How to Get Bigger Lips: A Guide to Enhance Your Lip Volume

Having fuller, plumper lips has been a popular beauty trend for many years. However, it seems not everyone is lucky to have those voluminous lips. There are various techniques and methods to achieve that look from natural remedies to advanced cosmetic procedures. 

Being a makeup artist, many clients ask me how one can enhance their lips without resorting to artificial methods. Like many, I wasn’t born with naturally full lips, and hence I've always tried to figure out tricks that enhance my pout while keeping things natural. Through trial and error, I’ve discovered some simple methods that actually work and can easily fit into any beauty routine. In this guide, I’ll share my tips on how to get bigger lips, with some quick fixes for longer-lasting results.

How to Get Bigger Lips: 7 Effective Tips for a Fuller Pout

1. Exfoliate Your Lips Regularly

One of the easiest and most efficient ways to improve your lips naturally is exfoliating them. Dry and flaky lips make your lips appear much smaller. Exfoliating removes dead skin cells and reveals a smoother surface which boosts the blood flow in the lip area, hence giving the impression of plumper lips.

• My Routine: I mix sugar with honey or coconut oil for the scrub. Massage in small circular motions onto the lips for about a minute or two. If one is in a hurry, just use a soft-bristled toothbrush or a makeup removing rounds. After exfoliating, one can immediately notice lips are much fuller and much smoother.

2. Hydrate for Fuller-Looking Lips

Hydration is key for your lips to keep their natural plumpness. Dehydrated lips tend to look smaller and cracked, looking quite unhealthy. Using a lip moisturizer can further help keep your lips hydrated and prevent them from drying out and becoming chapped.

• Pro Tip: I always recommend my clients to drink plenty of water throughout the day and wear a moisturizing lip balm with some key ingredients like shea butter, beeswax, or hyaluronic acid. Personally, I keep a hydrating lip balm on hand at all times, applying it multiple times a day. I also use a richer lip treatment at night to ensure my lips stay soft and plump by morning.

3. Lip Plumping Products

If you want an immediate boost in lip size, a lip plumper is a quick and easy solution. These lip plumpers are available in the form of glosses, balms, and serums, often infused with ingredients that promote blood flow or hydration.

• Plumping Glosses: Plumping glosses are instant fixes. They give a tingling sensation, which is due to the ingredients like peppermint or cinnamon that increase circulation. Hyaluronic acid glosses hydrates the lip while giving an appearance of fullness for a quick fix.
• Lip Plumping Serums: Lip serums work gradually to improve fullness over time. They contain peptides and collagen that nourish and plump the lips with regular use. They are great for daily wear or layering under lipstick due to their lightweight and clear texture.
• Plumping Lip Balms: These kinds of blams are more natural and everyday options with ingredients such as ginger or cinnamon. They give a subtle boost in addition to hydration of the lips. They are my favorite for giving a low-maintenance fuller-lip look without the glossiness.
• Lip masks: Lip masks are another effective option, known for their ability to hydrate, nourish, and temporarily plump lips through potent ingredients such as hyaluronic acid and plant oils. Regular use of lip masks can significantly improve overall lip health and appearance, especially for those with dry lips.

4. Use Lip Liner to Define and Overline

Overlining is one of the best makeup tricks to make lips look bigger. This is one of my favorite techniques to use on the client when they want their lips to look a little bit fuller without changing the shape too much.

• How to Overline: Use a lip pencil that matches your natural lip color or lipstick to carefully outline just outside of your natural lip line, focusing on the center of your lips-the Cupid’s bow and lower lip. Fill in with the liner and apply lipstick over it.

5. Try the Two-Tone Lip Technique

Using two different colors of lip can provide a more dimensional look.

• Darker Shade on Outer Edges: Apply a darker shade of lipstick or lip liner to the outer edges or outlines of your lips. This adds depth and makes the lips appear bigger.
• A Lighter Shade on the Centre: Dab a lighter layer of lipstick or gloss onto the center of your lips. Next, be sure to blend them into each other where they meet for a gradient effect.

6. Use Gloss for Extra Shine

Lip gloss adds volume and glitter to your lips, which gives them a fuller look. Here's how you would apply a lipgloss:

• Center Application: For an extra touch of luxury, try Diamond Lip Gloss from Standout Beauty by dabbing a small amount of gloss to the center of your lips. This reflects light and makes your lips appear plumper.
• Blend Well: Use your fingertip or a lip brush to blend the gloss with your lipstick.  It goes on very easily and makes the lips full.

7. Highlight and Contour Your Lips

Contouring isn’t just for your face—it works wonders for your lips, too! Adding a bit of shadow and highlighting around the lips builds depth and makes them look voluminous.

