Plump lips are undeniably one of the beauty trends that have defined the past decade. The evidence is all over social media—there are more than one million posts tagged #biglips on Instagram alone—and also in the surging popularity of lip plumpers. These products, which typically come in lip gloss or lip liner form, promise to temporarily make your pout look full, plump, and pillowy. Interested in learning more? Ahead, we’ll explain how to get plump lips with our high-shine Duck Plump High Pigment Plumping Lip Gloss and Duck Plump Plumping Lip Liner and clue you in on a few tricks to give your plumped-up pout extra va-va-voom.
The Plump Lips Trend
As we mentioned, plump, pouty lips are undeniably in fashion. The trend really kicked off years ago, with popular actresses and supermodels showing off full pouts on red carpets and runways. Since then, it’s inspired lip-plumping techniques, products, and entire makeup lines.
While some of the love for plump lips can be tied to wanting to emulate celebrities and influencers, there’s also a science behind it. Fuller lips are associated with youth and beauty, which is why you might feel like using a lip plumping gloss can make such a significant difference in how you look.
How To Get Plumper Lips
First, let’s back up a bit. There are a couple of ways to make your lips look bigger. Using a lip-plumping gloss is one method—that’s what they’re designed to do, after all—but if you don’t have one on hand, you can opt to contour your lips for a more subtle plumped effect. If you can, we suggest doing this with a plumping lip liner for an ultra pouty, full lip look.
What is lip-plumping gloss?
Lip plumper is a type of lip makeup product that makes your lips look fuller temporarily. It can come in many different formats, including lipstick and lip oil, but lip-plumping gloss is the most popular. These products look and act mostly just like regular gloss, giving your pout shine and, in some cases, color. The primary difference lies in the plumping effect they have on your lips.
What is plumping lip liner?
Plumping lip liners work much in the same way that regular lip liners do, but with one key exception: They help to make the lips look bigger and poutier (even if you don’t overline your lips). Many are made with the same ingredients as typical plumping lip glosses. Our Duck Plump Plumping Lip Liner, for example, contains spicy ginger and capsicum and helps define the lips while instantly making them appear fuller and plumper.
What is lip contouring?
Contouring is a makeup technique in which you strategically apply products that are darker than your skin tone onto your face to create the illusion of shadows. Placed correctly, these shadows can help visually sculpt and define your features. The cheekbones and nose are among the most popular spots to contour, but you can also use this technique to define your lips and make your pout appear fuller.
The process of lip contouring involves placing a darker contour or lip liner shade just below your bottom lip, which makes it look bigger and poutier. Adding a touch of highlight to your cupid’s bow amplifies the effect. You can also contour your lips with a plumping lip liner for an extra voluminous look.
How Do Lip Plumping Products Work?
How plumping glosses and liners work depends on the specific products, but there are certain ingredients known to have a plumping effect. For instance, some ingredients commonly used in this type of gloss include ginger, capsicum, menthol, and cinnamon extract. You’ll find the former two in our Duck Plump lip-plumping products. Keep in mind that with all lip-plumping makeup, the volume-boosting effect is temporary—no makeup product will permanently give you bigger lips.
How To Use Lip Plumper In Your Routine
Using lip plumper is delightfully simple: Smooth it onto your lips with the applicator. It’s really that easy. Of course, with a little prep work, you can make your lips look even better. That’s why, before applying the plumper, we recommend you exfoliate and line your pout with a plumping lip liner. Keep reading to learn exactly how to fake full, pouty lips.
Step 1: Gather your tools
Here’s what you’ll need to create your plump lip look:
- An exfoliating lip scrub to smooth your lips
- Lip liner in a shade that closely matches your chosen gloss. For a full, pouty lip look, opt for a plumping liner, like the Duck Plump Plumping Lip Liner.
- Lip-plumping gloss, such as our Duck Plump High Pigment Plumping Lip Gloss. The non-sticky formula with spicy ginger plumps lips instantly and over time. It comes in 18 high-pigment shades (plus one clear option for a natural look).
Step 2: Prep your lips
Next, apply a bit of your exfoliating scrub to your lips and gently massage with your finger to buff away any dead skin and create a smooth canvas for your lip-plumping gloss. Then, line the outer edges of your lips with your plumping lip liner. If you need help getting the perfect outline, check out our article How To Use Lip Liner—The Right Way. .
Step 3: Apply your plumping lip gloss
Finally, uncap your lip plumper and use the precise applicator to smooth your chosen shade onto your lips.
How To Contour Your Lips for an Extra Pouty Look
For even fuller-looking lips, consider adding lip contouring to your routine, too.
To contour your lips, you’ll exaggerate your lip liner, create a subtle shadow beneath your lips, and top off your cupid’s bow with highlighter. Here’s a full tutorial:
Step 1: Overline your lips
Line your lips as usual, but extend the line just beyond the natural border of your lips at the Cupid’s bow and along the curve of your bottom lip. To keep your look natural, avoid overlining at the outer corners.
Step 2: Shade your lips in
After outlining your pout, use the same lip liner to color in your lips, leaving the center of your mouth bare (blur the color with your finger for a soft, diffused effect). This will help draw attention to the center of your mouth, which in turn creates the illusion of plumper-looking lips.
Step 3: Add shadow and highlight
Finally, reach for our Wonder Stick Contour and Highlighter Stick. Use the darker shade in the duo to draw a line just below your bottom lip to create the illusion of a shadow—it’ll help make your lower lip look plumper. Then, flip the dual-ended stick around and uncap the highlighter side. Use the highlighter to illuminate your Cupid’s bow to complete your contoured lip look.
More Expert Tips To Make Lips Look Bigger
If you don’t have a lip plumper or contouring products on hand, here are a few more ways you can make your lips look plumper:
- Opt for gloss instead of matte lipstick: Lip gloss reflects light, which can create the illusion of a fuller pout.
- Overline your lips with a nude lip liner to create the illusion of a fuller lip line.
- Use nude or light hues instead of darker lip colors, which can make your lips appear smaller.
- Keep your lips well-hydrated with lip balm or oil. Proper hydration can help keep your lips looking plump.
For more tips and tricks for pouty lips, check out our article How To Get Bigger-Looking Lips With Makeup.
How To Make Your Fuller Lip Look Last
The best way to make any lip look last is to use long-wearing products that can stand up to talking, eating, and drinking. If you’re contouring your lips, fixing your look with a setting spray can also help ensure your makeup stays put. But if you’re going to be out for a while, consider stashing your plumping lip liner and lip plumper gloss in your bag for quick touch-ups as needed.
Next: How to Plump Up Your Makeup Routine.
Got a plump lip look you love? Post it on social media and tag us @nyxcosmetics.
PRODUCTS USED
Duck Plump High Pigment Plumping Lip Gloss
Plumping gloss with spicy ginger in 18 shades
Duck Plump Plumping Lip Liner
Plumping lip liner in twelve spicy shades.
Fat Oil Lip Drip
Hydrating tinted lip oil gloss in 18 shades.
Line Loud Vegan Longwear Lip Liner
Infused With Jojoba Oil + Vitamin E
Wonder™ Stick Contour and Highlighter Stick
Two-In-One Cream Contour Stick and Highlighter Stick
