How to Get Naturally Plump and Sexy Lips

Co-authored by Daniel Vann

Last Updated: December 29, 2022 References

There are tons of women who wish to have naturally plump and sexy lips. If you're looking to plump up your pout, but don't want to get fillers or injections, there are numerous alternatives. From exfoliating, to homemade lip plumper, to makeup tricks, learn to plump your lips in a natural way.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Taking Care of Your Lips

1
Exfoliate your lips with a sugar and honey lip scrub. Mix 1 tablespoon of sugar with 1 teaspoon of honey or coconut oil and mix the scrub together. Gently rub the mixture on your lips for 2 to 3 minutes, then rinse it off with water.^{[1]
X
Research source}
- White, granulated sugar will be more exfoliating, while brown sugar will be gentler and more suitable to sensitive skin.
- This will help remove the dead skin that accumulates overtime as well as stimulate circulation in your lips.
2
Brush your lips with your toothbrush as an alternative. After you've finished brushing your teeth, turn your toothbrush onto your lips. Lightly brush your lips in small circular motions to increase blood flow. Increasing the blood flow in your lips will make them temporarily fuller.
- Don't combine this with exfoliating your lips with sugar lip scrub. This is too much exfoliation and can make your lips look more chapped.
- Be sure to apply some lip balm afterwards.
Advertisement
3
Condition your lips with lip balm. Keeping your lips moisturized is a great way to enhance your natural pout, because conditioned lips look more plump than dry lips. Always carry lip balm with you, and apply a generous amount to your lips whenever they feel dry.^{[2]
X
Research source}
- Always apply lip balm whenever you finish exfoliating your lips.
- For best results, use an unflavored lip balm. If it is flavored, you might be tempted to lick your lips more often, which can lead to chapping.
4
Drink water and take vitamins. Drinking water and taking skin vitamins is a great way to naturally enhance your lips. Try to drink at least 8 to 12 glasses of water everyday, and try to take a skin or multivitamin daily. Having better health will give you a natural glow, even in your lips.^{[3]
X
Research source}
- Each glass should contain around 8 ounces (240 mL).
- Don't over-do it on the vitamins. More is not always better in this case. If you are in doubt, check with your doctor to see how many you should take.
- Give water and vitamins time to work. You may not see results immediately, especially with vitamins.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Wearing the Right Makeup

1
Create the illusion of plumper lips with lip liner. Start by applying a natural pink, rosy lipstick. Next, apply a lip liner that is slightly darker than the lipstick around the edges of your lips. Top it off with a shiny lip gloss to give your lips some extra plump.^{[4]
X
Research source}
- The exact shade of pink that you use depends on your skin tone. The darker your skin is, the darker colors you should use.
- If pink doesn't look good on you, try a natural nude shade instead. Use a similar, but darker shade for the lip liner.
2
Avoid dark lipsticks. Dark colored lipsticks and glosses tend to make your lips look thinner– especially when they are used without a lip liner. If your lips are naturally smaller, drawing attention to them with dark lipsticks isn't a good idea.^{[5]
X
Research source}
- If you must wear dark lipstick, consider using lip liner to help extend the color to just outside your lip line. This will help make them look fuller.
- To create the illusion of plumper lips, choose a lighter shade of lipstick with a shiny, glossy finish. This will cause light to bounce off of your lips and create the illusion of fullness.
3
Use makeup to create shadows and highlights around your lips. Apply a highlighter or a nude/white eye pencil just above your top lip (the "M" shape right in the middle of your upper lip). After you've applied your highlighter, lightly blend it in. You can also use a slightly darker lip liner or eye pencil under your lower lip to create a shadow.^{[6]
X
Research source}
- The highlighter should match your skin tone, but be a few shades lighter. The lip liner should be a few shades darker instead.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Using Lip Plumpers

1
Purchase a formulated lip plumper. Lip plumpers are popular makeup products that can be purchased at all makeup stores and most big box or convenience stores. Individual instructions will appear on the product's packaging, but most lip plumpers should be applied to clean lips and should start showing results within 5 minutes.
2
Use cinnamon oil to plump your lips. Mix 2 teaspoons of cinnamon oil with a 1 teaspoon of coconut oil or Vitamin E oil. Apply a thin layer of the mixture to your lips with a small applicator brush, and let it sit for 15 minutes before applying any lipstick.
- You should be able to see and feel results within 5 to 10 minutes.
- The mixture may feel tingly, but it should not hurt. If you begin to feel actual pain, rinse off the mixture with water immediately.
- Keep this mixture in a jar or tube for continued use.
3
Make a homemade lip plumper out of red pepper oil. There are numerous natural ways to plump up your lips, including the oil from red peppers. Capsicum, the spicy element of red peppers, also comes in the form of an oil. This oil improves blood flow and circulation, so it acts as a natural plumping serum when applied to your lips.^{[7]
X
Research source}

Expert Q&A

Question

How do you make your lips look fuller when you smile?

Daniel Vann
Licensed Aesthetician
Daniel Vann is the Creative Director for Daredevil Cosmetics, a makeup studio in the Seattle Area. He has been working in the cosmetics industry for over 15 years and is currently a licensed aesthetician and makeup educator.

Daniel Vann

Licensed Aesthetician

Expert Answer

Use lip liner to plump your top lip when you smile. When you smile, your lips are at their thinnest. Try filling in your cupid's bow, the little 'V' above your top lip, with your lip pencil. Afterward, when you smile, you'll see that your upper lip is more prominent and visible.
Question

If you don't have chapstick can you use something like Vaseline?

Community Answer

Yes, vaseline or coconut oil are good alternatives to use to condition your lips. It is recommended to carry chapstick with you to keep your lips soft and supple, so you should get some!
Question

How long does the natural plumping last?

Community Answer

It really depends on your lip type. It can be 1 week or 3 months. It all depends on how you use it and what lip type you have.