How to Make Lips Look Bigger

Co-authored by Tymia Yvette

Last Updated: April 19, 2022 References

A pair of fuller, plumper lips is seen as a sign of health and beauty in most societies. With that in mind, there's little wonder it is such a sought-after trait! While true lip size is ultimately determined by genetic factors, there are many avenues for one to explore if she's looking for a greater lustre to her lips. Though surgery is the only proven way of significantly increasing their size, there are many paths you can take towards improving the look and fullness of your pout naturally. Before too long, you'll be well on your way towards a more gorgeously radiant set of lips!

Method 1

Method 1 of 5:

Exfoliating Lips

1
Exfoliate your lips with a toothbrush. Most often, the first place you should turn to when looking for answers is a good homemade solution; in the case of skin and lip care, there's nowhere better to start than with exfoliation. Like the rest of your body and face, your lips build up dead skin particles; these reflect less light than the rest of your lips, and may have the effect of making your lips look smaller. Using a toothbrush and lightly scrubbing in small, circular motions for two minutes will remove the excess skin matter, leaving your lips looking brighter, and feeling softer. ^{[1]
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- Refrain from using anything more abrasive than a toothbrush for this kind of exfoliation. Lips don't hold up well to a body loofah!
- You can exfoliate your lips as often as every other day. Just make sure you follow up with a lip balm to keep your lips soft and hydrated.^{[2]
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  Expert Source
  
  Tymia Yvette
  Makeup & Lash Artist
  Expert Interview. 22 April 2020.}
2
Apply a DIY exfoliating mix. If you're looking for a perfect, simple homemade exfoliator for your lips, a basic mixture of brown sugar and honey is just the thing for adding radiance and moisture. First, get a teaspoon of brown sugar, then proceed to slowly add the honey until there is enough to make a thick paste. Once this easy mixture is prepared, dab it with a washcloth and rub your lips in a gentle, circular motion. The grainy texture of the sugar will scrub away the dead flakes, and the beneficial chemical properties of the ingredients will give your lips a more radiant shine.
- Coconut and olive oil work in the place of honey for this mixture, if you have a supply or preference favouring one over the other.
- Apply some unscented lip balm after you've cleaned off the paste. This will help immediately soften your lips post-exfoliation.
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3
Try a baking soda mix. If you're looking for another DIY exfoliator to work with, try adding a small amount of water to a teaspoon of baking soda. Baking soda ranks among the most versatile home ingredients out there, and its benefits can be geared to apply to lip care as well. Making and using a baking soda mix follows a similar method to the coconut oil:
- First, add enough water that the baking soda becomes a thick paste, much like a brown sugar exfoliator.
- Once complete, dab the solution with a washcloth or your finger, and spread over your lips. This will soften to lips and get rid of any dead skin that may have built up.
4
Rub some cinnamon on your lips. ^{[3]
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Research source} Beyond its granular texture (which helps to exfoliate in much the same manner as brown sugar) cinnamon has chemical properties that stimulate blood flow, making your lips naturally fuller. Keep in mind, however, that cinnamon's spicy properties will agitate any open sores, so it's not recommended if you have any healing in progress around the lips and mouth. To follow through with this:
- First put some Vaseline on your lips, and rub it around until it evenly covers your lips.
- Next, apply some cinnamon to your lips; the Vaseline will make the cinnamon stick.
- Rub the cinnamon around so that it has a chance to cover the entire surface of your lips, and let it sit for a few minutes.
- Afterwards, wipe it away with a damp washcloth. Following this, you'll find your lips plumper, and looking more colourful than before.
5
Purchase a store-bought, lip-specific product. Although exploring homemade options is arguably the better place to start, it's worthy to note the number of products designed specifically for lip exfoliating and moisturizing. Luckily, many of them tend to be generally cheaper than other cosmetic products. Scrubs, balms and lip exfoliators are all available to this effect; check your preferred cosmetics brand for options.

Method 2

Method 2 of 5:

