Lip injections are one of the most requested cosmetic treatments — you can thank celebs like Kylie Jenner for being open and honest about the procedure, which has helped it gain mainstream popularity. But not everyone has the budget or the desire to plump their lips with Juvederm or Belotero fillers — to each her own, right? This doesn't mean we don't want the appearance of fuller, bee-stung lips — it just means we have to go about achieving them in a different way.
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Lip-plumping glosses and lipsticks are all the rage and can be found at various price points, both at your local drugstore and luxury department store. Instead of trusting a marketing label that sometimes makes promises it can't keep, it's important to read the ingredient list carefully to find out whether your product indeed contains ingredients that can create a temporary plumping effect. So, what exactly should you be on the look-out for?
"Lip plumpers contain some ingredients that irritate the lips and cause them to swell," says Dr. Debra Jaliman, a board certified dermatologist based in New York City who is the author of Skin Rules: Trade Secrets From a Top Dermatologist. "These include cinnamon, caffeine, menthol, or camphor."
All that glitters isn't always gold, though, and you may find you are sensitive to these ingredients, all of which Jaliman warns can "cause redness and irritation." To be safe, perform a patch test on a small area of your body so that you can monitor how you react to the ingredients in your lip plumper.
Other lip enhancers that do not involve ingredients that can be potentially irritating include Fullips Lip Enhancers, which are adorable red lip-shaped tools you suck on prior to applying lipstick. If done correctly, they can provide a lip boost that lasts anywhere from one hour to a few hours (be careful and read the directions because applying them the wrong way can lead to bruising).
If you are curious about lip injections, do your homework: locate a board certified plastic surgeon or dermatologist, ask for a consultation, and run (don't walk!) if he or she agrees to give you the exact lips of your favorite celebrity. When performed correctly and with your unique face and beauty in mind, lip injections can appear natural and enhance your individual beauty.