. This is so gentle with the 5% PHA, and then there is 1.5% AHA in here as well, which helps to further exfoliate the lips. I think this is really gentle. I use this one or two nights per week, sometimes more often, but this is really nice."
PLUMPER LIPS WITHOUT FILLER - THE ORDINARY PHA 5% EXFOLIATING LIP SERUM UPDATE & FINAL THOUGHTS!
"This really is a beautiful lip serum that has a lot of great ingredients in it to nourish, to deeply hydrate and plump the lips, but also most importantly to exfoliate and keep the lips nice and smooth and soft. I was actually quite impressed with this. I noticed results within one use. By the next morning, I woke up, my lips felt so soft. It really does give this nice softer, smoother look to your lips. I had a little bit of dryness in the corner of my mouth from other actives I was using, and within 2 days, that dryness that I had in the corner of my mouth was completely gone."
PLUMPER LIPS WITHOUT FILLER - THE ORDINARY PHA 5% EXFOLIATING LIP SERUM UPDATE & FINAL THOUGHTS!
"This is a lip serum that gives a little plump to the lips from my experience. My lips actually looked more full as soon as I applied it to my lips. I noticed that my lips just looked more full when it was sitting on my lips for a good 20 minutes or so. This is a lip serum that contains a high amount of glycerin. Glycerin is actually the first ingredient in the ingredient list and glycerin is a humectant and humectants are known to plump the skin and give that deep hydration to the skin. We have the 5% PHA which is polyhydroxy acids which are very gentle on the skin. They have a larger molecule so they just give more of that gentle exfoliation. And there's a few AHAs in here as well, but AHAs that are more gentle that contain a larger molecule."
PLUMPER LIPS WITHOUT FILLER - THE ORDINARY PHA 5% EXFOLIATING LIP SERUM UPDATE & FINAL THOUGHTS!
"I am really impressed with this. I was so excited with this launch. And I'm even more excited knowing that this is actually a product that delivers real results. I love the plump that I get with this. Honestly, it's the first thing that I noticed once it dried down. Within 15 to 20 minutes, my lips just felt and looked more plump. There's ectoin in here, a lot of great humectants to keep those deep layers nice and hydrated. I just love the fullness that I get with my lips. It's a gentle exfoliant that most people can use on a regular basis to keep the lips nice and soft and exfoliated. If you have more sensitive skin, maybe start with one or two nights per week and then increase from there depending on how you feel. It is so affordable. Half a drop is all you need. This is going to last a really long time."
THE ORDINARY & NIOD SALE 2025 | TOP 17 ANTI-AGING PRODUCTS + THE PRODUCTS THAT ALWAYS SELL OUT!
"This is fabulous. This is great for all skin types. It has a 5% PHA, which is polyhydroxy acids, which are way more gentle than lactic, glycolic, salicylic acid. They have a larger molecule, so it takes longer to penetrate into the lip before it starts exfoliating. But this truly gives the softest, smoothest lips ever. It is very hydrating. The first ingredient is glycerin. So, I find this to be extremely hydrating and very, very plumping. This is a product that is best used at nighttime on clean, dry lips as the last step in your skincare routine. And you can use this a few nights per week or every other night. If your skin is good with this product, you could use this every night if you want to. And this actually performs really well. I'm actually really impressed with this. So, if you want a good exfoliating lip serum that also hydrates and keeps the lips looking its best, this is a really nice one to look into. And I think this is going to be great for the winter months."
THE ORDINARY PHA 5% EXFOLIATING LIP SERUM | EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW - THE NEXT VIRAL PRODUCT?
"I was never able to find anything like it other than lip scrubs and I cannot stand lip scrubs. I feel like these types of formulations compromise the lips even more and I feel like they do more harm than good. So for The Ordinary to have launched a PHA 5% exfoliating lip serum, something that is designed to be gentle for all, I cannot wait to get my hands on this."
THE ORDINARY PHA 5% EXFOLIATING LIP SERUM | EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW - THE NEXT VIRAL PRODUCT?
"This retails at $12.10 Canadian, I believe, around $12 and like $8.50 American. So, this is extremely affordable and even if you went through this within a month, I mean, let's face it, that is so affordable to repurchase again. So, I believe this is priced right. I think we're getting a good amount of product and that formulation list looks really impressive. I cannot wait to try this. I actually feel like this might be a trending product that will go viral that will sell out really quickly. There really isn't anything like this on the market in terms of an exfoliating lip serum. So, this is another reason why I feel like this is going to go viral."