Moisturizing and Cleansing Lips

1
Wash your face regularly. Without taking a washcloth and some cleanser to your face on a frequent basis, dirt and an unwanted excess of oils will build up on your skin; this includes your lips as well. Keeping your face clear of any gunk is a sure way to improve a general healthy appearance, as well as prevent many factors that may play into weakening the lustrous appearance of your lips.
2
Employ a rosewater and glycerin mixture. Much like exfoliating, there are plenty of homemade solutions you can conjure up for moisturizing your lips. Among the more popular of these recipes is a combination of glycerin and rosewater. Add the two in equal measure to a small bowl, and apply the solution to your lips. Leave it on overnight; that way, your lips will have ample time to absorb the nutrients. Rosewater is well-liked by makeup artists as it is a mild astringent; it is perfect for cleansing your lips of impurities like dirt and old makeup. As you might imagine, this has the effect of making your lips look fuller.
- If you aren't the DIY type, prefabricated rosewater and glycerin mixtures can be found in a pharmacy or health section of your local supermarket.
3
Rub coconut oil on your lips. While coconut oil may be used in tandem with brown sugar as a great exfoliator, by itself it can be a great lip balm.^{[4]
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Research source} Coconut oil contains many nutrients, such as vitamin E, which are great for moisturizing. Coconut oil is anti-microbial, anti-bacterial, and full of antioxidants; with so many benefits, it has grown popular as a beauty tool as much as a cooking ingredient. Applying a teaspoonful to your lips will help to moisturize and soften them. Because coconut oil is a solid at room temperature, first you'll need to heat it a little for it to become soft and pliable.
4
Try using raw honey. Much like coconut oil, honey has a lot of great nutrients and antioxidants, which help prevent aging and UV damage. In other words-- a great choice when it comes to skin care! ^{[5]
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Research source} Take a dab and apply gently to your lips as you would with coconut oil or a conventional lip balm. Look for raw honey, as unpasteurized honey has more active nutrients and enzymes that will help keep your skin moisturized and radiant. Put it on before bed, and leave it on while you sleep; that way, it'll have the time to work its magic.
5
Hold green tea bags between your lips.^{[6]
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Research source} In addition to tea's natural health benefits, simply placing a used tea bag between your lips and holding it there for three minutes will allow your lips to soak up those nutrients directly. The next time you're drinking green tea, extract the bag once the tea has steeped. Hold the teabag between your lips while you're waiting for your drink to cool. Done on a semi-casual basis, this little trick can go a long way towards revitalizing the look and feel of your lips!
6
Massage your lips with ice cubes. Massaging your lips regularly is a great way to encourage blood flow, thereby making your lips fuller. Massaging them gently for a few minutes each day is a great way to achieve bigger lips naturally. One of the best ways to do this is to rub your lips with ice cubes. This will relax the lip muscles and promote a redder, more radiant pigment.
- If they're too cold to contact the skin directly, wrap the ice cubes in a clean washcloth.

Method 3

Method 3 of 5:

Applying Cosmetics

1
Choose the right sort of makeup. Though makeup is one of the best (and certainly most popular) ways to improve the look of lips, it is imperative you choose the right kind of makeup for the job; otherwise, the makeup might actually work the opposite way you want it to! As a rule, you'll want to avoid darker lipsticks when aiming for bigger lips. Clear or nude shades of lipstick are a much better match in this case. Moreover, picking a concealer and lip liner that works for your skin tone can make or break the cosmetic approach. Knowing what will, and will not work for your lips is a crucial first step. Generally speaking, you want to choose a colour that won't conflict with your natural tone. ^{[7]
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- When you're choosing a lip liner, consider how light or dark your complexion is. Then, select a lipliner and lipstick that will give you the level of contrast you're looking for.^{[8]
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  Expert Source
  
  Tymia Yvette
  Makeup & Lash Artist
  Expert Interview. 22 April 2020.}
- A skin-tone shade of lipstick will be the best starting point to compliment a variety of lip liners.^{[9]
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  Expert Source
  
  Tymia Yvette
  Makeup & Lash Artist
  Expert Interview. 22 April 2020.}
- If you're not certain what might work or you specifically, enlist the help of a sales associate in a cosmetics store; most often, they'll know specifically what shades are best suited to each skin type.
2
Apply a full coverage concealer.^{[10]
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Research source} Before using lipstick and lip liner, you should make sure you start with a good canvas. A good concealer will erase the natural lip lines, allowing you to draw your own. Spread the concealer carefully, making sure you get it on and around your lips evenly.
3
Draw on bigger lips with a lip liner. A lip liner is used to distinguish the boundary between your lips and the rest of your face. If you want to make your lips appear larger, draw on the lip liner slightly beyond the edges of your lips. ^{[11]
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Research source} When paired with lipstick, this larger canvas will give the impression of fuller lips. Once you have purposefully overdrawn your lips, lip stick and gloss should be applied evenly to the newly defined area.
- A blunt-tipped pencil will not apply color as evenly as you want, while a sharp-tipped pencil will result in clean, crisp lines.
- Don't try to get away with too much! Overdrawing lips only works well in moderation; going too far will make the effect look inauthentic.
4
Apply lipstick, following the newly drawn lip lines. With your lip liner as a guide, apply lipstick to the extended area evenly. With a concealer in place, the overdrawn lipstick should create the illusion of fuller, plumper lips. Again, using nude tones like peach and pale pink are best-suited to this end.^{[12]
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5
Underline your bottom lip with some eyeliner. ^{[13]
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Research source} Making a slight, fake 'shadow' underneath your lips is a helpful trick to give them a deeper look. Pencil the underside of your bottom lip with a brown, or white eyeliner. Make sure to keep the line very subtle; this technique is best kept as an accent. If you're using a white eyeliner, another subtle line across the top of your upper lip will add to the impression.
6
Give your lips an added shine, using lip gloss. With the lipstick evenly applied, using a bit of lip gloss will give your lips an authentic shimmer. There are many different textures to lip gloss, including translucent, lacquer, milk, transparent, and iridescent. In this case, a neutral tone is most recommended. That way, you'll get a striking smoothness to your lips without losing any of their natural appeal.

