How to Get Great Lips

Co-authored by Kelly Chu

Last Updated: July 8, 2021 References Approved

Soft, full lips make your face look healthy and beautiful. But how do you get your lips to look amazing? Start by regularly exfoliating and conditioning your lips to help them look their best. Next, add color and shine to make your lips appear pretty and bright. Finally, keep your lips looking great by staying hydrated, using sunscreen and having healthy long-term habits.

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Conditioning Your Lips

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Use a lip scrub to exfoliate your lips.^{[1]
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Expert Source

Kelly Chu
Professional Makeup Artist
Expert Interview. 9 May 2019.} The skin on your lips is delicate, and it easily dries and begins to flake. If you have dry, cracked lips, you need to condition your lips instead of trying to cover them up. A light lip scrub can do the trick in a matter of minutes. There's no need to buy a special scrub, just mix one up at home. Here's what to do:
- Mix a teaspoon of sugar and a teaspoon of honey.
- Wet your lips with warm water.
- Rub the scrub over your lips in a circular motion.
- Rinse your lips, and repeat if necessary.
2
Try a soft-bristled toothbrush. If your lips are too dry to be corrected with a scrub, try using a toothbrush to do the job. Wet your lips and rub a clean toothbrush over them using a gentle circular motion. Rinse your lips and repeat if you still see skin flakes there.
- Make sure you use a soft-bristled brush, and not one with stiff bristles. You don't want to cut or scrape the skin on your lips, since irritating them will just make the problem worse.
- If your lips are cracked, you may need to repeat the process over the course of several days. After exfoliating your lips, moisturize them and wait until the next day to exfoliate again. Repeat until your lips are in tip-top condition.
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3
Nourish your lips with a homemade serum. A lip serum is similar to a face mask, but for your lips. It's a rich, nourishing mixture that deeply moisturizes and brightens your lips, with results lasting several days. After exfoliating your lips, apply a serum to bring out the best in your skin.
- Mix 1 teaspoon honey or aloe with 1 teaspoon olive or coconut oil.
- Rub the mixture into your lips.
- Let the serum sit and absorb into your lips for ten minutes.
- Rinse away the excess serum with warm water.
4
Use a natural lip plumper. If you long for bigger lips, there are ways to help your lips look their plumpest without using injections or expensive products.^{[2]
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Expert Source

Kelly Chu
Professional Makeup Artist
Expert Interview. 9 May 2019.} The key is to increase circulation in your lips by apply a substance that draws blood to the area. Mix up a natural lip plumper and apply it to your lips any time you want to give them a boost. Here are a few household supplies you can use:
- A mixture of 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper and 1/2 teaspoon olive or coconut oil
- A mixture of 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon and 1/2 teaspoon olive or coconut oil
- A mixture of 5 drops peppermint extract and 1/2 teaspoon olive or coconut oil
- Or use this quick solution: rub a piece of freshly cut ginger or a cut jalapeno pepper over your lips
5
Moisturize your lips every day. Your lips are exposed to all kinds of substances that can dry them out on a daily basis. Hot and cold temperatures, food and beverages you consume, wind, sun, and air pollution all have an effect on the state of your lips. Protect them every day by using a good moisturizing lip balm to provide a thin barrier between your lips and the rest of the world.
- Look for a balm made with natural substances. Key ingredients that moisturize your lips include coconut oil or butter, shea butter, and vitamin E oil.
- To make your own healthy balm, simply melt together 2 tablespoons (29.6 ml) coconut oil and 1 tablespoon (14.8 ml) beeswax. You can scent the mixture with five drops of your favorite essential oil. Pour it into a clean lip balm jar and allow it to cool before using.

Part 2

Part 2 of 3:

Adding Color and Shine

1
Use a tinted lip balm for a touch of everyday color. If your lips are in good condition, it doesn't take much makeup to make them look beautiful and healthy. If you're not the type who likes to wear layers of color on your lips, try a simple tinted lip balm to add a hint of luster. Tinted lip balm comes in any color you want, or you can make your own in exactly the color you want. Here's how to do it:
- Make a simple balm by melting together 2 tablespoons (29.6 ml) coconut oil and 1 tablespoon (14.8 ml) beeswax.
- Cut off a small piece of your favorite lipstick and stir it in while the mixture is still hot. Add as much or as little as you want to tint your lip balm.
- Pour the balm into a clean lip balm jar and allow it to cool before using.
2
Learn how to choose lip color that complements your complexion. If you have no qualms about using bold color to make your lips look great, it's important to know how to choose the right shades to match your complexion. Every skin tone can be classified as warm, cool, or neutral. Learn more about your skin "temperature" to choose the right lipstick.^{[3]
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- If your coloring looks best in earth tones, warm yellows and reds, and gold jewelry, your skin is warm. Choose lipstick with warm undertones, like browns, orange-reds, coral pinks, and creamy neutrals.
- If you tend to look best in jewel tones, navy blue, and silver jewelry, your skin is cool. Choose lipstick with cool undertones, like plums, cherry reds, lavender pinks, and pearly neutrals.
3
Apply lipstick like a makeup artist. Make sure your lips are conditioned before you apply lipstick; otherwise it will flake off, leaving your lips looking mottled. Apply lipstick to your bottom lip, making sure you don't go outside your natural lip line. Rub your lips together to apply lipstick to your top lip. Dot more lipstick on your top and bottom lips to fill in any gaps.^{[4]
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- Blotting your lips on a tissue will help set your lipstick and prevent it from getting on your teeth and cups you might drink from throughout the day.
- If you want your lipstick to last all day without wearing off, use a lip primer on your lips before applying color.
4
Enhance the shape of your lips using liner. Liner isn't mandatory for everyday use, but for days when you want your lips to really turn heads, it's indispensable. Choose liner in a color that matches the lip color you want to use. Use it to carefully outline the shape of your lips before you apply lipstick. The liner will define the shape of your mouth and keep your lip color from "bleeding."
- You can also use liner to change the shape of your lips. Trace the liner slightly above or below your natural lip line to make your lips look larger. When you fill in your lips with color, no one will be able to tell the difference.
- You can create a slight ombre effect by using liner a shade darker or lighter than the lip shade you're using.
5
Add a layer of gloss to make your lips pop. After applying color, you might want to add a layer of clear gloss to make your lips stand out even more. Gloss adds plenty of shine and also helps keep your lipstick in place. Choose a clear gloss or one with a little shimmer depending on the look you're going for and apply it to the center of your lips.^{[5]
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Expert Source

