Look for coconut oil that is labeled raw, virgin, and/or unrefined, or cocoa butter that is labeled raw. These coconut oils and cocoa butters retain more nutrients than processed coconut oils or cocoa butters. Hydrating your body by drinking plenty of water will also help your lips stay healthy and beautiful. Petroleum jelly is also a great option for hydrating your lips overnight. Both coconut oil and petroleum jelly can help heal cracked, dry lips and prevent chapped lips in the future.
After you exfoliate, follow up immediately after exfoliating with a lip moisturizer to repair and hydrate your lips. [3] X Expert Source Tymia YvetteMakeup & Lash Artist Expert Interview. 22 April 2020. Clean lips tend to reflect more light, making them naturally appear fuller and healthier. You can also create an easy, natural DIY sugar lip scrub as an alternative to exfoliating with a toothbrush. Apply the sugar scrub liberally to your lips and rub with your fingers in a circular motion.
Peppermint oil is technically an irritant, so it works as a natural lip plumper by stimulating blood flow to your lips and causing mild swelling. [4] X Research source You should also be cautious when applying peppermint oil to your lips since it has been known to cause allergic reaction in some people. [5] X Trustworthy Source PubMed Central Journal archive from the U. S. National Institutes of Health Go to source Because peppermint oil is a hot oil, mixing it with coconut oil will help you avoid any burning or irritating side effects while adding hydration. If you do experience any adverse side effects, however, immediately wipe off the balm. If the side effects continue for more than an hour, contact your doctor or take an antihistamine if you know it is safe for you to do so. You can also use cinnamon extract instead of peppermint oil, though it might sting for a bit. [6] X Research source Avoid using a plumping lip balm after applying this natural lip plumper to reduce the risk of irritation.
Chili powder, also known as capsicum, causes mild swelling, making your lips temporarily plumper and full. [8] X Research source Because chili powder is a hot spice, there is a risk of irritation and burning. In most cases, this will subside within a few minutes after wiping off the lip plumper. If the side effects continue for more than an hour, contact your doctor or take an antihistamine if you know it is safe for you to do so. To reduce the risk of irritation, avoid using a plumping lip balm after applying this natural lip plumper.
By hydrating your lips, hyaluronic acid may also help treat or prevent chapped lips, leaving your lips healthier and more beautiful. Hyaluronic acid plumpers are a relatively gentle alternative to plumpers that contain irritants since they work by enhancing hydration. That said, they aren’t as dramatically plumping as other options since they don’t penetrate very deeply into the tissue of your lips. [10] X Research source
Similar to hyaluronic acid, collagen peptides won’t penetrate the tissues of your lip very deeply on their own, so your lips won’t absorb much. This is part of the reason they won’t produce noticeable immediate results without the addition of other plumping ingredients. [11] X Research source Products containing collagen peptides may also help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles on and around your lips. If you are vegan, you may want to avoid these products, as many are derived from animals.
Because caffeine does not irritate your lips as much as other plumping ingredients, the plumping effect may be more subtle.
Because plumping is the result of irritation, there is a risk of burning and other uncomfortable side effects with lip plumpers containing cinnamon or capsicum. These side effects usually subside within a few minutes. If you experience any adverse side effects, wipe off the plumping balm immediately. If the side effects continue for more than an hour, contact your doctor or take an antihistamine if you know it is safe for you to do so.
Some of the more common and minor side effects and risks associated with lip injections are swelling and bruising at the injection site, reactivation of cold sores or fever blisters, and tenderness around your lips. [15] X Research source More serious side effects may include lip asymmetry, lumping, infection, tissue loss, or allergic reaction. [16] X Research source The cost of lip filler injections varies greatly depending on the type of filler used, the doctor’s experience, and where you live. On average, lip filler injections cost between $500 and $2,000 for a treatment that lasts about six months.
While natural lip plumpers and products can both make your lips fuller and healthier, there is a limit to how much they can do. If your lips are particularly thin or if you are looking for a more dramatic change, using foundation or concealer to hide your natural lip line allows you to create a new, larger lip line.
Using a lip liner that is just 1 or 2 shades darker than your natural color will make it appear natural while allowing you to cover up your natural lip line. Filling in your lips with the same color as the liner will keep your makeup looking seamless and natural. For a nude look, choose a liner and lipstick that are similar to the color of your skin tone. [19] X Expert Source Tymia YvetteMakeup & Lash Artist Expert Interview. 22 April 2020.
If you want to define your lips with a darker liner but still make them look full, try filling in with a lipstick or gloss that is slightly lighter than your liner (no more than 1 to 2 shades lighter).
