Turns Out Hyaluronic Acid Serum Holds The Key To Softer, Plumper Lips

You’ve got to love a TikTok beauty trend. The latest weird and wonderful (and viral) beauty hack to capture our attention? Combining a hyaluronic acid (something you likely already use as part of your skincare routine) with your lip balm, in order to get plump and hydrated lips. We’ve seen an influx of new lip balms, tinted oils, and volumizing glosses that promise to enhance lips for a bee-stung effect, but some of the ingredients used to deliver a plumping effect can be irritating to sensitive skin. According to TikTok, this hack is the solution.

This is a budget-friendly trick, because it makes use of products most people will already have in their bathroom cabinet. Simply take the hyaluronic acid serum you use for your face and apply it to your lips, following it up with a generous layer of a rich and occlusive balm. Choosing a thick lip balm is key, possibly one made from Vaseline or the plant-based alternative lanolin.

Hyaluronic acid is a humectant, meaning it’s capable of retaining water and preventing it from evaporating. It keeps the hydrolipidic film–the invisible coating that protects the skin from external aggressors–healthy. Contained in countless face and body products, it is also the star ingredient in injectable volumizing fillers. In this instance, following the hyaluronic acid serum with a thick layer of emollient balm ensures maximum absorption of the serum, amplifying its moisturizing power. Plumping effects aside, dermatologists on TikTok have also declared this an effective remedy for dry lips.

The skin on your lips is very thin and tends to dehydrate easily, so it’s important to drink plenty of fluids, otherwise no amount of lip balm will completely stop them from drying out. Wind and colder temperatures can also have a negative impact on the lips, ditto too much sun, so it’s always best to apply a lip balm that contains SPF. Avoid balms and lipsticks that are strongly fragranced, or contain menthol or glitter particles, which can be irritating.