Too Faced Lip Injection is our pick for best lip plumper of the year. (Too Faced)
Like many 2000s beauty trends — French tips and skinny brows come to mind — lip plumpers are back in a big way. Most of the big beauty brands are now making their own versions, which is good news if you’re looking to add some oomph to your pout. The best lip plumpers can enhance the volume of your lips (not quite Angelina Jolie-size, yet still impressive) without a bill from the dermatologist's office. If you weren’t born with naturally full lips and don’t want to deal with the hassle of fillers, these pucker-enhancing potions can be an easy, immediate and affordable option.
But that doesn’t mean there isn’t any pain involved. Most lip plumpers are made with ingredients that are meant to irritate the lips (think chili extract, peppermint, cinnamon and ginger), causing blood to rush to the surface of the skin, creating a temporary swollen effect (almost like a bee sting). However, others aren’t quite as (literally) spicy and instead use peptides, hyaluronic acid, vitamin E and other moisturizing agents to help keep lips hydrated and, in turn, look plumper and smooth.
I was born with naturally full lips, but during the current lip-plumping renaissance, I’ve found myself turning to these products more and more. They’re fun to use because they're often weirdly effective — it’s a trip to watch your lips gain (temporary) fullness in a matter of seconds. However, after testing more than a dozen, I’ve realized that finding the right lip plumper can be tricky — especially if you have a low pain tolerance — so I’ve landed on three that are both effective and comfortable to use. Whether you're after a serious plumping effect and can withstand the spice, or you're looking for a milder product with full-glam shine, below, you’ll find everything you need to know about the best lip plumpers around.
Other lip plumpers worth checking out
Lip plumpers we tried that didn't make the cut
Update, July 8, 2025: We’ve confirmed current pricing and availability for all products. Our No. 1 pick remains unchanged.
Size: 0.14 oz | Key Ingredients: Avocado oil, tocopheryl acetate, palmitoyl tripeptide-1 | Shades: 5 | Tingling Effect: Yes
Too Faced is one of the OG lip plumper brands and — in this beauty writer's opinion — they remain the best of the best. The brand's original lip-plumping product, Lip Injection, launched in 2005, but since then, the company has launched an entire Lip Injection collection with varying plumping powers.
While testing, I found Maximum Plump to be the strongest and most effective of all the lip plumpers I tried. It added clear and visible volume to my lips, and the effect was longer-lasting than other products I tried. Though spiciness is subjective, for me, this one has a moderate level of heat that creeps up slowly after applying. Around three minutes later, you get extremely plump, juicy lips — a near-instant plumping that lasts for hours. Maximum Plump can also be paired with any lip color you want — I layered a bright red lipstick over it for a pouty, Jessica Rabbit look.
Maximum Plump is a fan-favorite across TikTok, and shoppers seem to love it too. As one five-star reviewer on Sephora writes: "The absolute best. I have tried a ton of lip plumpers, and this one just reigns supreme. It smells amazing, it is not sticky at all, and it gives a high shine. I use it often and can see the fine lines on my lips looking smoother!"
Size: 0.14 oz | Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, vitamin E, 0.3 % chilli extract| Shades: 1 | Tingling Effect: Yes
There are a lot of high-quality drugstore options for lip plumpers, which is great if you’re on a tight budget (and, honestly, right now, most of us are), but even better if you're new to the lip plumper world and don't want to spend a lot of money on them yet.
Out of these accessibly-priced options, I ended up loving Essence What the Fake! Extreme — and not just because of its clever name. When I tested, I found the formula went on smooth, like a non-plumping gloss, and wasn’t thick or drippy like some I tried. This one is infused with chili extract, so there is a tingling effect, but nothing seriously strong. It also contains hyaluronic acid for moisture and I especially love that it's pH reactive so the tint is custom to your body chemistry. The light berry red of mine was especially pretty.
Right now, on Amazon, Essence's What the Fake! Extreme has more than 700 five-star reviews, all praising its formula and effectiveness. "The first thing I noticed was how hydrating it is—my lips feel super soft and moisturized, and the glossy finish is just gorgeous. The hyaluronic acid and vitamin E work wonders in smoothing out fine lines, and the 0.3% chili extract gives just the right amount of tingle for that plump, full look we all crave," reads one review. "For $5, how can you go wrong?"
