Lip care

Peptide lip butter, explained: what peptides do for lips

By the LÉRA team · · 2 min read

The Caramel Macchiato lip butter applicator, labelled with its key ingredients

The short answer

A peptide lip butter is a glossy, conditioning lip product that includes a peptide: a short chain of amino acids used in skincare. Most of the softness you feel comes from its butters and oils; the peptide is a supporting ingredient, not a filler. It won't change the shape of your lips, and ours has no plumping agents at all.

What is a peptide?

A peptide is a short chain of amino acids, the building blocks of proteins. Skincare uses a handful of them. The one in our lip butter, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, is a chain of three amino acids attached to a fatty acid (the "palmitoyl" part), which helps it sit comfortably in an oil-based formula.

What do peptides do for lips?

Peptides like Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1 are often called signal peptides, because laboratory research suggests they can encourage skin cells to keep up their normal maintenance work. That research is mostly in the lab rather than on lips, and we'd rather tell you that than imply more. What you'll notice day to day comes from the whole formula: lips that feel softer, look smoother and stay comfortable for longer.

Peptide lip butter vs lip plumper

Many plumping glosses work by mild irritation. Ingredients such as capsicum (chili), cinnamon or menthol make lips tingle and swell slightly for a while. Our lip butter has none of them. It isn't trying to make your lips look like someone else's; it's there for how they feel at three in the afternoon.

What makes it a butter

A lip butter sits between a balm and a gloss: richer than a gloss, shinier than a balm. Ours is built on:

  • Shea butter, a rich plant butter that softens and cushions.
  • Argan kernel oil and camellia seed oil, light oils that add slip and shine.
  • Arnica flower oil and vitamin E.
  • Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1.

The result is glossy without being sticky, with a sheer wash of colour. Caramel Macchiato is a rosy nude and Cherry Kiss is a sheer cherry red. Each is a 10 ml tube.

How to wear it

  • On its own, for a glossy, tinted finish.
  • Over lip liner or lipstick, for shine.
  • As often as you like. Reapply after eating or whenever your lips feel dry.

In this guide

Questions people ask

Does peptide lip butter plump lips?

Not ours. It contains no plumping agents, so there's no tingle and no swelling. It's made for comfort, gloss and a sheer tint.

What's the difference between a lip butter and a lip gloss?

A gloss is mostly about shine and can feel tacky. A lip butter is richer, conditions while you wear it and, done well, is glossy without the stickiness.

Are peptides safe to use on lips?

Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1 is a common cosmetic ingredient in lip and skin care. As with any cosmetic, stop using it if your lips become irritated.

How often can I apply peptide lip butter?

As often as you like: after eating, or whenever your lips feel dry.

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