That thinning-lip thing is happening. A little research tells me the cause is a natural mid-life dip in collagen (the protein in our bodies responsible for skin strength and elasticity). Frankly, I don’t like this skinny-lip look nor the smattering of little perpendicular lines around my mouth that’s part of the bargain. The whole effect is giving me one more reason to use the F word. Enter lip plumping gloss.
I went on a search to fill ’em up, but without the bruising, the $400 price tag, and potential ducky side effects of hypodermic needles of synthetic fillers (like Restylane and Juvederm). I decided to try something a lot simpler. It’s a clear gloss with a wand by Too Faced, called Lip Injection Extreme.
I wondered if it was just a lot of hype, but was willing to give this lip plumping gloss a whirl. Frankly, the stuff burns a bit for about 10 minutes after you apply it (as if your lips were super-chapped), probably due to the ingredient Capsicum Frutescens Resin, a chili-pepper derivative. And I got results: My lips subtly plumped up within the hour and stayed looking full for another hour or two…minus bruising and second mortgages of an in-office procedure.
One note: While the aesthetic benefits of having a juicy pout might improve your chances of being kissed, I would caution against doing so without a signed waiver from the kissee, in case you transfer the stinging stuff while smooching. Lip plumping gloss is fire.
–Hillary Quinn
