How to Achieve Pouty Lips Without Fillers

Did you know you can have pouty lips without getting filler injections? Plump puckers have always been a coveted physical attribute, but not everyone is blessed with them, and that’s okay. Still want a Kylie Jenner pout anyway? The following beauty tricks can help.

The key to achieving pouty lips is getting them smooth enough to create the illusion of plumpness. Exfoliating your lips weekly can help remove dryness and peeling skin. You can use a lip scrub, which usually comes in a small pot or stick. Or you can make your own with brown sugar and olive oil. Mix to your desired consistency and lightly rub the paste on your lips. Wipe it off with a soft tissue.

The fact is, dry, chapped lips will always look shriveled no matter what your lip shape is. Keep your lips hydrated by drinking lots of water and eating water-rich foods. Meanwhile, you can improve your pucker’s appearance by applying a nourishing lip balm. Doing this can maintain their softness and keep them from drying up in an air-conditioned room. Avoid using matte lipstick, which will highlight any flakes or broken areas, and dry your lips out even more.

If you’re going to use pigmented lip color, remove it gently at the end of the day with an oil-based cleanser that lifts product and impurities from the skin without drying it out. Cleansing balms are a good alternative to makeup remover, which can sometimes leave the skin and lips feeling dry.

Isn’t it odd how it’s so easy to forget about the lips when applying sun protection? They’re made of skin, too – and are equally exposed to those harmful rays! Using a lip balm with at least SPF 15 is a good start since you’re likely to reapply it anyway. If you don’t like how a transparent balm makes your lips look waxy, apply a light layer of lip tint underneath. Spread it over your lips like a stain and don’t be afraid to color outside the lines. This will give you pouty lips with a little bit of color and shine.

Yes, lip plumpers exist, and they work, too! Glosses and other lip products that contain hyaluronic acid or jojoba oil give the appearance of full, pouty lips. Rich lip oils can also have this effect. Some may also contain “spicy” ingredients like peppermint, menthol, cinnamon, ginger, and capsaicin to stimulate the blood vessels and temporarily plump the lips. 

You can use them alone, as some variants are pigmented with flattering shades, or layered over your favorite lipstick. However, make sure to do a patch test before applying or check the label for known allergens. You want full lips – not swollen ones.

Masking isn’t just for the face. Extra nourishing lip masks can protect your skin overnight, so you wake up to pouty lips. Look for ingredients like shea butter, cocoa butter, aloe vera, beeswax, and honey. As for consistency, in general, a thicker formula would last longer and won’t slide off your lips (and onto your face). You can also use Vaseline Petroleum Jelly, a no-nonsense product that locks in moisture, heals damage, and protects against dry skin.

Lining your lips right on the edge is so ’90s. Not that there’s anything wrong with that, but these days, overlining is an acceptable practice. Get pouty lips using a creamy nude lip liner. Nude, by the way, refers to your natural lip color – not flesh tones. Take the liner and draw thin, diagonal lines on your lips as if you’re filling them in with color.

Next, line your lips as close as you can to the edges. Then, pretend you’re “erasing” your cupid’s bow (no matter how vague) with the tip of your liner. Finally, you can either smudge the lines with your fingertips before swiping on lipstick or leave them as is and let the lip color do the work for you.

Achieving pouty lips is possible even without fillers! Of course, if you do want to get lip injections, that’s your choice. Talk to a licensed dermatologist about your options and preferences to make sure you have a safe and successful experience.