I Put Volufiline on My Lips Every Night for 8 Weeks: Here’s What Happened

Scarlett R.
Mar 14
6 min read

Updated: Apr 30

If you’ve ever had chronically dry, lined lips, the kind where lipstick bleeds before you even finish applying it and every photo makes your lips look thinner than they actually are you know how discouraging it is to try product after product and still look dehydrated by noon.

That was me. And honestly, fixing my lips was never even the main goal when I started my Volufiline experiment. I was testing it on my face for volume and structure. My lips were almost an afterthought.

Eight weeks later, they ended up being my favorite result of the entire experiment.

What Volufiline Is (The Quick Version)

Volufiline is a plant-derived cosmetic ingredient typically associated with plumping and volume support, the kind of subtle, gradual fullness that builds over time rather than puffing up overnight. It’s oil-soluble, meaning it absorbs best when mixed with an oil-based carrier rather than a water-based lotion or gel.

The product I used throughout my testing is 100% Volufiline by Cosmetic Boosters . A little goes a long way, we’re talking one small drop per application.

100% Volufiline by Cosmetic Boosters

used for 8 weeks

What My Lips Looked Like Before

Chronically dry is the most accurate description. Not chapped in a flaky, painful way, just perpetually dehydrated looking. Fine lines running vertically across my lips, especially the bottom lip. A sort of deflated look even when I was well-hydrated. Lip products would settle into the lines and make everything more obvious, not less.

Week 1: chronically dry, dehydrated lines, and no amount of balm was fixing it.

How I Applied It

Every night before bed, I mixed one small drop of Volufiline with one small drop of castor oil and applied it directly all over my lips. That’s the full routine, nothing else on top, nothing layered underneath. I just applied it and went to sleep.

I didn’t use a lip brush or anything precise. Just fingertip application, pressed gently all over.

I did this consistently for eight weeks as part of my broader Volufiline face experiment.

Why I Used Castor Oil for My Lips Specifically

Since Volufiline is oil-soluble, it needs an oil-based carrier to absorb properly. I tested two carriers throughout my 8-week experiment overall: castor oil (early weeks) and The Ordinary 100% Plant-Derived Squalane (later weeks).

Here’s the thing about castor oil on the face: it broke me out. Congestion, small bumps, it wasn’t the right fit for my facial skin. So I switched to squalane for everything else and never looked back.

But on my lips? I kept the castor oil.

The one I use is Essentially Kate's Castor Oil, it comes in a 16 oz glass bottle with a pump, which I actually love because a little goes such a long way that you want a bottle that's going to last. It's cold pressed, hexane-free, and 100% pure, which matters to me when I'm putting something on my lips every night. Castor oil is extremely hydrating on its own, thick, stays put overnight, and has a long history of use for lip conditioning. On the lips, none of the congestion issues apply, there are no pores to clog. So I personally kept using castor oil on my lips and reserved the squalane for my face.

My honest recommendation:

For lips only: Essentially Kate's Castor Oil is excellent. Incredibly hydrating, stays on well overnight, and pairs really well with Volufiline. The glass bottle with pump makes it easy to dispense just one drop without waste.
For face + lips (or if you want one product that works everywhere): Go with squalane. Lightweight, non-comedogenic, and it genuinely works.

Either way, do not use a water-based moisturizer as your carrier. I made that mistake mid-experiment on my face and it significantly impacted my results. Oil-soluble ingredients need oil.

If you want the full breakdown of why carrier choice matters so much with Volufiline, including the mistake I made mid-experiment that significantly affected my results. I covered it in detail here: [I Used Volufiline for 8 Weeks: Results, Mistakes, and What I'd Do Differently.]

When I First Noticed a Difference

Around the four-week mark, I noticed my lips looked different in the morning, not dramatically, but they had a plumpness that I hadn't seen before, even right after waking up before drinking water. The vertical lines on my bottom lip were noticeably softer. My lips just looked... less depleted.

By week six and seven, I stopped thinking about it as a "testing" thing and started thinking of it as something I was just going to keep doing.

My Honest Results at 8 Weeks

volufiline lips before and after 8 week results week 1 week 6 week 8 — Photos were taken throughout the eight weeks under varying lighting, no filters, no editing, just real progress shots.

The biggest change, and honestly the one that surprised me most, was the hydration lines. Those deep vertical lines I had on my lips, especially on the bottom lip, were significantly softer. Not completely gone, but the kind of improvement where I noticed my lip liner wasn't bleeding and my lipstick was actually sitting on my lips instead of in the lines.

Beyond that:

Texture: Noticeably smoother. The rough, almost crepe-y texture I used to feel is mostly gone. My lips feel soft in a way that usually only lasts a few hours after applying a thick balm, except now it's just how they feel.

Volume: More subtle than the hydration improvement, but real. Not filler-level change, not a dramatic pout. More like my lips look their actual size instead of slightly deflated. If you have naturally full lips you might not notice volume much. If you have thinner or age-related volume loss, I think you'd see more here.

A note on volume: if immediate size is what you're after, that's a different product category entirely. Volufiline is a slow build, subtle and cumulative. The lip plumper I reach for when I actually want visible size right now is Too Faced Lip Injection Maximum Plump, and honestly it works even better since my lips have been consistently hydrated from the Volufiline routine. I'm doing a full post on it with before and after photos [check it out here] once it's live.

Overall appearance: They just look better at rest. Not glossy, not dramatically fuller, just noticeably healthier and more balanced than where I started.

Will I Keep Using It?

Yes, without question. Out of everything I've tried on my lips over the years, balms, overnight masks, treatments, serums, this is the one combination that actually changed the baseline. Not just temporarily. My lips look better at baseline now than they did when I started.

My current routine: one drop of Volufiline mixed with one drop of Essentially Kate's Castor Oil, every night before bed. Simple, inexpensive, and it works.

Volufiline Results FAQ

How long before you see results on lips?

Around four weeks of consistent nightly use in my experience. Give it at least 6-8 weeks to fully evaluate.

Do I need a special lip product or can I just mix it into something I already have?

You need an oil-based carrier. If you already use a face oil or have castor oil on hand, you're set. If you want one product that works for lips and face, squalane is the cleanest option.

Will it make my lips noticeably bigger?

For me the hydration and texture change was more dramatic than the volume change. If you're expecting significant size increase, manage those expectations, this isn't a plumping gloss. It's a gradual conditioning and volumizing ingredient that works over time.

Should I use Volufiline once or twice a day on my lips?

I used it once a day, every night before bed, and was happy with the results. For lips specifically I don't think twice a day is necessary, the overnight application gives it time to absorb without being disturbed by eating or drinking.

Can I put lip balm or gloss over it?

I applied it as the last step before bed so I didn't layer anything over it. In the morning I'd apply whatever I normally use. I wouldn't layer it under a heavily fragranced product but a plain balm should be fine.

Is it safe for lips?

I had zero irritation over eight weeks. That said, everyone's skin is different, if you're reactive or have any lip sensitivities, patch test first.

Is Volufiline oil or water soluble?

Oil soluble, this is probably the most important thing to know before you start. It needs an oil-based carrier to absorb properly. Castor oil and squalane both work. A water-based moisturizer will not.

How long does Volufiline take to absorb on lips?

I'd give it at least 5-10 minutes before eating or drinking anything. I applied it right before sleep so absorption was never an issue for me.

This post is for educational purposes and reflects my personal experience. It is not medical advice. If you have skin conditions or concerns, consult a qualified healthcare professional before trying new skincare products. Results will vary from person to person.

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