POUT AND PROUD

With shimmer and skincare benefits, these lip plumpers prove you don’t need filler to look fuller, says Sabine Wiesel

If social media channels are anything to go by it can feel like lip filler treatments have hit the mainstream. But you don’t have to turn to the needle if you’re looking for a plumper pout: a quick swipe of a lip plumper can go some way to faking the fuller look.

Since the “has she or hasn’t she?” days of debating whether Kylie Jenner used lip filler to create her infamous pout, lip augmentation has advanced in popularity. So much so, it’s gone from a treatment we watched celebrities get from afar to one we can all readily get on the high street.

With the trend for fuller-looking, pouty lips here to stay, it’s no surprise we’ve also seen an abundance of lip plumpers hit the virtual beauty shelves. Available in many forms and finishes, you’ll find lip-plumping serums, balms, oils, lipsticks and glosses to pick from.

But how do they work, we hear you ask. Lip plumpers work in one of two ways. The majority are short-term lip boosters that use mild irritants or inflammatory ingredients such as peppermint, capsicum pepper or cinnamon to increase the blood flow and swell the lips temporarily.

The second type of lip plumper works more like an extension of your skincare. It relies on hyaluronic acid or collagen-producing peptides to boost hydration levels, smooth lines and plump the pout over time.

Of course, it’s important to manage expectations. Not even the best lip plumper on the market can mirror the look of a lip-filler treatment. But what they can do is create subtle shape and volume. This makes them a great alternative for those looking for a more natural, commitment-free solution without any pain, or the price tag.

How we tested

We put the latest lip plumpers to the test to see how well they could plump up the volume or create the illusion of a fullerlooking pout. Whether you’re looking for a hydrating hero or the ultimate high-shine finish, you’ll find it in our winning line-up.

Dior addict lip maximizer: £24, John Lewis

This bestselling lip-plumping gloss is still hard to beat, thanks to its long-term lip-hydrating powers and its instant plumping effect. Swipe on the refreshing, minty formula that leaves a mirror shine that plays with light to make lips appear fuller. Infused with hyaluronic acid microspheres that attract and lock in moisture, this acts as lip care at its finest to smooth and plump the look of lips over time. Pick from nine suit-all shades that vary from this light pink to a deep, limited-edition plum. Our tester’s go-to that she tops up time and time again is 010 holo pink for a luxe shimmer like no other. Buy now

Huda Beauty silk balm spicy thermos plumping lip balm: £21, Cult Beauty

If you’re looking for serious heat-up from your lip plumper then look no further, because this is as spicy as it gets (hence the name). You really do feel like you’ve eaten a vindaloo after applying, so this is one that will divide people – you’ll either love it or hate it.

We, of course, sit in the former category and can’t get enough of the warming sensation, which is the Sichuan pepper extract working its magic to warm and swell the lips for a temporary effect. What’s more, it has the same hydrating ingredients as the popular lip balms that work to fill lines and plump the lips. Unfortunately, there’s only one shade, but it’s a translucent orange that will work with all skin tones.

Buy now

Morphe make it big plumping lip gloss: £12, Boots

Create the illusion of a juicier lip with this thick and cushiony formula. It’s available in 10 shades, from a clear you can use as a topcoat over your favourite lippy right through to a bold red perfect for the party season. Made with peppermint oil, on contact with lips it has a pleasant cooling sensation that adds to its appeal. But what makes this lip plumper really stand out is that it saturates the pout in a glazed finish that’s long-wearing. And just because it’s more purse-friendly than most doesn’t mean it’s stingy with its moisturising ingredients, as hyaluronic acid seals in moisture, leaving lips feeling soft and wellhydrated.

Buy now

Fenty Beauty gloss bomb heat lip luminizer and plumper: £20, Sephora

Rihanna has literally dialled up the heat with these lip plumpers that provide the same wet look of her bestselling gloss bombs, yet provide sheer colour and a dose of plumping ingredients that make lips appear fuller. Enriched with ginger and capsicum pepper extract, the warming sensation creeps up on you in a rather addictive way, as once it wore off we couldn’t wait to apply more.

It’s teamed with moisturising shea butter and vitamin E, so it also feels like a lip balm, keeping the pout comfortable at the same time. If we had to pick a favourite out of the five shades it’s now available in we’re going for lemon lava with its clear finish and golden shimmer that can be layered on top of lippy.