Size: 0.11 oz / 3.3 ml | Key Ingredients: shea butter, hyaluronic acid | Shades: 19 | Tingling effect: Yes
Lawless Forget the Filler is for anyone who wants plumper lips without the pain. This gloss is STUNNING. It immediately made my lips look fuller and shinier while smoothing and disguising fine lines. I understand why it’s called “Forget the Filler” — it gives a similar, smoothing effect that the needles do. Because it contains capsicum and menthoxypropanediol (a derivative of menthol), there’s a slight tingling, but it’s mild when compared with other products I tested. The gloss goes on super smooth, doesn’t feel thick or goopy, and the shine and plumping effect lasts for a good long while.
Forget the Filler also gets top marks for its applicator. The tip is curved, which makes it comfortably hug your lips during application. As for shade options, there are almost two dozen to choose from. I tested the shade Cherry Vanilla, a punchy-bright pink-red, which left the ideal hint of color.
I’ve covered beauty for more than a decade and I've tested literally hundreds of lip products — I just love them! I'm also over 40 with lines in my lips, so my lip-product needs are changing. What I found with lip plumpers is they are wildly different from both the glosses and liquid lipsticks I usually use, so the criteria for judging "the best" had to change too.
For this story, I tested more than a dozen plumpers and rated them on the following:
Effectiveness: Did the product actually make my lips look big?
Staying power: How long did the effect last?
Tingling sensation/feel: How did each formula feel on my lips, was there tingling or pain?
Spiciness level: Since many lip plumpers are made with some type of chile pepper, I judged them on whether or not I could tolerate the spiciness level (note: this will obviously vary according a particular user's taste)
Value: I was looking for affordable products that give you a lot of bang for your buck.
Ingredients: I chose products with high-quality ingredient lists — our top pick is vegan and paraben-free.
Applicator design: I generally preferenced lip plumpers with a soft, comfortable and precise applicator tip
There were quite a few runners up in the lip plumper department: Both Patrick Ta Major Volume Plumping Gloss and Sara Happ The Lip Plumper were neck and neck with Lawless Forget the Filler because of their similar line-smoothing powers. Ultimately, I chose Lawless because I loved the curved applicator tip and excellent shade range. Polite Society Big Mouth has a reputation for being a serious lip plumper, and it was, but it was also the most painful — too painful to recommend. Another close call was the Dior Addict Lip Maximizer. It has a ton of colors, and I loved the gorgeous, shimmery finish of the Holographic Silver shade I tested, but ultimately I left it off this list due to the $40 price.
Lip plumpers typically contain ingredients that slightly irritate the lips, such as cinnamon, peppermint, or capsicum, to increase blood flow and help your lips look fuller. (There are even products like Bee RX Bee Venom Lip Plumping Serum, which, yes, contains actual bee venom.) Others draw in moisture using hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid and collagen-boosting peptides that plump the lips and keep them looking full over time.
How long do lip plumpers last?
The effects of a lip plumper vary by product, but they generally last 2-4 hours. Some formulas offer a lasting plump due to hydrating ingredients, while others may need reapplication throughout the day, especially if you want to retain a blindingly shiny gloss.
Will a lip plumper lend the same effect as lip fillers?
No, and if they did, all of the dermatologists and medical spas wouldn’t be as successful! Lip plumpers are a non-invasive and instant way to enhance lips temporarily. Meanwhile, lip fillers are a longer-lasting, injectable treatment that can dramatically alter the size and shape of your lips. lip shape and size. Lip plumpers are a non-invasive, quick way to enhance lips for a short period.
Are lip plumpers safe to use daily?
Most lip plumpers are safe to use every day, especially those with gentle, hydrating ingredients. However, some may experience irritation or dryness, so it’s best to limit use to a few times a week. (Not gonna lie; during the time I was testing all of these, I was a little worried about overdoing the tingling!)
Can lip plumpers cause irritation?
Yes, lip plumpers can cause temporary tingling or mild irritation, which is usually a sign that they’re working. However, if you experience redness, pain or extreme discomfort, it's best to discontinue use — and consult a doctor.
The reviews quoted above reflect the most recent versions at the time of publication.
We received complimentary samples of some products and purchased others ourselves, but we reviewed all products using the same objective criteria.
