'This is the best lip plumper I’ve ever found, and it’s only £4'
Who doesn't want plumper, juicier-looking lips? Our lip volume begins to naturally deflate with age, but there’s now a raft of plumping glosses, balms, masks and oils to add instant va-va-voom while also improving lip condition.
While lip fillers are a great option when executed skillfully by a well-qualified practitioner, they are not for everyone. Lip plumping products offer a safe, quick and cheap alternative, and while their effects are temporary, they can be a convincing way to cheat the look of a tweakment. Keep scrolling for our beauty director’s experience with a budget lip product...
So how, exactly, do these products perform their trickery? 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. To help you out, we've rounded up some of our favourite lip plumpers, with an array of colours, textures and finishes to choose from
What The Fake! Extreme Plumping Lip Filler
GH beauty director Lynne Hyland says: 'I've tried numerous plumpers over the years, but I can't say I've found anything with more visible effects than this. It's a chilli-infused formula, although the heat is initially deceptive – think of the curry you dismiss as "quite mild actually" before feeling the tingle on your tongue. (It's not uncomfortable though.) A minute or so after swiping, expect to see your lips looking and feeling inflated, an impression enhanced by the pink tint and shiny gloss finish. I've been asked multiple times if I've had fillers when I've worn this! There's a clear Icy Effect version too, if you prefer.'
Pillow Talk Big Lip Plumpgasm
This gloss glides and has a silky, non-sticky texture that makes lips feel instantly soft (and tingly, but not overpoweringly so). As our beauty director puts it: "Imagine lightly numbing your lips with an ice cube, then gently heating them: it's weird but not uncomfortable and undeniably effective." Find her full review with before and after photos here.
£27.00 at charlottetilbury.com
The Inkey List Tripeptide Plumping Lip Balm 10ml, Non Tingling Lip Plumpe, Hydrates Dry Cracked Lips, Fragrance Free, Suitable For All Skin Types
For plumping without the tingle, try this option. You’ll need to be patient – it’s not an instant inflater but rather a peptide-based balm which bathes lips in moisture and is clinically proven to increase volume over four weeks. Our tester reported lips that were both poutier and far softer by the end of the month.
Duck Plump Plumping Gloss
This one wins our vote for the name alone. While it doesn't (thankfully) create lips that pop out from the face at 90 degrees, it does certainly add pleasing immediate fullness. With an expansive shade range, you'll probably want to hook yourself more than one, and for £11 a go, this duck doesn't come with a big bill.
The Kissu Lip Mask
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). One GH-er raves about it for helping lips maintain moisture, thus boosting fullness. There's 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.
KissKiss Bee Glow Oil in Rose Glow
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.
Dior Addict Lip Maximizer Lip Gloss
Dior Addict Lip Maximizer is a social media sensation –understandably so. 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.
Milk Makeup Electric Glossy Lip Plumper
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.
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.
£30.00 at hourglasscosmetics.co.uk
Lifter Gloss Lip Gloss
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.
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). The light-reflective shine also makes for pillowy looking lips.
Plumping Lip Oil
If you aren't a fan of stickier glosses, Project Lip's Plumping Lip Oil slick texture will be more your thing. The non-tingly 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.
The Lip Volumizer
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.
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