Pillowy lips are a major beauty trend, but can a lip plumper truly replace lip fillers? While technically considered makeup, lip plumpers offer a fuller pout for a fraction of the cost of injections. These over-the-counter products, whether balms, glosses, masks, or creams, contain ingredients like cinnamon, peppermint oil, and capsaicin that plump lip lines, creating a smoother, fuller appearance.
Do Lip Plumpers Work?
While lip fillers are injectable, medical-grade products that add volume to the lips with long-lasting results (think months to years), lip plumpers offer more fleeting results. Most lip plumpers work by causing a mild irritation to the lips, increasing blood flow to the area to trigger a volumizing effect that lasts a few hours. If you're looking for a subtle, temporary plumping effect, a good lip plumper is worth a try. If you're looking for more dramatic results, consider consulting a dermatologist about lip fillers.
To help you navigate the options, we put 30 lip plumpers to the test, evaluating consistency, effectiveness, wearability, color ranges, and ingredients. We then consulted makeup artist Steve Kassajikian for his expert insights. Read on to discover the top lip plumpers that deliver serious results.
Best Overall
Patrick Ta Major Volume Lip Gloss
Noticeable results
Silky-smooth hydration
Long-lasting shine
Very sticky texture
Key Ingredients: Cinnamon, ginger, peptides | Shades: 5 | Finish: Glossy | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Patrick Ta's lip gloss was the most impressive product in our test. It left lips feeling hydrated, noticeably plumper, and much fuller. (Most likely due to the inclusion of peptides, aka proteins that smooth fine lines, in the formula.) The gloss felt slightly sticky at first and had a tingling sensation due to the cinnamon and ginger extracts—which stimulate blood flow—but it wasn't uncomfortable and faded after a few minutes. Also nice: The shiny finish of this lip gloss had serious staying power, lasting nearly all day without needing to be reapplied.
Best Budget
Essence What The Fake! Plumping Lip Filler
Affordable
Subtle volumizing effect
Leaves lips soft
Almost too tingly
Flimsy applicator
Only comes in clear
Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, vitamin E | Shades: Clear | Finish: Glossy | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Essence's What the Fake lip gloss is a budget-friendly option that leaves lips feeling soft and hydrated, thanks to a blend of hydrators like hyaluronic acid and vitamin E. The application is smooth, but the applicator itself can be flimsy. The tingling sensation was stronger than we would have preferred, but it effectively plumped lips for about 30 minutes, so it was well worth the slight discomfort. While a tinted version would be nice, the gloss did what it said it would.
Best Splurge
La Mer Lip Volumizer
Large, plush applicator
Non-sticky feel
Noticeable results
Strong fragrance
Key Ingredients: Marine extracts, minerals | Shades: Pinkish-clear | Finish: Glossy | Cruelty-Free: No
If you can swing the steep price, La Mer won't let you down. From the brand behind the world-famous, highly coveted—and extremely expensive—Crème de la Mer, The Lip Volumizer delivers noticeable results. If we had to describe this formula in a few words, we'd say it's slick, smooth, and fluid. The formula is incredbly hydrating (thank you, proprietary marine extracts and minerals) and the large plush applicator is a fan-favorite. Upon application, there is a moderate tingling sensation (though it wasn't uncomfortable) due to the menthol and capsicum in the formula. If you have sensitive skin or a fragrance allergy, you may want to skip this one, as it has a strong, sweet fragrance and potentially irritating plumping ingredients.
Best Kit
PMD Kiss Lip Plumping System
Subtle volumizing effect
Extremely hydrating
Mask feels amazing
Slightly painful
Learning curve
Key Ingredients: Peptides, hyaluronic acid, squalane | Shades: N/A | Finish: N/A | Cruelty-Free: Yes
The best kit we tried was PMD's Kiss System. Though there was a slight learning curve with the multi-step process, it does provide a volumizing effect. The pulsating vacuum quite literally sucks your lips to plumpness, which, admittedly, is something that takes getting used to. After that, you apply the serum and then the mask. While using the device was kind of painful, the mask felt amazing (probably because it contains hydrating ingredients like peptides, hyaluronic acid, and squalane), leaving our lips extremely hydrated and smooth.
