Who wouldn’t want luscious, bee-stung lips a la Scarlett Johansen or Angelina Jolie? A full, sexy pout is glamorous and youthful. Injections, however, are expensive and painful. So, Forget about Collagen or Restylane and cancel that doctor’s appointment. The newest cosmetic lip plumpers will non-surgically boost your pucker with the flick of a wand.

Do Lip Plumpers Really Work?

Yes, but the effect is temporary. Here’s the lowdown:

·    Gloss treatments often contain proprietary ingredients that irritate and dilate the blood vessels in the lips. This irritation causes the lips to swell and impart a rosier glow. Common ingredients include cinnamon and ginger essential oils. Be prepared - these products tend to tingle upon application.

·    Some formulas use ingredients that stimulate collagen and increase hydration. The effect is an ultra moisturized kisser that looks more lush than and dewy than normal. Common ingredients include collagen and dehydrated marine collagen.

·    Other lip plumpers contain ingredients that help lips attract and retain moisture, giving them the appearance of fullness. Common ingredients include Vitamin E and hyaluronic acid.

·    Lip primers are similar to foundation primers - they fill in creases and crevices for a smoother look and feel. Worn under lipstick, primers pump up the volume by enhancing your cupid’s bow or natural lip contour.

What about Makeup?

Another option is to create the illusion of fuller lips with makeup. Don’t bother applying lipliner outside of your natural lip contour - you’ll end up looking more ‘Joker’ than ‘Jolie.’ Here are some tips:

·    Go several shades darker. Richer lip shades make your pout plumper than neutral or light shades.

·    Apply gloss on top of a longwearing lipstick formula to emphasize lips. This will also keep your longwearing formula from drying out too quickly.

·    Add a dot of lip gloss to the center of your lower lip for an extra pouty look.

Day Solutions

One surefire way to make your lips look fuller and smoother is to exfoliate and moisturize them. There are several skincare brands that feature gentle physical exfoliants customized just for lips. Another option is to use a “lip mask” made from chemical exfoliants like alpha hydroxyl acids. Exfoliation increases cell turnover, revealing healthier and younger looking skin. Likewise, make sure to frequently apply a hydrating balm - chapped lips look smaller and anything but youthful.

Need sexy lips in a flash? Head to your freezer and apply an ice-cube to your lips. The cold snap will temporarily increase the blood circulation, causing your lips to temporarily swell.

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