• My Technique: After putting on lipgloss, I just dust on a little bit of bronzer or contour powder right underneath my bottom lip for the shadow effect and then highlight my Cupid's bow with a touch of highlighter or concealer for catching the light. It makes your lips pop with this subtle effective trick.

How to Get Bigger Lips Naturally at Home

Taking good care of your lips is essential for maintaining their health and appearance. By incorporating these natural lip care tips into your daily routine, you can maintain healthy, beautiful lips that look and feel their best. Here are some of the best tips for lip care:

Use Essential Oils for Lip Health

Essential oils can be a fantastic addition to your lip care routine, offering hydration and nourishment. Here are some of the best essential oils for lip care:

• Peppermint Oil: The stimulation property in peppermint oil improves the blood flow of the lips, which gives it a full appearance while trying to reduce any inflammation.
• Coconut Oil: It contains a high content of antioxidants, which efficiently moisturizes and nourishes your lips to keep them soft and supple.
• Lavender Oil: With its soothing and calming properties, lavender oil helps in treating chapped and dry lips and maintaining healthy lips.

To use essential oils for lip care, simply apply a few drops to your lips and gently massage them in. You can also mix essential oils with your favorite lip balm or lip gloss for added hydration and protection. Remember to do a patch test before using any new essential oil to ensure you don’t have any sensitivity or allergic reactions.

Lip Exercises for a Naturally Lifted Look

 Simple facial exercises in your daily routine can make a noticeable difference in your lip volume and shape:

• Pucker Up: Pucker your lips as if you’re about to kiss someone and hold the position for 10 seconds. Release and repeat this exercise 10 times, which helps in strengthening the muscles around the lips.
• Lip Circles: Move your lips in a circular motion, first clockwise and then counterclockwise. Repeat this exercise 10 times in each direction. This improves blood circulation and muscle tone.
• Lip Lifts: Lift the corners of your mouth up towards your nose and hold for 10 seconds. Release and repeat 10 times. This exercise helps to lift and firm the upper lip.
• Lip Stretches: Stretch your lips out to the sides as far as you can and hold for 10 seconds. Release and repeat 10 times. This helps to stretch and strengthen the muscles around your lips.

Face Yoga for a Natural Lip Lift

Face yoga includes exercises that involve the muscles around your mouth to eventually lift your lips and firm them. Try incorporating the "Lion's Breath" into your routine

How to do: First, take a deep inhale through your nose, then blow out forcefully while sticking your tongue out, stretching your lips as wide as possible. This exercise helps tone up the area around the lips to give a natural lift.

Common Mistakes to Avoid While Trying to Get Bigger Lips

To make your lip makeup the best, here are common mistakes you should try to avoid:

1. Avoid Overdoing the Lip Liner: Too much overlining may make it look unnatural. Keep the outline soft and subtle and manage to blend well with lipstick to avoid a quick, harsh look.
2. Avoid Matte Lipsticks: Matte lipsticks give an illusion of reduced size by accentuating fine lines on the lips. Go for glossier or satin finish options for a fuller look.
3. Avoid Applying Too Much Gloss: Too much gloss makes the lips look sticky and uneven, so apply a very small amount only to the center of your lips for the best effect.

Some Cosmetic Procedures for Fuller Lips

Lip augmentation is one of the most common cosmetic procedures. This involves injecting the lips with various filling materials to give them a full, defined appearance. It is generally performed in the doctor's office and may take around 15 to 30 minutes. There are a variety of methods of lip augmentation, all of which have their different advantages and corresponding results.

• Hyaluronic Acid Fillers: These fillers are made from a natural substance found in the body and can last for several months. They are popular for their ability to provide a natural-looking fullness.
• Collagen Fillers: These are made from a kind of protein in the body and can last a few months with even, natural-looking results.
• Lip Implants: For a more permanent solution, these involve small soft implants inserted into the lips to enhance volume and better define the lips.
• Lip Injections: These involve injecting a filler material directly into the lips, with hyaluronic acid and collagen some of the most common materials used for giving fullness.

Note: Lip augmentation must be performed only by a qualified and experienced doctor or dermatologist for the best results with the least risks. Thus, if you are considering performing lip injections or lip implants or any one of several methods-it is very important to consult a professional to find out what would work best for you.

Final Thoughts

Having bigger lips does not have to be confined to cosmetic procedures. The application of makeup can help you create that illusion of fullness by using proper techniques and products. By prepping your lips properly, using lip liner strategically, and applying lipstick and gloss effectively, you can achieve a plumper, more defined lip look. Experiment until you achieve the look that feels best for you and can enjoy fuller lips!