Review: Niod Lip Bio-lipid concentrate

Where to purchase: Available on Lookfantastic.com

Price: £38

Volume: 15ml – this lasts a looooong time

What is it?: A comprehensive treatment to improve the looks of lip colour, volume, texture, softness and contour, combining a wide borrowing from peptide technology and bio-technology. – ”This serum contains an immediate-acting technology to increase visible lip redness without any pigments or dyes.” – So basically, a ‘lip treatment’ to plump up lips and improve the texture of them.

Good for: Those who want an effective lip plumper. Also for those who enjoy the feeling of an oil-slick product on their lips. I don’t think dry lips would find this too moisturising? as I usually apply a lip balm (once this has dried down) on top.

Directions: ”Daily for 30 days initially. Reduce application to once per day thereafter. Avoid the eyes and the surrounding skin. Wash hands after application.”

How I use it: I tried to adhere and apply this everyday for 28 days and then ease up, but I’m sure I missed/forgot to apply a day or two. I have eased up on the application since then, applying this every other day either AM or PM. If I’m going out, I apply this and let it dry before I apply a lipstick. If I’m not going out, I apply this in the PM – BUT. This is not hydrating enough in the PM alone so I do apply the laneige lip sleeping mask once this has dried down. If I use this in the AM by the way, I apply the Blistex SPF 50+ AFTER once this has dried down, as I feel like this would compromise the integrity of my SPF if I applied this AFTER. Whenever I use this, I make sure to wash my hands straight after in case I rub my eye!

Packaging: Glass bottle with a glass dropper and rubber top.

Key Ingredients: This has a specific ingredient which is the same thing used in those Muscle relaxer creams – I believe that this is: Methyl Nicotinate

Full Ingredients: Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate, Oleic/Linoleic/Linolenic Polyglycerides, Pentaclethra macroloba seed oil, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Methyl Nicotinate, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Pongamia pinnata, Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-12, Palmitoyl tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38, Sodium Hyaluronate, Glucomannan, Commiphora mukul resin extract, Sesamum Indicum (Sesame) Seed Extract, Portulaca Pilosa Extract, Anemarrhena Asphodeloides Root Extract, Hippophae Rhamnoides Oil, Hydroxymethoxyphenyl Propylmethylmethoxybenzofuran, Plukenetia Volubilis Seed Oil, Trihydroxystearin, Sorbitan Isostearate, Propylene Carbonate, Butylene/Ethylene/Styrene Copolymer, Ethylene/Propylene/Styrene Copolymer, Stearalkonium Hectorite, Sucrose Cocoate, Tocopherol, BHT, Aqua (Water).

NOTE: SKINCARISMA HAVE A FULL INGREDIENT LIST BREAKDOWN HERE

I like that this has Hyaluronic acid and peptides (I guess to improve that plumpling/line-lip filled look). As you can see there are oils (hence why I get that oil slick) and also silicone (also for that slip). I believe that Methyl Nicotinate is the product that provides that plumping sensation?

Texture: Oil-like slip. It’s like applying an oil onto your lips.

I get quite scared applying this on my finger because if I leave this on for too long, my finger will turn red and sting! I always make sure to wash my fingers after applying this.

Bright Yellow colour (as this is an oil-like texture). I literally just tap the tip of this dropper and that’s more than enough product to apply onto my lips.

Video: This shows in video format – the texture of the Lip Bio Lipid Concentrate.

Fragrance?: I don’t smell any strong fragrance when it’s applied, but if I sniff the product in the bottle – it has a similar (but softer) smell to lipstick.

Good Under Makeup?: As long as you don’t apply too much, and once this sinks in/dries down, then you can apply lipstick. But it’s an oily-product so you can’t put a lip product straight after applying this otherwise it sort of messes up/dissolves the lip product on top because it slips and slides. So wait until it’s fully dried down.

How long have I been using this?: Just over a month

The Effect?: Plump lips. This genuinely does make my lips look like I’ve had fillers (TEMPORARILY). But it can look a bit alarming if applied outside of the lip line (looks red). this does moisturise the lips BUT soon after, once the product has absorbed, the lips feel dry again (so then I pop on lip balm). I can’t see what this has done for me long-term, but short term – this has been a great lip plumper to apply if I want to use a lipstick after.

