Product Review: Sexy Smile by Dr. Pia Lieb

What better to match great skin than a sexy smile? Dr. Pia Lieb’s Sexy Smile 2-in-1 lip gloss and tooth whitener ($17.10, Amazon.com) gives you a sexy smile and soft, shiny lips. Used on the go up to six times per day, Sexy Smile claims that it can make your smile “up to 12 shades lighter” and prevent future stains from forming on your teeth.

Long-lasting lip gloss that makes your teeth appear whiter

The main ingredients in Sexy Smile lip gloss are polybutene, petrolatum, octyldodecanol, squalane, and beeswax, all of which are excellent moisturizing agents that will lock in skin’s moisture and retain its shiny properties for longer than ordinary lip glosses.

The secret to making teeth look whiter? A cool-toned base coloring that is not at all visible to the naked eye. While warm tones tend to bring out the yellow in teeth, the cool tones of Sexy Smile make your teeth appear whiter instantly.

After using the product myself, I noticed that my lips stayed shinier for longer than usual, and felt soft, not at all sticky. The lip gloss is also not flavored, which I found unusual for a lip gloss, but I liked it anyway.

Beneficial lip gloss ingredients

Sexy Smile contains all of the moisturizing agents listed above, plus shea butter, antioxidant vitamin E, soothing aloe, skin-smoothing retinyl palmitate, and antioxidant vitamin C as ascorbyl palmitate. Although vitamin C as ascorbyl palmitate is more stable than L-ascorbic acid, it is still most likely not effective in the clear container of the lip gloss. However, given the fact that vitamin C and vitamin E are network antioxidants, I doubt that Sexy Smile is in any way pro-oxidant.

Does it really make your teeth whiter?

I am not a tooth expert at all (hence why this is FutureDerm and not FutureDent, haha). But with all due seriousness, hydrogen peroxide is a main ingredient in Sexy Smile that is used in even higher concentrations regularly in dentists’ offices to whiten the teeth. Applying the treatment 2-3 times a day (for 6-10 seconds/tooth each time) made a difference in my teeth over the course of a week; in fact, I would say my teeth are about 2 shades whiter, and I drink coffee and Diet Coke, so that’s saying something.

My only complaint? The treatment doesn’t have a great flavor, as there is a higher concentration of bitter hydrogen peroxide than the sugary alcohol xylitol. Still, once you get used to it (and learn not to get very much anywhere but on your teeth), the results are sensational.

About Dr. Pia Lieb

According to the product website, Dr. Pia Lieb is a graduate of New York University College of Dentistry, Dr. Lieb has served as an appointed Clinical Assistant Professor, Instructor and Associate Module Director at her alma mater for 14 years. Published and quoted regularly in medical journals, she also currently holds professional affiliations with the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, American Academy of Aesthetic Dentistry, Academy of General Dentistry and American Dental Association.

Overall Opinions

I love Sexy Smile! I love the softness, beneficial ingredients, and long-lasting property of the lip gloss, plus the idea that I can whiten my teeth all through the day. I started carrying it around and using it over lipstick. My only complaint? You guessed it – the lack of sunscreen. I recommend wearing it over a SPF-containing, softening lipstick.