A New Wave Of Lip Plumpers Is Here — But Are They Better?

I’ll never forget the first time I tried a lip plumper. I was in 8th-grade history class when one of my best friends, Claire, pulled out a cinnamon-red (and cinnamon-spiced) tube of shimmery gloss before the bell rang. I eagerly swiped it on — best friends are immune to each other’s germs, right? — and admired my reflection in a Clinique compact my mom had handed down to me after her latest beauty counter haul.  My lips burned with the fire of a thousand Red Hots, but I also felt a rush of grown-up glamour. With my sparkly, flushed pout, I felt undeniably cute. (It probably helped that I wasn’t allowed to wear makeup at the time, which only added to the allure.)  That was back in 2007 — nearly two decades ago. While beauty trends have changed dramatically since then, lip-plumping glosses and balms are hotter (pun intended) than ever. The latest generation promises more than a temporary tingle and fuller-looking lips; many are mar