Here’s the thing: I, like most people, want my lips to look plump and lush at all times. I typically avoid most lip plumpers , however, because my lips are pretty sensitive and I don’t like traditional plumpers that make you feel like you’ve just been stung by a bee to achieve pillowy lips. 

Enter Maxi-Lip, a sneaky ingredient that many lip care products are already utilizing. I first heard about Maxi-Lip on a Zoom with Annie Lawless, founder of Lawless Beauty. Lawless uses Maxi-Lip in many of her product formulations like her Forget the Filler Lip Plumper Line Smoothing Gloss and Forget the Filler Overnight Lip-Plumping Mask. 

Maxi-Lip is clinically proven to increase collagen synthesis, increase lip volume, improve hydration, and decrease fine lines and wrinkles."Maxi-Lip is a patented, scientifically and clinically proven complex that is topically applied," says Lawless. "It works by strengthening the cellular matrix, making the lips more dense and therefore looking plumped." Think of it as a topical lip filler : Maxi-Lip will help give your lips maximum hydration and volume sans needles.

I used Lawless Forget the Filler Lip Plumper Line Smoothing Gloss in Velvet. Immediately after applying the gloss, I noticed that my lips looked more hydrated and the lines appeared smoother. The gloss delivers a slightly cooling effect, but it’s pleasant—nothing like the stinging, harsh lip plumpers of my youth. This is one of my absolute favorite lip glosses. I’ve gone through two tubes and will always continue restocking.

More Lip Products With Maxi-Lip

Maxi-Lip, vitamin E, and shea butter make this lip balm a triple-threat hydrator and plumper. 

Like an amped-up version of the brand's Essential Lip Enhancer Balm, this shine balm delivers color and moisture. It's lightweight and gives a glossy finish.

You've likely come across this mask in many recent Who What Wear articles, and that's no accident. This overnight lip mask leaves us with supremely hydrated and pillowy lips in the morning, thanks to Maxi-Lip, hyaluronic acid, and shea butter. "I recommend using the mask right before going to bed to wake up with fuller-looking, smoother, more hydrated and comfortable lips that look and feel more nourished and plump with continued use," says Lawless. "You can also apply throughout the day whenever your lips need a pick-me-up, which is personally how I use it." 

I am physically incapable of shutting up about this lip gloss, but I can't help it—it's that good. Caliray's new gloss looks incredible on, but it also plumps and hydrates like crazy because of a cocktail of Maxi-Lip, electric daisy, and avocado oil. 

This classic, sparkly lip gloss might make you think of your middle school pencil case—it's been a cult favorite for many, many years. Maxi-Lip helps pump up the volume once you smooth it on. 

Protect your lips from the sun while plumping them with this SPF 15 lip mask. It's the perfect lip product to slip in your swim bag once the temperature goes up. 

Think of this as the Stila Lip Glaze's refined older sister. This gloss hydrates and plumps while it imparts dreamy color. 

Maxi-Lip is the star ingredient in this lip plumping gloss. Smooth it on for glass-like shine and tons of volume. 

Not only does this innovative treatment have Maxi Lip to increase lip volume, but it's also chock-full of squalane, castor oil, and vitamin E to smooth and condition. 

With SPF 35, this lip gloss offers tons of sun protection. Maxi-Lip and hyaluronic acid make it the perfect plumping gloss for the most pillowy effect.  

Other Lip Plumpers We Swear By

This serum-esque lip treatment is infused with the brand's signature Miracle Broth and plumps and smooths fine lines. 

This gloss is plumping and hydrating, and the sheer wash of color looks so good on lips. 

This tingly gloss has vitamin E, vitamin A, and hyaluronic acid to smooth and volumize. 

This is one of my absolute favorite lip products. It makes lips so smooth, hydrated, and nourished. 

This is a classic lip plumper for a reason. It delivers so much shine and volume. 

Shop the Rest of My Look

Next, We Tried It First, and—Wow—Merit's New Lipstick Will Be Your All-Time Favorite