Closeup of a young woman with beautiful, full lips

Beauty trends are always changing, from learning how to fill in eyebrows to creating new colored eyeliner looks. As beauty trends have come and gone, our lips have gone through as many wardrobe changes as a runway model during fashion week. The current movement? Lips that are big, juicy, and beautiful. With plenty of pillowy curves and the right lip color, a plump pair of lips can be the centerpiece of your look. The only question is figuring out how to plump lips naturally.

While lip injections and fillers are an option, there are plenty of natural, non-invasive, and inexpensive ways to plump your lips at home. Getting the perfect pumped-up kiss is all about keeping your lips healthy and using the right products to show off what you already have. 

Bring your smile, because we’re about to give you a masterclass on how to plump your pout without even leaving the house.

#1 Keep Your Lips Healthy

For many, our lips are one of the most neglected parts of any skincare routine. The truth is, many skincare products just aren’t designed for the sensitive skin of our mouths. That’s why the first step to keeping your lips naturally plump is to keep them healthy. 

Below, we’ve outlined a few ways to have the happiest mouth around:

  • Don’t forget to moisturize – Head to toe hydration is key and many people overlook their mouth when applying their daily moisturizer, but it’s important not to skip your lips. The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) recommends using products that contain mineral oil, ceramides, and petroleum jelly, while avoiding drying ingredients like menthol and camphor.1 Moisturize your lips at least once a day, or whenever you apply other skin care products.
  • Apply lip balm – Yes, lip balm or chapstick can work to keep your lips hydrated, but their purpose goes beyond moisturizing. Lip balm benefits the health of your lips by trapping the existing moisture in your skin. That’s why it’s helpful to apply lip balm when your lips are freshly hydrated, such as just after applying moisturizer, washing your face, or taking a shower.
  • Exfoliate often – If you love a good exfoliating body wash or facial treatment, we have amazing news for you — a little exfoliation can go a long way for your lips. Weekly exfoliation helps remove dead skin cells that can build up on your lips over time.2 A gentle lip scrub of sugar and coconut oil can help clear away those dull, dry skin cells. The result? A smooth, soft, fuller pout ready for a close-up. 
  • Stay hydrated – Drinking plenty of water is beneficial for pretty much every part of your body — your lips are no exception. Your thirsty skin cells soak up water like microscopic sponges. When your cells are happy and quenched, your skin looks plump and youthful, especially the skin of your lips.
  • Try hands-free hydration through a humidifier – We know now how much our lips benefit from hydration. But did you know you can hydrate your skin cells in your sleep with a humidifier? By turning on a humidifier before you hit the sack, you can infuse the air with water molecules. This allows your skin to soak up even more moisture and hydration while you snooze — no late-night bathroom breaks required.
  • Avoid licking your lips – We get it, those lips are luscious. It can also be totally tempting to soothe chapped lips by licking them. But constantly licking your lips can actually increase their dryness, as your saliva will soon evaporate and leave them even more parched than before. Instead, keep your lip balm and lip treatments handy and make a habit of applying it often for plumper, smoother lips.

#2 Use Plumping Products 

These days, we live in a world with plenty of plumping products specially formulated to enhance your pout. You can find a lip plumper in the form of creams, serums, and gels, each with their own benefits. A lip plumping gloss and lipstick are also other great options for fuller lips. So how do you choose the best plumping product for your lips? Get to know what ingredients will work best for your pout. 

Hydrating Ingredients

Many lip plumping products contain ingredients that increase the appearance of plump lips by delivering intense moisture and reducing fine lines and wrinkles. You’ll find these in a variety of formulas, but they often include ingredients that work by both delivering and drawing moisture into the skin, such as:

  • Hyaluronic Acid
  • Glycerin
  • Vitamin C
  • Peptides
  • Oils (avocado, olive, jojoba)

Some of these products also work in combination with other ingredients designed to actually increase the size of your lips, at least temporarily. This brings us to our next category — lip swellers.

Lip Swelling Ingredients

Several of the ingredients used in lip-plumping products are favored due to their ability to cause mild swelling of the lips, giving your mouth a noticeable but temporary boost in volume. 

These include several ingredients you might be more used to seeing in the kitchen, such as:

  • Cinnamon
  • Caffeine
  • Ginger
  • Peppermint
  • Cayenne pepper

When you use a lip product with an ingredient on the list , you’ll likely notice a slight tingling or even stinging sensation as your lips react to them — that’s pretty typical. However, they absolutely shouldn’t cause excess pain or irritation. If you have sensitive skin or any allergies, we highly recommend that you test a small area with these products before applying them to your mouth to avoid any adverse effects.

