The 10 Best Lip Plumpers for Full, Natural Lips

The rise of lip injections over the recent years has really been quite fascinating to watch. The trend of ‘Kylie Jenner’ lips has transformed the beauty industry, with both men and women striving to achieve a fuller, juicier pout. If you’re fed up with exaggerating your lips with lip liner but aren’t too fond of the filler, then lip plumpers are undoubtedly your saving grace.

They’re not the lip plumpers that you once knew, though. Nope. Since fuller-looking lips became fashion, lip plumping glosses have had a complete refurb and now utilise skin-loving ingredients that actually define, plump and add volume to your mouth’s natural contours, rather than burning your face off and nothing else.

In a bid to help you achieve a bigger, fuller pout at-home, we've rounded up all of the best lip plumpers, from plumping glosses to lipsticks and patches, as well as answered all of your FAQs.

What are lip plumpers?

Lip plumpers can take the form of multiple different products, ranging from glosses and balms to full-coverage lipsticks. Acting as a more minimal and temporary alternative to cosmetic enhancements, lip plumpers are a topical treatment that can boost the volume and plumpness of your pout. Investing in a good plumping gloss doesn’t only impart an enviable shine, but also helps to keep lips moisturised and healthy for a chap-free finish. Often, a lip plumping gloss will contain moisturising ingredients such as hyaluronic acid to retain that all-important hydration, abolishing the likes of fine lines that can make lips seem thinner than they actually are.

How do lip plumping glosses work?

Lip plumping glosses work by utilising a specific mix of potent ingredients that actively work to fill out your lips, adding volume and hydration for an enviably fuller pout.

The best lip plumping glosses will often contain a variety of ingredients such as collagen, menthol, hyaluronic acid, wintergreen, ginger and/or capsaicin. These ingredients contain properties that either cause localised swelling or impart a surge of hydration: both of which are key factors for attaining fuller lips. Caffeine is another common ingredient used, as it increases blood flow for the perfect plumped-up pout.

How long does lip plumping gloss last?

This can totally depend on the elasticity of your skin as well as the strength of the ingredients used within the lip plumping gloss. The most common answer is between one to four hours of plumping wear, with two hours being the norm. Simply reapply for a glossier, more plumped-up finish.

Should I choose a lip plump gloss or balm?

Lip plumping glosses and balms have very different finishes, although both have the same aim of plumping up your pout. If you’re after a high-shine, statement finish then opt for a gloss as this formulation remains tacky and reflective, rather than drying down to a matte finish. Lip plumping glosses also work nicely over a lipstick for a more high-fashion finish.

A balm, however, makes a nice alternative for those that like a more lowkey look. Lip plumping balms can be worn before or after lipstick application to improve the texture of lips rather than add shimmer or shine.

Why are lip plump products better than injections?

Lip plumping products are far more temporary as they only last around one to four hours, as opposed to lip injections that can sometimes last between 6 to 18 months. Lip plumping glosses require far less time, commitment and discomfort, and are attainable for a fraction of the price.

Of course, the results aren’t quite as obvious as lip injections and fillers, but they are far less invasive and do not require injecting any foreign substances into the skin.

Now that you're fully equipped with all that you need to know about lip plumpers, it's time to pucker up! If you want to achieve an even more kiss-worthy pout, be sure to check out Everything You Need to Know About Lip Makeup.