Kelly Chu
Professional Makeup Artist
Expert Interview. 9 May 2019.}
- Gloss is completely optional, especially if you prefer your lips to look matte instead of shiny.
- Coconut oil works well as a cheap homemade lip gloss.

Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

Keeping Your Lips Healthy

1
Protect your lips from the sun. Lips, like the rest of your skin, need protection from the sun's rays in order to stay healthy. Sun exposure can lead to darker lips as well as causing them to dry out. Choose a daily lip balm with an SPF of 15 or higher to keep your lips in good shape, especially during the summer.^{[6]
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- If you make your own lip balm, you can add sun protection by stirring in zinc oxide powder.^{[7]
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  Research source} Coconut oil also provides a bit of protection on its own.
- If you don't like wearing balm, wear a wide-brimmed hat to shade your face on the sunniest days.
2
Keep your lips moisturized in dry weather. Depending on where you live, air humidity might be lowest in either the summer or the winter. Even before you notice your lips are starting to feel dry and flaky, take extra care to keep them moisturized. Wear lip balm when you go outside to protect your skin from the elements.
- You may want to apply lip balm before you go to sleep to keep your lips from chapping overnight, especially if you sleep with your mouth open.
- Try using a humidifier in your bedroom to keep your lips and skin moisturized.
3
Hydrate your body for healthier lips. Drinking plenty of water is key to having great-looking lips. When your body is dehydrated, your lips are often the first place where it shows. Drink water throughout the day so your lips never get the chance to dry out.
- Try replacing coffee and alcohol with water whenever possible, since water is better for your lips.
- Salty foods dry out your lips, so when you eat salt, make up for it by drinking extra water.
4
Know the effects of smoking on your lips. Smoking can cause lips to dark, thin and wrinkle. Using tobacco products is definitely counter productive when it comes to having great lips. If you want your lips to look beautiful (in addition to many other health benefits) do your best to quit smoking as soon as possible.^{[8]
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5
Avoid using harsh chemicals on your lips every day. Many lip products use alcohol, fragrances, and dyes to create long-lasting color. Some lipsticks even contain lead, which can lead to health problems if ingested in large quantities. You don't have to throw out your lipstick collection, but it pays to be aware of what you're putting on your lips, and to go natural as often as possible.

Expert Q&A
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Question

How can I make my lips look beautiful?

Kelly Chu
Professional Makeup Artist
Kelly is the lead makeup artist and educator of the Soyi Makeup and Hair team that is based in the San Francisco Bay Area. Soyi Makeup and Hair specializes in wedding and event makeup and hair. Over the past 5 years, the team has created bridal looks for over 800 brides in America, Asia, and Europe.

Kelly Chu

Professional Makeup Artist

Expert Answer

Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.

Dry lips may look small and dull, so exfoliate them every day to help remove any flaky skin.
Question

How can I make my lips look naturally bigger?

Kelly Chu
Professional Makeup Artist
Kelly is the lead makeup artist and educator of the Soyi Makeup and Hair team that is based in the San Francisco Bay Area. Soyi Makeup and Hair specializes in wedding and event makeup and hair. Over the past 5 years, the team has created bridal looks for over 800 brides in America, Asia, and Europe.

Kelly Chu

Professional Makeup Artist

Expert Answer

Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.

Try applying a lip gloss in the center of your lips to make them shine and stand out.
Question

How often should I use petroleum jelly on my lips?

I like sushi

Top Answerer

Use it as needed. It is safe to use on a daily basis.

Warnings

If you plan on making out with someone soon, go for more subtle lip glosses. As sexy as red lipstick is, you and your partner will just look like clowns when you're done.

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As hot as store-bought lip plumpers can make your lips, beware! Many people have shown allergic reactions, or have taken to the chemicals used badly. Make sure to test out your gloss a little before hand so you don't look like a nest of bees stung your lips when you go on a date.

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Some people suggest petroleum-based moisturizers like Vaseline, but they can make your lips chap more if they aren't used for a period of time. Instead, try a chapstick that contains Vitamin E.

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