How to Make Thin Lips Appear Fuller

Co-authored by JoAnn Solomon

Last Updated: April 19, 2022 References

Your lips can frame a beautiful smile and help attract others to you. In fact, fuller lips are often considered a sign of youth, vitality, and beauty.^{[1]
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Research source} But you may not have been blessed with a naturally plump pout. Never fear: you can easily have fuller-looking lips by contouring them with makeup or trying other products formulated to plump up their appearance.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Contouring with Makeup

1
Prepare your canvas. Dry lips don’t reflect light and can make your lips look smaller and less full. Before you start contouring your lips with makeup, brush off any flakes and moisturize your lips to smooth out your canvas.^{[2]
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- Brush your lips lightly with a toothbrush in a circular motion. This can remove dry flakes and improve circulation, which gives your lips a small boost and rosy color.
- Mix a bit of sugar or brown sugar with coconut oil to make a scrub for your lips. This can remove flakes, add moisture, and boost your circulation, all of which help maintain plump-looking lips.^{[3]
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- Consider buying a commercial lip exfoliator, which may have added moisturizers. You can purchase these products at many pharmacies, large retailers, and cosmetics stores.
- Avoid exfoliating more than twice per week or you may damage your skin. Only moisturize your lips if they are dry, rough, or peeling as using moisturizer too often can keep your lips from moisturizing themselves.
2
Line your lips. A lip liner can optically change the contours of your lips. It can also give them the appearance of more depth, which in turn makes your pout appear fuller and more luscious.^{[4]
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Expert Source

JoAnn Solomon
Master Beauty Consultant & Celebrity Makeup Artist
Expert Interview. 8 September 2020.}
- Choose a liner that matches your lipstick or natural lip color. Match your liner color to your lipstick color as closely as possible when you can. This gives you a cohesive look, especially for bolder colors. You can also use a lip liner the color of your natural lips, which will blend into any look. Remember that you don’t want to choose a liner that is too dark or the first thing people may see is your liner and not your fuller lips.
- Make sure your liner is sharpened to get the most accurate lines. You can soften up the lines by gently dabbing them with your finger.
- Start by lining the cupid’s bow of your lip. Extend the liner slightly above the cupid’s bow to make the shape of your lips larger. After this, line the corners of your lower lip using the same technique. Then draw the down to the center of your lips to create a round, fuller shape. Again, you can extend the lines slightly above and below your lip line to make them appear fuller. Finally, connect the lines and blend them together with your finger.
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3
Fill your lips with color. Now you’re ready to add some color to your pout. Darker lipsticks can make your lips look small, so try a light or bright color like a nude pink or a cherry red. You can use a lipstick, gloss, or lip pencil to fill the contours between your liner with color.^{[6]
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- Apply the color using the lipstick tube, a separate applicator, or your fingers.
- Focus on filling the corners of your pout with color. Extend the color to the middle of your lips by making short strokes that start at the liner outline and extend up to the center of your lips.
- You can also use two shades of the same color. Apply the darker hue to the outer corners of your lips, then fill in the center with a lipstick that is a shade or so lighter to give your lips a rounder, plump look.
4
Blend the color. Once you’ve filled your lips with your color of choice, blend it together so that it appears smooth. You may need to add a bit more color or may want to use a lip brush to smooth out any uneven areas.^{[7]
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- Consider using a brighter shade of lipstick to blend your base color. This can add highlights and depth to the color, which can make your lips appear fuller.
- Start at the center of your mouth and use short blending strokes to even out the color. Avoid getting too close to the outline of your lips you made with the liner. This can erase the depth and fullness you created.
5
Highlight your lips. A bit of highlighter will draw the eyes to the center of your lips, which is the fullest part. It also adds even more fullness and depth to the shape you’ve created with the liner and lip color.^{[8]
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- Use either a specific lip highlighting cream or try a shimmery powder. Lightly press the highlighter to the center of your bottom lip with either your finger or a lip brush. Blend in the highlighter so that it produces a gently shimmer on your lower lip.
- Consider applying a lip gloss if you don’t want to use a highlighter. Dabbing a bit of clear gloss on the middle of your lower lip and at the top near your cupid's bow will have the same effect as a highlighter.^{[9]
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6
Moisturize with a balm. Moist lips naturally appear more full. Add a bit of moisture and wetness back to your lips by using a lip balm. Do not substitute gloss for a moisturizer, as it may dry out your lips and be a bit too much with your color.^{[10]
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- Use most lip balms to get the effect you want. You may also consider using a rose balm, which will moisturize your lips while giving them the slightest hint of extra shine. Rose lip balms are generally a product made out of petroleum jelly and rosewater or rose petals. These ingredients can soothe and moisturize your lips in addition to giving them a little shine.
7
Line your pout with a concealer. After you’ve got the luscious pout you want, seal it and make your lips pop even more by lining the outside with a concealer. Use a thin brush to apply a concealer that matches your skin tone. Not only can this make your lips appear even fuller, but it may also prevent the color from bleeding or fading.^{[11]
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Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Trying Different Products

