Kiss Pruney And Thinning Lips Goodbye With The New Algenist GENIUS Liquid Collagen Lip

Here’s a harrowing piece of information: once you’re in your 20s, your lips begin to lose collagen at a rate of about 1-2% per year and, to make make matters worse, collagen production slows down drastically, eventually leading to your once-supple pout losing volume and fine lines appearing on your lips’ surface, all of which can result in creating a puckered look. But before you freak out and start seeking information on costly lip fillers, let me share the good news: a new generation of lip treatments can help to boost collagen production in the lip area so you can counteract that collagen degradation that occurs over time and preserve your pillow-y pout. One of the most amazing launches to date is the Algenist GENIUS Liquid Collagen Lip ($35 at Algenist.com), which might just be the most luxurious lip treatment I’ve ever tested out.

The Algenist GENIUS Liquid Collagen Lip comes in a sleek tube and features a soothing and cooling ceramic tip applicator that has a perfectly slanted shape to help you reach every section of your pout with ease. The tube’s contents look like liquid gold, which adds to the visual appeal, but it’s the power-packed formula that’s priceless. The dual-phase lip treatment features hundreds of beads of microalgae oil, as well as botanical lip enhancers — all of which are suspended in plant-derived collagen water — to instantly plump up lips and smooth fine lines and wrinkles while also providing long-term benefits.

Now, let’s break down what exactly that means. Let’s start with the microalgae oil — this unique substance is rich in oleic acid (an omega-9 fatty acid) that penetrates the skin’s surface and replenishes lost moisture, phytosterols that promote new collagen production, tocopherols (which is derived from vitamin E) that defend lips against free radical damage, and tocotrienols (another substance derived from vitamin E) that’s even more effective at protecting lipids from free radical attacks. In other words, microalgae oil can restore lost moisture and keep skin hydrated and plump. As for the “botanical lip enhancers,” these include meadowfoam seed oil, sunflower seed oil, Acmella Oleracea extract (also known as Sichuan buttons extract), and Brassica Alba Sprout extract (otherwise known as white mustard seed extract). While meadowfoam seed oil and sunflower seed oil are commonly found in skincare formulations due to their hydrating and softening properties, Acmella Oleracea extract is much less common and yet it has some pretty exciting benefits. This botanical extract reportedly reduces muscle tension, thereby reducing facial wrinkles by relaxing the skin. Some have even called it a natural alternative to Botox! As for the benefits of Brassica Alba Sprout extract, biochemistry studies have shown this ingredient can increase lips’ volume and maximize hydration.

But perhaps one of the most innovative aspects of this lip treatment is that it utilizes plant-derived collagen. See, most collagen supplements and skin care products contain collagen extracted from the skin, tendons, and cartilage of cows, pigs, and chickens or from the meat and scales of cold sea fish. Feeling a little squeamish? Who could blame you? While a daily dose of collagen (whether ingested or applied topically) could restore the body’s diminishing supply, the idea of this substance coming from animals is disturbing on a number of levels — and yet plants don’t produce collagen so, thus far, there have been few alternatives for those with plant-based lifestyles. Luckily, Algenist is among the forward-thinking beauty brands looking to harness the power of sustainably produced, plant-derived ingredients, and their team of scientists managed to invent a new plant-based collagen by arranging corn, soy, and wheat protein fibers to yield vegan amino acids that structurally mimic animal-derived collagen. Technically speaking, the substance isn’t collagen as we’ve known it, but because it so strongly mirrors the structural composition of animal-based collagen, dubbing it “plant-derived collagen” is hardly a stretch. Yay for science, right?

And does this stuff work? Yes! A resounding yes! First of all, every time you apply it to lips, you’ll feel this burst of coolness and a slight tingling sensation. It’s such a positive sensory experience that you’ll want to reach for your lip treatment all the time, but you don’t need to reapply constantly since the formula really works wonders to hydrate lips and lock that moisture in. For some reason, I thought the treatment would mimic a lip oil and that, as such, it would initially feel a bit greasy on my lips, but that wasn’t the case at all. The lip treatment feels like the most efficient serum, so that it’s beyond lightweight and your lips just drink up the formula within seconds. Afterwards, your lips appear visibly smoothed and plumped. With regular use, you’ll notice that those fine lines become less visible over time and that your lips become more defined and your pout’s rosiness is restored.

The $35 price tag isn’t exactly enticing but, honestly, one tube will last you quite some time. After all, you only need a tiny drop to cover the entire lip area, and the tube is designed so that, when you twist the green area below the applicator to the left, it will dispense just the right amount of product. And because of this clever method of dispensation, there’s no way to waste product (as can happen with squeezable lip balm tubes). Besides, spending $35 a couple of times a year certainly beats paying for lip fillers (which, as we all know, can look completely unnatural).

My only caveat: make sure that none of the formula makes it inside your mouth because it tastes like grim death! I’ve now perfected the application technique but, the first few times I applied the treatment, a tiny bit ended up inside my mouth, and it wasn’t at all pleasant. So just apply with caution and enjoy those youthful-looking lips!