The 10 best lip plumpers of 2023, tried & tested
Commitment-phobes, unite! In case you've been living under a rock, the age of the supermodel is still going strong.
Pillowy lips are the moment, and while tweakments are on the rise, understandably not everyone is looking to dive in headfirst and crack on with the fillers.
Instead, a gentle introduction into the wonderful world of lip volumising might feel more apt.
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Do lip plumpers actually work?
In short, yes, lip plumpers "work", but be realistic with your expectations. Topical products are not going to give you long-term plumping effects, and so, if you're on the hunt for something permanent, lip fillers might be the way to go. However, you fancy a short-term volume boost, go full steam ahead.
Some products contain hyaluronic acid, a moisture-retentive humectant, and deliver a subtle hit of volume. Others contain peptides, short chains of amino acids, which hydrate and encourage collagen production.
Stronger, more dramatic formulas tend to use ingredients such as capsaicin (present in chilli peppers), menthol or peppermint to invoke temporary mild irritation. These plumpers usually involve a tingling sensation, and the widening of the blood vessels increases blood circulation in the lips, resulting in a gently swollen, plumped effect.
How we chose:
- Ingredients: All our product selections are packed with ingredients that will temporarily plump your pout, from peppermint oil to hyaluronic acid.
- Performance and personal testimony: The lip plumping beauty buys chosen below are products that I (Hello! Fashion's resident beauty obsessive Orin Carlin) personally really rate. The effects vary from subtle, hydration-focused plumpness to a dramatic volume increase, depending on the formula.
Hello! Fashion shares the best lip plumpers to add to your beauty product arsenal:
Collagen Lip Bath
Charlotte Tilbury
Key ingredients...
Marine collagen, peppermint oil and hyaluronic acid.
What we love:
- Pretty pearlescence
- Decent shade range
What we don't like:
- Nothing really - one of the best formulas I tried
Industry giant Charlotte Tilbury gets it bang on with her Collagen Lip Bath. Available in a selection of gorgeous, better-than-your-lips shades, expect a subtle tingle and a super-comfortable high-shine finish. As someone who has always generally shied away from a gloss - I can’t bear the feel - I was seriously impressed. The light-reflecting pearlescent pigments worked really well in giving the illusion of a fuller lip.
- Pretty pearlescence
The Plasma Lip Compound
U-Beauty
Key ingredients...
Castor oil, sweet almond oil, beeswax and peptides.
What we love:
- Long-lasting hydration
- Juicy, gentle plumped effect
What we don't like:
- Falls on the upper end of the price spectrum
For those intent on achieving a flattering plumped-up effect without the customary tingling sensation, look no further than U Beauty's The Plasma Lip Compound. It delivers a comfortable shot of moisture via long-chain hyaluronic acid and its pleasing part-lip balm, part-lip enhancer formula means it's not even remotely jammy. Granted, it’s on the higher of the price spectrum, but my lips did feel hydrated for hours after application.
Lip Injection Extreme Plumping Lip Gloss
Too Faced
Key ingredients...
Mineral oil, avocado oil and jojoba seed oil.
What we love:
- Inviting, syrupy scent
- Easy to layer
What we don't like:
- Potential to catch stray hairs
Gloss girlies will adore this more extreme version of a Too Faced classic. The tingling sensation is subtle and pleasant and when you open it up, you are hit with a comforting, syrupy scent. The doe foot applicator is a doddle to use and my lips had a noticeable plumpness and the nourishing oils infused them with a pretty, subtle shine. The clear gloss formula is comfortable to wear, and not overly sticky, although I'd personally avoid wearing my hair down at the same time to avoid catching rogue strands.
Electric Glossy Lip Plumper
Milk Makeup
Key ingredients...
Sichuan pepper, plant-derived collagen and jojoba oil.
What we love:
- Gentle, hydration-focused plumping effect
- Forgiving, sheer shades (I'm wedded to 'Wired')
What we don't like:
- I personally loved the moisture payoff, but the results are less dramatic than others I tried
Milk Makeup is one of my favourite mid-price makeup brands, and its 'Electric Glossy' plumper is seriously first-rate. The shades are so sheer and pretty (even the plummy 'Amped' looks understated on) and the formula is gloriously hydrating, consistently leaving my lips feeling silky smooth. The tingle is noticeable, but the plumping effect is on the subtler side.
Lip Buff
Key ingredients...
Amino acids, aloe vera extract and hyaluronic acid.
