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Lip Plumpers

You want lips like Angelina's but what will it take? Restylane? Radiesse? Collagen injections? If you think that going under the knife (or the needle if you want to get specific) is a bit much, not to mention the price tag and health risks that may go along with these procedures, consider a basic lip plumper. So maybe a lip plumper  isn't going to give you the same effects as those of a surgical procedure however, they can give your pout the perking up it needs without complications. The bottom line is that lip plumpers are meant to subtly enhance the lips. If you want Angelina lips you're going to have to get extreme.

Lip Plumper Types 

Many people doubt the effectiveness of lip plumpers and rightfully so. They are expensive compared to lip gloss  and they don't always yield the results you expect. First off, it's important to understand the science behind them. 

• The first, and most basic type, is more or less an enriched version of your everyday lipstick.  You'll notice that the primary ingredients are emollients which help fill the fine lines and drench the lips in moisture. Not only will this give you smooth, soft lips, but you might see fine lines disappear. You could easily compare the effect to applying moisturizer. Since the result is temporary and very subtle, these are the least expensive lip plumpers around. You might even hear them called primers (such as Origins Underwear for Lips ).

• The next step up is a gloss that contains ingredients that either irritate or numb the lips. Some will cause a tingling or burning sensation and turn the lips a bright red shade (such as Too Faced Lip Injection  or DuWop Lip Venom ). Others will numb the lips so that it "feels" like it's working (like Freeze 24/7 Lip Plumper  or Patricia Wexler No Injection Lip Plumper ). At best, the "plumping" effect will last about an hour or two and most products tend to be somewhat sticky and gooey, not what you want to be wearing if you will be kissing anyone. For use as a high-intensity gloss, these might be the way to go since they usually are very good at deflecting light, a key to creating a fuller appearance. Lastly, an important thing to keep in mind with this type of plumper is that it can cause a rash or skin irritation. Be sure to test the product on the back of the hand before applying it to your face.

• Perhaps one of the most successful types of plumpers are those that work over time to build up the lips ability to produce collagen. These are the products that contain retinols or alpha-hydroxy acids. You won't notice any immediate effect, but perhaps with continued use you'll see an improvement. Some brands include CITY Lips Collagen Plumping Treatment  and N.V. Perricone's Alpha Lipoic Acid Lip Plumper  with NTD Complex.

Related Products

Lipstick	Gloss	Liner	Stain	Lip Balms

External Links

There are a number of Web sites where you can find reviews of lip plumpers. Here are the best.

• iVillage.com
• Fashion Finds
• Makeup Alley
• Lip Augmentation