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Miracle weight loss lippy

Forget grueling exercise regimes, the secret to shaping up could be easier (and more glamorous) than you think.
 
It seems all you need is the right make-up. The clever cosmetics company Too Faced has produced a lip gloss that could actually help you lose weight.
 
Sold as a gloss that’s ‘Always on the lips. Never on the hips,’ the Fuze Slenderize Guilt Free Lip Gloss, sold at around £10, contains ingredients that claim to curb the appetite, speed up metabolism and boost energy levels.

How does it work?

The gloss contains plant extract SuperCitrimax, which reportedly keeps hunger at bay and stops the body turning carbohydrates into fat. It also uses the mineral chromium, which is said to boost metabolism, and carnitine,
an energy-giving amino acid.
 
The company teamed up with Fuze; the manufacturers of the Slenderize drinks range, that produce low-calorie fruit juices popular with celebs such as Katie Holmes and Jessica Simpson.

Ask the experts

But nutritionist Juliette Kellow believes the secret behind the ingredients may not be what the company claims.
 
“It is highly unlikely that the gloss actually contains anything that reduces hunger,” she said. “The ingredients are very similar to those used in slimming pills, and there is minimal evidence and almost no scientific research to show that such products actually contribute to weight loss.
 
“I have also never seen any evidence to suggest that these ingredients can be absorbed through the lips or skin.”

Magic make-up

According to Juliette, the real science behind the gloss can be found in other make up products too. “The idea is very clever and may well have positive effects for psychological reasons,” she said. “It probably works in
a similar way to painting your nails to stop yourself getting to the crisps, or brushing your teeth so you don’t want to eat anything else. You won’t want food to get stuck to, or wipe off your lip gloss.
 
“You apply make-up to look good, and when you look good you feel good about yourself. It’s also a distraction because when you feel hungry you’ll apply your lip gloss instead of eating. You can get the same effect with a regular lipstick, and probably for half the price.” 

Not quite a quick fix

Like most diet experts, Juliette recommends a healthy diet and exercise to achieve noticeable results. You can also prevent hunger by upping your intake of fibre. Try switching to wholegrain bread and cereal, or have a
bowl of low-fat soup or fruit in between meals.

And if a you’re not quite convinced by the weight loss lip gloss, you could always try the mood swing gloss, also available at around £10, it changes colour depending on your mood!