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Dec. 18--TAMPA -- Thank her or curse her.
What Angelina Jolie has done for voluptuous lips is nothing short of what Marilyn Monroe did for bleached blondes.
Women yearning for the pout made famous by the star of "Lara Croft: Tomb Raider" and "Mr. & Mrs. Smith" have made lip augmentation one of the most sought-after cosmetic procedures. Better yet, lip plumpers have become a popular way to get an ample kisser without the pain or expense of injections.
Plumpers are applied topically. They use ingredients such as pepper and cinnamon (sounds worse than it is) to increase circulation to the lips and make them fill out.
Most of them work within a few minutes, and the effects can last several hours.
"It used to be the eyes have it; now it's all about the lips," says Molly Marsters, owner of So Ho makeup studio.
"In the last couple of years, we've started to see plumpers on the market because the collagen [injections were] so painful. There have been lots of botched procedures. ... That prompted manufacturers to find an easy, temporary way to get the same effect."
Can you really have a sexy pout by dinner tonight?
We searched the cosmetic counters and, in an unscientific sampling, asked five women to see which plumpers offer more than lip service and which you can kiss bye-bye.
Sephora Plumping Lip Gloss
Price: $10
How it works: Natural peppers and mint extract stimulate circulation. Vitamin E nourishes the lips.
Did it work? "I noticed my lips plump almost immediately after I put it on," said Lynda Lozano, 47, of Tampa. "The plumping was more noticeable on the upper lip than the lower lip.
"The gloss went on smooth, and it had no taste or fragrance, which I like. The effects lasted about an hour."
Sally Hansen 6 Lip Inflation
Price: $9.99
How it works: Twelve mini lip colors increase circulation and lip size with a blend of cinnamon and ginger. Vitamins A and E hydrate, while peppermint oil stimulates extra blood flow to the lips and gives them a cool feeling and a burst of flavor.
Did it work? "The minty fresh feeling when I put it on felt really good," said Faith Dean, 27, of Brandon. "But it tasted and smelled like cough syrup. Don't lick your lips or give your sweetie a kiss with this one.
"Within five minutes, it filled out the lines on my lips, and my bottom lip was fuller. Not much of a difference on my upper lip.
"The plumping lasted three to four hours. The cool, tingling sensation stayed after the color was off, which was nice."
DuWop Lip Venom
Price: $17
How it works: This spicy, tingly gloss isn't for the faint of heart. It uses a blend of cinnamon and ginger oils to give lips a shiny, bee-stung look. Don't use it on chapped, irritated or broken lips.
Did it work? "The stinging sensation really made me think it was going to work," said Beatriz Vargas, 36, of Riverview. "It was really uncomfortable. I went a little outside my lip area and had to remove it fast.
"It went on very smooth and had a nice shine, but after about half an hour, I didn't notice any difference. I couldn't wait to take it off."
Fusion Beauty Lip Fusion
Price: $36
How it works: Tiny, dehydrated marine collagen microspheres are absorbed by the lips and seek out the body's natural moisture. As soon as they become rehydrated, they plump and hold on to the moisture they've collected, creating a "mild" swelling of the lips.
Did it work? "There was no tingling whatsoever," said Melonie Graves, 28, of Gibsonton. "It went on like a regular lip gloss. I saw a slight fullness after about half an hour.
"At the end of the day, I really noticed the product had worked because I could see more fine lines on my lips, which weren't there when I had the plumper on. The effects lasted about four hours."
Too Faced Lip Injection
Price: $18.50
How it works: This clear gloss contains a vitamin E derivative as well as natural essential oils, including Chinese cinnamon and Italian clove, that increase blood flow to the lips.
Did it work? "Filled in the lines on my lips in about three to four minutes," said Nancy Tomasello, 52, of Riverview. "There was only slight tingling that lasted two to three minutes. It had a nice sweet smell and tasted like candy, but it felt sticky on my lips.
"Other people noticed the plumping more than I did. It lasted about two hours. I noticed the lines on my lips came back after I took it off, so it must have worked."
THE NATURAL WAY
If you want to fatten your pucker naturally:
-- Use gloss to make lips appear fuller.
--Apply foundation and powder on your lips as you would your face. It will keep the lip gloss on longer.
--Use a lip liner as close to your natural lip color as possible, and draw a sharp line just outside your lip line. Shade in your lips using the same pencil and blend. Top with a neutral gloss.
--Put a dab of very shiny, almost white, beige or iridescent lip gloss in the middle of your upper and lower lips to make them look fuller.
--Stop smoking. It sucks all the water out of your lips.
Reporter Cloe Cabrera can be reached at (813) 259-7656 or ccabrera@tampatrib.com.
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Copyright (c) 2006, Tampa Tribune, Fla.
Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Business News.
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