From Marilyn · Monroe’s lip liner outlining her signature Hollywood old-school look, to the popular lip challenge of the 2010s (not recommended), the quest for plump lips has a long history. Fast forward to today, and there are many invasive cosmetic and non-invasive topical treatments available. While many people choose to inject lip fillers that contain synthetic hyaluronic acid (HA), others prefer over-the-counter topical solutions to achieve this look. If you’re uncomfortable with the injection method or aren’t in a hurry to adopt it, there are some promising new topical options that should be of concern to you.
Learn About Lip Plumpers
A lip plumper is an external product that makes lips fuller, more hydrated, and fuller. The effects are temporary and can last for a few hours at a time. These topical products usually come in the form of lip gloss, serum, or lip balm.
Traditional Formula
Historically, lip plumping balms have been formulated with mildly irritating ingredients. These ingredients work by increasing blood flow to the lips. They tend to be spicy ingredients like cinnamon, peppermint, or capsaicin (a substance found in chili peppers). These ingredients are responsible for the stinging sensation of traditional lip plumping balms.
These traditional ingredients are still popular in lip plumping products, and some are still being used in new products. The good news? They are formulated to be more comfortable than in the past.
How Does the New Lip Plumper Work?
Newer lip plumping formulas use alternative compounds to plump the lips, and they offer a variety of advantages over traditional lip augmentation. The new generation of lip augmentation has a different mechanism of action. Rather than relying on stimulation to temporarily swell the lips, these lip plumpers with hyaluronic acid and peptides have potential long-term benefits by stimulating collagen production and providing hydration.
Hyaluronic acid is a hygroscopic molecule. This means that when applied to the skin, it absorbs moisture. This helps to moisturize and plump lips, similar to what it does on the skin as a serum. At the same time, peptides are an anti-aging ingredient found in many skincare products that have been shown to improve skin quality and texture. Thanks to these two special ingredients, the quality and fullness of the lips should improve over time, as well as with the continued use of these new lip plumping products.
Not only do your lips look more beautiful, but they also feel better. The advantage of these new lip plumping balms is that there is less irritation and discomfort when used, and you can reap longer-term benefits.
What to Look out For
Hyaluronic acid and peptide lip plumping balms may not be as immediate as traditional formulas and vary from person to person. With the moisturizing effects of hyaluronic acid, you may get an immediate lip plumping effect, but peptides are slower to work on and require continued use for weeks or even months.
At Last
While you may still opt for traditional lip plumping products that use natural ingredients to cause inflammation, it’s no longer your only option. The new generation of lip plumping products harnesses the power of hyaluronic acid and peptides to increase lip volume without irritating the lips, and the results may last longer – you just have to be patient and wait for these ingredients to do their magic.