My associations with lip plumper are both numerous and vivid: an overwhelming scent of cinnamon followed immediately by redness, pain, swelling, more pain, and a considerable amount of buyer’s regret. The options I remember trying years ago were packed with stinging agents that instantly set my mouth on fire. Technically speaking, you could say they worked—but the effect was somewhat ruined when tears began streaming rapidly down my face.
I’ve heard plenty of times since then that formulas have come along way, a claim I had no desire to test for myself. Having already been down the path of suffering once; I didn’t need to repeat that memorable experience. Naturally, fate had other plans in mind and Glamour‘s senior beauty editor, Lindsay Schallon, knew exactly how to get my attention. When she told me that Dr. Devgan’s Platinum Lip Plump was even better than filler—complete with photo evidence—I felt an inexplicable urge to try it. I’m both endlessly fascinated by injectables and heavily skeptical that any topical product can realistically mimic their effects. If you’re not putting hyaluronic acid in your lips or working detailed makeup artistry with multiple products, can it really be done? (Without a full-blown allergic reaction?)
In the interest of not bursting into hysterical sobs for the second time, I did some research on the ingredients before letting the doe-foot applicator anywhere near my mouth. According to board-certified plastic surgeon and brand founder Lara Devgan, M.D., her new-gen formulation swaps common irritants (chili pepper, menthol, or cinnamon) for niacin (a.k.a. vitamin B3). Her hero ingredient causes a relaxing of tiny superficial blood vessels, which translates to a mild flush and makes your lips look “1 to 2 millimeters larger.” Devgan and fellow beauty editors all assured me the sensation would amount to no more than a slight tingle, levels below what I had previously felt. The product is designed to be gentle, although Devgan adds that you should stay inside your lip line when putting it on.
Armed with this knowledge, I chose an uneventful weekend to finally uncap the shiny silver tube. The first thing I noticed was the lack of eye-watering scent. To my immense relief, the clear formula just smelled faintly of watermelon Jolly Ranchers. The consistency was halfway between a thin balm and gloss, with none of the stickiness associated with the latter.
