Remove the cap and (very) gently squeeze the tube to reveal the delectably thick formula. As the goo accumulates at the tip of the applicator, it looks opaque, but once you glide it across your lips, you’ll see that it creates a sheer wash of color.
I tried each shade by sweeping them across my lips and smacking and squeezing my them together. While it isn’t a lip plumper, I love how this treatment leaves my lips looking juicier and slightly fuller (without the spiciness that comes with traditional plumpers). That effect is thanks to the combination of hydrogentated polyisobutene and polybutene, explains cosmetic chemist Kelly Dobos. “They create a glossy, occlusive film on the lips,” she says. “The film fills in your lips lines and furrows, which makes them look smoother and more plump,” she says.
The four shades do a great job of immediately blurring the different tones in my lips to make them appear more even. Ribbon is the most subtle of the bunch, making my lips appear slightly brighter than they do without anything on it. Toast is my go-to shade because it’s the closest to my lips’ natural color while enhancing the curves of my lips. Raspberry was the punchiest, giving my lips a subtle wash of fuchsia. Espresso is sexy. Its the deepest of the shades and leaves my lips a tinge browner.
Once I wipe it off, my lips feel soft and moisturized. (That’s the formula’s shea butter and synthetic wax at work.) It also contains lactic acid and vitamin E, which can help minimize lines and even out tone in the long term, as long as I consistently use it, according to board-certified dermatologist Mona Gohara, MD. The one thing that could make this treatment better is added scent to its food-inspired shades — similar to that of the brand’s limited edition Strawberry Glaze Peptide Lip Treatment.
The Peptide Lip Tints are $16 each for .3 fl oz. and are available now on rhodeskin.com.
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