How To Use A Lip Plumper for a Fuller-Looking Pout

Unless you were born with anaturally full, pillowy pout, chances are good you’ve considered using a lip plumper or plumping lip gloss to give your lips a boost at one time or another. Though the plumping effect isn’t permanent, a lip plumper can be helpful for those looking to create juicier lips on the fly. Many of the best formulas also add color and shine, much like your standard lip gloss, but with added lip-enhancing benefits.

Whether you’re looking for a plumping lip gloss worth adding to your routine or simply curious about how a lip plumper works, keep scrolling. We’ll give you the need-to-knows ahead and explain how to use a lip plumper to get the fuller-looking pout you've been dreaming of.

What a Lip Plumper Is and How It Works

A lip plumper is a type of lip makeup product designed to help make the lips appear bigger. These formulas often contain ingredients such as peppermint, ginger, cinnamon, or menthol and tend to be hydrating. As is the case with facial moisturizers, hydrating formulas can help make the lips appear smoother and plumper. Additionally, many boast a shiny, glassy finish, which can also help give the lips a fuller look.

Most topical lip plumping products fall into a few categories: lip enhancement,lip gloss, oil, balm, mask, or lipstick. You might see them described as a lip gloss that plumps, a serum, or simply a plumper, but the idea is similar across textures. They sit on the surface of your lips and create a temporary effect that makes them look more volumized, not permanently changed.

Topical plumpers are different from devices or in-office treatments, which work in other ways and last longer. A topical formula relies on gentle stimulation and hydration to create a fuller look, while tools such as suction cups or professional procedures fall outside the scope of your everyday makeup routine. When you see "plumper" meaning on packaging or online, it usually refers to this kind of makeup product that boosts the look of your lips for a short time.

Key active ingredients in these products can include peppermint or capsicum derivatives for a warm, tingling feel, as well as hyaluronic acid and peptides that help lips feel cushioned and moisturized. Together, temporary swelling at the surface and added hydration create the appearance of fuller and juicier lips.

Our Best Lip Plumpers To Try

L'Oréal Paris Plump Ambition Hyaluron Lip Oil

Fuller-looking lips are within reach with this hydrating plumpinglip oil. The lightweight formula with hyaluronic acid and tripeptides helps make the lips appear plumper, provides up to 24 hours of non-sticky hydration for soft, smooth lips, and leaves a flattering flush of color with volumizing, glass-like shine. This is a lip plumper that works for everyday wear, and it comes in 10 flattering shades for you to choose.

L'Oréal Paris Plump Ambition pH Hyaluron Lip Oil

This pH-reactive version of the L'Oréal Paris Plump Ambition Hyaluron Lip Oil reacts with the natural chemistry of your lips to create a custom tint that still delivers a plush, glossy finish. It offers the same hydrating, cushiony feel as the original, so your lips look smooth and plump with a soft tint that adjusts from day to night.

How To Use Lip Plumper

While you can just swipe on your lip plumper, taking a few extra minutes to prep your pout helps you achieve a smoother, more defined result. A little gentle exfoliation, strategic lining, and thoughtful layering can boost the look of fullness without much extra effort. Here’s how to use our drugstore lip plumper in your makeup routine, alongside a few other lip staples.

Step 1: Prep your lips

Begin by exfoliating your lips with a damp washcloth to help remove any dead skin and create a smooth canvas for your lip plumper. Then, apply a nourishing lip balm, such as the L'Oréal Paris Glow Paradise Balm-in-Lipstick with Pomegranate Extract, to help lock in hydration. Allow the lip balm plenty of time to absorb before continuing on with your lip routine, so your products glide on evenly and last longer.

Step 2: Line your lips

Next, outline your lips with lip liner in a shade that closely matches the hue of your chosen plumping lip gloss. This can help prevent your gloss from bleeding and is a great way to enhance your natural lip shape. For an extra full-lip look, consider overlining your lips by tracing just beyond your natural lip line, keeping the strokes soft and controlled so the effect stays believable. For more detailed application tips, you can also readHow to Use Lip Liner: A Beginner’s Guide.

