How To Get Bigger Lips Permanently Without Surgery

In the age of beauty we’re in now, there’s nothing more sultry than a pillowy pout.

From social media influencers to A-list celebrities (we’re looking to you, Kylie Jenner), having a full lip is seemingly becoming less of a trend and more of a beauty staple.

But the truth is, trends come and go in waves. What’s been popular the last couple of years may be seen as a fashion faux pas in a single year’s time.

So what to do? Of course, you can take the plunge and get your lips done, but maybe the permanence of it (or the size of the needle) makes you shiver.

So, how do you get permanently bigger lips without surgery?

To be blunt, you can’t. The only truly permanent way to achieve bigger lips is to undergo a cosmetic procedure. But, through specially formulated makeup products, DIY options, and makeup techniques, you can achieve a similar look.

Here, we’ll lay out all the ways you can achieve the oomph your lips have been craving, as well as some tips to preserve the health of your pout along the way.

Why Isn’t It Possible To Get Bigger Lips Without Surgery?

While it would be incredibly impressive (and cheaper) to permanently enlarge your lips without plastic surgery.

The truth of the matter is that our bodies just weren’t meant to sustain that kind of drastic change.

Because of the body’s natural healing and restorative properties, whatever procedure you get done will always fade to a baseline (or your body’s natural state).

That’s why tattoos fade over time, piercing sites heal after the removal of your jewelry, and natural methods of lip plumping don’t last very long.

Even cosmetic surgery isn’t necessarily a permanent solution, as surgeons recommend coming in every few months for a touch-up. That’s because, over time, filler does dissolve.

Easy Ways To Get Plumper Lips

1. Exfoliate, Exfoliate, Exfoliate

You may be a fan of physical or chemical exfoliants on your skin because they leave you feeling supple and smooth.

Did you know that you’ll get the same results with lip exfoliation as well?

That’s right! One of the easiest, most cost-efficient ways to achieve a fuller-looking pout is by exfoliation.

When your lips are dry, they tend to look paler, tighter, and consequently smaller.

When your lips are in this stage, you may fall under the urge to pick at them, but we may recommend reaching for a lip scrub instead.

Before exfoliating, ensure your lips are clean and dry. You can do this by swiping your lips with makeup remover to ensure they’re free of lipstick and gloss.

However, we recommend doing this right after you brush your teeth (to ensure there’s no food residue on your lips).

As for your choice of exfoliant, you can buy one in-store or make one with ingredients you likely already have at home. Here’s a recipe for a simple one we love:

Honey (1 tbsp)
Sugar (2 tbsp)
Olive Oil (½ tbsp)
Peppermint Oil (2 drops)

Mix all these ingredients together in a resealable jar, and you’ll end up with an all-natural lip scrub, perfect for regular use.

The honey and olive oil act as natural moisturizers, while the sugar provides the grit needed to buff away any dead skin on your lips.

We chose peppermint essential oil as it adds a natural plumping effect to your lips, but you can choose any essential oil you like the smell of (make sure it’s safe to consume).

If you’re really in a pinch, making a scrub with just honey and sugar is effective as well.

It’s okay if you’re not DIY-savvy. There are tons of lip scrubs on the market at a multitude of price points.

Whether you grab the Burt’s Bees option at your local CVS, or Fresh’s scrub over at Sephora.

We personally believe that you don’t need to dish out a ton of dough to get the results you’re looking for.

Once you have your exfoliant in hand, use a clean finger to pick up a small amount and apply it to your lips. You really don’t need a lot to get the job done!

A common mistake people make is not letting the grit do its magic.

You don’t need to use much pressure or force when applying this product to your skin.

The harder you scrub, the more damage you’re doing to your already fragile lips, potentially leaving you with a drier, more peely pout than you started off with.

So instead of unleashing your inner He-Man, use your finger to gently buff the exfoliant into your lips using a circular motion.

You shouldn’t feel any pain at all, but that doesn’t mean you won’t feel the breaking of dead skin from your lips.

Once you feel the scrub has done its job, resist the urge to lick your mouth clean (we know it tastes yummy) and wipe it off to reveal baby-soft lips!

Now is the perfect time to condition them; not only does this protect the new layer of skin you’ve unearthed, but it will “lock in” the results, giving your luscious lips all the time to linger.

We love this method because it’s quick and simple, and the circulation of blood to your lips will give you that swollen “freshly bitten” look that’s been taking the makeup world by storm as of late!

But we do have to warn you: the dangers of over-exfoliating your lips are just as real as those of over-exfoliating your face!

Doing this hack on a daily basis won’t leave you with a pillowy soft pout, but rather raw, red lips. Stick to using your lip scrub 1-2 times a week for the best results.

2. Lip Plumping Gloss

With the aesthetic rise of full lips also came a surge in lip plumper sales.

There’s just something about the tingle, the immediate flush of color to the lips, and of course, the almost instantaneous swelling that makes lip plumper almost addicting.

You may be wondering how lip plumpers work, and the answer is really quite simple.

If you’re a fan of spicy food, you may have noticed the swelling effect that spices have on your lips at the end of the meal.

A lip plumper provides results in almost the same way.

The ingredients in a lip plumper actually work to irritate the skin. And honestly, it doesn’t take much.

The skin on the lips is extremely fragile, so you don’t need to apply a ton of plumper to see results.

