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11 of our favourite lip plumpers for instant fullness
The volume-boosting treatments that make a real difference
Who doesn't want juicier-looking lips? Think your natural lips, just subtly enhanced so they look fuller, minus the actual filler.
While lip fillers are a great option when executed beautifully by a well-qualified practitioner, they are not for everyone. An ever-increasing raft of lip plumping glosses, balms, masks and oils are seeking to fill the gap, but in the same way that skincare can't mimic the wrinkle-smoothing effects of Botox, topical lip plumpers are a short-term way to add a little va va voom while improving lip condition.
According to Aruj Javid, in-house pharmacist at Look Fantastic, "many lip plumpers work by stimulating blood flow to the lips, causing a slight temporary swelling or plumping effect. They often contain ingredients that are mild irritants or that can cause a tingling or cooling sensation to help achieve this, such as menthol, cinnamon and ginger oils."
It's a saturated market, so knowing where to begin when buying a lip plumper can be bamboozling. Which ones actually work? Which plumpers maintain their effects longest? How comfortable are the plumping sensations? With these quandaries in mind, we've rounded up some of our favourite lip plumpers, with an array of colours, textures and finishes to choose from.
This jelly-textured lip mask creates pillowy, satin soft lips lips practically overnight (it's earned a cult following on TikTok for its smoothing, plumping powers). Beauty editor Anna rates it for helping lips maintain moisture, thus boosting fullness, with zero trace of stickiness or tackiness; just a gorgeous sheen that makes lips look juicy when worn alone, or extra luscious when layered over lip colour. There's no chilli or menthol at play here; the restorative ingredients plump lips from within, so it's a long game.
This gloss glides and has a silky, non-sticky texture that makes lips feel instantly soft (and tingly, but not overpoweringly so). Take it from GH's senior beauty editor Lynne's lips: "imagine lightly numbing your lips with an ice cube, then gently heating them: it's weird but not uncomfortable and undeniably effective." Find the full review here.
A luxurious honey-infused lip oil formulated with 92% ingredients of natural origin, plus opening the lid prompts a waft of gorgeous lipstick-y scent that Guerlain is famed for. This delivers an instant plumping effect and mirror-shine finish, with a balm, pigment and high-shine effect in one. It comes in petal pink, peach and berry shades, and each is slightly sheer. Think of this as an incredibly flattering lip highlighter.
The Dior Addict Lip Maximizer is a social media sensation. Infused with hyaluronic acid and nourishing cherry oil, the minty fresh gloss gives lips a plumped look that apparently amounts to up to 36% added volume. We noticed a definite increase in plumpness but you'll need to reapply fairly regularly to maintain results.
This lip plumper gets its buzz from zingy Sichuan pepper. You can most definitely feel it working, but there's no burning sensation; lips are left subtly fuller after a quick swipe, with lines appearing smoother (thank you, added plant-based collagen). The bright, glossy finish is seriously uplifting too.
Hourglass Unreal High Shine Volumizing Lip Gloss
In a huge range of 18 shades, Hourglass's innovative formula is infused with a patented peptide-powered cocktail of powerful active ingredients alongside naturally plumping hyaluronic acid, for an instantly fuller look. Added shea butter and avocado oil nourish the lips over time too.
An affordable formula that visibly smooths the lips' surface and enhances its contours (our lipline shrinks as we age, FYI). The high-shine finish makes lips look hydrated and fuller and the chunky, no-nonsense wand makes application a doddle.
Too Faced Lip Injection Extreme Lip Gloss
An oldie but a goodie, this cult favourite launched in 2005, and in recent years the Extreme version aims to amplify its plumping action. This gloss gets to work as soon as it's applied and you can fully expect to feel tingle with this one (steer clear if you have sensitive skin). Infused with the brand's marine-derived filling spheres, the light-reflective shine also makes for pillowy looking lips.
If you aren't a fan of stickier glosses, Project Lip's Plumping Lip Oil slick texture will be more your thing. The oil delivers an intense boost of hydration thanks to a blend of hyaluronic acid and vitamin E, while visibly smoothing the lips for a very natural, plumped look.
What La Mer can do for skin, it can also do for lips. The Lip Volumizer delivers incredible results thanks to the brand's exclusive lip-plumping 'renewal complex' of powerful marine ingredients and nutrient-rich minerals. Think nourishment and long-term gains alongside a pretty, plumped effect.
An astounding 100% of customers agree that lips appear fuller after using Charlotte Tilbury's Collagen Lip Bath. Peppermint oil and menthol crystals bring the tingle, with marula oil, vitamin A and marine collagen for an incremental volume boost over time. The colour payoff is the best on this list too.
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