TIPS AND TRICKS FOR FULLER LIPS

As a makeup artist, one of the top questions my clients ask me is if I would share my tips for fuller lips. Full, luscious lips are coveted in today's society. They demand attention and help create an undeniable sensuality to one's look. However, we aren't all born with the blessing of a full pout.

If you have faced the challenged of making your lips look fuller but not clownish, read on to discover the seven tips and tricks for fuller lips that I use both on myself and on my clients!

1. PREP WITH CINNAMON - DIY

Preparing your lips by using cinnamon scrub is one of the easiest methods out of my arsenal of tips that I share, who are looking to achieve that perfect pout.  Start with bare lips, free of any lip balm or lip color.
Make a paste by mixing together; 
1 tsp granulated sugar, 
1 tsp ground cinnamon and 
1 tsp coconut oil.
Smooth this over your lips and gently rub to remove any dry, chapped skin. Once you have exfoliated, let the scrub sit on your lips for up to 2 minutes before rinsing off with warm water. The cinnamon will have created a warm, tingling sensation that increases blood flow to your lips giving them a temporary fuller look. I love this step as it gives a smooth, clean canvas to work with and it also acts as a plumping agent.


2. UTILIZE A PLUMPING LIP BALM

For the times when I am in a rush, or more likely just feeling a bit lazy, I rely on a plumping lip balm to fake fuller lips. These types of products rely on the same principle that the DIY cinnamon lip scrub use. The active ingredient heat up the lips drawing blood to the area and turn gives the lips a temporary fuller appearance. Be warned though, because you do not rinse the balm or glosses off like you do with the scrub you may find warming sensation to be too intense to wear for hours at a time. One of the classic lip plumping glosses that has yet to fail me is 'Too Faced Lip Injection'.


3. LINE TO DEFINE!

For those of you seeking a little something extra, lip liner is about to become your new best friend. The first thing you want to do is blend a concealer matching your skin tone onto the lips. Then, using a lip liner in your natural lip color, trace just a little outside of your natural lip line. To finish up, fill in your "new" lips with lipstick that matches. Viola, behold your new beautifully full lips! This application can take some practice before you find what looks right on you so don't give up if it looks a bit wonky on the first try!


4. HIGHLIGHT YOUR LIPS

Another trick of making your lips appear fuller is by playing with light. When light reflects off of surfaces instead of being absorbed, such as with matte surfaces, it tricks the eye into thinking the area is larger than it really is. 
By strategically placing a shimmery highlighter to the center of the bottom lip and along the Cupid's bow (the V shaped indent at the top of your upper lip) light reflects off of the highlighted area pulling the lips forward and causes the lips to appear fuller. You can use this trick in conjunction with any of the other tips as well. Just make sure that if you are combining it with another trick you apply the liner an lipstick.


5. TRY OMBRE

Are you over the ombre trend yet? For those of you with thin lips, I hope you give this trend one last chance to win you over before writing it off for good. The Ombre lip is another technique that plays with light and color to reshape your lips to appear larger and fuller. The beauty of it is you don't need a shimmery highlighter to achieve the look if sparkles aren't your thing. You only need two colors one darker color to line the lips and a lighter color for the inner middle of your lower and upper lips. Follow the same techniques for lining slightly outside your lips with the darker color and fill in your lips using the lighter color. To create a seamless ombre effect blend the darker color in towards the lighter color.


6. SAY NO TO DARK COLORS

Light and color choices plays a huge part in how small or full our lips appear. The best advice I can give to those of you who want to appear to have larger, fuller lips is to stay away from dark colors. Basic color theory rules state that dark colors absorb more light. The less light that is reflected, the smaller the area appears. This is not to say that you can no longer wear red lipstick, just opt for a brighter red and stay away from dark mauve and deep red browns. If you can't live without your favorite deep plum lipstick, try to at least pair it with one of the previous techniques to help balance the look.


7. SAY YES TO LIGHT COLORS AND GLOSSES

If dark color recede areas and make them appear smaller, it naturally follows that lighter color will draw attention and make areas seem larger. Switching out dark colors is one of the most foolproof ways to help your lips appear fuller. Adding a clear gloss on top of your favorite light colored lipstick intensify the fuller lip effect by creating an even more light reflective surface. For those of you who are minimalists when it comes to makeup, try just a light tinted lip balm for a subtle appearance of fuller lips.

The great thing about all of these tips is that you can mix and match them to fit your lifestyle, and how dramatic of a change you want to create. Practice each technique and figure out what combination works best for you personally. 
-How many of these tips do you do already?
-How many of them are you going to try?
Once you have found your perfect combination of the seven tips and tricks for fuller lips, share it in the comments section!