Valentino’s Puffer Gloss Gave Me Plump Lips and Vivid Color

Key Takeaways

• The Valentino Beauty Puffer Gloss multitasks to deliver pigment, moisture, shine, and a brand-developed plumping effect in a single lip product.
• We tested it and found it to be worth trying, appreciating its shade range, staying power, and color payoff.

We put the Valentino Beauty Puffer Gloss to the test after receiving a complimentary sample from the brand. Keep reading for our full product review.

I like to think of myself as open to new things, but I can’t say that’s always the case with my lip looks. As a makeup artist who loves a good matte lip, my interest in the Valentino Beauty Puffer Gloss took me by surprise. Intrigued by the product’s claims of delivering a plumping effect, high shine, hydration, and a non-sticky formula, I wanted to see if it could be a fun alternative to my typical full-coverage lip looks. After receiving three sample shades from the brand, I put the Puffer Gloss to the test for a few weeks. Read on for my experience with the gloss, from the results to the wear time to whether it’s boosted my appreciation in high-shine lip products.

About My Lips: Dry and textured

My lips are one of my favorite features, and I enjoy dressing them up with different lip colors. As much as I love them, my lips can be a little high-maintenance since they’re often dry, and I work hard to keep them moisturized. To keep my lips smooth and healthy, a hydrating lip product is never out of reach. Right now, I like the Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Lip Balm: It’s very simple and affordable, but it nourishes my lips and effectively preps them for a color product. I was excited to see whether the Valentino Puffer Gloss could multitask in providing nourishment, plumping, and a vivid tint.

Khera Alexander

The Formula: Plumping and hydrating

The Valentino Puffer Gloss is a hydrating, plumping product that promises to help your lips look fuller with major shine. It’s formulated with ingredients like hyaluronic acid, ceramides, vitamin E derivative, and the Valentino Puffer Complex, a brand-specific formula that conditions and softens the lips.

The texture and consistency of the Puffer Gloss feels a little thick, but I view that as a good thing. I know that this provides more pigment, coverage, and wear time, all while feeling comfortable without any dryness, heaviness, or stickiness.

The Shades: Pigmented pinks and neutrals

The Valentino Beauty Puffer Gloss comes in six shades, encompassing pink, berry, and neutral palettes in addition to a holographic version. I wanted to try a few different options to see how they each complemented my complexion, so I used shades 520R Moonlight Crush (a blackberry shimmer), 122A Warm It Up (a milky rose brown), and 302R Extra Pink (a bright pink reminiscent of the shade that dominated the brand’s viral fall 2022 collection).

Khera Alexander

How to Apply: Wear alone or over lipstick for dimension

Since these glosses are quite pigmented, there are a couple of different ways to wear them. For a single-step, high-shine finish, the brand suggests applying the puffer gloss alone. For more color, coverage, and dimension, try layering the gloss over your favorite lipstick shade.

The Wear Time: Surprisingly long-lasting

I don’t often have high expectations for any glossy formula. Most of the time, I expect these products to fade quickly, lose their shine, and need reapplication multiple times throughout the day. To my surprise, I didn’t have that experience with the Valentino Puffer Gloss. Each time I wore it, it would last for several hours. I could go to the gym, run errands, and spend a few hours at work before I felt the need to reapply it.

Khera Alexander / Byrdie

Eating or drinking while wearing a lip product always has its challenges, but I personally don’t expect a shiny or moisturizing lipstick or gloss to outlast a meal. I ended up needing to reapply the gloss after eating, but I didn’t mind.

The Final Review: Plump lips with tons of pigment and hydration

I tested the gloss for a little over two weeks to get out of my comfort zone and get a good sense of how the product wore throughout the day. As someone who isn’t used to wearing lip gloss daily, I found the Valentino Puffer Gloss to be a pleasant surprise. Each time I used it alone or with another lip product, my lips were fuller and more moisturized with a beautiful shine.

I loved Warm It Up the most: It’s a milky, rosy brown shade that looks like a soft nude on my lips and pairs well with most of my go-to makeup looks. While I’m unlikely to use any of the glosses on a regular basis due to my preference for mattes, I can see myself wearing this shade a bit more often.

Khera Alexander

Overall, I appreciated the Valentino Puffer Gloss’s high-tech formula and multitasking abilities: My lips felt hydrated and comfortable, and I was impressed with the pigment and staying power.