With this irritation, blood will rush to the mouth to soothe your pout at what it perceives as a foreign aggressor. The result? A pouty mouth.

There are dozens of lip plumping glosses to choose from in-store.

You can opt for ELF’s lip plumping gloss that comes in at under $10, or you may have your eye on the cult favorite: Too Faced’s Lip Injection.

Or maybe you’re on the craftier side and want to make your own lip plumper. If so, you’ve come to the right place!

A downside of a DIY lip plumper is that they’re a bit on the spicier side.

That’s because you’ll need ingredients like cayenne and clove to give your lips the irritation necessary to swell your mouth.

If you’re not a huge fan of spice, you can opt for cinnamon powder or oil to plump your lips as well, though the results may not be as dramatic as intended.

What You’ll Need:

Oil (1 tbsp, you can use olive, coconut, or almond oil)
Spices of choice (½ tsp if powdered, ¼ tsp if oil; you can choose from cinnamon, clove, or cayenne)
- You can use up to a teaspoon and a half of a powdered spice or 1 tsp of oil if you’re using a singular spice.

Find a reusable jar to mix everything thoroughly, then gently massage the mixture onto your lips when ready.

Leave it on for no more than 10 minutes; rinse off when finished.

The most appealing thing about the DIY alternative?

How customizable it is. You can truly mix and match spices and measurements until you have the perfect concoction for both your spice tolerance and your desired results.

Warning: We have to let you know that, whether store-bought or DIY, lip plumpers can have too much of a good thing.

The most important thing to remember is that while lip plumpers quickly and effectively swell your lips, they’re swelling due to an adverse reaction.

If you’re a chronic lip plumping gloss user, it won’t take long for you to notice your lips getting drier, scalier, and more irritated.

This tends to happen if you reach for your gloss more than once a day.

Because of that, we recommend limiting this gloss to one application every 24 hours or so, but the truth is, you really don’t need to reach for this gloss more than 3-4 times a week.

Your lips will definitely thank you!

3. Moisture Is Your Friend

Just like your skin, your lips need to stay hydrated to show off their peak plumpness!

Just like your eyes, the skin of your lips is made up of a much thinner, much more sensitive type of tissue that requires a bit more assistance holding moisture than the rest of your face.

Hand applying lip conditioner for fuller lips

Unlike the skin on your face, the tissue that makes up your lips doesn’t naturally produce its own oils.

That’s why your mouth tends to dry out so quickly throughout the day, especially if you eat or talk often, or are exposed to harsher temperatures.

Don’t skimp out on a good quality lip conditioner.

While we’re big fans of a good liquid or bullet lipstick, the truth is that nothing nourishes the lips like a lip balm or lip mask.

Find a balm that contains things like oils, butters, and antioxidants.

These ingredients are especially nourishing and will help your lips keep their moisture throughout the day.

Chapsticks with waxes will help seal moisture into the skin, so we don’t recommend using them to treat already dry lips, as they could further dry them out.

Balms with oils help soften the skin, while those with antioxidant ingredients can help shield the skin from the harsh environment.

Another ingredient you should be on the lookout for? SPF.

You’ve listened to us preach time and again about the importance of sunscreen in your daily routine, but did you ever think about applying that advice to your lips?

Sunscreen not only protects against age spots and wrinkles (which can definitely affect your lips), but it also protects against volume loss!

Sun-damaged skin can tend to droop. The same aftermath will happen on your lips if you neglect religious SPF application!

We’re sure that you’ve heard it time and time again: drinking an ample amount of water is the key to any beauty routine.

Not only will you keep your skin moisturized, but staying hydrated will also help rebuild the moisture barrier throughout your body, including your lips.

That means they won’t get dry as quickly, so you don’t need to worry about reapplying Chapstick every moment of the day!

4. Hyaluronic Acid

If you’re new to the world of skincare, you may not know what a lifesaver hyaluronic acid is for dry skin.

Hyaluronic acid is a humectant that can draw in up to 1,000 times its weight in water.

It’s best to apply a topical hyaluronic serum while your lips are still damp, as the serum won’t do its job on dry lips.

Another important tip is that hyaluronic acid should not be used alone.

Unless you seal the moisture in with a thicker lip balm or lip mask, the acid will actually provide the opposite effect to your mouth, drying you out even further.

5. Supplements

With age comes the loss or slowed production of collagen, a protein found in bones, tissue, tendons, and, of course, your skin.

Collagen is often thought of as the “glue” of the skin, as it holds the delicate tissues that make up your epidermis together.

As you age, and as your body stops making as much of the protein as it used to, you may see the effects in the form of sagging skin or wrinkles.

And we don’t just mean on your face! The tissues of your lips will likely show the first signs of aging, as it’s an incredibly delicate area of the face.

Taking collagen supplements is an easy way to replace the collagen your body isn’t producing.

This is a more timely method for restoring the lusciousness of your lips, but for permanence, it yields longer-lasting results.

With regular intake, you should notice more elasticity and “bounce” in your smile after six weeks.

If you’re not a fan of supplements, or if you’re more the type to receive your nutrients in a good ol’ fashioned way, introducing protein-rich meats, nuts, and beans to your diet can help with collagen production.

However, taking collagen pills will provide faster results.

How To Get Bigger Lips Permanently Without Surgery

Why Isn’t It Possible To Get Bigger Lips Without Surgery?