THE ORDINARY PHA 5% EXFOLIATING LIP SERUM | EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW - THE NEXT VIRAL PRODUCT?
"This is extremely affordable at around $12 Canadian and $8.50 American, and even if you went through this within a month, that is so affordable to repurchase again. The formulation list looks really impressive. There really isn't anything like this on the market in terms of an exfoliating lip serum."
Approved
"It's a hydrating serum, but certainly over time can help remove some of that chapped flaky skin on your lip that builds up over time. You apply it like a serum, just one little tiny drop all over my lip. It doesn't burn, doesn't stain. It's a great one if you're looking for something that gently exfoliates that doesn't stain, or if you struggle with flaky skin or retain dead skin or uneven tone. Using a gentle product over time can definitely help with that. Ingredient-wise it's got 5% gluconolactone, which is a PHA, glycerin and other wonderful hydrating and soothing ingredients. You can use it twice a day. I definitely would recommend applying more of an emollient over that because as a serum, if it just dries, that may pull more water out of your skin, or I feel like my lip doesn't feel hydrated or protected enough. So I always recommend following a serum that would dry more readily with some sort of emollient or petrolatum product afterwards."
Skip
"So they describe it as a gentle chemical-based lip exfoliater, with 5% polyhydroxy acids. It's meant to smooth and hydrate the lips. I used it for a while every other day and it didn't do anything to my lips. Nothing changed at all. In fact my lips are drier. It didn't even keep them to their normal level of crustiness or non-crustiness. Also the directions weren't so clear. The How To Use on their website says to apply a thin layer onto clean dry lips on alternate evenings, allow the product to dry, apply lip balm as needed throughout the day. But I was confused. Do I use a lip balm afterwards? That wasn't clear on their website. However on their Instagram it says layer it under their Squalene + Amino Acids Lip Balm to help retain moisture overnight. Why is that not a direction on your website or on the product itself?"
All 3 takes from Robert Welsh
Hits, Misses & Meh... | ranking new makeup releases!
"The results are smoother, healthier looking lips with undeniable chemistry. It contains gentle exfoliation, smoothness and hydration. As soon as I saw this, I was like, I want to buy that. I used it for a week and I loved what I used. It tastes great, by the way. You don't obviously eat it, but if you accidentally lick some, it tastes really good. I do like the before and afters. They look realistic. I didn't see a change yet, but I do believe there will be one. It's science. But I need to keep using it consistently."
I Can’t Believe I Wasted Money on These Makeup Products…
"So they describe it as a gentle chemical-based lip exfoliater, with 5% polyhydroxy acids. It's meant to smooth and hydrate the lips. I used it for a while every other day and it didn't do anything to my lips. Nothing changed at all. In fact my lips are drier. It didn't even keep them to their normal level of crustiness or non-crustiness. Also the directions weren't so clear. The How To Use on their website says to apply a thin layer onto clean dry lips on alternate evenings, allow the product to dry, apply lip balm as needed throughout the day. But I was confused. Do I use a lip balm afterwards? That wasn't clear on their website. However on their Instagram it says layer it under their Squalene + Amino Acids Lip Balm to help retain moisture overnight. Why is that not a direction on your website or on the product itself?"
I Can’t Believe I Wasted Money on These Makeup Products…
"In terms of, it didn't really do anything for me. The directions could have been clearer. However the lip exfoliator, I would not buy again. I think it was a waste of money. I actually don't have this product anymore because I threw them away."
Approved
"This is The Ordinary PHA 5% Exfoliating Lip Serum. I've already gone through one bottle, I bought another, and now I bought two more in this sale. I just love it. Twice a week. This is my top tip for you with this product. Only use it twice a week because it's potent, but it will give you the smoothest, softest lips. What I like to do is put some of this on and then I'll leave it to do its magic for like 5 minutes. Then I'll put a lip balm on top. You'll wake up with the softest pout of your dreams. I've heard some people online say they use this every day. Please don't do that. This is quite potent. If you want smooth, plump, hydrated lips, twice a week is all you need. If you use it more, then you're at risk sensitivity, irritation, chapping, you don't need that. Twice a week will give you the smoothest lips."
