The topic of lip filler comes up in my daily life — and not just because I write about beauty for a living. Anytime I open social media, I catch a video of someone showing off their freshly plumped pout. My friends bring up the matter at least once a week too. Sometimes we debate whether or not we all should get lip injections (and compliment my one girlfriend’s super-tasteful enhancement) or we end up discussing botched filler jobs. Simply put, there’s no denying that big, juicy lips are having a moment, and people are constantly looking for ways to amplify their pucker.
However, lip fillers aren’t necessarily the right choice for everyone. For one, they’re expensive (on average, people spend between $500 and $1,000). You also can’t forget that needles are involved, which is the main reason why I haven’t joined the lip filler bandwagon, even though I’ve had plenty of opportunities to with my job.
Beauty brands have recognized the lip filler conundrum, and many have developed plumping glosses that promise to add volume and enlarge your pout, at least temporarily. I’ve tried my fair share over the years, but there’s only one formula that had my friends asking me if I secretly got lip fillers — and it happens to be $10.
This long-lasting glaze is infused with chili oil, which produces an energizing heated sensation and instantly plumps lips. Along with boosting volume, it smooths out fine lines and comes in eight gorgeous hues.
How I found Maybelline Lifter Plump Lip Plumping Gloss
Because I’m a beauty writer, I’m constantly testing new products, and the Maybelline Lifter Plump arrived on my desk a few months back. I’ve been a fan of Maybelline since my teenage years (its mascara is seriously unmatched!), so I was excited to trial the spicy iteration of its cult-favorite Lifter Gloss.
While the original formula offers a slight volumizing effect, thanks to hydrating hyaluronic acid, Lifter Plump takes things to the next level with chili pepper oil. This addition creates an intense heated sensation and noticeably plumps lips in minutes. The spiciness kind of creeps up and can get intense, although it’s not uncomfortable.
Honestly, I prefer it to other lip plumpers that create an unpleasant tingling sensation. I compare the feeling this one produces to the lingering heat you experience after eating some hot wings. As someone who is spice-averse (sriracha is often too hot for me), I was surprised to enjoy the gloss. In fact, I found that it kind of acts like a cup of coffee waking me up out of midday slump.
Why the Maybelline Lifter Plump Lip Plumping Gloss is a score
Lip glosses get a bad rep for being sticky and fading quickly — that couldn’t be further from reality with this gloss, though. Once I apply it, the long-lasting, nonsticky glaze remains on my lips for almost two hours if I’m not eating anything.
Of course, those attributes are simply bonuses to the intense plumping effects. While I can physically see and feel the difference in lip volume after application, I never expected others to notice, let alone comment on the results. I’ve had multiple friends, coworkers and Instagram acquaintances ask if I recently got my lips done when wearing this gloss. Part of the reason why the gloss emulates the look of actual lip injections is because the volumized effects stick around long after the gloss fades off my lips.
You may be wondering how long it takes for the spicy plumping effects to work. Well, after snapping a few side by side pictures, I was amazed at how immediate the results were. It takes about a minute for heat to kick in, and the longer I wear it, the more the gloss volumizes. On average, I see a noticeable difference in just five minutes.
Four months after initially testing the gloss, I now make sure I have at least one of the shades (I like having options!) in my bag before leaving home. I’m a self-proclaimed lippie hoarder, yet I almost always reach for this over any other product because of the dramatic plumped results.
The fact that this affordable gloss can fake the look of lip injections for just $10 is quite an impressive feat. For those who want to enhance their pucker but don’t have the means to spend hundreds (or even thousands) on lip fillers, this is a worthy alternative that will create an immediate and lasting outcome without breaking the bank.
