We’ve rounded up some tips if you’re looking to plump your lips naturally.
Nowadays, it seems like every woman is looking for thicker lips.
Influencers like Kylie Jenner may have started the aesthetic trend, but the truth is that the desire for plump lips dates back hundreds of years. Research has shown that women with bigger, fuller lips appear younger than their biological age and more attractive to men. And a 2010 study found that there’s a “facial golden ratio”: women with big lips are scientifically more attractive than those with narrow lips, as bigger lips suggest stronger mating potential.
One of the biggest concerns about fuller lips is the cosmetic procedures needed to achieve them. We’ve all heard the horror stories: those who have fillers injected into their lips are at risk of their lips literally bursting open. The good news is that, just like temporary aesthetics trends, there are temporary solutions to help you achieve the look without injecting yourself.
Below, we’ve rounded up some tips to achieve plump, fuller-looking lips without surgery…
Get hot with cayenne pepper
One of the most natural ways to achieve thicker-looking lips is to create your own lip scrub, with ingredients you’ll find in your kitchen cupboards. Mix a few sprinkles of cayenne pepper with a tablespoon of olive oil, and massage the mixture onto your lips. Leave it for five to ten minutes, wipe it off completely, and then moisturise with your favourite lip balm. Cayenne pepper is rich in Vitamin E, which is known to stimulate blood flow. You might feel an uncomfortable tingle when you apply the homemade solution, and the results will only last a few hours. If you have sensitive lips and can’t handle the pepper, try a sugar alternative.
Do some makeup trickery
Another solution for achieving fuller-looking lips without resorting to fillers is to use makeup.
Find a good-quality lip liner and line right outside of your usual lip shape – this will help you achieve “fuller-looking” lips. Then, fill in your entire lips using the liner. Next, you’ll need a matte liquid lipstick. Apply this on top of your lip liner and then cover it with a clear gloss in the middle of your bottom lip, which will give off the appearance of full, healthy-looking lips.
Although you can experiment with different colour and shading combinations, it’s best to choose a matte lipstick that’s close to your natural lip colour. Go in too dark and you might have the reverse effect and make yourself look older than you are, accentuating wrinkles.
Apply collagen to your lips
Although collagen is commonly used in cosmetic procedures, you can find the ingredient in some high-end facial creams. Collagen is the protein that promotes elasticity in your skin, and several lip formulas are sold infused with collagen to reduce the appearance of fine lines around your mouth, creating fuller-looking lips in the process. Popular products include Algenist Genius Liquid Collagen Lip, Charlotte Tilbury Collagen Lip Bath Gloss and Dior Addict Lip Maximizer Plumping Gloss – shop around to find the right cream for your needs.
Depend on dimethicone
Another “miracle” ingredient designed to plump your lips is dimethicone. Petrolatum and dimethicone are emollients, which can lock in water by forming a protective barrier on the top layer of your skin and lips. This reduces evaporation, making your skin more pliable and hydrated. Dimethicone can also reduce the appearance of wrinkles around your mouth and smooth out the skin on your lips, making them appear fuller and healthier. Look for a lip cream or treatment that is combined with hyaluronic acid, which will hydrate your skin as well as lock-in moisture – this is the ideal combination for those who suffer from dry, cracked lips.
Suction could be a solution
If you want to achieve more dramatic results but you don’t want to commit to cosmetic surgery, you could try suction, which increases the blood flow to your lips and encourages them to grow and become brighter. Products are designed to offer a safer alternative to the controversial Kylie Jenner lip challenge, where teenagers put their lips into a shot glass. It’s important to note, however, that suction is not totally risk-free – you should always follow the instructions on products you buy and give your lips a chance to recover between uses.
Products like the Mexitop Automatic Lip Plumper Enhancer and Juvalips Lip Plumper use electronic stimulation and suction, which increases blood flow to your lips. The results can last for up to ten hours, ideal if you’re going out for the day. If you use them repeatedly, you can achieve longer-lasting, semi-permanent results. The success of such devices is dependent on your skin sensitivity, shape, and colour, and reviews and results are mixed.
Consider the Oralift anti-ageing device
Finally, another natural lip-plumping technique to consider is the Oralift anti-ageing device.
Though primarily designed to rejuvenate your face without surgery, some women reported fuller-looking lips after repeated use. In a recent study, 80% of Oralift users noticed an improvement in their eyes, jawline, neck and asymmetry of the face, and 100% reported an improvement in their skin, cheeks and ageing triangle. The small mouthguard device is designed to be worn for short periods and can counteract the harmful effects of ageing, rejuvenating the face in addition to other health benefits. Find out more on our website.
See also: Does Oralift work?
Do you have any tips for achieving fuller-looking lips without relying on harmful fillers and surgery? Join in the conversation and let us know on Twitter @Oralift. And for more advice on looking and feeling your best, whatever your age, check back to the Oralift blog soon.