How to Get Gorgeous, Plump Lips

Co-authored by Tymia Yvette

Last Updated: April 19, 2022 References

With a growing number of products on the market, getting beautiful, plump lips has never been easier. Whether you purchase a lip-plumping product, try natural lip plumper, or use makeup to create the illusion of plumper lips, your lips are sure to look full, healthy, and beautiful.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Using Natural Lip Plumpers

1
Hydrate your lips with coconut oil or raw cocoa butter. For best results, rub a generous amount of the oil or butter on your lips just before bed every night. This will give your lips a full night to absorb the nutrients and hydrate naturally. When your lips are properly hydrated, they generally appear fuller and healthier and, therefore, more beautiful.
- Look for coconut oil that is labeled raw, virgin, and/or unrefined, or cocoa butter that is labeled raw. These coconut oils and cocoa butters retain more nutrients than processed coconut oils or cocoa butters.
- Hydrating your body by drinking plenty of water will also help your lips stay healthy and beautiful.
- Petroleum jelly is also a great option for hydrating your lips overnight. Both coconut oil and petroleum jelly can help heal cracked, dry lips and prevent chapped lips in the future.
2
Exfoliate to bring out your lips’ natural color. Use a toothbrush to exfoliate and clean your lips by removing any dead skin.^{[1]
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Research source} When exfoliating, rub in a circular motion to increase circulation and boost your lips’ natural fullness and rosy color. Exfoliate your lips as needed, as often as every other day. However, avoid using abrasive scrubs, as that could damage the skin on your lips.^{[2]
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Expert Source

Tymia Yvette
Makeup & Lash Artist
Expert Interview. 22 April 2020.}
- After you exfoliate, follow up immediately after exfoliating with a lip moisturizer to repair and hydrate your lips.^{[3]
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  Tymia Yvette
  Makeup & Lash Artist
  Expert Interview. 22 April 2020.}
- Clean lips tend to reflect more light, making them naturally appear fuller and healthier.
- You can also create an easy, natural DIY sugar lip scrub as an alternative to exfoliating with a toothbrush. Apply the sugar scrub liberally to your lips and rub with your fingers in a circular motion.
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3
Plump your lips naturally with a coconut oil and peppermint oil balm. Mix 1 tablespoon (15 mL) of coconut oil with 5 or 6 small drops of peppermint oil in a small bowl. Use your finger to apply a small dab of the balm to your lips. Store the remaining balm in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 years.
- Peppermint oil is technically an irritant, so it works as a natural lip plumper by stimulating blood flow to your lips and causing mild swelling.^{[4]
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  Research source} You should also be cautious when applying peppermint oil to your lips since it has been known to cause allergic reaction in some people.^{[5]
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  PubMed Central
  Journal archive from the U.S. National Institutes of Health
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- Because peppermint oil is a hot oil, mixing it with coconut oil will help you avoid any burning or irritating side effects while adding hydration. If you do experience any adverse side effects, however, immediately wipe off the balm. If the side effects continue for more than an hour, contact your doctor or take an antihistamine if you know it is safe for you to do so.
- You can also use cinnamon extract instead of peppermint oil, though it might sting for a bit.^{[6]
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- Avoid using a plumping lip balm after applying this natural lip plumper to reduce the risk of irritation.
4
Make a lip plumper at home with olive oil and chili powder. In a small bowl, mix 1 tablespoon (15 mL) of olive oil with a few sprinkles of chili powder, no more than 1 teaspoon (4.9 mL). Lightly rub the mixture on your lips. Leave it on your lips for 1 to 5 minutes before wiping it off with a paper towel. Moisturize with coconut oil, raw cocoa butter, or your favorite lip balm.^{[7]
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- Chili powder, also known as capsicum, causes mild swelling, making your lips temporarily plumper and full.^{[8]
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- Because chili powder is a hot spice, there is a risk of irritation and burning. In most cases, this will subside within a few minutes after wiping off the lip plumper. If the side effects continue for more than an hour, contact your doctor or take an antihistamine if you know it is safe for you to do so.
- To reduce the risk of irritation, avoid using a plumping lip balm after applying this natural lip plumper.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Selecting Lip-Plumping Products

