I Rely On This $15 Neutrogena Lip Plumper For Lasting Results Without The Sting

(Alice Prendergast)

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: I love lip products. I’ve spent the summer perfecting my go-to liner and gloss combo, and would never leave the house without at least a balm in my bag. And while I can’t lie about the thought of filler or a lip flip casually crossing my mind, I rely on plumping products to give me that juicy, filled-out look. My one issue is with that last step, and it’s that plumping products can really sting.

We all know the age-old saying, “beauty is pain,” but personally, I like to live my life with as little voluntary discomfort as possible. Shocking, I know. While I love the results of products like NYX Duck Plump Lip Gloss and Too Faced Lip Injection Plumper, they can feel a bit intense, so I’ve been on the hunt for a gentler alternative. That’s when I stumbled upon the Neutrogena Collagen Bank Lip Plumping Treatment.

My review of the Neutrogena Hydro Boost Hyaluronic Lip Mask

When it comes to effective and affordable formulas, Neutrogena takes the cake, so whenever there’s rumblings of a new product launch, my ears perk up. And, as a lip product lover, this one was of particular interest. The Neutrogena Collagen Bank Lip Plumping Treatment claims to instantly plump lips with hydration, while giving you fuller lips in four weeks by strengthening and building collagen. This sounded great to me, so as soon as I could get my hands on it, I did.

Let’s start with the nitty-gritty details. The masks come in a plastic squeeze tube with a matte coating, not entirely dissimilar to the Summer Fridays Lip Butter Balms, just smaller. It contains 12 mL of product and has a wide plastic tip that makes distributing product easy. I’d say the formula bears some similarities to the rhode Peptide Lip Boost Plumping Lip Mask, which admittedly I love and have repurchased more than once.

A slightly different ingredient list, Rhode relies on a multipeptide blend, a konjac hyaluronic complex, and vanillyl butyl ether, while the Neutrogena option uses patented micropeptide technology and hyaluronic acid. Both tubes are the same size, but Neutrogena rings in at a lower price point. Rhode’s mask is $35 while Neutrogena’s treatment is under $15.

Now for the more important details: scent, texture, and results. When it comes to scent, you only have one option, and it’s a classic: vanilla. I don’t find it sickly sweet, and it isn’t overpowering, so even if you’re not obsessed with gourmand fragrances, you can still reap the benefits. As for texture, it has a buttery, balmy consistency. As it is a treatment, it doesn’t sink in right away, but this plays in its favour if you’re using it as a gloss.

Very important to note: it does not sting. No ginger, no chilis, no zingy ingredients that leave you uncomfy. This is because it works its magic over time, bringing fullness to the lips when used twice daily for four weeks. In a consumer perception study, 69% of testers agreed they would delay getting lip filler, and 70% of participants said they would use this product instead of lip filler. You won’t get the va-va-voom boost of a traditional plumper, but I do feel like the glossiness makes my lips look fuller and juicier.

All in all, the Neutrogena Collagen Bank Lip Plumping Treatment is a solid product that I would definitely repurchase. You definitely get a lot of bang for your buck, and it’s a strong alternative to its luxury-level counterparts. If you’re willing to wait for plumping results, I think you’ll love it.

Neutrogena Collagen Bank Lip Plumping Treatment Pros

• Boosts volume while smoothing out fine lines
• Affordable
• Hydrating
• Leaves a glossy finish

Neutrogena Collagen Bank Lip Plumping Treatment Cons

• Won’t get the same immediate results you would with a traditional plumper
• Vanilla scent isn’t for everyone

What are reviewers saying about the Neutrogena Collagen Bank Lip Plumping Treatment?

Though it’s new to the market, the Neutrogena Collagen Bank Lip Plumping Treatment is already working its way up in stars — it currently holds an average rating of 4.2 stars on Amazon Canada. Reviewers love the texture and how hydrating it is. There are mixed opinions on the efficacy of plumping; some say it does a fast job of plumping, seeing immediate results, others say they have more shapely lips by morning or after a few weeks, while a small minority just aren’t as impressed.