These Lip Plumpers Will Give You a Bigger Pout, Sans Needles

by Arielle Franklin
Arielle Franklin is an NYC-based freelance beauty writer. Since her years as an editorial intern, Arielle has worked on staff and freelanced for multiple publications including Marie Claire, Good Housekeeping, and People.
Updated 09/11/20

Our editors independently research, test, and recommend the best products; you can learn more about our review process here. We may receive commissions on purchases made from our chosen links.

It’s no surprise that lip injections are one of the most commonly requested non-surgical procedures women (and men) ask for at the plastic surgeon’s office. A pouty lip is not only sexy, but it can also make your face look more symmetrical and striking. Yes, injections sound great in theory, but for whatever reason—price, fear, allergies—they might not be in the cards for you this month (or year, or ever). But just because you don’t want to make the full-blown commitment, doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy yourself a perfectly plumped up pout a la Kylie Jenner. Thankfully, there are a bunch of needle-free options to make your lips big and juicy without subjecting you to a high price tag or pain.

Whether you have thin lips or just want to add some oomph, check out our picks for the best lip plumpers.

Best Overall: Dior Addict Lip Maximizer Plumping Gloss

Dior Addict Lip Maximizer Plumping Gloss
Courtesy of Nordstrom

Trust us—this gloss from Dior has it all. It's both noticeably plumping and hydrating, and it comes in a range of shades, from vibrant to subtle, for every mood and occasion. it's also vegan, cruelty-free, and its packaging is recyclable. Plus, its spokesperson is Bella Hadid, so it's officially It Girl-approved. Need we say more?

Best Budget: e.l.f. Cosmetics Lip Primer and Plumper

elf lip primer and plumper

Courtesy of E.L.F Cosmetics

Prime and plump your lips at the same time with e.l.f.'s dual-purpose product that creates a smudge-proof base for lip color while also plumping your lips thanks to nature's favorite lip-plumping ingredient, cinnamon.

Best Drugstore: Soap & Glory Sexy Mother Pucker Pillow Plump Gloss

The major plumping sensation you get from this affordable option is way more intense than you’d expect given the price. Unlike most glosses, this one doesn’t leave you with that sticky feel but does give you a ton of shine. It has a sweet, chocolate cake-like scent that will keep you wanting more.

With just one swipe, it delivers full, plump lips with a wash of gorgeous color. It comes in seven wearable shades that are safe enough for everyday wear and can also help spruce up your night time look. Plus, each shade contains subtle specks of glitter, which add dimension, making lips look even fuller.

Best for Thin Lips: Too Faced Lip Injection Extreme

Too Faced Lip Injection Extreme
Courtesy of Sephora

This fast and dramatic super plumper instantly inflates even the skimpiest lips on the spot. You can rock the high-shine gloss on its own, or layer it with your lipstick. When worn solo, the clear gloss creates a naturally flushed look and the formula is thick and sticky, but in a good way.

This plumper contains marine sponge, which simultaneously adds volume while moisturizing lips. Meanwhile, its proprietary “collagen booster” helps increase collagen, which also helps plump up lips. With all of its goodness, this mega booster is the closest thing you can get to lip filler without actually getting lip filler. Sold.

Best Overnight: Dermalogica Nightly Lip Treatment

Dermalogica Nightly Lip Treatment
Courtesy of The Derm Store

Help erase lip lines, reverse free radical damage, and moisturize dehydrated, chapped lips by swiping on this treatment before hitting the sheets. It’s truly skincare for the lips. Everything from its potent ingredients to its luxurious massaging applicator makes the creamy and effective product soak right into your lips, instantly adding volume and filling out lines.

Whether you have virgin lips (aka no filler) or lip injections, this enhancing, anti-aging treatment will leave you with a plumped-up pout. In a clinical study almost 90% of participants noticed their lip volume increased and over 90% noticed a decrease in fine lines and wrinkles. Beyond the science, reviewers love that you don’t have to worry about a crazy tingle irritating your lips. Instead, it gently works overnight (when the skin repairs itself) to smooth the appearance of lines and make lips look more defined.

Best Balm: Filorga Nutri-Filler Lips

Filorga Nutri-Filler Lips

Courtesy of Nordstrom

At first glance, lip plumpers and lip balms might seem like relative opposites, but this product from French skincare brand Filorga is truly the best of both worlds. Its formula includes ingredients like shea butter (to nourish and repair), a peptide collagen booster (to smooth and plump), and an active ingredient that reacts to your lips' pH to brighten their natural color. Also, its finish is non-sticky, which is always a plus.

Best Gloss: Buxom Full-On Plumping Lip Polish

BUXOM Full-On™ Lip Polish
Courtesy of Sephora

Sephora’s best-selling lip plumping gloss is available in over 100 shades and we just can’t get enough. The shimmer-sheer finish gives lips the perfect flush, while the unique peptide and hyaluronic acid booster help support natural collagen production. With a pop of color and a hint of shimmer, volumized lips will be plump to perfection. The minty, tingly sensation is made for those who really like to feel the tingle. Plus, the long-lasting formula won’t separate throughout the day.

