Too Faced Extreme Lip Injection

RRP: £17.00 (also available in the US and in Europe, though it's only marginally cheaper) for 6g/0.2oz.

--Ingredients--

Mineral Oil (Paraffinum Liquidum), Ethylene/Propylene/Styrene Copolymer, Butylene/ Ethylene/Styrene Copolymer, Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil, Simmondsia Chinesis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Ethylhexl Palmitate, Tribehenin, Sorbitan Isostearate, Palmitoyl, Oligopeptide, Tocopheryl Acetate, Benzyl Nicotinate, Capiscum Frutescens Resin, Pentaerithrityl Tetraisotearate, Silica Dimethyl Silyate, Sodium Chondroitin Sulphate, Atelocollagen, Propylparaben, Flavour (Aroma). May contain iron oxides.

--Packaging--

The box is white with pink stripes, with all information and the Too Faced logo gracing it in black. While the majority of the writing on the box is in quite a neutral, professional font, the 'Lip' in 'Lip Injection' and the Too Faced logo provide a refreshing amount of girliness with the trademark curly writing that's quite synonymous with the vintage image that the company projects in all of its products. The gloss tube itself is c. 7cm long, 2cm of that being taken up by the applicator lid. The applicator lid is black and clear with the Too Faced logo in pink; the tube itself is transparent.

--What does the promo say?--

"Want a permanent plump?Lip Injection Extrême is a lip plumping serum that gives long term results based on four of the most scientifically proven and advanced lip plumping technologies. Increase lip volume and plumpness permanently with continued use! This serum is to be used in the morning and evening along with your normal skin care routine. Apply a generous amount of Lip Injection Extrême on clean dry lips. Wait one minute before applying lip color or balm to allow the unique formula to penetrate your lips. Use the original “Lip Injection” during the day between applications to prolong and increase your plump!"

--Application--

Easy peasy, just unscrew the lid and apply a very thin layer to your lips before rubbing in.

--Appearance--

On the lips it appears as a regular clear gloss, even though through the bottle there appears to be a slight pink iridescence to it.

--Scent--

Slightly fruity, though not overbearingly so. I was quite surprised by this - seeing as Too Faced promote it as a cosmetic alternative to Botox, I had expected it to smell more clinical.

--Sensation--

Too Faced warns you on the box that the product contains collagen and "instant blood vessel dilators", and that as such, you will probably experience a "slightly intense tingling sensation" on your lips that lasts between 5 and 10 minutes. They're not wrong - it's similar to the feeling you get if you've eaten some citrus fruit and you forget to wash off some of the juice from around your mouth. It's uncomfortable rather than painful, and as they point out, it passes quickly, but I can understand how people would find it unpleasant. Still, they do warn you, so if you're still daft enough to buy this knowing that you won't like the feeling...After the 5-10 minutes, your lips feel totally normal again.

--Does it do what it says on the box?--

Yes. I noticed a difference in my lips immediately (my lips aren't as thin as some people's, but they certainly benefit from this product), and while Too Faced recommend applying the product throughout the day to prolong and maintain the plumping effect, I don't think it's really necessary - you could get the effect you want for an evening out with just one application, in my view, and there's certainly no need to use for a minimum of 30 days, morning and night, for maximum long term effects, unless you have REALLY thin lips.

--Value for money--

If you're just going to use it from time to time, then I'd say excellent. However, if you're planning on applying it every day as they suggest to achieve long term results, I probably wouldn't recommend it unless you were really insecure.

--Other comments--

It does what it says on the box, and it's not a bad price either. However, my boyfriend did look visibly concerned at the prospect of me putting collagen onto my lips, and the list of ingredients certainly makes interesting reading, so I would be wary of using this stuff on a regular basis.