Can This Skincare Ingredient Replace Your Lip Injector?
TikTok claims volufiline is filler in a bottle — so we asked experts to weigh in.
The internet can’t get enough of cosmetic surgeries and tweakments. So naturally, when skincare ingredient volufiline started to pick up steam on TikTok for being a “needle-free filler alternative,” beauty fans became increasingly interested in implementing it into their routines, thanks to beloved brands like Medicube and The Ordinary co-signing the hype. Whether its claims of bigger lips, plumper under-eyes or even an accidentally inflated finger, volufiline has quickly become a hot topic of discussion for its seemingly obvious results. But, dermatologists say things are not as black-and-white as they seem.
Synonymous with its ability to visually plump skin, volufiline works by stimulating fat cells in areas with volume loss. However, while TikTok claims it’s comparable to breast filler and lip injections, experts say that couldn’t be further from the truth. “Volufiline offers temporary, subtle volume enhancement rather than permanent structural change — as it’s a topical ingredient,” double board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Robert Schwarcz tells Hypebae.
Additionally, Dr. Schwarcz finds that comparing volufiline to professional fillers isn’t only misleading, but it also severely overestimates its abilities. “It cannot rebuild lost facial fat, lift sagging tissue or add structural volume the way professional dermal fillers can,” he says. Beyond that, experts warn that it should be used with extreme caution, as the long-term effects are still widely unknown.
@skin_vestment You guys that have been here a while know I love a bit of volufiline! I use it on my lips & under eyes & I’ve noticed a huge difference in both. Consistency is 🔑! Every day I apply the serum to my lips, pop over a plastic lip mask (not essential) & let it penetrate. After about 20 minutes I apply a layer of Vaseline and let my lips marinate! I can definitely notice a difference #volufiline #lipcare #volufilineserum #lipbalm #antiaging ♬ Hot Air Balloon – Adam Woods
In addition to being a relatively new development in the beauty space, volufiline is not yet FDA-approved. “It is not an FDA-approved product and routinely adding it to your skin care routine is not advisable. I’d be very careful [about] applying it on the face and certainly other areas of the body,” board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Douglas Monasebian says. While it’s commonly grouped with other skincare products that contain more familiar ingredients, Dr. Monasebian notes that volufiline is strictly intended for cosmetic use, rather than actual skin health.
“It would be silly to think your breasts can be augmented so much with the topical application of any material. It may work temporarily to augment some areas of the face, but we still don’t know the long-lasting effects of this agent,” he adds. The fact of the matter is, applying cream or serum will never lead to injection-level results. Instead, volufiline should be sparingly used as a temporary solution to loss of volume.
As with any buzzy product, dermatologists say to always approach with caution. When in doubt, conduct a patch test and be sure to thoroughly read labels before adding any unfamilar product to your daily routine. Because although TikTok swears volufiline is “filler in a bottle,” experts aren’t yet convinced — which means, you probably shouldn’t be either.