Best Hydrating: PCA Skin Hyaluronic Acid Lip Booster

It's no secret that hyaluronic acid is the ultimate moisturizer—which is why we picked this product as our favorite hydrating lip plumper. Its formula uses the brand's Ultra-Filling Spheres, an ingredient blend that combines sodium hyaluronate and konjac root, to hydrate the lips and enhance volume sans irritation. Rounding out the list are collagen-stimulating peptides and the powerful antioxidant Vitamin E, which helps neutralize free radicals while soothing the skin.

Best LED: Revive Light Therapy Lip Care

Even just a few years ago, LED light therapy—a treatment that exposes skin to certain wavelengths of light to target concerns like acne or signs of aging—was pretty much only offered at your dermatologist. However, today, at-home light therapy (think: face masks) has become a thing, too. It's no surprise, then, that there are products that target your lips, specifically. Revive's Light Therapy Lip Care device is one such product; its infrared LED lights work to stimulate natural collagen production and increase circulation, resulting in fuller, smoother lips.

Best with SPF: Replenix Plumping Lip Treatment

Here at Byrdie HQ, we can't stress enough how important it is to wear sunscreen daily—including on your lips! This plumping treatment is a broad-spectrum SPF 30 formula, so it protects your lips from both UVA and UVB rays. But of course, there's more at work, here: It's formulated with hyaluronic acid (for hydration), palmitoyl tripeptide-38 (which supports healthy collagen production), ceramides (to soften and repair lips), and niacinamide (to even out tone and texture).

Best Mask: KNC Beauty Kiss My Lips

KNC Beauty

Pucker-up, because your lips are about to get more kissable with this all-natural lip mask that acts as a volumizing primer to amplify the look of your lipstick. The collagen infused formula leaves your lips feeling hydrated, softer, and more plump without any harsh chemicals. Unlike many lip products, it's petroleum-free so you can feel good about adding it to a regular part if your routine.

Runner-Up, Best Mask: Skyn Iceland Plumping Lip Gels

Got 10 minutes to spare? That's all you need to score fuller, more hydrated lips, courtesy of these gel masks from Skyn Iceland. Not only are they fun to wear—they're comfortable and stay put—but they actually work, thanks to ingredients like wintered red algae (for hydration), mustard sprout extract (for conditioning and plumping), swertia chirata extract (for smoothing wrinkles around the mouth), and the brand's proprietary Icelandic Complex, a natural ingredient blend that revives stressed-out skin. They also contain wild berry extract, which gives them a fun, fruity flavor.

Best Serum: Lancer Volume Enhancing Lip Serum

Lancer Volume Enhancing Lip Serum

Courtesy of Nordstrom

It's our personal belief that face serums are an essential part of any skincare routine, so we love that this is a serum formulated just for your lips—and with plumping properties, to boot! Its antioxidant-rich formula contains ingredients like shea butter, peptides, and hyaluronic acid to hydrate, contour, and plump the lips, while Sichuan pepper extract causes a cooling, tingling sensation when you apply it. Plus, it works super well as a foundation for lipsticks or glosses.

Best for Sensitive Skin: SkinMedica HA5 Smooth and Plump Lip System

If you have sensitive skin but are craving the look of fuller lips, try this two-step treatment frmo SkinMedica, which includes both a smoothing formula (with dimethicone and hyaluronic acid) and a plumping formula. Overall, this product duo provides a gentle way to plump your lips, as well as blur fine lines and wrinkles around the mouth—plus, it works under (or over!) lip color.

Best Day-to-Night Duo: Needles No More 3-D Lip Plumpfix

We have different skincare routines in the morning and at night in general, so why shouldn't that extend to lips? This plumping duo includes products for both times: Its AM formula includes hyaluronic filling spheres, peptides, and plumping enhancers to amp up your lips' natural volume, while its PM formula is all about conditioning and hydration, with a softening blend of natural butters and oils.

Best Shine: Charlotte Tilbury Collagen Lip Bath Gloss

Charlotte Tilbury Collagen Lip Bath Gloss

 Courtesy of Nordstrom

Whether or not you're nostalgic for the lip glosses of the early aughts, this plumping formula from Charlotte Tillbury will make you a convert—just like it did for us. Marine collagen and mustard sprout extract work together to hydrate, increase lip volume, and smooth out fine lines, while coconut oil nourishes the skin and pearlescent pigments provide a pretty sheen that reflects light. Plus, peppermint extract gives the formula a cooling feel and refreshing scent. What's not to love?

Final Verdict

A pouty lip is not only sexy, but it can also make your face look more symmetrical and striking. To get the look without the nip and tuck, try the Dior Addict Lip Maximizer Plumping Gloss (see at Sephora). It's both noticeably plumping and hydrating, and it comes in a range of shades. If you're looking for a mask to get the job done, we recommend KNC Beauty Kiss My Lips (see at Net-A-Porter). Unlike many lip products, it's petroleum-free so you can feel good about adding it to a regular part if your routine. Finally, for those with sensitive skin we vouch for SkinMedica HA5 Smooth and Plump Lip System (see at Dermstore). The two-step treatment includes both a smoothing formula with dimethicone and hyaluronic acid, and a plumping formula. 

According to our Diversity Pledge, 15% of products in our newly-published market roundups will feature Black-owned and/or Black-founded brands. At the time of publishing, we were not able to find enough lip plumpers from Black-owned and/or Black-founded businesses to meet this percentage. If you know of one we should consider, please email us at contact@byrdie.com and we will evaluate the product ASAP.

Related Stories