What we love:
- Unique exfoliating applicator
- Super hydrating
What we don't like:
- Could do with a hint of oil to combat dryness
Packed with a plant-based plumping agent and a complex of five hyaluronic acids, Refy's Lip Buff was an unexpected favourite. The formula was so different to the other plumpers I tried, far more serum-like and fluid than viscous. Rather than leaving a glossy finish, it absorbed almost instantly. Even during the warmer months, my lips are rough, and the unique, exfoliating tip worked a treat, gently employing some good old physical exfoliation to eliminate any dead skin cells. The effect was definitely on the more natural end of the spectrum, but that didn't faze me – the buffing motion gave them a healthy, flushed colour.
Gloss Bomb Heat Universal Lip Luminiser + Plumper
Fenty Beauty
Key ingredients...
Capsicum frutescens fruit extract, soybean oil and ginger root oil.
What we love:
- Forgiving, sheer shades
- Flattering, wet-look finish
What we don't like:
- Nothing really - one of the best formulas I tried
Fenty Beauty's Gloss Bomb Heat Universal Lip Luminiser + Plumper wins when it comes to versatility. Its sheer shades are incredibly forgiving - necessary, given my often slapdash approach towards application - and can be worn by themselves as a light wash of colour or over a lipstick to give off a cool, wet-look shine.
Facefixers Lip Volume Voluptuous Lip Volume
Transformulas
Key ingredients...
Tripeptides, panthenol and macadamia integrifolia seed oil.
What we love:
- Noticeable volume increase
- Non-sticky
What we don't like:
- Packaging doesn't feel particularly luxe
Don't let the lacklustre packaging put you off, this plumper by Transformulas really packs a punch. Peppermint oil and collagen stimulating peptides join forces to deliver an energising tingle, and I found that my lips visibly increased in volume. An underlying heat remains throughout (if you want the sensation to fade away to nothing, this is not the one for you), but the formula was pleasingly non-sticky, and the effect was high-octane.
Hyaluronic Lip Plumper
Plump It!
Key ingredients...
Spearmint leaf oil, peppermint oil and niacinamide.
What we love:
- Dramatic plumped effect
- Comfortable, warm sensation
What we don't like:
- Packaging doesn't feel particularly luxe
Don't let the barely-there tingle fool you – Plump It!'s Hyaluronic Lip Plumper is worth its weight in gold. The low-key sensation amps up into a comfortable warmth and lips are quite dramatically more voluminous than before. Not the one if you want a wash of colour as this one is clear, and the packaging is noticeably less luxurious than some other products I tried at similar price points, but handily, it can easily be layered over your favourite lipstick.
Matte Plumping Primer
Project Lip
Key ingredients...
Capsicum oleoresin, synthetic beeswax and grape seed oil.
What we love:
- Budget-friendly
- Can be layered under lipstick
What we don't like:
- Formula can be a little stiff and needs a bit of warmth before application
Project Lip's Matte Plumping Primer is not for the fainthearted – delivering a pretty enthusiastic (although entirely bearable) tingle. It's definitely a handy product for when you're wanting to wear your favourite shade with an extra volume boost. Plus, its reasonable price point is a major bonus.
Sexy Mother Pucker XL Lip Gloss
Soap & Glory
Key ingredients...
Mineral oil, menthol and spilanthes acmella flower extract.
What we love:
- Budget-friendly
- Can be used alone or over lipstick
What we don't like:
- Can be a bit sticky at first before it sets
An oldie but a goodie, the hero product in Soap & Glory's iconic Sexy Mother Pucker range is its XL Lip Gloss. Expect fuller, plumper lips, a pleasant tingling and a noticeably shiny pout at an affordable price point. Teenage nostalgia overload.
Which lip plumper lasts the longest?
For me, the lip plumper that came out on top in terms of staying power was Charlotte Tilbury's Collagen Lip Bath. Considering I'm not usually a gloss girl, I was seriously impressed by how comfortable the formula felt on my lips. In comparison to some of the others I tried the tingle sensation was less punchy, but that didn't affect the uber-flattering plumping results which lasted for several hours.
Why you should trust me:
Orin Carlin is Hello! Fashion’s SEO Content Writer. Promising to leave no stone unturned in the name of fashion and beauty journalism, she is the proud creator of our ‘Try The Trend’ series. With a particular interest in formula innovation, microtrends, royal and bridal beauty, perfume, rituals, treatments, fashion history and vintage icons, she can either be found interviewing major industry names (previous subjects include Georgia May Jagger, Mary Greenwell and Sam McKnight) or scouring the internet for must-have pieces. It's not just a job; it's a personal quest to unearth noteworthy pieces that resonate with style enthusiasts.
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