How to use Lip Serum: A guide to better lip care
Lip serum is designed to bring a skincare-first approach to lip care, delivering targeted ingredients to hydrate, smooth and support the lips. Unlike a traditional balm or gloss, a lip serum can be used as both part of your daily routine and as an overnight treatment.
So, how do you use lip serum? Apply a thin layer to clean, dry lips during the day, and a more generous layer at night as an overnight lip treatment. The application itself is simple, but a few small details can help you get more from your formula.
How to apply lip serum during the day
Start with clean, dry lips. If you’ve just applied moisturiser to your face, let it absorb for a minute before applying your lip serum. You want the serum making contact with your actual lip tissue, not sitting on top of another product.
Apply one thin layer using the metal applicator. League’s applicator is designed to feel cooling on contact, which helps soothe the lips and distribute the product evenly. One layer gives you a polished, glossy finish with visible hydration and a subtle plump from the boosting mint complex.
If you want more intensity, wait thirty seconds and apply a second layer. Two thin layers perform better than one thick one because each layer gets a chance to begin absorbing.
Can you layer lip serum with lip gloss or lipstick?
League works beautifully on its own, but it also layers well. If you want colour, apply your lip serum first as a hydrating, plumping base, then layer your lipstick or liner on top. The serum creates a smoother canvas and helps other products apply more evenly. You can also apply League over lipstick for a glossy, nourishing top coat.
Can you use lip serum overnight?
At night, lip serum can be used as a more intensive treatment. Apply a generous layer of League before bed and allow the formula to work overnight.
The peptide-powered formula is designed to support smoother, firmer-looking lips, while hyaluronic acid helps attract and retain moisture. Jojoba oil and vitamin E help nourish and condition the lips overnight.
How often should you use lip serum?
For best results, use League at least twice daily: morning and night. Reapply throughout the day as desired. Consistent use helps keep lips hydrated, nourished and smooth.
Lip serum vs lip gloss: what's the difference?
While lip serum and lip gloss can both leave the lips looking glossy, they're designed with different priorities. Lip gloss is primarily a cosmetic product, created to add shine, colour or finish. Lip serum takes a skincare-first approach, using targeted ingredients to care for the lips while enhancing their appearance.
League was designed to do both. Our Plumping Lip Serum combines peptides, hyaluronic acid, jojoba oil and vitamin E with a glossy, non-sticky finish, so it can be worn alone, layered with other lip products or used overnight.
What should you look for in a lip serum?
Look for a formula that combines hydration with ingredients designed to support the condition and appearance of the lips. Hyaluronic acid helps attract and retain moisture, while nourishing ingredients such as jojoba oil and vitamin E help replenish and condition. Peptides can also be incorporated into lip formulas to support smoother, firmer-looking lips over time.
The best formula is ultimately one you'll want to use consistently- comfortable enough for everyday wear, but nourishing enough to become part of your skincare routine.
Ready to make lip serum part of your routine?
Meet the League Plumping Lip Serum. A peptide-powered, skincare-first formula designed to hydrate, smooth and gently plump, with a cooling metal applicator and glossy, non-sticky finish.
Written by Fiona McEwan-Brown, Cosmetic Nurse & Co-Founder of League Beauty
With more than 15 years' experience as a Registered Nurse and over a decade specialising in cosmetic nursing, Fiona founded League Beauty to bring skincare-first innovation to lip care. Drawing on her clinical expertise and years of treating skin, she shares educational content designed to help people make informed choices and embrace a skincare-first approach to lip care.