LIPS DON’T LIE
Want a plumper pout but not willing to go under the knife? Chloë James tries the market’s best non-surgical products
Kylie Jenner may have declared that big lips are over, but unlike her infamous pout, lip plumping products show no signs of disappearing.
Courtesy of Love Island, demand for lip fillers surged more than 200 per cent this summer alone, and a recent survey found that full, sumptuous lips are still viewed as the most desirable shape.
But for those reluctant to undergo cosmetic treatment or splash out hundreds to perfect their pout, the only answer lies in lip plumpers. With such high expectations, it’s unsurprising that some of these products often do little more than act as an overpriced lip gloss.
If you’re looking for products that will actually add moisture, definition and fullness to your lips, here are the top non-surgical options to boost your pout.
Too Faced Lip Injection Extreme: £19.80, Debenhams
As the name suggests, this clear lip plumper has one goal: surgical results without the needle.
It provides the most extreme sensation of all the products tested – lips tingle and heat up for nearly 20 minutes – and gives the quickest results, plumping lips almost instantly.
What really sets this product aside from its competitors is its long-term benefits. Determined to one-up its already infamous Lip Injection Gloss, Too Faced created the Extreme edition of its cult product to gradually make lips bigger over time.
After just one week of daily use, our tester found that her lips held the plumping effect even when the gloss was wiped off to apply lipstick.
Wunder2 Wunderkiss Lip Plumping Gloss: £17.95, Wunder2
Boasting eight different colours, this has a wider shade range than the typical gloss, and serves as both a plumping and pigmented product.
The sensation is tamer than most plumpers, with more of a cooling effect than a tingling one. Our tester found that while her lips definitely looked fuller, it was a gradual transformation over the course of several applications.
However, it is very pigmented for a gloss, and the benefits of not having to reapply both a lipstick and a gloss makes this product ideal for a quick touchup.
Charlotte Tilbury Collagen Lip Bath: £25, John Lewis
Promisingly, this lip plumper contains collagen – best known as the chemical filler of choice for cosmetic surgeons across the world.
While the effects aren’t quite as extreme as you’d get at the hands of said surgeons, the peppermint and coconut oil formula gives your lips a moisturised, nude glow that has the added bonus of making your pout feel truly nourished after use.
This formula can be used as a replacement for lip balm, but also sits perfectly over lipstick to give your makeup some extra definition. It comes out on top for longevity and those with dry or chapped lips will love this product.
Fenty Beauty Gloss Bomb: £16, Harvey Nichols
Strictly speaking, this isn’t a lip plumper. On a mission to create the “perfect gloss” that users would want to apply over and over, Fenty’s lip product promises to condition your way to plumper lips.
We love the peach scent and how easy it is to layer this gloss. Unlike a lot of lip products, Gloss Bomb manages to withstand talking, eating and drinking, leaving you with Rihanna-approved lips all day long.
Another surprising bonus is its pigmentation. Gloss Bomb is a self-proclaimed “universal nude” which doesn’t wash out any skin tone.
Soap and Glory Sexy Mother Pucker: £9, Soap and Glory
If you’re a fan of lip plumpers, you are sure to have tried Sexy Mother Pucker at some point. This gloss has been a favourite since lip plumpers first hit the scene. Although previously its applicator made it tricky to apply, its recent repackaging has transformed this product into the best budget plumper out there.
It might not provide the most intense tingling sensation, but it’s definitely the longest – the pins-and-needles feeling only gets stronger over time.
If we had just one complaint, it’s that the formula is slightly thicker than its competitors and can border on sticky after multiple applications.
Dior Addict Lip Maximiser: £26, John Lewis
As luxurious a product as the brand name suggests, this is another collagen-based lip maximiser that promises to smooth and moisturise your pout.
The effects are noticeable immediately, with only a gentle tingling sensation that is more refreshing than painful. It wears well throughout the day and requires minimal reapplication, although our tester found the vanilla scent so addictive that she applied it multiple times.
With Dior perfecting their formula over years of backstage runway shows, it’s unsurprising that this product feels the most professional of those tested. However, despite promising to firm the lips over time, we found that after 14 days of use there was no significant difference.
Fillerina Lip Volume Treatment Dosage 2: £60, Marks and Spencer
Of all the lip plumpers we tried, this felt the closest to an actual surgical treatment – as the first dermo cosmetic filler designed for home use.
However, despite its clinical-looking packaging and usage directions, it applies essentially the same as any other lip balm. Available in a range of strengths, our tester opted for Dosage 2, which promises to increase lip volume thanks to six different hyaluronic acid molecules.
We were surprised by how effective this formula was – it may not return immediate results, but after the recommended five daily applications across two weeks, lips felt plumper and smoother. It might boast a hefty price tag, but if you’re looking for long-term improvement, this could be the one for you.
CODE Beautiful Lip Intense Plumper: £20, Boots
Our tester was surprised by this lip plumper. While it looks worryingly neon in the tube, it applies as a soft rose colour and sits like a balm beneath or above a matte lipstick.
This is another case of being patient. Results aren’t instant with this lip plumper, but after a week of constant use our tester found that her lips looked much healthier and smoother.
Barry M That’s Swell!: £4.99, Superdrug
Despite being the most purse-friendly option on this list, this lip plumper is surprisingly effective.
Feeling more like a lip oil than a gloss, it promises to stimulate your skin’s natural collagen. Lips definitely looked healthier and fuller and it is less irritating than some other plumpers.
Our tester found that it worked best under or over a coloured lip product rather than on its own. It does sit for a long time on your lips, which some may find annoying after a while, but as an added bonus – it smells like candycanes.
Transformulas Lip Volume: £29.95, Feel Unique
The tagline for this brand is “beauty without surgery”, which is reflected in this product’s approach to lip plumping.
Once you are over the typical tingling sensation, this product offers longlasting results by locking in the existing moisture of your lips to boost collagen.
The lip line definitely looked more pronounced after several uses and our tester found that this product enhanced the overall shape of her lips more so than the others on this list.
Those who don’t like the feel of lip gloss will prefer the texture of this product, which applies more like a gel than a gloss.
The verdict
Too Faced’s Lip Injection Extreme lives up to its name as the most effective, fast acting plumper on this list. If you’re looking for more than just instant gratification, opt for Wunder2’s Wunderkiss gloss to add some colour to your new and improved pout.