Lip Plumper

Over the past few years, both lip plumpers and products that change color based on your skin chemistry seem to be all the rage. Smashbox's O-Plump Intuitive Lip Plumper ($24) includes a Goji Berry-C Complex and promises to turn your lips into a customized sheer pink shade. Reader Laratf wasn't completely feeling it, though. Here's what she had to say:

"I am one of the ones who experiences neon pink lips with O-Gloss. However, I met Dean Factor (Co-Founder and CEO of Smashbox) this fall, and he assured me that the formula had been improved for O-Plump. The thought of a personalized gloss that also boosts the fullness of my pucker was too intriguing to pass up. The plumping result was less than desired and the taste is super spicy cinnamon which is a bit of a turn off. I was pleasantly surprised to see that the color situation had improved and for that reason alone, O-Plump is worth hanging on to. This one is a mixed bag for me."

If you like writing reviews for beauty products, head over to our Product Reviews website, and maybe I'll share your opinion on this daily post.

Or does it? Call it the poor man's lip plumper, or just simply call it an easy way to be frugal and spicy this holiday season — well, that is if you're not too sensitive, like me.

Recently, I received an email tip with an idea from Andrea Claire, senior makeup artist from FACE atelier. She explained that adding a little cayenne pepper to your lip gloss creates a natural plump. Knowing that cayenne can do a number on my stomach, I was a little leery, but doing a little experiment in the kitchen sounded a lot more fun than any amount of pain.

The outcome? I definitely felt tingling lips, and my pout was plumper. Unfortunately, I also had chapped lips. I think this little trick is great in a pinch (it did work, after all), be careful if you're prone to irritation — or your pout may be more peeved than plumped.

When it comes to plump lips, Angelina Jolie's a lucky one. While we all might not be blessed with a naturally luscious pout, there's an easy way to fake it — injection-free.

And since I'm sure you'll be caught under a mistletoe or two in the next few weeks, I asked you to voice your opinion. Which lip plumpers leave you with a kissable mouth and which ones are just a bunch of baloney? This week was tough to narrow down, and here are a few of my favorites:

• Brandysbug reviewed Too Faced Lip Injection Lip Plumping Treatment ($18.50) — "I put it on and OUCH! My lips stung for about an hour. However, they did look very pretty — plump, shiny, and pink (probably because they were burning). After about a week, there was no pain after applying it. If I skip it for a while, though, the next time I put it on it burns again. I guess you just have to build up a resistance. Lip plumper resistance training."
• On the other hand, Seka21 wasn't thrilled about it. She says, "My boyfriend turned to me and started freaking out because my lips were (and I joke not) two times their normal size and all blistery at the bit where the skin and lips meet. Not only that, one side was bigger than the other so I literally looked like I had bad collagen! A week later my lips are suffering — all chapped and dry as a result of this stuff."
• Bella Donna didn't like Sally Hansen Lip Blush Plumping Balm ($9.99) — "You have: Thin, pale lips. You get: Glossy, but sticky, irritated and itchy lips. I didn't notice the slightest plumping of my lips and the pink shade doesn't suit my dark olive skin. The product, including its claim, is totally tacky. After typing out this review, I'm running back to my drugstore for my refund."

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You'll probably be caught under a mistletoe or two in the next few weeks. And if you weren't born with Angelina-style puffy lips, it's easy to fake it. So, for this week's Beauty Mark It challenge, let's talk plumpers.

Which lip plumpers leave you with a plump pout and which ones are just a bunch of malarkey? Just follow the link above and I'll feature my top three favorites next Tuesday. 'Tis the season to be jolly, so get smooching.

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There are so many lip plumpers on the market, but I'm always game to try a new one. Sally Hansen recently introduced its Gentle Plumping Lip Treatment ($8.99) in six shades. With fun-spirited names like Happy, Playful, Serene, Tease, and Tickle, I just had to try them out.

Is it a "gloss" or is it a "treatment"? Hmm . . . although the formulation includes a special peptide complex to coerce lips to pump up collagen production, I consider this product to be more of a gloss — and a rather heavy one, at that. I did love the wand applicator, which has a brush on the tip, allowing me to apply the product with ease. The built-in mirror on the side also assisted me in knowing that my lips were wearing the treatment, and not my face.

• Plumping action: When Sally Hansen says gentle plumper, they mean it — no burning sensation here. "Time Released Hydrospheres" promise to increase your pout over time, but I only noticed a slight tingle with minor plump action throughout its wear.
• Aroma: A slightly too sweet, almost cake-like scent.
• Overall: Although the different shades I tried were beautiful, the texture seemed a bit heavy and the plumping was minimal.

DuWop just can't stop re-inventing ways to push its famous Lip Venom on us. Last year they created a silver version, and this year we can plump our lips to out-of-this-world proportions with Moon Venom ($17). So far in 2008, I'm sensing things are going to be galaxy-themed—has anybody else noticed that?

Even though Moon Venom is technically the same formula as the original, what makes it different is that opalescent shimmer has been added to the mix of cinnamon, wintergreen and ginger essential oils.

While I won't be purchasing this gloss —this stuff is way too tingly for my taste — I'm sure lots of you are excited that your favorite lip plumper has a new special twist.

DuWop fans will be pleased to hear that this brand is a big supporter of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. This new and adorable Purse Your Lips ($24) mini purse houses its Pink Shimmer Lip Venom (you know, the mega lip plumper that put them on the map). Ten percent of proceeds will be given to Cancer and Careers.

Cancer and Careers is an organization I have mentioned before that helps provide inspiration, guidance, help and insight to working women living with cancer.

If you don't already own a tube of Lip Venom, now's your chance to stock up on a must-have makeup staple — and help a good cause at the same time. To use it, simply brush on the gloss with the applicator and watch as your lips turn a plump and shimmering rosy shade!

Okay, so we may not all be able to have Brad on our arm like Angelina, but her plump pout is completely attainable. I asked all of you to share your favorite lip plumpers, and the results are in!

Lintilla raves about C.O. Bigelow Mentha Lip Shine. She says that even though it isn't technically a lip plumper per se, the peppermint oil in it it "tingles just enough to increase the circulation to my lips and do the job." And Tnkrbelli loves Philosophy Chicken Lips. "I always get turned off by plumping glosses because they are so sticky," she says. "But these are extremely natural-looking and natural-feeling glosses."

Want more? Check out everyone's choices below, and for an added effect, cue up Big Mouth Strikes Again by the Smiths.