Angelina Jolie’s plush lips have become more than just her trademark, they’re the envy of skinny-lipped gals everywhere. Those with lips less-than-endowed can turn to lip plumping glosses, but there are a lot of imposters out there. Some glosses are not only useless, but many have a tingle that can make your stringbean lips feel like they’re battling hot needles. Plumping glosses are a hard product to buy since you usually won’t notice results instantly (bye bye, in-store testers). But we’ve taken some of the legwork out and separated the legit from the losers. Here, glosses that make your lips look like they’ve been plumpin’ iron.
The Hollywood Star:
City Lips Collagen Peptide Lip Treatment, $9
There’s a reason this is the first Google result when you search best lip plumping gloss. This plumping gloss has been featured in Good Housekeeping and Good Morning America, and is sold in over 85 countries. The gloss has garnered quite a following in tinsel town: Tyra Banks, Penelope Cruz and Fergie are a few of their fans. City Lips says its one-of-a-kind ingredient called Celadrol helps with cell-turnover and moisture.
The Catch: It’s a lip treatment, meaning you have to continue using it for it to work. The gloss should be used for 30 days to see full results. So don’t give up!
The Tree Hugger:
Physicians Formula Plump Potion, $15
Physicians Formula is famous for its environmentally friendly attitude toward makeup. The company often uses organic or mineral ingredients and eco-friendly packaging. This plumping gloss is made with poor burning-lip sufferers in mind. It’s said to be made with non-irritating ingredients, is hypoallergenic (good in case it accidentally rubs off around your lips) and fragrance-free. Plump Potion comes in standout pink and purple shades if you’re looking a bolder gloss.
The Catch: It claims plumper looking lips in 60 seconds, but it’s unlikely it’ll be that fast for everyone.
The Wild Card:
TheBalm Plump Your Pucker Tinted Gloss, $15
This gloss comes in a myriad of colours and flavours. It’s great for people who have a hard time matching their gloss to their skin tone (that is, cool or warm) since it comes in so many shades. And if you’re one to base your glosses on flavour, this is the one for you. There are traditional gloss go-to flavours like strawberry, but there are also less-common ones like coconut, passion fruit and lemon. The gloss is made with folic acid (yup, like the pregnancy vitamin) and vitamin C, both of which help your body develop new cells.
The Catch: It’s also made with menthol. The chemical tastes and smells like mint, and is often used in restorative lip treatments since it helps cool your skin. But for some, the cooling effect menthol has may make their lips feel numb. It isn’t for everyone.
The Camouflager
Avon Plump Pout Lip Gloss, $6
Avon offers the cheapest of the bunch for the gloss addict on a budget. What makes this plumping gloss special are the shades. It’s currently available in two colours, both of which are neutral honey shades (a darker chocolate brown shade is in the works, too). Perfect if you’re looking for a nude lip.
The Catch: The Pink Nectar shade isn’t available any more, so there aren’t any options for those who want a pop of colour.
The Marathoner
Clinique Full Potential Lips Plump and Shine, $18
The most expensive of the group, this gloss is said to last up to six hours and boasts a slew of long-term benefits. Clinique Full Potential says it moisturizes and calms lips, and contains peptides, which help natural collagen production. This gloss offers the most diverse choices for shades. There are look-at-me lilac, violet and bright pink options, but there are also translucent and neutral shades if you’re feeling more subtle. No shade is similar to another.
The Catch: You’ll shell a few more bucks for this one than the others.
