First, let's look at it a little scientifically: where does the trend towards fuller lips come from?
While certain social media queens and influencers may take credit for it, the desire for full lips is rooted in psychology. Various studies have found that people find women most attractive when they look healthy. Basically, healthy and youthful women are considered the most attractive – “with full lips, smooth skin, and shiny hair” – which, let’s face it, is no easy feat for us women in this fast-paced world.
Of course, beauty is subjective; not everyone is attracted to full lips, and not everyone desires them. But if full lips give you the look and confidence you desire, here are a few different ways to achieve them (from quick fixes to more lasting results).
1: Use a volumizing lip gloss to make thin lips appear fuller for a day or a few hours.
If you want your lips to look fuller, use a lip plumping gloss, which stimulates blood flow to your lips, temporarily increasing their fullness. (These are the ones that tingle a little.) Cinnamon, for example, is effective in improving blood circulation, and ginger has similar properties.
2: For long-lasting fullness and hydration, your lips' new best friend is hyaluronic acid.
While some people are born with thinner lips, others may lose some of their fullness over time. Similar to facial skin, lips lose collagen, elastin, and hyaluronic acid as we age. Collagen, elastin, and hyaluronic acid make up your dermis (the layer of skin that contains blood vessels, nerve endings, and pores). These components are responsible for keeping your skin firm, plump, and elastic. As their production stops, your lips become thinner and less full, while losing some of their color. Hyaluronic acid is a type of sugar found in connective tissues, joints, skin, and almost every other part of your body. It helps keep your skin supple and firm because it can hold 1,000 times its weight in water and draws water to the surface of your skin where it’s lacking.
1. The fastest way to achieve fuller lips: fake them, shape them with makeup (plus a few other tricks).
If you just want to plump up your lips for a day or night, there are a few makeup tricks you can use to instantly create a fuller, more defined look. Here are a few techniques that beauty bloggers swear by:
Exfoliate your lips: This helps increase blood circulation to your lips and removes dead skin cells that can make your lips look dull, dry, and rough.
Apply a little highlighter or concealer to the hollow above your upper lip to make it look fuller. Then add a little bronzer under the center of your lower lip to add depth and contrast.
Finally, finish with a little lip gloss (only in the middle). This will help create the illusion of fuller lips.
Use a lip liner. You can use a lip liner to fill in your lips nicely, or maybe even overdo it a bit. Lip liner is also great for contouring your lips. Choose a shade that is one shade darker than the lipstick you plan to wear for a fuller look.