Paula’s Choice Pro-Collagen Peptide Plumping Gloss Balm
Three peptides sitting mid-list in a shea-and-castor balm base, with no menthol, capsaicin or other tingle agent — which is the whole reason to consider it. The plumping here is hydration and peptides over weeks rather than irritation over an hour. One caveat we would rather name: it contains vanillin for scent and Red 7 Lake for the sheer tint, both at the very end of the list. Neither is restricted, but a fragrance ingredient in a lip product you reapply all day is worth knowing about, and it costs this pick twenty points below.
How this scored 69/100
- Formula transparency25/25
Full ingredient list published and screened.
- Restricted substances30/30
Nothing on the EU banned or restricted lists, and no common contact sensitizers.
- Fragrance & allergens0/20
Contains fragrance — a leading cause of contact reactions.
- Dose disclosure14/25
Concentration not stated, but ingredient order shows roughly where actives sit.
What’s in it
Full ingredient list publishedContains fragrance3 things to know- Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38, Tridecapeptide-1 (positions 15–17 of 30)
- Sodium hyaluronate, shea butter, castor seed oil
- Tocopherol, plum seed oil, Portulaca pilosa extract
- Note: Contains vanillin, an added fragrance ingredient — notable from a brand that argues publicly against fragrance in skincare. It is not on the EU list of 26 declarable allergens, but it is there for scent, not performance.
- Note: Contains Red 7 Lake, a colourant providing the sheer pink tint. Cosmetic only.
- Note: No menthol, capsaicin or other irritant plumping agent, unlike most of this category.