Hydration Is Key
There’s nothing that will detract from the appeal of your lips more than dryness, so it’s important to stay hydrated for plump looking lips. Sephora Collection’s National Artist Helen Phillips says, “I recommend using an overnight mask on the lips, like the Sephora Collection Lip Sleeping Mask ($5), every night so your lips will be prepped and ready for any makeup look the next day. The more hydrated your lips are, the more they will naturally have a plumped, fuller look.”
Plump It Up
It stands to reason that the best way to make your lips more plump is to actually use a plumping serum. “Lip Plumper as a first step before you apply lipstick will give you the effect of having plump, hydrated lips. This is my go-to trick personally, and I love the Sephora Collection Outrageous Plump Lip Gloss ($12) ! My favorite shade is Sparkly Dawn just to wear alone but the Universal Volume shade works great as well because it doesn’t change the shade of your lipstick. I recommend lightly patting it off before you apply your desired lipstick shade,” Phillips says.
Add A Little Liner
Lips are naturally all one color which can seem a bit one-dimensional if you don’t have natural volume there. For this, Phillips suggests, “Lip Liner is another great way to create a natural voluminous shape. I love the Sephora Collection Rouge Gel Lip Liners ($13) because they dry slowly so if you mess up, it’s an easy fix, but once they are dry they are ON. The trick about overlining is to ensure you aren’t going too far. I always maintain the natural shape of the cupid's bow and lightly draw just on top of your lip line and blend it by rolling q-tips over the edges to create a melted effect.”
Create Contrast
Adding contrast to your lips is another great way to boost their appearance, so alongside a lip liner, try playing around with different shades of lipstick. Phillips explains, “Try using a lighter shade of lipstick in the center or even a shimmer as a topper to really add dimension and give the illusion of a plumper, bigger pout.”
Makeup is one of the best ways to play up your favorite features and give a little extra love to the ones you don’t favor quite as much. Just because you weren’t born with plump lips doesn’t mean they aren’t within reach. Master these makeup techniques and soon you’ll be rocking voluminous lips in just four easy steps.