126 ·^ COSMOPOLITAN
READ
LIP MASKS
Lip masks?!
That’s just a
glorified lip balm
someone from
the marketing
department has come up with a new
angle for, right? Wrong. While they have
the plant oils and vitamins in common,
they also have ingredients like plumping
hyaluronic acid and peptides, along with
film-forming technology to lock in the
actives. Apply, chill out for 10 minutes
and rub off the excess, or leave them
on overnight – the result is the same:
a boosted (if only temporary) pout.
We like Erborian Camellia for Lips
Mask, £20, and Starskin Dreamkiss
Lip Mask, £8.50.
LIP PLUMPERS
Glosses, primers, balms,
top coats... the moment
they call themselves
‘plumping’, there’s usually
a slightly irritating (or
‘tingling’) oil involved.
Think menthol or chilli
(look for capsaicin or
menthyl lactate); they
boost blood flow for
a temporarily ‘aroused’
look. They can also boost
itchy welts if you’re sensitive. Go for one
with added benefits, like conditioning,
smoothing and exfoliating properties.
Try GlamGlow Plumprageous
Matte Lip Treatment, £18.
LIP FILLERS
Lip ‘filling’, ‘enhancing’
or ‘plumping’ treatments
are basically anti-ageing
creams for lips. “The
idea is to replenish the
constituents of lip tissue for
fuller, younger-looking lips,”
says dermatologist Macrene
Alexiades. That means
hyaluronic acid and marine
filling spheres, ceramides
and pro-collagen peptides;
all give an immediate and
long-term yield on your investment.
Try 37 Actives High Performance
Anti-Aging And Filler Lip Treatment,
£72*, and Filorga Nutri-Filler Lips, £26.
JUICY LUBES
Just about every lip product comes
with a promise of plumpness these days.
But do they deliver – and how?
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