I’ve Tried Virtually Every Lip Plumper on the Market, and This Option Mimics the Results of a Lip Injection

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It's my go-to between lip filler appointments

My love affair with lip-plumping glosses began in eighth grade; I’d been intrigued by Sally Hansen’s Lip Inflation gloss and giddy by the pillowy, pouty lip look it delivered in mere moments. In the years since, I’ve tried virtually every plumping gloss on the market, from cooling balms packed with hyaluronic acid, to borderline-painful, capsicum-infused plumpers. In recent years, I’ve rounded out my repertoire with lip filler — a longer-lasting, albeit still temporary, volume enhancer, injected into lips by a medical professional. Even so, topical lip-plumping products remain very much within my routine. And perhaps the most notable formula is Dr. Brandt’s Needles No More 3-D Lip Plumpfix.

The Dr. Brandt Needles No More 3-D Lip Plumpfix is a pout-enhancing lip product designed to add hydration, fullness, and suppleness to lips, both instantly and over time. Housed in a dual-sided, lip gloss-like tube, the product is split into two distinct formulas, each designated for day or night application. Together, they comprise a 24/7 lip-care routine that’s enhancing for filler-fans and needle-naysayers alike. 

Shop now: $39; drbrandt.com

Founded by late celebrity dermatologist Dr. Fredric Brandt, nicknamed “The Baron of Botox” for his extensive work in aesthetics, the eponymous brand specializes in products designed to mimic in-office procedures. The Needles No More 3-D Lip Plumpfix creates the “lip look of an injectable procedure,” as per the brand, “minus the pain, the price, and the maintenance [of lip filler].”

Of course, there’s a caveat: Topical products inherently lack the transformative power of in-office injectable procedures. That said, this plumper is the perfect pout-enhancing addition to my overall routine. It softens dry lips, blurs vertical lip lines, and functions as a fantastic plumping primer for lipstick. It’s one of my go-to topical lip plumpers, particularly between in-office appointments, given its numerous benefits. 

The daytime side, aka the Plumping Primer AM, provides an instant plumping effect,  presumably via capsicum frutescens fruit extract, a mild irritant. I typically notice a slight tingling sensation within seconds, followed by enhanced fullness shortly thereafter. The formula has a milky, serum-like texture that looks matte when dry, and provides a smooth base for any ensuing lipstick. Longer term, the formula supports collagen production via peptides.

The nighttime side, aka the Nourishing Lip Conditioner, contains ingredients similar to those of an overnight lip mask. Sodium hyaluronate, a close cousin to hyaluronic acid, delivers hydration. Plant oils and seed butters, including coconut oil, moringa oil, and shea butter, impart supreme suppleness. My lips feel significantly softer upon waking, and ready for the daytime treatment.

Shoppers, many of whom are significantly older than me, swear the 3-D PlumpFix softens lips and lip lines. “The lines are definitely less pronounced,” says one, who adds “[my] lips aren’t dry either.” Another shopper, who is in their 50s, says it “gives my lips a fuller and softer feel and look.”

Whether you’re fond of tingling lip plumpers, looking for a line-smoothing lipstick primer, or simply searching for additional enhancement between lip filler appointments, Dr. Brandt’s Needles No More 3-D Lip Plumpfix is worth considering.

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