All 8 takes from Mad About Skin
How To Use TRETINOIN And CASTOR OIL For 33% Better Anti Aging
"This is the new The Ordinary PHA 5% exfoliating lip serum. This is really nice. It's a slightly thicker serum, which means it's easy to apply. You only need a couple of drops on the back of your hand and then you can put it on the lips. You could actually use this all over the face as a gentle exfoliator. First of all, it tastes fairly neutral. Anything I put on the lips, it needs to be taste-free. I don't want to be tasting whatever all day long. This is pretty taste neutral. It feels great. And that will just do a gentle exfoliation on the lips."
THIS CHANGES EVERYTHING - New The Ordinary PHA 5% Exfoliating Lip Serum
"The Ordinary announced their latest drop, which is their exfoliating lip serum. This is something genuinely innovative and different to what's available. I'm pretty excited for this to form part of my skincare routine."
THIS CHANGES EVERYTHING - New The Ordinary PHA 5% Exfoliating Lip Serum
"This is something genuinely innovative and different to what's available. I'll be honest with you guys, I'm pretty excited for this to form part of my skincare routine."
THIS CHANGES EVERYTHING - New The Ordinary PHA 5% Exfoliating Lip Serum
"This is something genuinely innovative and different to what's available. I'm pretty excited for this to form part of my skincare routine. The Ordinary PHA 5% exfoliating lip serum is an exfoliating lip serum which is based around a 5% PHA."
THIS CHANGES EVERYTHING - New The Ordinary PHA 5% Exfoliating Lip Serum
"Having an exfoliating acid that's specifically designed for the lips is pretty groundbreaking. The Ordinary have really thought about this formulation. It combines 5% polyhydroxy acid with 1.5% alpha hydroxy acid, which is really important. Polyhydroxy acids have huge molecular sizes, which means they can't go that deep into the skin and cause too much sensitivity and irritation. They're very much a surface level exfoliant. On the lips, I think this is perfect. 5% is a low concentration of a super gentle range of acids."
THIS CHANGES EVERYTHING - New The Ordinary PHA 5% Exfoliating Lip Serum
"The lips are particularly prone to dryness, so ectoin is like the perfect ingredient to have in here. It's also packed full of glycerin, which is one of the best humectants that are going to nourish, plump, and hydrate. If you see that ectoin, the glycerin, the polyhydroxy acids, and the AHAs all working together, I think this is such a smart formulation. And for $10, which is going to be roughly £9, honestly, I don't think we could ask for more. The antioxidants that are present in the formula fend off free radical damage, and the lips are prone to free radical damage like the rest of our skin. So that's great to see. The pinkish hue comes from some antioxidants in the formula. This doesn't stain the lips or add any long-term color. This is a product that I cannot wait to have on regular rotation in my skincare routine."
THIS CHANGES EVERYTHING - New The Ordinary PHA 5% Exfoliating Lip Serum
"This is a product that I cannot wait to have on regular rotation in my skincare routine. The Ordinary recommend you use it two or three times a week and stick to that. Even though they have super low concentrations of really gentle exfoliating acids, the lips are still super sensitive. If you use this every day, your lips would be screaming. So, start twice a week. You can build up to three times a week if your lips will tolerate it and that's enough. But that's all you need. Base the lips. Start with this. A nice layer on the skin and then put a thick occlusive lip balm or moisturizer on the top of it. Sleep and you will wake up with the pow of your dreams."
THE ORDINARY SALE 2025 - Top 10 The Ordinary Serums
"This is The Ordinary PHA 5% Exfoliating Lip Serum. I've already gone through one bottle, I bought another, and now I bought two more in this sale. I just love it. Twice a week. This is my top tip for you with this product. Only use it twice a week because it's potent, but it will give you the smoothest, softest lips. What I like to do is put some of this on and then I'll leave it to do its magic for like 5 minutes. Then I'll put a lip balm on top. You'll wake up with the softest pout of your dreams. I've heard some people online say they use this every day. Please don't do that. This is quite potent. If you want smooth, plump, hydrated lips, twice a week is all you need. If you use it more, then you're at risk sensitivity, irritation, chapping, you don't need that. Twice a week will give you the smoothest lips."
~Mixed
"PHA is an interesting exfoliant. It's very gentle and it can also help with hydration. They meant this product to be applied under other lip balms, especially theirs. It's meant to be used under other lip balms."
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