Welcome to Deep Reviews—your one-stop destination to discover the absolute best products and brands the beauty industry has to offer. The Who What Wear staffers you already know and trust will research, test, and review the market's most sought-after and buzzed-about products to see which formulas (of the hundreds up for consideration) are worth your hard-earned money and attention. You can expect honest, uncensored feedback and no-BS recommendations our hard-to-please testers endorse without reservations.
The majority of our Deep Reviews will feature our editors' honest, ultra-hot takes on entire product categories or multiple products from a particular beauty brand, but every so often, we'll sprinkle in a special single-product format called Honestly, I Love It. As the name suggests, these reviews will hone in on one standout beauty formula our editors can't shut up about. This time, I'm highlighting one of the most high-tech lip plumpers on the market, the Ourself Lip Filler ($145).
I have naturally thin lips, so the Kylie Jenner–induced lip-filler trend—circa 2016—was an interesting time for me. It didn't make me want to change anything, per se, but it did make me more aware of the general size and shape of my lips to the point where I invested in a few new lip liners. It wasn't until a couple of years later when a beauty expert offered an unsolicited suggestion that I "should really think about getting my lips done" that I considered lip filler for the first time. I decided that I wouldn't do it, because if I was going to change anything about myself, I wanted it to come from me and not someone else.
Fast-forward to today, and I'm still mostly comfortable with my thin lips. I say mostly because I've been noticing subtle changes as time goes on. My lips are getting ever so slightly smaller with each passing year. I've also noticed that my natural lip color isn't as vibrant as it used to be. To remedy this, I've started using a specific lip plumper to accentuate—not change—my lips.
Here's the lip plumper in question. The aptly named product boasts a high-tech formula that was developed by biotech scientists to offer both instant and long-term effects. Anyone who's familiar with lip plumpers will know how impressive that is since most formulas are only temporary. It's for this reason that I consider it to be more of a lip-care product than a cosmetic one.
I've been using it on and off for a few weeks now, and I must say I'm impressed with the results. Each time I apply it, it makes my lips look plumper and more defined. What's more is that it dramatically deepens my natural lip color, which makes my lips more prominent as a whole.
Here's the proof. As you can see, the plumping action is subtle yet visible after one use, and I'm happy with that. Like I said, I want definition and fullness, not a super-dramatic result. (If I did, I'd go the injection route.) I like that it evens out the proportions of my lips too. In the first picture, my top lip is visibly smaller and shorter than my bottom lip. In the second picture, they look more even and shapely.
The plumping action and color definition kick in pretty quickly after application. For me, it only takes a few minutes to feel a pretty intense tingle—intense but not uncomfortable. The only advice I have is to make sure you only get the plumper within your natural lip line. If not, the skin around the lips can become irritated. (Trust me, I made this mistake more than once.)
I've found the results last a couple of hours before my lips return to their normal size, shape, and color. Although, the more I use it, the longer the results seem to last. That's why the brand recommends applying it strategically for long-lasting results. Here's how. Apply one click of the pen five times per day for the first five days. Make sure you allow the product to fully absorb into the lips and refrain from rubbing them together. After the five days are up, apply it three times a day for continuous plumping action.
The magic is in the high-tech formula. Unlike other products that use irritating ingredients to temporarily and artificially plump the lips, this one uses multiple sizes of hyaluronic acid (the ingredient found in actual lip filler). A patent-pending delivery system made up of multiphasic vesicles allows the hyaluronic acid to penetrate through the skin layers to plump, smooth, and restore the lips.
Then there's the vitamin B3–derived lip color enhancer. It sounds wordy, but it basically flushes the lips to restore their natural color and do away with dullness. It's the reason I almost never wear lip color when I use this product.
The product itself has a milky texture that's easy to spread around the lips. All you need is one click of the pen to deliver the perfect amount. (Don't use more than you need; if you click more than once, it can get a little messy and difficult to contain within the lip line.) Since it dries down to a matte, non-sticky finish, I can use it anywhere and at any time. It's official: I've unlocked my new favorite lip plumper.
Most lip plumpers are temporary. What gives this one a long-term effect?
"Many women want fuller, more defined lips but not just for a few hours. While injectables are a good option for lasting results, they may not be for everyone. Leveraging our patented breakthrough technology, Ourself Lip Filler delivers hyaluronic acid into the skin to visibly add volume for fuller, plumper lips. We also infuse our Lip Filler with a color enhancer, so lips get an immediate boost and a blush of color.” — Vimla Black Gupta
How do the star ingredients encourage fuller-looking lips?
"Ourself Lip Filler uses multi-weight hyaluronic acid (HA) to help smooth lip lines, increase definition, and most importantly add volume. HA is a naturally occurring molecule with renowned plumping, restorative, and soothing effects. By using two different sizes of HA, Ourself Lip Filler can maximize HA’s hydrating properties, helping to visibly add volume for fuller, plumper lips. We also include a vitamin B3 derivative to help enhance lip color and create a fuller appearance—instantly.” — Lauren Otsuki
How do you recommend using it for best results? Do you have any insider tips and tricks?
"For best results, consistent and frequent use is key. We recommend beginning with the ‘Jumpstart Phase.’ For the first five days, apply five layers both a.m. and p.m., and then three times per day thereafter. You’ll find that the benefits continue to improve as you use it.
"When applying, it’s important to stay inside the lip line. It’s best to start at the center of lips and work toward corners.” — Otsuki
Shop More Ourself Products
This Lip Conditioner smooths and moisturizes the lips, while giving them a glossy sheen. It's the perfect companion to the Lip Filler.
This all-star serum uses a hyaluronic acid complex, peptides, vitamin C, and niacinamide to hydrate, firm, protect, and strengthen the skin.
This luxe eye serum uses the same ingredients as the aforementioned face serum to target dullness, dark circles, puffiness, and fine lines and wrinkles.
A do-it-all face cream, this formula promises to hydrate, smooth, and firm the surface of the skin for visible improvements in things like lines, wrinkles, and loss of elasticity.
This serum targets dark spots and hyperpigmentation without any need for lasers or in-office treatments.