Method 4

Method 4 of 5:

Exercising Your Lips

1
Whistle!^{[14]
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Research source} Like most other parts of your body, you can actually train your lips to become stronger. One of the best ways to do this is by whistling. Whistling puts pressure on your lips, and encourages blood flow. Try whistling whenever you've got a moment to spare. As well as making for a pleasant musical distraction, casual whistling will help you get fuller lips in the long run.
2
Exercise your lips with puckering. Puckering is the go-to exercise for building up strength and lustre in your lips. Pucker up your lips as though you were about to kiss someone, then press your hand up against your lips to meet that kiss. Withdraw your hand after a few seconds, and release your pucker while exhaling. Following these steps count as one 'rep' of the exercise. Repeat as many times as you desire in a session; between 10-20 should be fine to start.
- Although such frequent puckering may feel strange at first, you'll find your lips getting stronger after a few sessions of this exercise.
3
Try breathing exercises to work out your lips. Breathing exercises can also help plump your lips, provided your lips are given some strain in the act. Pucker up your lips, inhale air through your nose, and exhale while holding your pucker. This will stimulate your lips and help in giving them a plumper look. Between 5-10 reps should make a good workout session for your lips. Repeating these sessions daily, or bi-daily will ensure the appearance of more lustrous lips.
4
Use a lip pump. For a quick-fix for bigger lips, there are many simple lip pumps and 'cups' that plump your lips via suction. Placing a lip cup on your mouth and creating suction will create pressure and blood flow, giving a temporary boost to the size of your lips. Many of these cups are quite cheap and easy to use, and they're suitable for bringing with you to social events, to use when you need some freshening up. ^{[15]
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Method 5

Method 5 of 5:

Exploring Surgical Options

1
Consult a doctor. ^{[16]
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Research source} While getting surgery isn't recommended in the face of so many potentially effective alternatives, it remains an option for someone wanting fuller lips. Most surgeries take the form of injecting material into the lips, and usually work on a semi-permanent basis, subsiding after a period of several months. As everyone's lips are a unique case, it is important to first consult a trusted doctor about a surgery if it's something you're looking into. The doctor will be able to offer specific advice relating to your situation, as well as details relating to the chosen surgical procedure.
- Make absolutely sure that the doctor is trusted and well-reputed. Operations like collagen injections have gone famously wrong in the past, and it's important to enlist a doctor who knows what they're doing.
2
Do your research. Look into hyaluronic acid filler (HAF) injections. Compared to some of the longer-used methods for lip augmentation, hyaluronic acid is the safest and best-recommended type of filler for your lips. The filler in these injections approximates natural compounds found in the body, and unlike fat grafts, require no liposuction. HAF injections are used to improve the shape, structure and volume of your lips. Although fairly expensive (running between 500-2000 dollars^{[17]
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Research source}) and uncovered by most insurance plans, reception to these injections is generally very positive.
- Collagen is a less common lip filler now than it used to be, but it still plays a significant role in the world of lip augmentation. Take some time to look into collagen if you're exploring surgical options.
- Another widely used method of lip augmentation is fat grafting. This procedure transplants fat from another part of your body (extracted via liposuction) and injects it into your lips. While this means you won't have any foreign matter in your body, the process is longer, more uncomfortable, and carries greater risks than a HAF injection.
3
Schedule and attend your surgery. Although the word implies a high level of severity, most lip augmentation surgeries actually happen fairly quickly. Despite any anxiety you may have, a lip augmentation is virtually painless. A topical agent will often be placed on your lips to reduce the discomfort of the injections. While the operation should be short and reasonably simple, you'll have to plan another appointment in half a year if you want to keep the same look to your lips. ^{[18]
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- Don't worry if there any uneven bumps in your lips post-surgery; these concentrations of filler will soon quickly dissolve, leaving your lips looking lustrous and consistent.

Expert Q&A

Question

What's the most versatile color of lip liner?

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

Every individual has a unique undertone and skin complexion, so before you choose a lipstick or lip liner, you have to identify the depth of your skin complexion, or how dark or light it is. From there, you can choose a color that will give you an appropriate contrast.
Question

How can. iy get rid of lip lines with makeup?

Elizabeth Oxer

Community Answer

Taking care of your lips before you put on makeup is the best way, but for makeup,try lip gloss, as the shininess will distract from your lip lines.

Warnings

Don't let yourself get too hung up on the appearance of your lips. Physical beauty cannot be defined by a single trait alone; accenting particular features may help, but the surest way to be beautiful is take care of your body evenly.

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Try to avoid licking or otherwise aggravating your lips. This will cause them to dry out, looking thinner as a result.

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Never overuse lipstick and other makeup; you want to accent your natural features, not cover them up!

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While you may be jealous of the apparently pristine lips of certain celebrities, it is important to remember that a lot of professional image is smoke and mirrors; perfect lips on the screen or stage might not look so flawless in person. It's good to keep a realistic idea in mind when pursuing any manner of self-improvement.

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