The L'Oréal Paris Colour Riche Lip Liner has a creamy, no-feather formula that glides on smoothly to define and contour your lips. The vitamin E-infused pencil helps your color last longer and pairs beautifully with both satin lipsticks and plumping lip gloss formulas.

Step 3: Apply lipstick (if desired)

If you want a more natural lip look, you can skip this step and go straight to applying your lip plumper. If you’re in the mood for a more colorful statement lip, you may want to apply lipstick first. Make sure to select a shade that closely matches your lip liner for the most seamless end result.

Reach for the L'Oréal Paris Paradise Hyaluron Tint Lip Stain Serum if you like a lightweight lip stain with a serum feel. The buildable tint layers comfortably under gloss, drenching lips in moisture while leaving behind a blurred, softly stained finish that pairs well with a lip gloss that plumps.

For extra impact, the L'Oréal Paris Colour Riche Intense Volume Matte Lipstick delivers saturated color with aplush matte finish. The formula includes hyaluronic acid for a comfortable feel, so your lips look smooth and softly volumized even before you add your lip plumper on top.

Alternatively, you could use two hues to create an ombré lip look. This technique involves applying a lighter lipstick color to the center of your pout and using a darker shade on the corners. The contrast can help draw attention to the middle of your lips, creating an optical illusion that makes them appear fuller.

Step 4: Swipe on your lip plumper

The last and easiest step is to swipe on your lip plumper. Start in the center of your lips and gradually work toward the outer corners for a smooth, even finish. If you’re using the L’Oréal Paris Plump Ambition Hyaluron Lip Oil or the L'Oréal Paris Plump Ambition pH Hyaluron Lip Oil, you may feel a slight tingling sensation, which can be normal for this type of product. If the tingle feels uncomfortable at any point, remove the product and give your lips a break.

How Long Do Lip Plumper Effects Last

How long a lip plumper lasts can depend on several factors, including the formula you’ve chosen, how well you prepped your lips, and what you are doing throughout the day. Generally speaking, most glosses and oils—plumping versions included—are best reapplied every couple of hours to maintain their high-shine finish. Make sure to always follow the usage directions on your chosen product and reapply as needed to keep your makeup looking fresh.

How Often To Use Lip Plumper

You can use a lip plumper anytime you want to enhance the appearance of a fuller, more voluminous pout. Brighter, more vibrant shades are a great match for glam makeup looks, while clear glosses and pinkish-nude hues make for a natural addition to subtle no-makeup makeup looks. At the end of the day, the choice is yours—your routine should feel comfortable and fit your personal style.

Layering Lip Plumper With Makeup for Extra Fullness

Layering is key if you want to get even more from your lip plumper. Start by using the L'Oréal Paris Colour Riche Lip Liner to define your natural shape and slightly overline where you want extra fullness. Softly shading the outer corners and keeping more color toward the center helps guide the eye and make lips look rounder and more dimensional.

Next, pair your lip plumper with a shine-boosting gloss.L'Oréal Paris Paradise Lip Balm-in-Gloss with Pomegranate Extract cushions lips with a balm-like feel while adding luminous color on top of your plumping base, so the finish looks smooth, juicy, and light-catching.

To sharpen the edges of your lip look, apply a tiny amount ofL'Oréal Paris Infallible Full Wear Concealer Up To 24H Full Coverage around the outer lip line and blend it outward. This high-coverage concealer helps clean up any smudges, brighten the area, and create contrast so your lip plumper and lip color stand out even more.

Finally, play with gradients to add dimension. Apply a slightly lighter lip color or extra gloss at the very center of your lips and keep the outer corners a touch deeper to mimic a soft ombré effect. This contrast complements the shine of your lip plumper, making the center of your pout catch the light and appear fuller.

Next Up: How To Get Glossy Lips, Plus 3 Looks To Try

Photo courtesy of L’Oréal Paris