The #KylieJennerChallenge which saw social media users trying to replicate the socialite’s plump pout – many with disastrous results – has had equally disastrous results for lip plumping brand Fullips.
When socialite and sibling of Kim Kardashian, Kylie Jenner, took to social media armed with a full pout the Internet almost fell over itself trying to replicate similar lip plumpness.
Coining the hashtag #KylieJennerChallenge social media users posted photos of the results from lip plumping attempts, many calamitous.
The #KylieJennerChallenge caused widespread controversy when people started doing it wrong, sucking objects like shot glasses and plastic tubes which led to bleeding lips and many mouths gone wrong.
I thought the #kyliejennerchallenge was funny until it looked like I had a hickey on my lips..even with makeup.. pic.twitter.com/x5tp7kWjNW
— karlie kulas (@karkulas27) July 20, 2015
When u try 2 do the Kylie Jenner challenge and the glass breaks so u have to sneak it upstairs #kyliejennerchallenge pic.twitter.com/TZQxB29cLN — ⠀⠀⠀⠀ (@JailaIdk) July 13, 2015
i screwed up. #kyliejennerchallenge #uhoh pic.twitter.com/Mdf4bcZdUP
— zoë (@_zoeymcguire) April 20, 2015
Due to the bad press the challenge was receiving, the negative connotations rubbed off on lip plumping brand Fullips. Fullips has a self-suction product in order to swell up lips temporarily.
“The negative association with the challenge has been trying on our small family business,” creator of Fullips, Linda Gomez, told B&T.
“The ‘Kylie Jenner Challenge’ affected our brand because people assumed either that kids were using our product – they were not; or that our product does the same thing shot glasses and plastic lids do – they shouldn’t when used as directed; or that we created our product in response to the challenge – we did not, we applied for a patent back in 2009.”
Gomez lambasted the fact many social media users were using objects not designed for plumping-up lips.
“I’m so sad that so many young people used random objects – not designed for lip plumping – in the way they did and have hurt themselves,” she said.
While the brand has been tarnished by the challenge and the bad press it received, Gomez is adamant the brand will come back.
Referencing American health show The Doctors TV Show which the brand has appeared on before, Gomez said none of the doctors said the Fullips product was dangerous.
“So I think it’s just a matter of getting the word back out there and sharing the reviews of those doctors,” said Gomez.