Buy now

Essence what the fake! Plumping lip filler with cinnamon oil: £2.99, Just My Look

The problem with glossy budget-friendly buys is they usually leave some level of stickiness behind, but this lip plumper is made with cinnamon oil so you get zero tackiness – just beautifully smooth feeling lips. We found the spice left lips tingling pleasantly boasting a just-been-kissed pouty fullness matched with a flattering natural nude hue. Add to the mix hydrating hyaluronic acid and vitamin E, and you can expect lips to also feel comfortable without the dreaded dry out. There’s also a chilli and hyaluronic acid formula to choose from, but this is our favourite. Brilliant value!

Buy now

Bobbi Brown extra plump lip serum: £29, Next

Boosting your pout’s hydration levels will not only keep chapped, dry lips at bay but is the natural way to plumperlooking lips, as high moisture levels lead to a smoother, fullerlooking pout. A blend of botanical oils and super hydrating hyaluronic acid work together to strengthen the lip’s moisture barrier like a must-have skincare extension for the lips – essential for the change in season as we move into the colder months.

We used this every day for two weeks and found the continuous use not only made our lips feel comfortably soft but much smoother – so much so it was missed when we stopped using it. Buy now

Kylie Cosmetics lip plumping gloss: £16, Boots

From reality star to beauty entrepreneur, Kylie Jenner has her pout to thank for becoming the youngest self-made billionaire in the world. It all started with her lip kits, and now there’s a range of lip products, including these new lip-plumping glosses that pack a plumping punch.

The easy-to-apply oversized applicator drenches the lips in a luxuriously thick and ultra-shiny formula that adds to the plumping effect. Choose from six shades that add a subtle wash of colour that’s easy to layer over lipstick. All shades, apart from “on neutral” are shimmer formulas with light-reflecting particles that add to the illusion of a fuller pout too.

Buy now

Mac powerglass plumping lip gloss: £20, Boots

From subtle nudes to full-on berry, there are 18 shades of this lip-plumping gloss to choose from, so something to suit every taste, look or skin tone. A coat of the non-sticky, high-shine finish leaves a pleasant tingle effect on the lips – that’ll be the ginger, capsicum and menthol used to swell and plump the pout. But don’t think that will dry the lips out as it’s teamed with a cocktail of moisture-boosting hyaluronic acid, avocado and coconut oil that we find leaves the lips pillowy soft and comfortable. Plus, the wand is conveniently S-shaped, which curves to the lip making mirror-free application easy. Buy now

Too Faced maximum plump lip injection in chocolate plump: £25, Look Fantastic

The lip injection line of lipsticks and glosses from Too Faced is nearing iconic status in the beauty world, and the most advanced formula in the line-up is the maximum plump tube that comes in five suit-all shades, as well as this new limited edition chocolate shade. Promising to plump lips over time as well as instantly, we can certainly vouch for the latter. Our lips heated up nicely straight after applying to leave them feeling instantly plumper, as well as super soft and smooth. Sitting somewhere between a nude and a chocolate hue, even our fairskinned tester could pull off this brown – the Nineties lip trend that we’re seeing everywhere right now.

Buy now

Indeed Laboratories hyaluronic + tinted lip treatment: £11.99, Look Fantastic

For a lip plumper that ticks all the boxes when it comes to nourishment, line-smoothing and leaving the pout with a shiny wash of colour, turn to this tube. It provides continuous super hydrating lip care that smooths lines and plumps the lip contour with ongoing use (we saw a difference after two weeks), courtesy of the hyaluronic acid and peptide formulation. Plus, it instantly soothes and comforts lips if you’re prone to chapped lips in the colder weather. Pick from four shades that leave a natural tint and shiny finish: this is a daily multitasking must-have to keep in your bag or on your desk for top-ups.

Buy now

The verdict

From its chic packaging to its luxe formulation, our best buy goes to the Dior addict lip maximizer. Its higher price point is justified by ticking so many boxes when it comes to performance. It drenches the pout in a high-shine glossy texture creating the illusion of a fuller pout, and leaves it feeling comfortably hydrated like a luxe lip balm. But, most importantly it’s long-wearing too, so you save on reapplying.

If you’re looking for a more purse-friendly option, we were also super impressed with the Morphe make it big plumping lip gloss. It had the shiniest formula our tester has ever tried, and a varied shade selection so you could treat yourself to more than one.

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