Is Plumping Lip Gloss Damaging Your Lips? All You Need To Know!

Source: Good Housekeeping

Is plumping lip gloss damaging your lips?

To a large extent, plumping lip glosses are safe for people without allergies. However, people with sensitive skin may react severely to the ingredients contained in the lip glosses. 

Most plumping lip glosses contain capsaicin, cinnamon, menthol, or ginger. These ingredients work by irritating the lips to achieve fullness.

Capsaicin, for instance, is a peppery compound derived from chili peppers. When applied to the lips, they release heat receptors, making the nervous system think your body is overheating. Your body then reacts by swelling to cool it down. 

So, ironically, the discomfort and tingling feeling caused by the chemical proves that the lip gloss is working.

Source: Evening Standar

Does plumping lip gloss have harmful effects?

When plumping lip glosses are not evenly distributed across the lip surface, some areas may become more voluminous. This may cause a bumpy or uneven appearance of the lips. 

Also, plumping lip glosses overuse can have side effects such as: 

Injuries 

The layers of the lips are thin, especially the upper lip. Injuries can occur when lip-plumping glosses are applied over time. Since most of lip glosses dehydrate the lips, their long-term use could result in dryness, which can cause split ends. 

Consequently, bleeding may occur. It is, therefore, advisable to use this beauty item in moderation and use the hydrating ones containing ingredients like hyaluronic acid. 

Irritation 

Some components like cinnamon, ginger, methanol, and capsicum are added to lip-plumping glosses. These components irritate the lips, especially for those with highly sensitive skin. You may experience side effects like pain and rashes close to your lips. 

For minimal to zero damage to your lips, ensure you purchase original products from a trusted store and brand. Read product reviews and seek public opinion. 

Additionally, always do a patch test first. Apply a small quantity of the gloss as a test run. Wait for a few hours to look out for any unusual reactions. 

Discontinue the lip-plumping gloss if your lips react negatively to the patch test. Most importantly, use this product sparingly. 

Lip plumping glosses or lip fillers?

If you want to get permanent fillers, lip fillers are more suited for the job. However, while lip fillers have more permanent results than plumping lip gloss, most people dread using them because of the severe side effects associated with them. 

Some medical experts note that getting lip fillers may cause infections, discoloration, and bleeding. 

Therefore, using plumping glosses seems safer than lip fillers as it is a temporary procedure compared to the other. 

Moreover, lip glosses' side effects are not as threatening as those of fillers. The effect of plumping glosses lasts only a few hours, unlike lip fillers, which can last for a few months. 

This also means that if there is any adverse reaction, you can quickly address it by discontinuing the lip gloss and waiting for the effect to wear out. 

Natural hacks for voluminous lips

There are natural and safer means to achieving more voluminous lips. Stimulating blood flow and constant exfoliation do the trick. However, unlike lip fillers and lip-plumping glosses, this hack requires a lot of patience and consistency.

You can mix brown sugar, and ground cinnamon with olive oil, or sweet almond oil. Use this batter to gently massage your lips in a circular motion. 

Rinse off and moisturize. Doing this over a period of time can help increase the volume of your lips. This is surely the most affordable path to getting Hollywood lips.

Makeup hack 

Makeup is used to create the perfect lips. Although this may require more time and effort, it completes the job. Using lip liners helps to create fuller looks. All you have to do is extend the boundaries of your lips a little. 

For the complete procedure, you would need lip balm, lip liner, and lip stain. Apply the lip balm to moisturize your lips; line the edges of your lips with the lip liner, and blend softly with your middle finger. 

The final step is to apply the lip stain or regular lip gloss over it and smack.  

Source: Elle India

In conclusion, discontinue lip-plumping lip glosses if you are allergic to the ingredients. Prioritize proper lip care routine and use hydrating lip glosses. 

Remember to always wear lip balm with sun protection. The need to attain the perfect beauty standard is understandable, but you should never ignore your health. 

Also, remember that ideals of beauty are fleeting. Before 1990, no one cared much for voluminous lips. Who knows, in 2035, they may be out of fashion. 

So, think twice before making choices that may cause irreversible damage to your health.