6 best lip plumpers from gentle to super strong!

I don’t know about you, but Kylie Jenner and her smackers-related shenanigans have been endlessly fascinating – not least because she’s recently come out of the cosmetic closet, so to speak, by finally copping to having had a little extra help by way of lip fillers.   

If injectables are too intimidating, do as I do and look to off-the-counter lip plumpers instead. How do these seemingly magical wands work? Well, most commercial concoctions boast a temporary “vasodilatory” effect – an engorgement of blood vessels – so as to lend the illusion of larger lips.

Raring to give it a go but bewildered by the plethora of plumpers on the market? Get the #KylieJennerLips of your dreams with these #DieDieMustBuy products, helpfully ranked by descending levels of intensity. For your perusal and purchasing consideration, please:

Too Faced Lip Injection Extreme, $43

Industrial-strength and incredibly addictive to use, this subtly shimmery gloss bestows a bracing tingle upon application that’s super “shiok” for those so inclined. 

Boasts what the brand says are medically proven blood vessel dilators that amplify the natural scarlet shade of your smackers. Packs the poutiest punch in my beauty books, but the tingle may be a tad too intense for beginners. Proceed with caution!

YSL Beaute Vernis A Levres Plump-Up, $49

I love this posh Parisian beauty of a product for its economies of scale – just one swipe more than makes good on the brand’s promise of a six-hour plumping effect.

Super fun to use too, with an intriguing “hot-and-cold” dual sensation courtesy of minty menthol and a heat-activating ingredient. Like longwear lingerie for your lips, you can slick it on “naked” or layer it over your go-to lippie to lock in your plumper pout.

Dior Lip Maximizer, $46

This popular pout-perfecting poultice should be familiar with most beauty buffs, and with good reason, too: Hydrating hyaluronic spheres soothe and smooth your smackers, and the frosty sensation is far more pleasant compared to the painful bite of other products on the market.

Bonus: This comes with a deliciously decadent vanilla scent that’s very Dior indeed – we’re all about plumping up our puckers without widening our waists!   

Chanel Gloss Volume Plumping Lipgloss, $45

Very chic and very Chanel in presentation; you’ll want to brandish this “branded” beauty in the boudoir. Shot through with a suite of skin-loving ingredients like vitamin E and other antioxidants, plus a blend of botanical oils for a sexy post-shower sheen. The translucent tint-free finish is very versatile, too: Wear this alone, over or under lippie like you would any conventional gloss.

Laura Mercier Lip Plumper, $48

Functions like a tinted gloss in lending a juicy jolt of colour to your lips. Patience is of the essence here: Laura Mercier says a “slow-burn” effect plumps up your pout over the span of 20 minutes, with your “new” lips lasting another two hours. Offered in four fruity hues, my pick has got to be Pink Pearl, a frosty fuchsia that’s just fantastic when all you want is a flirty flush of colour.

Biotherm Beurre de Lèvres Replumping and Smoothing Lip Balm, $19

The gentlest of the lot, this hardworking multi-tasker promises a bounty of beautifying benefits, from lasting hydration and instant plumping thanks to a blend of five nourishing botanical oils; to gentle exfoliation of dull dead cells via the inclusion of acacia-derived sugars.

More skincare than makeup on the hybrid product spectrum, this is also great for sharing with your too-cool-for-tinted guy, as it’s translucent and well nigh undetectable.

Want more? Try these top tips to make your lippie last all day like a sexy second skin.