I Used To Hate Lip Plumping Lipsticks — Until I Met This One

There are few beauty products I am unwilling to try, whether it be phobia-related (hello eyelash curler) or the innate knowledge that they’re just not for me (lip plumpers). As someone with naturally full lips, I never saw the need or use for a lip plumper, but then the YSL Volupté Plump-in-Color rolled across my desk (well, really it was gently placed), and now I think I may stand corrected.  The lippie in question comes in the signature YSL bullet — heavy, chic and ’gram-worthy — smells like sweet strawberries and has a nourishing, heart-shaped core. It’s YSL’s latest launch and maybe my newest obsession.  Read on for my thoughts:

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by YSL Beauty Official (@yslbeauty) on Jan 17, 2019 at 12:30pm PST

The first thing I noticed when applying the plumping balm was how nourishing the formula felt on my lips. As someone who usually prefers a thick lip balm, I can be skeptical about how much protection a thinner balm will give me, particularly during the colder months. I was pleasantly surprised, however, by how moisturized my lips felt immediately after I slicked this one on and by the fact that the hydration lasted until I took it off hours later. I credit that to the cocktail of skin-loving ingredients like moisturizing coconut oil and hyaluronic acid and smoothing pomegranate extract. As expected with any lip-plumping product, the tingling started soon after application (thanks to the peppermint oil), and although noticeable, it wasn’t unpleasant. It started out a little intense before diffusing, and after a few minutes, the sensation went away entirely. This formula is designed to “gently plump,” so I didn’t see a major difference in volume but noticed my lips were a little more voluptuous than normal. It helped to accentuate my natural lip color, but I still looked like me, which I liked. I chose Lunatic Red, a blue-red hue and one of seven in the collection. While I chose to stop after a few swipes for a sheer wash of color, the lippie is definitely buildable and can be layered to achieve a near-opaque finish.

I will definitely be adding YSL Plump-in-Color to my lip balm rotation, especially in the winter months when matte formulas feel extra drying. It’s an easy way to achieve both color and moisture and a good excuse to add yet another chic lip product to my growing collection. You can grab this wherever YSL goodies are sold (think your local department store and Sephora), and at $44, it’s good excuse to treat  yourself.