Maxi-Lip is the Secret Ingredient to Making Your Lips Bigger

Cosmopolitan

2 days ago

'Did you just get lip filler?' In my world, this isn't an absurd question—I'm a beauty writer who regularly tests new aesthetic treatments for work—yet there's always a look of surprise when I respond 'no.' I promise I'm not being sketchy or secretive about the work I've gotten done. I'm an open book when it comes to Botox, chemical peels, and other pro treatments. That said, multiple peers and friends have consistently made comments on how full my lips appear, even when they're bare.
At first, I thought they were talking nonsense, but after pulling up old pictures of myself and taking a closer look in the mirror, I realized they were right: My lips sure do look bigger. My lips are, well, the exact opposite of naturally full. My upper lip is basically non-existent. And while I've never considered getting lip filler, I do swipe on lip-plumping gloss multiple times a day for a little boost. Over the past two years, I've fine-tuned the plumpers I keep on rotation—tossing everything that stings or burns and only applying formulas that coat my lips in plush comfort. Upon further research, I discovered that the plumping products I toggle between daily share one specific ingredient: Maxi-Lip.
Could Maxi-Lip be the reason my lip volume has increased without any filler? I set out on a mission to find out. After consulting with dermatologists, plastic surgeons, and cosmetic chemists, I finally have an answer—and honestly, it shocked me (and the world needs to know!!). But before we get into whether or not Maxi-Lip can produce permanent results, it's important to understand what the ingredient is and how it works.
In true ~journalistic fashion~, I went right to the source to uncover what exactly Maxi-Lip is. This ingredient was created by Croda Beauty, a beauty innovation company that develops new ingredient blends and sells them to brands to include in their formulas (many of which, btw, use biotech—but more on that later). According to cosmetic chemist Krupa Koestline, Maxi-Lip is 'a patented, biomimetic peptide complex designed to enhance lip volume, hydration, and contour.' It's comprised of emollient-rich ethylhexyl palmitate and tribehenin, as well as emulsifying sorbitan osostearate—but the hero is palmitoyl tripeptide-1, a synthetic peptide which firms, conditions, and increases cellular turnover.
Guaranteed you already know about peptides if you're into skincare. It's lauded as one of the best anti-aging ingredients because it encourages collagen production in your skin to help plump up skin to reduce the look of fine lines and wrinkles and increases elasticity so your skin is plump and bouncy. When incorporated into lip-care products—remember, your lips are skin—peptides work to improve the same concerns, all while producing a plumping effect over time. But let's get into the science-y details...
'Maxi-Lip works by mimicking the body's own peptide signals to stimulate the synthesis of collagen and glycosaminoglycans in the lips,' explains Koestline. (Glycosaminoglycans—also known as GAG—are sugar molecules that enhance collagen synthesis and bind water to your skin, FYI.) 'This not only increases lip volume but also improves the lip texture and moisture retention," she adds.
Plumping agents from years past usually contained bee venom, chili pepper, or menthol. These additives would create an inflammatory reaction which momentarily plumped lips (while drying out your skin in the process), explains plastic surgeon Melissa Doft, MD. On the contrary, "Maxi-Lip plumps by drawing in hydration and increasing collagen so that the lips appear firmer,' she explains. So instead of a "short-lived tingle" as Koestline puts it, products with Maxi-Lip actually do make your lips a bit fuller over time.
Does it actually work? According to Croma Beauty's clinical trials, Maxi-Lip helped increase lip volume by 40 percent, improved hydration, reduced fine lines, and made lips softer. But keep in mind: These trails were completed by applying the product three times a day for 29 days straight, which isn't how most people are gonna use a lip plumper.
However, I have been, unknowingly, applying lip products that contain Maxi-Lip daily for about two years. Reading over the results of the trials made me believe that my initial suspicion about Maxi-Lip permanently plumping my lips was correct—and every expert I spoke with confirmed it. 'Yes, Maxi-Lip can create a long-lasting visible enhancement that persists beyond each use, especially if you are applying it several times a day,' says dermatologist Maryam Saffaee, MD. Take my before-and-after as proof:
Dr. Saffaee mentions that she regularly recommends products made with Maxi-Lip to patients who are seeking lip-filler alternatives as well as those hoping to reduce signs of aging on their lips. 'With regular application, Maxi-Lip can offer visible improvements in softness, shape, and fullness—making it an excellent anti-aging lip solution for daily use,' she says.
Keep in mind that Maxi-Lip 'does not change the anatomy of the lip, but it allows you to maintain a steady collagen boosted state that can mimic a permanent look,' Dr. Saffaee adds. This means that regular Maxi-Lip application helps your lips continuously produce collagen, which results in a fuller, more voluminous appearance long term. Buuut if you want to make your cupid's bow look like Lana Del Rey's or make your lips more symmetrical, you'll need to make an appointment with a derm or plastic surgeon for filler unfortch.
Now that I know that Maxi-Lip is pretty much a pain- and needle-free lip filler substitute, I'll never stop swiping on my favorite formulas. If you've been wanting fuller lips without spending a ton of money or, you know, getting jabbed, check out some of my go-to plumpers made with Maxi-Lip:
Mary Honkus is a contributing beauty editor at Cosmopolitan with over seven years of experience researching, writing, and editing beauty stories, including rounding up the best wedding perfumes and testing out the most innovative at-home skin tools. She's an authority in all beauty categories, and particularly enjoys researching buzzy ingredients. After suspecting that Maxi-Lip may be the reason for her enhanced lip volume, she consulted with leading industry experts to learn all about the ingredient and give you a comprehensive understanding of how the ingredient functions.