The Ordinary PHA 5% Exfoliating Lip Serum 15ml: Why Can the Colour Differ?
Product colour & informed lip care · Evidence checked 24 October 2026
The Ordinary confirms that its PHA 5% Exfoliating Lip Serum 15ml can vary from vivid pink to pale peach. The brand links this variation to black carrot extract and says it should not affect efficacy. Different colour intensity alone is not evidence that a bottle is fake.
Pink in one bottle, much paler in another: the difference can understandably raise questions. For this exact product, the brand provides a specific explanation.
What The Ordinary says about the colour
The explanation comes directly from The Ordinary. On its official PHA 5% Exfoliating Lip Serum product page, the brand identifies black carrot extract as the ingredient that gives the formula its pink colour. It then explicitly describes variation in that colour.
“ranging from vivid pink to pale peach however should not impact efficacy.”
The Ordinary — Product Details / About, checked 24 October 2026.
This answers both parts of the question: why can the shade differ? The brand attributes that variation to the plant-derived ingredient. Does a paler shade mean weaker performance? The Ordinary says the described variation should not affect efficacy. Colour intensity is therefore not presented by the brand as a measure of the serum’s strength.
The brand’s own blog explains the ingredient further
In its launch article, “Your New Lip Hydration Cheat Code: Chemical Exfoliation”, The Ordinary again identifies black carrot in this exact serum, using the ingredient name Daucus Carota Sativa. It describes the ingredient as antioxidant-rich and explains that the formula’s vivid hue disappears on application.
These two first-party sources answer different questions. The product page confirms the range of bottle colours; the launch blog explains the colour-bearing ingredient and what happens to the visible hue when the product is applied. The pink appearance in the bottle is not a promise of a pink lip tint.
| Question | The Ordinary’s explanation | Direct brand source |
|---|---|---|
| Where does the pink come from? | Black carrot extract in the formulation. | Product details |
| Can one bottle look paler? | The published range extends from vivid pink to pale peach. | Colour-variation statement |
| Does the brand say this affects efficacy? | It says the described variation should not. | Product details |
| Is the colour meant to stain the lips pink? | The launch blog says the hue disappears on application. | Official launch blog |
What the two-bottle comparison shows
The comparison below shows two differently coloured bottles carrying the same product name. One looks pinker; the other looks considerably paler. These are two frames supplied from a retailer page displaying a video attributed on-screen to The Ordinary.
These frames illustrate the question; the brand’s written product explanation supplies the answer. They do not establish which bottle was produced first, where either was intended to be sold, or a formula change. Calling the paler bottle “new packaging” would go beyond what they show.
Colour variation and checking a particular bottle
Recognising a documented difference helps avoid an unsupported counterfeit accusation. It also leaves a separate, practical question: what do you know about the bottle in your hands?
| Situation | What it means for your next step |
|---|---|
| Two bottles differ within the brand-described colour range | That difference alone does not establish a fake, a reformulation or a packaging renewal. |
| An opened bottle develops an unexpected change | The colour-range statement alone does not explain every change over time. Check the pack’s storage and use-period instructions and ask the seller or brand about that bottle. |
| The source or condition of a bottle concerns you | Keep the packaging and purchase record for a specific enquiry. Do not apply or taste it as an authenticity test. |
For Adilsons’ published sourcing information, visit our Authenticity & Trust page. Product colour is one observation; it cannot replace checking the supply chain.
Using the product
Where does this serum fit into lip care?
The Ordinary describes it as an exfoliating lip treatment containing 5% gluconolactone, a PHA, alongside 1.5% AHAs. Brand formulation and intended use. Treat it as an optional treatment, rather than a necessary addition to every routine.
At Adilsons Beauty, our barrier-first approach starts with how your skin feels now and what you already tolerate. If your lips are comfortable with the care you already use, you do not need to add an exfoliant simply because it is available.
If your lips are cracked, sore or stinging
Start with gentle care. The American Academy of Dermatology recommends non-irritating lip balm and, for very dry cracked lips, an ointment such as white petroleum jelly. Stop products that burn or sting, and avoid picking or licking the lips. AAD guidance on chapped lips.
Adding another active is not the first step for already irritated lips. An existing, well-tolerated balm may cover the immediate need.
The brand’s directions
The Ordinary directs a thin layer onto clean, dry lips on alternate evenings as needed, then drying time and lip balm as needed. Use only on unbroken skin; patch testing is advised. Follow your own pack’s instructions. Full directions and warnings.
A simple example: keep your usual tolerated facial cleansing and moisturising routine. On a suitable treatment evening, fit this optional lip step in before balm. During the day, protect the lips as well as the face. The AAD advises a non-irritating SPF 30+ lip balm outdoors, reapplied every two hours. AAD sun-protection guidance.
Introduce one new treatment at a time. Avoid adding a scrub or another lip exfoliant alongside it while you are establishing tolerance. This keeps the routine simpler and makes it easier to notice what suits you.
If a reaction happens, stop and reassess
For example, if your lips start burning after introducing the serum, do not push through because the product is described as gentle. This is an illustrative situation, not a report about the bottles pictured above. Irritated skin, additional exfoliation or sensitivity to an ingredient are possible considerations; they do not establish the cause of an individual reaction.
If irritation occurs: The Ordinary advises rinsing off, stopping use and consulting a physician. Product warning. The AAD also advises stopping irritating lip products and seeing a dermatologist if chapping persists despite two to three weeks of appropriate care. When to seek assessment.
Need help deciding whether it belongs in your routine?
Visit Adilsons Beauty at Shop 12, Citadelle Mall, Port Louis. We offer a free in-store skincare consultation with your purchase — no appointment needed, just walk in during shop opening hours and ask. This is cosmetic skincare guidance.
For questions, message +230 5778 2336 on WhatsApp. Orders and payments go through the website, rather than WhatsApp.
If you already know this treatment suits your needs and are comfortable using it, check its current availability on our website.
Find the lip serum on adilsons.muSources
- The Ordinary — PHA 5% Exfoliating Lip Serum 15ml: colour explanation, intended use and directions; checked 24 October 2026.
- The Ordinary — official PHA Lip Exfoliator Serum launch blog: black carrot ingredient and hue on application; checked 24 October 2026.
- American Academy of Dermatology — 7 dermatologists’ tips for healing dry, chapped lips: barrier care, sun protection and referral guidance; accessed 23 October 2026.
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