Best Serum
Lorac Holy Lips Plumping Serum
Doe-foot applicator
Subtle volumizing effect
Very hydrating
Only comes in one shade
Key Ingredients: Marula oil, mango seed butter, ginger, peppermint | Shades: Universal nude | Finish: Glossy | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Lorac Holy Lips was also a hit in the lab. Between the pointed doe-foot applicator and the subtle volumizing effect, there's a lot to love. The serum gradually became tinglier (likely due in part to the ginger and peppermint in the formula), but after the tingles subsided, our lips looked slightly plumper. This product was also very hydrating (shoutout marula oil and mango seed butter) and while we wish it came in more colors, the honey-golden nude shade is undeniably flattering.
Defines lips
Subtle volumizing effect
Softening and hydrating
Slightly sticky
Can be drying
Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, peptides, vitamin E | Shades: 10 | Finish: Glossy/creamy | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Buxom's Full-On Gloss tingled more intensely than other products we tried, but the sensation was temporary, and overall, it felt nice on the lips. We appreciate its smooth consistency—though it got a little stickier the longer it was on. In addition to a subtle plumping effect, our lips looked more defined, thanks to the formula that contains a heaping dose of hyaluronic acid. We'd be remiss not to share that the formula can be drying, especially if your lips are already chapped.
Best Mask
Lawless Overnight Lip Plumping Mask
Immediate results
Nourishing formula
Unhygienic container
Doesn't last too long during waking hours
Key Ingredients: Maxi-Lip complex, shea butter, ceramides, ginger | Shades: 2 | Finish: Shiny | Cruelty-Free: Yes
This overnight lip treatment was a hit not only in the lab but also during at-home testing. (See the full review here.) The lovely lippie has a smooth consistency and a comfortable feel with no tingling whatsoever. We're not thrilled that it comes in a little pot (finger application isn't very hygienic), but still, the brand's patented Maxi-Lip complex produces immediate results. Oh, and you can count on incredibly hydrated, nourished lips come morning. We did notice a difference upon waking up, but we didn't love that it washed off relatively quickly after brushing our teeth and drinking water, making it a less-than-ideal option for daytime.
Best Drugstore
e.l.f Cosmetics Lip Plumping Gloss
Affordable
Noticeable results
Great color payoff
Not long-lasting
Key Ingredients: Vitamin E, coconut oil | Shades: 8 | Finish: Glossy/sheer color | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Our favorite drugstore lip plumper is from e.l.f. Cosmetics. Exceptionally smooth and not too thick or sticky, this creamy gloss feels nice on the lips. We experienced a slight cooling sensation, but overall, the formula was comfortable. Once it calmed down, our lips were noticeably fuller with ample shine—a major win in our book. Available in eight flattering shades, this tinted lip gloss boasts excellent color payoff, leaving you with a moisturized, healthy-looking pout. The scent is nice too!
What to Look for in a Lip Plumper
- Ingredients: Kassajikian recommends looking for lip-plumping products that are chock-full of conditioning ingredients that’ll keep your lips amply moisturized. For plumped lips to look their very best, you’ll want to ensure they’re soft and supple—not dry or flaky. A key ingredient Kassajikian recommends looking out for is hyaluronic acid, which draws moisture into the skin and holds it there, lending a plumping effect to fine lines and wrinkles.
- Plumping Effect: Some lip plumpers offer a more dramatic finish than others. If you're looking for a more noticeable difference, you may want to consider a product that contains cayenne, capsicum resin (from peppers), cinnamon, menthol, and even bee venom—each of which creates a temporary plumping effect. These can be very irritating, though, so we recommend skipping these ingredients if you have highly reactive, sensitive skin or ultra-dry lips.
- Color: Many lip-plumping products come in a range of shades. If you're looking to add some color to your lips, we recommend a tinted option. To elevate your lip's natural hue, clear (or almost clear) glosses are also a great choice, as they often offer the same plumping capabilities, just without the color.
Why Trust Byrdie
Theresa Holland is a freelance commerce writer specializing in cosmetics. For this story, she compiled insights from makeup artists and first-hand commentary from our testers to craft trustworthy product recommendations. She has been contributing to Byrdie since 2020, where she covers makeup, skincare, and at-home beauty treatments. You can read more of her articles on The Spruce, MyDomaine, and Travel + Leisure. To educate us on all things lip plumpers, Steve Kassajikian, Urban Decay’s global makeup artist, lent us his expertise.