I was just discussing lip injections with a friend. When done correctly, they make your face look more balanced and refreshed (like any good treatment should). The downside is that they are expensive and require upkeep. If you want plum (er) lips without committing to injections, I have a few tips that have noticeably changed the size and shape of my lips over time.

Don't Lick Your Lips

I know I know I know I know I know. When your lips are parched, you want to lick them but DON'T. It will sap every last bit of moisture from your already chapped lips. Keep lip balm everywhere to remedy the situation because plush lips and cracked lips cannot coexist. 

Gentle Scrub + Good Lip Balm 2x/day

As a part of your morning and evening skincare routines, try gently buffing your lips to slough off dead skin and increase blood flow. Lips are super delicate, so don't rip them up! The quickest way to do this is, after you brush your teeth, take the towel you use to wipe your mouth and use it to softly buff your lips.

If you want to take it up a notch, you can make or invest in a lip scrub. A great DIY version is brown sugar with coconut oil, but that can be really messy. I started using one in stick form by TREAT Beauty (shopable links below), and I love the results. 

No matter how you decide to scrub, it's imperative to follow up with a great lip balm. I use La Mer, it's so worth the investment (Seriously - my friend forgot it when she had her baby...before I went to the hospital I asked if she needed anything, and she asked for this lip balm. It's that good.), but options I also use are Korres Guava Lip Butter and TREAT Jumbo Lip Balm - Marshmallow Cream is the jam.

Prep with a Lip Plumper

Since you're hydrating during skincare, you can prep your lips before makeup with a lip plumping serum. There a several on the market, but I've steadily used the Dior Lip Maximizer since purchasing it at the beginning of my makeup routine (along with skin and eye primer). 

This product gives instant results (okay not instant - but within five or ten minutes) which is why I apply at the beginning), but over time it also fills out your lips. I just asked my husband if he's noticed a difference and he said yes. Maybe we're both biased, but I think it works. 

Practice Smoke in Mirrors

My favorite thing about makeup is its transformative power, so use it to your advantage! 

The first thing to keep in mind is light, bright, nude shades will make your lips appear fuller than a true red or dark tones (meaning darker than your skin color). A layer of gloss also helps to reflect the light and add the illusion of larger lips.

The next trick is to do a subtle ombre/contour. In other words, keep the outside darker than the center. You can do this with two lipsticks, a lipstick and a gloss, or a liner and gloss (my favorite).

Finally, go OG and overdraw your natural lip shape with nude liner. This one can be tricky and takes practice, but it's effective. 

And So...

If you're looking for fuller lips, try these tips before trying needles. While personally, I would love lip injections, I'm just not up for the commitment right now. If you'd like more in-depth tips, head over to services and book a lesson. 

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Thanks for stopping by! -JY