1
Keep your lips hydrated. A flaky, dry pout won’t reflect light, which can make a small pout appear even smaller. Applying a moisturizing balm or treatment product to your lips when necessary can keep them hydrated and looking full. Also be sure to drink plenty of water to hydrate from the inside-out.^{[12]
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- Buy a product that contains ingredient such as shea butter, which can moisturize your lips throughout the day. Another good option is a rose lip balm, which is high in moisture and smells good. You can find moisturizing lip products at pharmacies, large retailers, and cosmetics stores.
- Reapply the lip balm whenever your lips feel dry. Consider using a heavier balm at night or you may want to try a lip conditioning treatment.
2
Boost circulation. Having plenty of blood flow to your lips can also make them appear bigger and naturally rosy. Gently rubbing your lips can give you a fuller looking pout quickly and anytime you like.^{[13]
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- Use a toothbrush or your fingers to gently massage your lips. Make sure to get the entire surface by rubbing in small circles.
- Biting your lip gently may have the same effect. Be careful that you don’t bite open your lip if you try this.
3
Try a lip plumper. There are certain natural products that can plump up your lips without fillers or surgery. Products designed specially to have a lip plumping effect can add volume to your lips for a few hours.^{[14]
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- Get a product that contains camphor, mint, or cinnamon. You can find these by reading the labels of products available at cosmetics stores, pharmacies, and large retailers. You can also get specially formulated products for plumping your lips at these retailers.
- Be aware that some lip plumping products or balms with mint, camphor, or cinnamon can cause allergic reactions. Avoid any products containing ingredients to which you’re allergic or discontinue use if you experience any discomfort or signs of an allergy such as a rash.
- Do not use lip plumpers more than twice a week.
4
Apply a shimmery gloss. If you want to keep your look simple and avoid plumpers or fully contouring your lips with makeup, dab on a shimmery gloss in a light color. The shimmer can reflect light and a gloss mimics very hydrated lips, both of which can make your pout appear fuller and more luscious.^{[15]
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- Go with a gloss in a light pink or peach and that has small shimmery bits of gold in it. If you are able, test the gloss for its plumping effect before you buy it.
- Try a nude lipstick if you want to avoid a gloss or product with shimmer. Nude lipstick can have the same effect as a shimmery gloss.
5
Fake a larger canvas. It’s easy to fake a fuller lip without dedicating time to contouring. Using concealer or a lip liner around your lips can create a more luscious pout.^{[16]
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- Apply a dab of bronzer or a darker neutral powder under your lower lip line to create more volume. Make sure to blend in the powder as much as possible so it isn’t the first thing people notice about your mouth.
- Pat some concealer on to your lips just slightly above your natural lip line. This can smooth out your lips for color and make the canvas for the color larger without being too obvious.^{[17]
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- Line and fill your lips with a nude lip liner. Extend the contours of the liner just above your natural lip line. Once you’ve covered the outside and inside of your lips with the pencil, go over it with a clear gloss to make your lips appear moist and full.

Expert Q&A

Question

How do I apply lipstick without liner?

JoAnn Solomon
Master Beauty Consultant & Celebrity Makeup Artist
JoAnn Solomon is a Celebrity Makeup and Hair Artist, Beauty Consultant, and Founder of JoAnn Solomon Beauty, a beauty service in New York, New York. With over 15 years of experience, JoAnn specializes in beauty consulting and writing, makeup and hair artistry, product training, and creative directing. She is a licensed cosmetologist and esthetician and is certified in Airbrush Makeup. JoAnn has been published in Glamour Magazine and Lipstick.com. She is also a beauty contributor for Condé Nast, The List, Essence, Style Bistro, Family Circle, and Nylon Magazine. Her looks have been showcased in editorial, fashion, television, and red carpet events. A few of JoAnn’s celebrity clients include Beyoncé Knowles, Dr. Joe Biden, Alicia Keys, and Quincy Jones.

JoAnn Solomon

Master Beauty Consultant & Celebrity Makeup Artist

Expert Answer

Use a lipstick brush to create lines and get precision. A lip brush is also highly suggested when using red lipstick since you wouldn't want to use a lip liner.
Question

My problem with this is that her lips are already quite full in my opinion. For people with actual thin lips what are some adjustments I can make to this process?

Wikihowhelperlena

Community Answer

Maybe exfoliate them before to get the blood flow in your lips going. after that just follow the tips in the article above.
Question

How do I find the right lip balm?

Bella18

Community Answer

Choose an organic lip balm that nourishes and hydrates yours lips. If you have a favorite beauty brands, see if they sell natural lip balms. You can also look for color-tinted lip balm for a fun alternative to lipstick.

Warnings

Smoking can make your lips dryer and look smaller.

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Be aware of lip plumping products that contain potential allergens such as cinnamon, camphor, and mint.

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