r.e.m. beauty Utmost Importance Plumping Lipgloss | 10ml

This is the first beauty product I’ve tried by the Ariana Grande line. I'm much older than her but have thin lips so am always looking for a more natural way to make them appear fuller. I've used other plumping lip treatments that seemed to use some kind of chemical that felt like I'd rubbed chile powder on them. This gloss provides a subtle plumping effect without any burning feel. I don't typically wear lip gloss on its own but I did for testing this. Then I used it over a more matte lipstick and it still seemed to work well at plumping my lips. It doesn't feel sticky and isn't too sparkly for someone my age. It lasts awhile if I don't lick or wipe it off but after eating/drinking, it starts to disappear just like most lip gloss. I would have given it 5 stars but it's a bit expensive for the size and what it is. I would still recommend it for those whose budget can afford.

I was actually a bit disappointed with this product. After applying the lip gloss, I felt a tingling sensation for a minute or so, but I didn't notice any plumping whatsoever; so functionally it's just a clear lip gloss. Also, the gloss/stickyness only lasts for 20-30 minutes, so it's not even a good clear lipgloss. And on top of it all, even if it did work as advertised, it's pretty overpriced. You can find plenty of comparable clear lip glosses for a fraction of the price (seriously, there are a ton on Amazon for $5 or less) and plenty of other plumping lip glosses that actually work for about half the price (NYX had a great one for only $10). Overall, I'm pretty disappointed in this product and will be staying clear of r.e.m. products for a while.

Overall: It's a clear (no color) plumping (spicy/hot) gloss. Nothing super special or different compared to what's out on the market currently. I typically use the Nabla Viper plumping gloss as that is more "potent" than this and you get more product. Consistency is a bit on the thinner side and it's not incredibly moisturizing either - though that's not entirely it's purpose. Application was easy, but formula is definitely it's sticky. The size is pretty small (think like the fruity ELF glosses) and the component is pretty cheap for the price it costs. Overall quality is decent, but I definitely would consider other plumping glosses that are on the market. I don't care for sticky glass formulas though and this is for those that don't mind the hot/burning sensation you get with plumping lip products.

This is an okay lip gloss. Unlike most lip plumping glosses, this one only slightly tingles. I’ve used others that noticeably sting my lips; this feels more like an invigorating tingle. However, the flip side is that I don’t really notice a difference unlike the plumping glosses that sting. The texture isn’t super sticky, and it’s a nice gloss to pair on top of lipstick or to wear alone. I like it from that perceptive. I just don’t think it does what it claims to do in terms of the lip plumping aspect. Images in my pic are roughly 10mins apart, so should have had plenty of time to plump up.

Just a heads up—this is the strongest plumping lip gloss I’ve ever tried. It starts working almost immediately. I applied a thin layer, and the tingling quickly turned into a pretty intense burning sensation. If you’re sensitive to plumping glosses or don’t like that “spicy” feeling, this probably isn’t the one for you. That said, once the burning subsided, I did notice that my lips looked noticeably fuller, so it definitely does what it claims. The formula itself is actually really nice—it’s a clear gloss that gives a super shiny, smooth finish without feeling sticky. Overall, aside from the intense burn, it’s a great gloss with real plumping results—but definitely approach with caution if you’re sensitive.