How to keep lips soft and plump

Get luscious, pillowy, kissable lips—with or without injections.

You Will Need

* Lip balm with SPF 30
* Sugar
* Olive oil
* A toothbrush
* Lip plumper or cayenne pepper
* Petroleum jelly
* Lip injections
* A lip implant
* Vitamin E capsules
* Plant-based oils

Step 1: Avoid sun damage
Protect your lips from wrinkling by wearing SPF 30 lip balm—either alone or under your lipstick—year-round.

Step 2: Buff your kisser
Keep lips supple by exfoliating them. Buy products specifically made for this purpose, or get the same results by mixing sugar and olive oil into a paste, gently rub it on your lips with an old toothbrush, & rinse off. Apply this scrub once a week, & give your lips the once-over every morning with a plain, wet toothbrush.

Step 3: Apply petroleum jelly
Keep your lips moist by dabbing a little petroleum jelly on them at bedtime. Or open up a vitamin E capsule and rub the contents on your lips. Plant-based oils—like olive, coconut, sunflower, and jojoba—work, too.

Step 4: Make them swell
For temporary bee-stung lips, use an over-the-counter lip plumper, which contains irritants that swell lips. There are also over-the-counter topical treatments that may slightly enlarge lips over time because they contain peptides or hyaluronic acid.

Step 5: Create full lips with makeup
Create the illusion of fuller lips by lining them—except for the corners—with a pencil that matches your natural lip color, then smudging it. Next, apply a thin line of liquid highlighter at the top center of your upper lip and blend. Finally, apply a neutral lip color; then dab a tiny bit of shimmery gloss on the center of your bottom lip.

Step 6: Seek an M.D.'s advice
If you’re interested in a longer-lasting plumping solution, collagen or hyaluronic acid injections or a lip implant may be an option. Remember that these are medical procedures: Consult a doctor before making any decisions.