I bought the Kylie Cosmetics Plush Lip Butter on a whim at Sephora, fully expecting to hate it because the shade names are annoyingly cutesy. I didn’t.
My lips are chronically dry—like, peeling in the middle of summer—and I’ve spent $40 on balms that did nothing. This one stopped the flaking by day two, which honestly pissed me off because I wanted to trash it.
It’s a squishy, cushiony balm that comes in a heavy glass jar (fancy, but slippery if your hands are lotioned). $18 for 0.23 oz—basically the price of two Chipotle burritos that would give you more joy.
The Squish Factor
It’s bouncy, not goopy—like pressing your finger into a marshmallow, but it doesn’t slide off your lips.
Scent Overload
It smells like vanilla birthday cake. Strong. If you hate scented anything, run.
The Glossy Sheen
It leaves a wet-looking shine that fades to a soft tint after 15 minutes—no sticky hair-in-wind situation.
Photo: Element5 Digital / Unsplash
Shea butter and peptides do the heavy lifting, but the real hero is the squalane—it’s what makes it feel like a drink of water rather than a waxy film. There’s also a touch of castor oil for that plumping illusion.
- Shea Butter: Deep moisture that actually sinks in, not just sits on top
- Squalane: Locks in hydration without greasiness
- Peptides: Superficial plumping that fades in 2 hours
- Castor Oil: Gives that subtle, glossy fullness
Photo: Element5 Digital / Unsplash
First swipe: it’s thick, like a balm that means business, but it melts into a slippery oil within 30 seconds. No tugging, no white residue in the creases.
Two weeks in, my lips are softer but not transformed—the peeling stopped, but my fine lines are still there. The shine also collects in the corners of my mouth by hour three, which is not cute if you’re talking to someone up close.
Photo: Marek Studzinski / Unsplash
It fixed my flakiness in 48 hours, but it’s not a overnight miracle-worker—my lips still look like lips, just less sad ones. The scent is the biggest risk: I love it, my friend with a sensitive nose gagged.
Photo: Nick Noel / Unsplash
It’s a great balm trapped in a celebrity brand’s overpriced jar—but if you’re already in Sephora and your lips are screaming, it’s a safe grab. Just don’t expect Kylie’s lips to come in the mail.