THIS IS THE BEFORE APPLICATION AND 1 MINUTE AFTER APPLICATION

The Lip Plumping Effect and Tingle: So this definitely works as a lip plumper (as seen above) – but I try to apply this as close to the lip line as possible, to get that fuller look. Now Niod recommend you don’t go over the line, but because I’m heavy handed, I do sometimes go over the lip line (this is because it is SO EASY TO APPLY TOO MUCH OF THIS PRODUCT ONTO YOUR FINGER – you barely need any to cover your lips because it’s oily). So as you can see in the picture, there is some redness around the lip. THIS DOES GO AWAY. I want to make that clear. But it takes 5 minutes for the redness to go. This tingles too – like any lip plumper does. Initially I found it quite hot and tingly, but now I know that the feeling will go away, I’m used to it now.

I APPLIED THIS ON MY HAND TO SHOW YOU THE EFFECT OF THE PRODUCT. Niod specifically state to not do this, but I wanted to see if the redness caused on the lips is different to anywhere else and basically – there is an ingredient in here which I believe is the same ingredient used in SORE MUSCLE CREAMS (I believe the ingredient is: Methyl Nicotinate) – so you know that hot, tingling feeling when applying a muscle rub? That is the same feeling one gets on the lips. So it’s not an allergic reaction, but an ”inflammatory” reaction that this product causes which makes the lips ‘plump’ up – just like a lip plumper does. I’m guessing it is an irritating reaction that occurs to make the lips look plumper. So this concept may not be great for everyone (and maybe that’s why I haven’t seen long term results – because this is a temporary effect). That’s why I don’t quite know how long term this is supposed to make your lips look fuller, but in the short term it has the same effect as a lip plumper. I didn’t notice any huge difference on the condition of the lips long term.

What I like:

• Definitely works as a lip plumper (lips do look bigger)
• No negative effect to my lips i.e. it’s a bit ‘tingly’ but the tingle disappears. Yes outside the lips may look red if you apply too much (but don’t do this), but the sensation and such hasn’t discouraged me from using this product as it does work as a lip plumper for me.
• Because I apply so little, there is A LOT of product to use up which is great (will last months and months – so I’ll get my money’s worth technically).

What I don’t like:

• No long-term improvement or volume improvement (that I can see)
• The oily texture can be a bit weird or uncomfortable (depending how much you apply) – and does make this sort of difficult to apply before an SPF (unless I wait 5-10 minutes for the product to fully dry down before applying). and after an SPF – I feel like the oiliness of this would compromise the SPF on my lips, so I’d rather not apply it after. And also it’s hard to applt lipstick straight after this so I also have to wait 5-10 minutes for the product to fully dry down (just not great to use if I’m in a rush).
• If the outside of my lips look red, I have to wait a bit before going out in public because it looks weird (once again, not great if one is in a rush!).
• Not hydrating or moisturising once the product has been absorbed (I have to apply my laneige sleeping mask after this as a lip balm).

Overall Rating and Conclusion: (As a quick lip plumper – 4.2/5). To be honest, I can’t see the long-term effect of this product gradually increasing lip size BUT I would say that the short term effect of this serum (i.e. temporarily plumped lips) is very effective for me. So I think this is an effective lip plumpr, and if there are long-term results occurring, which I don’t see because I just don’t notice, then I’m happy to continue using. I would say this isn’t a comfortable-sitting product i.e. the oil-slick wont be for everyone, and of course the tingling/redness isn’t for everyone either!

Would I repurchase?: As a lip plumper – yes I would repurchase. but honestly I use such a TINYYYY amount of this product each time, I feel like I might have it forever and therefore wont need to repurchase!

Disclaimer: I am a skincare enthusiast and not a skin expert. I am not qualified to give out dermatological advice. This type of advice should only be given by a medical practitioner. Upon trying / using any of the reviewed products on the blog, please follow the manufacturer’s instructions and warnings and please seek medical advice if needed.