The Inkey List Tripeptide Plumping Lip Balm: Honest Review with Results

If you have seen the ads for the Inkey List Tripeptide Plumping Lip balm and wondered if it’s legit (especially for under $15!). It claims to plump lips by up to 40% in 4 weeks. Now I have no problem with people getting lip filler, but the migration of lip filler makes me scared to ever try it. So finding skincare ways to get fuller lips is the route I must take! I bought The Inkey List Tripeptide Plumping Lip Balm in November 2022 and use it at least twice a day. I took before photos so you could all see whether or not this stuff worked for me in an un-sponsored and honest review.

The Claims

According to the Inkey List and Sephora, the The Inkey List Tripeptide Plumping Lip Balm claims to have 6% Tripeptide Complex (to increase lip volume for plumper-looking, more defined lips) + 2% Ultra Filling Spheres (in order to deliver hyaluronic acid [which naturally exists in your skin and lips] within the lip to visibly plump, retain moisture, and help fill fine lines).

The Inkey List also claims that The Inkey List Tripeptide Plumping Lip Balm is clinically proven (based on a 4-week independent clinical study of 20 people) to plump lips by up to 40% in 4 weeks and that it visibly smoothed fine lines on the lips in 2 weeks.

These before and after photos I took are taken 5 months apart. I definitely saw a difference sooner than 5 months, but wanted to see what long term use would result in. I can definitely see a difference on my bottom lip and a reduction in the wrinkles on my lips. I see less of a noticeable difference of my upper lip (which is really where I wanted to see a difference).

I did recently see this video by Dr. Charles MD on TikTok where he claims that using hydraulic acid plus peptides 3 times daily can create fuller lips without filler).

@drcharlesmd1 Lip filler without the needle… #lips #lipfiller #lifehacks ♬ original sound – Martin 🙂

This claim is making me want to repurchase and add hydraulanic acid to the lip routine, OR buy this Paula’s Choice lip balm that has hydraulanic acid and peptides in it.

My Review of The Inkey List Tripeptide Plumping Lip Balm

The applicator and consistency of this balm are just fine. I do personally wish it was a thicker consistency because the first couple weeks, my lips actually felt a little dry (I was used to reapplying Vaseline or another thick kind of balm throughout the day). The 1 bottle does last a while though. I am still using the same bottle that I bought in November almost 6 months ago!

My routine with this product was that I would consistently use it twice a day (3x/day if I could remember), morning and night. However, I would always layer on top either Vaseline with cocoa butter (you cannot beat it for under $3) OR the Laneige lip mask on top.

Overall I do like the product and can definitely see a difference, even if it is less noticeable in my upper lip where I mostly hoped to see a difference. Like I said earlier, I think I am going to try adding hydraulic acid to this product or trying a similar balm that already has peptides and hydraulic acid in it to see if I can get closer to the results I was hoping for. But regardless, I won’t complain with the fuller lips this product gave me for under $15!

If you enjoyed this post, you may like my post about the inexpensive Ordinary Lash and Brow Serum.

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