The Truth Behind Kylie Jenner's "Body-Plumping" Cream

A dermatologist weighs in.

Kylie Jenner
(Image credit: Marie Claire)

Over the weekend, 17-year-old Kylie Jenner endorsed a beauty product and courted  controversy in the process, which, normally, is nothing out of the ordinary. But this time around, Jenner is not only revealing the "secret" behind her controversial, cartoonish curves, but doing so unendorsed. 

According to TMZ, Jenner's glowing review about PureLeef's body-plumping creams, was unsolicited by the company, which is 100% perplexing to us because 1) In what universe does Kris Jenner let that happen? and 2) Miracle creams like this just sound too good to be true. Still, if Jenner was so loyal to a product she felt compelled to share it with her 31.2 Instagram followers without any monetary motives, could it be something to write home about?

"I love sharing my beauty secrets with you guys and this is a favorite!" Jenner wrote. "I started seeing results after only a month of consistent use. Love their products. #curvesonfleek."

PureLeef deems itself a "modern day miracle" and a worthy, cost-effective alternative to plastic surgery, claiming that its "all natural" products revitalize the body's own fat generation to enhance the appearance of curves, like lifting and adding volume to the breasts or boosting the shape of the hips and butt.

For the record, the Butt and Body Plumping Cream ($47) and Breast Pumping Lotion ($49) contain plant-based active ingredients—including essential oils, like coconut and grape seed, ultra-moisturizing hyaluronic acid, as well as Sarsasapogenin and Macelignan, which have been known to aid fat cell formation to restore fullness. However, dermatologist Rachel Nazarian, M.D., at Schweiger Dermatology Group, isn't buying it.

"While these creams do contain active ingredients linked to stimulating fat cells, as well as act as antioxidants that are anti-inflammatory, it may offer some temporary improvement of cellulite, but nothing dramatic," explains Nazarian. "Often these studies are done in labs, not on humans—and just because something works in the lab on cells, doesn't mean it'll have the same result when applied topically. To promise fat plumping when applied topically, especially after only a month, seems unlikely."

So, it would appear that Jenner hasn't discovered the cellulite-erasing, derrière-growing miracle product we've been waiting for. But, we will rest assured that when said product is upon us, the Kardashian-Jenner clan will be on it, Instagram at the ready.

Lauren Valenti
Beauty Editor

Lauren is the former beauty editor at Marie Claire. She love to while away the hours at coffee shops, hunt for vintage clothes, and bask in the rough-and-tumble beauty of NYC. She firmly believes that solitude can be a luxury if you’ve got the right soundtrack—that being the Rolling Stones, of course.