How to get fuller, more defined lips

Makeup can transform your face in just a few simple steps. For some time now, lip enhancers have been all the rage on social media and in stores. Here are a few options for defining and adding volume to your lips.

First, healthy, moisturized lips

Like all good makeup tricks, the secret lies in skin preparation. Your lips are no exception. To prevent your lips from becoming dull and dry, we recommend exfoliating them about once a week and moisturizing generously every day. How do you exfoliate your lips? There are products available from different brands, but you can opt for a homemade recipe based on olive oil and sugar, which you massage onto your lips and then rinse off. You could even use the bristles of a toothbrush to exfoliate your lips. As well as moisturizing, it's important to protect your lips because lip skin is very thin and delicate, so remember your sun protection balm. With a bit of daily care, your lips will naturally look fuller and healthier.

More radiance for more volume

A whole range of lip products with different textures are available on the market. Which one should you choose to give your lips that fuller look? Moisturizing cream textures will be your go-to products. Moisturizing ingredients will plump your lips and give them more suppleness for a fuller, more comfortable effect. Gloss, balm and vinyl lip products will reflect light to give the illusion of volume, so opt for these lip products. If you naturally have small lips, avoid dark matte finishes, as they will only minimize their appearance.

(Almost) magical ingredients

In recent years, plumping lip products have become all the rage. The "magic" is in the ingredients, which slightly irritate the lip and then cause it to swell, resulting in a rosier pigmentation. These ingredients are often natural extracts, such as peppermint, cinnamon or even caffeine. Bear in mind that it is recommended to use these products sparingly and that it is important to use them in small doses. Some products perform better than others, so it's up to you to select a lip product that won't be too unpleasant during and after application.

Augmentation and correction with a pencil

Using a lip liner can be useful for several reasons, such as correcting or enhancing your lips pigmentation. Some people don't have a defined lip contour or even a lack of pigmentation around their mouths. That's why using a pencil all over the lips or simply on the lip contour can restore the structure and colour of your lips. Opt for a shade similar to your natural lips for a true-to-life effect.

If you want to enhance the appearance of your lips, we suggest you draw just above their natural limit. You can redraw the cupid's bow more roundly than angularly for even more lift. Be more generous when redrawing the center of your lip contour and less in the outer corners. 

Here's hoping our tips help you find your way to gorgeous lips. Remember, moisturizing and protection are the basics. Then, you can have all the fun you want with makeup!

By Jean-François Casselman-Dupont in collaboration with Familiprix.