#3 Use Lip-Enhancing Makeup

Your luscious lips are hydrated, exfoliated, and all plumped up. The next step is to use makeup techniques that add dimension and magnitude to your naturally gorgeous chops. Try the following techniques on their own, or layer several together for a look that’ll leave you saying mwah:

  • Start with a primer – Lip primers are key to any successful lip look and are especially useful when trying to achieve a fuller lip. Lip primers work by prepping the surface of your lips with ingredients that hydrate and help your layers of lipstick, gloss, and liner stay put. You can even find primers with some of the plumping ingredients mentioned above.
  • Line and define – Much like you’d use a contouring powder on the rest of your face, you can use a lip liner in a shade slightly darker than your lip color to add an extra illusion of volume. Focus on the places your lips naturally create shadows, such as the bottom edge of your top and lower lips and the corners of your mouth. 
  • Go gradient – Using lipsticks in two different shades is a flattering and fashionable way to add dimension. Start by applying a lighter color all over your lips, then apply a darker lip color to the center of your mouth and smack em’ together to blend. 
  • Use gloss – Whereas matte lipsticks flatten, shine enhances the look of ample lips, illuminating all your mouth’s curvatures. Apply a colored gloss on its own, or use a clear gloss to top off and seal in your lipstick.
  • Add highlights – When you break out the highlighting powder to lift up those cheekbones, don’t forget your lips. Adding a subtle highlight to your cupid’s bow, or the little dip just between your lips and nose, can enlarge the look of your upper lip.

#4 Protect Your Pout 

Once your lips are full, hydrated, and fabulous, you’ll want to take steps to protect your lips and keep them looking smooth and youthful as long as possible. Here are a few things you can do to keep the gorgeous going:

  • Watch out for drying products – Be aware that some of the other products that you use every day — such as toothpastes and toners — can dry out the skin on your lips and counteract any effort you put into making them appear more plump.
  • Use sunscreen – Protecting your skin and lips with SPF is essential to avoiding sun damage. The Skin Cancer Foundation recommends using a lip balm that contains at least SPF 15.3
  • Do a patch test – Given that many lip plumping products contain a bit of extra spice (literally), patch testing any new products before using them is a vital way to ensure they won’t cause an allergic reaction or irritation. Apply a small dab of new products to the inside of your wrist or elbow, then wait 24–48 hours to ensure no rashes or redness occur.
  • Take extra care in winter – The winter months can be especially harsh on our lips. When the air gets dry and the temperature turns to freezing, the Cleveland Clinic recommends using an ointment-based lip balm to seal in extra moisture.4

Pump Up Your Beauty Routine with FabFitFun

With all the different products and techniques to try, learning how to plump lips might take some trial and error before you find the combination that suits your style. When all’s said and done, however, you’re sure to be left with a set of lips so lush and hydrated, they’ll make jaws drop wherever you go.

If you’re looking to equally amplify the rest of your beauty routine, there’s one surefire way to discover your new favorites: with a FabFitFun membership. You’ll get a box chock full of the best and latest products delivered right to your door. If that’s not enough, you’ll even get full-sized products in other categories, too, like wellness, fitness, fashion, and home goods. Discover your favorite lip plumping product, skin care, or hair product. Learn more at FabFitFun, from hair mask benefits to claw clip hairstyles for minimal damage.

With so much happiness delivered to you each season, a FabFitFun membership will transform your curvaceous and pampered pout into a smile every time.

Sources: 

  1. American Academy of Dermatology Association. 7 DERMATOLOGISTS’ TIPS FOR HEALING DRY, CHAPPED LIPS. https://www.aad.org/public/everyday-care/skin-care-basics/dry/heal-dry-chapped-lips 
  2. Healthline. DIY Recipes and Ready-Made Ways to Exfoliate Your Lips https://www.healthline.com/health/beauty-skin-care/exfoliate-lips
  3. Skin Cancer Foundation. 5 Tips for Taking Care of Your Lips. https://www.skincancer.org/blog/5-tips-for-your-lips/ 
  4. Cleveland Clinic. 6 Tips to Protect Your Lips from Cold, Dry Winter Weather.  https://health.clevelandclinic.org/6-tips-to-protect-your-lips-from-the-cold/