1
Find lip products with hyaluronic acid. Search online or visit your local drug store, makeup shop, or skin care retailer to locate lip products containing hyaluronic acid. Hyaluronic acid simultaneously adds volume and moisturizes your lips, making it a popular ingredient for lip plumping products.^{[9]
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- By hydrating your lips, hyaluronic acid may also help treat or prevent chapped lips, leaving your lips healthier and more beautiful.
- Hyaluronic acid plumpers are a relatively gentle alternative to plumpers that contain irritants since they work by enhancing hydration. That said, they aren't as dramatically plumping as other options since they don't penetrate very deeply into the tissue of your lips.^{[10]
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2
Choose lip products with collagen peptides for long-term results. Collagen peptides are known to promote cellular growth and rejuvenation, making your lips fuller and more beautiful over time. While collagen peptides promote beautiful, plump lips long-term, without additional plumping ingredients, lip products with collagen peptides may not produce noticeable immediate results.
- Similar to hyaluronic acid, collagen peptides won't penetrate the tissues of your lip very deeply on their own, so your lips won't absorb much. This is part of the reason they won't produce noticeable immediate results without the addition of other plumping ingredients.^{[11]
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- Products containing collagen peptides may also help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles on and around your lips.
- If you are vegan, you may want to avoid these products, as many are derived from animals.
3
Use a caffeine lip balm for temporary plumpness. Just as caffeine may boost your mental alertness, it may also boost circulation in your lips, making your lips appear rosy and full.^{[12]
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Research source} Unlike some other temporary lip plumpers, such as a capsicum and cinnamon, caffeine does not usually cause much burning or irritation.
- Because caffeine does not irritate your lips as much as other plumping ingredients, the plumping effect may be more subtle.
4
Select a plumping balm with cinnamon extract or capsicum. Cinnamon and capsicum (chili powder) are both natural ingredients that are commonly added to manufactured lip plumpers. When applied to your lips, both cinnamon and capsicum cause mild irritation that makes the blood rush to your lips, resulting in a temporary plumping of your lips.^{[13]
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- Because plumping is the result of irritation, there is a risk of burning and other uncomfortable side effects with lip plumpers containing cinnamon or capsicum. These side effects usually subside within a few minutes.
- If you experience any adverse side effects, wipe off the plumping balm immediately. If the side effects continue for more than an hour, contact your doctor or take an antihistamine if you know it is safe for you to do so.
5
Plump your lips with lip filler injections. Contact a cosmetic physician to make an appointment to plump your lips with filler injections. While lip filler injections can be expensive and carry a number of risks, they are generally effective at making your lips look gorgeous and plump for about six months.^{[14]
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- Some of the more common and minor side effects and risks associated with lip injections are swelling and bruising at the injection site, reactivation of cold sores or fever blisters, and tenderness around your lips.^{[15]
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- More serious side effects may include lip asymmetry, lumping, infection, tissue loss, or allergic reaction.^{[16]
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- The cost of lip filler injections varies greatly depending on the type of filler used, the doctor’s experience, and where you live. On average, lip filler injections cost between $500 and $2,000 for a treatment that lasts about six months.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Creating the Illusion of Fuller Lips with Makeup

1
Use foundation or concealer to create a larger base.^{[17]
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Research source} Apply your regular foundation or concealer on top of your lips. Use a blending brush or sponge to blend away any harsh lines, particularly along your lip line. Build on more product and blend as needed until your natural lip line is concealed.
- While natural lip plumpers and products can both make your lips fuller and healthier, there is a limit to how much they can do. If your lips are particularly thin or if you are looking for a more dramatic change, using foundation or concealer to hide your natural lip line allows you to create a new, larger lip line.
2
Draw lip liner on the outside rim of your lips.^{[18]
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Research source} Pick a lip liner pencil that is 1 to 2 shades darker than your natural lip color Use the pencil to draw fuller lips by following the outside rim of your lips (rather than the inside or right on top). Fill in your lips with the pencil, or with a lipstick in exactly the same color.
- Using a lip liner that is just 1 or 2 shades darker than your natural color will make it appear natural while allowing you to cover up your natural lip line.
- Filling in your lips with the same color as the liner will keep your makeup looking seamless and natural.
- For a nude look, choose a liner and lipstick that are similar to the color of your skin tone.^{[19]
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  Expert Source
  
  Tymia Yvette
  Makeup & Lash Artist
  Expert Interview. 22 April 2020.}
3
Add highlighter on your Cupid’s bow to reflect light. Using your finger or a small brush, apply a light and bright highlighter to the upper middle of your lips, right where your lips make a little dip (also called the Cupid’s bow). The highlighter will make your lips look fuller by reflecting light.
4
Choose light and glossy lipsticks. When shopping for lipstick, select colors that are lighter than your lips or no more than two shades darker than your normal lip color. In general, light and glossy lip colors tend to make your lips look fuller, while dark, matte lip colors can make your lips appear smaller.
- If you want to define your lips with a darker liner but still make them look full, try filling in with a lipstick or gloss that is slightly lighter than your liner (no more than 1 to 2 shades lighter).

Expert Q&A
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Question

How often should I exfoliate my lips?

Tymia Yvette
Makeup & Lash Artist
Tymia Yvette is a Makeup and Lash Artist and the founder of Tymia Yvette Beauty LLC, a makeup artistry and lash extension company focused on customized beauty services based in Baltimore, Maryland. Trained by MAC Cosmetics, Tymia's work has been featured in the Bravo A-List Awards 2008, the BET Honors Award Show in 2011, 2012, and 2013, the Mercedes-Benz New York Fashion Week 2011, 2012, and 2013, and the White House Correspondent's Dinner in 2014. She has also provided makeup and lash services for the Betsy Royal Casting Agency and the Baltimore Raven's cheerleading squad from 2010 to 2012. Her clients include Terrence Howard, Torrey Smith, Lester Holt, Adrienne Lofton, and Natasha Hastings. She has been awarded WeddingWire's Couple's Choice Award in 2017, 2018, and 2019.

Tymia Yvette

Makeup & Lash Artist

Expert Answer

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You can exfoliate as often as every other day. Just be sure to avoid abrasive scrubs, and follow up with a lip balm to moisturize and hydrate your lips as soon as you finish scrubbing them.
Question

Will normal sugar do instead of brown sugar?

Community Answer

Yes, but make sure that you don't scrub too hard. White sugar tends to have bigger grains than brown sugar. Your lips will be more sensitive compared to other parts on your skin, so a larger grain size might be too harsh. If you scrub lightly though, you shouldn't encounter any problems.
Question

How do l make my lower lip pink and moisturized?

Community Answer

Drink more water, use lip scrubs and keep a lip balm with you at all times.