Brands / The Ordinary / Beauty / Skincare / The Ordinary PHA 5% Exfoliating Lip Serum

The Ordinary PHA 5% Exfoliating Lip Serum

Name: The Ordinary PHA 5% Exfoliating Lip Serum
Brand: The Ordinary
SKU: A8285769
Price: 8.50 USD
Availability: InStock

The Ordinary

$8.50

Shop Now

Product Insights & Style Tips

The Ordinary PHA 5% Exfoliating Lip Serum brings a quiet, clinical ease to lips. This water-based treatment relies on 5% gluconolactone to ease away roughness at the surface, while a generous glycerin load keeps lips hydrated and comfortable. Ectoin helps support the skin barrier for daily resilience, and a dash of black carrot extract adds a soft pink glow rather than a pigment punch. It feels light and refreshing, like a whisper of renewal that you can wear every day.

Apply a thin layer onto clean, dry lips on alternate evenings and allow it to dry. After it sets, apply lip balm as needed during the day to keep hydration levels up. The formula is water-based, paraben-free, phthalate-free, and silicone-free, so it layers under gloss or a tinted balm without getting clingy. Note that you may notice a slightly tangy taste as the acids work, a small reminder of the renewal happening with each use.

From The Ordinary, this lip serum leans into clinical simplicity with a light, hydrating exfoliator that plays well under gloss or balm, a quiet staple for a modern lip routine.

Materials / Fabrication

Gentle, chemical based lip exfoliator with 5% Polyhydroxy Acid (Gluconolactone)
Water based serum formulation
High glycerin content (greater than 50%) for hydration
Ectoin to support the skin barrier and long term hydration
Black carrot extract for antioxidant properties and mild pink color
Key ingredients include Gluconolactone, Citric Acid, Malic Acid, and Tartaric Acid
Net weight: 0.5 oz
Paraben-free; phthalate-free; silicone-free
Made in Canada
Suitable for all skin types
Usage: Apply a thin layer onto clean, dry lips on alternate evenings as needed. Allow to dry. Apply lip balm as needed throughout the day. Note: a slightly tangy taste may be noticed

Recommended Care

Use as directed; avoid contact with eyes and mucous membranes
Patch test prior to first use to check for sensitivity
Store capped in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight
Keep out of reach of children
If swallowed, seek medical advice or rinse mouth

Style Check

Aesthetics: 7/10

Studio-lit shot emphasizes a sleek, clinical chic lip care aesthetic. The Ordinary PHA lip serum reads as refined and approachable, with a pale pink hue from black carrot coloring, housed in a clear glass dropper bottle. Minimal typography and stark white backdrop let the product feel editorial, modern, and subtly statement making.

Craftsmanship: 7/10

Close-up visuals reveal a precise dropper cap and clean glass that convey controlled, premium application. The serum's viscosity appears balanced, suggesting comfortable slip on lips without heaviness. The absence of extra ornamentation reinforces a craft-forward, no-nonsense ethos, while the packaging signals consistent build quality typical of this brand's design language.

Affordability: $$$$$

Given the price point and brand positioning, the value feels justified. The simple, clinical packaging paired with efficacious ingredients like PHAs and glycerin communicates practical luxury rather than excess. The cost aligns with its design, offering an editorially credible lip care option that remains accessible for everyday confidence and routine upkeep.

Shop More The Ordinary

Beauty Haircare Makeup

Beauty Trends & Makeup Tips

The 90s Zigzag Headband Is Back In Rotation

From the yoga mom ponytail to stacked barrettes, hair accessories had a serious moment this summer. Now another nostalgic favorite is making its return – and it might be the lowest-effort trend of them all. The zigzag headband is back, with Hailey Bieber leading the revival as only she can. She’s been spotted wearing the throwback accessory in her latest Instagram photo dumps and her Miu Miu campaign, which at this point is all the confirmation anyone needs. The classic acetate or resin headband, defined by its signature zigzag teeth, grips the crown and pushes hair effortlessly back into place. On hot, humid days when the last thing you want is hair sticking to your face, it’s less of a trend and more of a solution. Ahead, how to wear it without looking like you stepped straight out of a 90s yearbook.

The In-Flight Skincare Routine That Saves Your Skin Every Time

Summer is one of the busiest travel seasons, and if you still have flights to catch before it wraps up, the question of what to pack in your personal bag inevitably comes up. In-flight skincare content is everywhere right now, with creators sharing elaborate multi-step routines that look great on camera but raise a practical question: is that actually a good idea at 30,000 feet? The short answer is no. Planes are notorious for circulating bacteria, which means slathering on multiple products mid-flight is doing more harm than good. That said, doing absolutely nothing isn’t the answer either. The dry cabin air is genuinely brutal on your skin, and a pared-down approach using the right products can make a real difference in how you look and feel when you land. Ahead, the only in-flight skincare products worth packing—and exactly how to use them.

Blush Tailoring Gives You The Most Natural Flush

Not every makeup look calls for full-on blush blindness. And while a statement flush absolutely has its place, there are days when something softer and more diffused simply makes more sense. Blush tailoring, dubbed by makeup artist Rose Siard, is the technique that customizes your blush to better complement your complexion and the rest of your makeup – without requiring a drawer full of different shades for every occasion. Instead, it works with products you already own to create a color that melts seamlessly into the skin. The payoff is a naturally flushed complexion that feels less like makeup and more like your skin.

About The Ordinary

The Ordinary is a Canadian skincare brand launched in 2016 by Deciem, the Abnormal Beauty Company, with a mission to deliver high-performance actives at honest prices. It sits in the beauty category as a skincare label, not a makeup line, and is known for transparent ingredient labeling and clinical formulations with integrity. The lineup spans serums and ampoules, acids and exfoliants, hydrating moisturizers, nourishing oils, cleansers, sunscreens, and targeted treatments such as vitamin C, niacinamide, and retinol products. The brand favors minimalist, no-frills packaging and science-driven solutions that address specific concerns like hydration, blemishes, and uneven texture. It resonates with shoppers who want effective actives without luxury-brand markup.