How to Make Your Own Lip Plumper at Home

Co-authored by wikiHow Staff

Last Updated: December 2, 2021

Longing for fuller lips but don't want to spend the money on surgery or a store-bought lip plumper? Why not make your own lip plumper at home? All it takes is a little bit of oil or petroleum jelly, and a sprinkle of cinnamon. If you'd like something that goes beyond just one use, you can even make a lip plumping lip balm using extra ingredients, such as shea butter, vitamin E oil, and beeswax!

Method 1

Method 1 of 5:

Making a Simple Lip Plumper

1
Measure out a small amount of lip balm or petroleum jelly. About a pea-sized amount will do for this one-time-use lip plumper.^{[1]
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Research source} If you can't find any lip balm or petroleum jelly, you can also use one of the following:^{[2]
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- Almond oil
- Cocoa butter
- Coconut oil
- Olive oil
- Shea butter
2
Place the lip balm or petroleum jelly onto a flat surface. This can be a blending palette, a dish, or even a jar lid. Make sure that it is clean!

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3
Sprinkle some ground cinnamon onto it. Cinnamon is naturally stimulating. It will help make your lips appear fuller by increasing blood flow to them. If you can't find any ground cinnamon, try ground ginger or cayenne pepper instead. Both have lip-plumping capabilities as well.^{[3]
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4
Mush the ground cinnamon into the lip balm or petroleum jelly. You can do this using the back of a spoon or the flat side of a butter knife. If you have a small spatula, such as the kind used for cake decorating, you can use that instead. Keep blending and smooshing until the two are evenly combined.
5
Use your finger the rub the lip plumper onto your lips. If you don't want to get your finger all sticky, you can apply the lip plumper using a lipstick brush or a q-tip.
6
Wait 3 to 5 minutes. During this time, your lips will start to feel tingly.^{[4]
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Research source} This is normal, and a sign that the lip plumper is working!
7
Wipe the lip balm off with a tissue. If you'd like, you can follow up with your favorite lip gloss or tinted lip balm.^{[5]
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Method 2

Method 2 of 5:

Making a Moisturizing Lip Plumper

1
Measure out ½ ounce (15 grams) of shea butter or coconut oil into a small bowl. You can even use petroleum jelly in a pinch. Coconut oil or shea butter will be better for you, because they are moisturizing.^{[6]
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2
Add 4 drops of cinnamon or peppermint essential oil. Both essential oils are great at plumping up those lips. They do this by naturally stimulating the blood vessels.^{[7]
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- Cinnamon essential oil can irritate the skin. Consider mixing a drop with some of your coconut oil or shea butter, and dabbing it onto your inner elbow. If it doesn't irritate you, then you're good to go.
3
Stir the two together with a toothpick. If you don't have a toothpick, you can use another small mixing tool, such as a chopstick.
4
Transfer the mixture into a small jar, such as an empty lip balm container. You can also use one of those containers meant for storing excess paint from the craft store. Whatever you choose to use, make sure that it is clean and dry.
5
Close the jar. Your lip balm is now ready to use! If you'd like, you can decorate the lid with a pretty label or a cute sticker.

Method 3

Method 3 of 5:

Making a Plumping Lip Scrub

1
Combine 1 tablespoon of olive oil and 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon in a small bowl. Stir the two together with a fork until they are evenly combined. This is enough for one lip-plumping treatment.
- For a more moisturizing scrub, use ½ tablespoon of olive oil, and ½ tablespoon of honey.^{[8]
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2
Add 1 tablespoon of sugar. Try to use brown sugar if you can; it will be gentler on your lips than white sugar. If you'd like a stronger scrub, use 2 tablespoons of sugar instead.^{[9]
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3
Massage the scrub onto damp lips. Dampen your lips with water first, then gently massage the scrub into them using small, circular motions. If you used white sugar in your scrub, be sure to be extra gentle.
- The sugar will exfoliate your lips and make them appear smoother.
- The cinnamon will help stimulate the blood vessels in your lips, and make your lips appear plumper.
4
Leave the scrub on for 5 to 10 minutes for extra plumping action.During this time, your lips may start to tingle, which is normal. This is a sign that the cinnamon is working.
5
Rinse your lips off using lukewarm water. Pat them dry with a clean towel or cloth when you are done.

Method 4

Method 4 of 5:

Making a Plumping Lip Balm

1
Assemble a double boiler. Fill a small saucepan with 1 to 2 inches (2.54 to 5.08 centimeters) of water, and place a heat-safe bowl on top. Make sure that the bottom of the bowl does not touch the surface of the water.
2
Melt 4 tablespoons (55 grams) of coconut oil and 1 ½ tablespoons of beeswax pellets in the double boiler over low heat.^{[10]
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Research source} Stir the beeswax and coconut oil as they melt. This will not only blend them together, but also help them melt faster.
- If you want a more firm lip balm, use more beeswax and less coconut oil.
- If you want a softer lip balm, use less beeswax and more coconut oil.
3
Take the bowl off the saucepan, and add 2 to 3 capsules of vitamin E oil into the beeswax mixture. Pierce each capsule with a pin or needle, then squeeze the oil into the beeswax mixture.^{[11]
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- If you can't find any vitamin E oil capsules, you can use the kind that comes in a bottle. You will need ¼ teaspoon of vitamin E oil total.
4
Stir in ¾ tablespoon of honey and 15 drops of cinnamon essential oil.^{[12]
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Research source} Keep stirring until everything is evenly combined. The honey will make the lip balm extra-moisturizing, while the cinnamon will make it plumping.
5
Pour the melted mixture into clean, empty lip balm containers. If you can't find any empty lip balm containers, you can buy small, empty jars meant for storing beads or excess paint from the arts and crafts store. You can also use a clean contact lens case.
- Work quickly; the mixture will start to harden in 5 to 10 minutes.
6
Wait for the lip balm to harden before screwing the containers shut. It will take about 5 to 10 minutes for the lip balm to start to harden. It may take 15 to 20 minutes for it to finish hardening. If it is taking too long for the lip balm to harden, stick it into the fridge or freezer for a few minutes.^{[13]
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Method 5

Method 5 of 5:

Making a Quick Lip Plumper

1
Find a tube of lip gloss. Get the kind of lip gloss that comes with a wand applicator. Do not use the kind that you have to squeeze to get out.
2
Open up the tube of lip gloss. Set the wand applicator aside, preferably on a plate so that your table won't get sticky.
3
Add 1 to 2 drops of cinnamon or peppermint essential oil. Both cinnamon essential oil and peppermint essential oil have lip-plumping abilities. They help improve blood circulation to your lips. This may help make your lips appear fuller.
- Cinnamon oil can be irritating. Consider mixing a drop or two with some oil (such as olive oil) and dabbing it on your inner elbow. If it doesn't irritate your skin, you're good to go.^{[14]
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4
Close the tube and shake it to combine. You can also pump the wand applicator up and down in the tube a few times to mix the oil into the lip gloss.

Community Q&A

Question

How long does it last?

Cecilia Flores

Top Answerer

If you use the plumper every day, the plumpness will stay longer each time as your lips get used to it.
Question

Is there a way to make a lip plumper with out peppermint or cinnamon oil?

Rose Martinsen Burrell

Community Answer

The mint and cinnamon are what makes the plumper work, because they are spicy. I find that rosemary oil works well, too.