Nowadays, it seems like everyone is talking about lip flips, fillers, and other ways to enhance the lips. And the Tarte Maracuja Juicy Lip Plump, now a TikTok-viral makeup essential, is one of them—albeit temporarily. While I don’t have a desire to undergo any treatment at the moment, I’m always looking for less expensive—and much more subtle—alternatives to achieving full, plumper lips, sans the need for needles.
When I first came across Juicy Lip Plump on my FYP, I was mesmerized by the ultra-glossy finish. At first, I thought the brand was using a filter on their videos to achieve the high-shine finish—and to my pleasant surprise, I was mistaken. Several other beauty content creators, including @mikaylanogueira, @RudiBerry, @franciele_medeiros, and @DaraLevitan, were just as blown away by the product.
First impression? The Juicy Lip Plump is like a cross between a balm, gloss, and lipstick. I opted for a neutral hue (Primrose, a rosy pink), since I wanted a natural shade that looked like my own lips, but better. Although it had an incredibly shiny finish, it’s the furthest thing from sticky—so there’s no need to worry about your hair getting stuck to your lips, which is what usually occurs when I swipe on my lip balm or gloss.
Despite the product’s creamy, moisturizing formula, it felt fairly lightweight on the lips. As someone who often steers clear of liquid lipsticks and glosses due to their heavy formulas—which sometimes feel greasy or tacky—this particular attribute was kind of a big deal. And the product itself was satisfying to apply since it glided on super smoothly. It’s similar enough to a lip balm that, while I used a mirror to apply the product before a wedding, I didn’t need one for my touch-ups in the taxi or in my seat.
What’s more, while some other lip products have left my lips feeling dry and dehydrated, the Juicy Lip Plump had the opposite effect. While the staying power wasn’t that impressive—I did notice a lip imprint on my drinking glass right after I sipped some tequila soda, and, by the time I finished the drink, it was time for a touch-up—my lips felt comfortable and moisturized throughout the night. Even better? I noticed that my lips appeared visibly fuller.
