We Tested 27 Lip-Plumping Glosses—These 6 Actually Gave Us a Fuller Pout, No Needles Required (2024)

If Gigi Hadid, Megan Fox, and Kim Kardashian swear by Patrick Ta's eponymous line of richly pigmented lipsticks, eyeliners and blushes, the celebrity makeup artist must be onto something. Even after trying 27 different lip plumpers, testers were convinced that the brand's Major Volume Plumping Lip Gloss is the best of the best. "My lips look plumper, glossier, rounder, and poutier," one tester shares.

Not only do lips actually look different, they feel different too. "I was surprised to find that my lips actually felt nourished and hydrated while wearing the gloss," the tester says. "I didn't need to apply lip balm underneath it, which is something I usually do when I wear lip gloss." Plus, once it's on, it's on. Even after all-day wear, she didn't need to reapply it to keep her lips juicy and plump. There's variety, too. The gloss is available in five high-shine, semi-sheer shades: Clear, beige, baby pink, pink, and red.

As a heads up, the tester noted that initially, the product felt sticky and tingly on her lips — most likely attributed to the formula's lip plumping blend of cinnamon and ginger. However, the feeling subsided after the gloss settled, leaving her lips silky smooth and tingle-free.

Ingredients: Hydrating peptides, Cinnamon, Ginger | Finish: Tinted | Shades: 5

The eight sheer-yet-buildable shades — which you can apply on bare lips or atop a pigmented lipstick — give lips a boost and a subtle wash of color at a super affordable price. This gloss wraps lips in a hydrating vitamin E and coconut oil-infused formula, resulting in a fuller-looking pout with a high-shine finish. "The formula didn't give off a very intense plumping feeling, so I was surprised when my lips looked fuller and juicier after applying," our tester shares. "The finish itself has a great amount of shine without feeling sticky or thick."

If we could change anything, it would be this formula's staying power. Because it isn't as thick as other options, it requires reapplication if you want your plump to last all day.

Ingredients: Vitamin E, Coconut | Finish: Sheer | Shades: 8

Honestly, $80 seems pricey for a lip plumper. But, after receiving rave reviews from our tester, we can confirm it's worth the splurge. La Mer is no stranger to luxurious products that actually work, and this plush lip plumping formula is no different. The treatment contains a cell-renewing co*cktail of antioxidants and ingredients like shea butter, vitamin E, and cucumber extract to protect lips from aging while adding volume and fullness.

Our tester especially loved the application brush and how generously it swiped the creamy, hydrating formula onto her lips. Like most lip plumpers, this one has a slight tingling sensation, but it's not uncomfortable and fades after a few seconds.

We'd be remiss not to call out the fact that the formula contains sesame seed oil and sesame seed powder, both of which can trigger a reaction to those with an allergy.

Ingredients: Shea butter, Cucumber extract, Sesame seed oil | Finish: Sheer | Shades: 1

Put thin, dehydrated lips to bed (literally) with this overnight lip-plumping mask from Lawless Beauty. Intended to sit on your pout while you sleep, this non-tingling mask is perfect for those that bite their lips or hate constantly reapplying a gloss every few hours. "It reminds me of a comfortable, soft balm," our tester shares.

Choose between Sweet Dreams, a baby pink, and Cherry Vanilla, a sheer cherry red, and get some zzz's. Come morning, lips look fuller, smoother and, honestly, like you just got injectables thanks to its potent formula containing Maxi-Lip™ (a natural peptide that defines, smooths, and firms lips), shea butter, and hyaluronic acid. "I put the mask on before bed, and when I woke up the next morning, my lips were so hydrated," the tester admits. "The mask must have seeped into my lips right after I applied it, because it stayed on even after brushing my teeth."

One thing we wish we could change about this mask is the packaging. The pot itself is pretty small (0.28 oz.), so if you use it every night, you'll hit the bottom sooner rather than later. Also, to apply the mask, you need to dip your finger into the pot, which isn't the most hygienic. We'd love it if it came with a mini spatula like some other lip masks do.

Ingredients: Maxi-Lip™, Shea butter, Hyaluronic acid | Finish: Sheer | Shades: 2

Kiss dry, cracked lips goodbye with the help of this lip plumping, serum-gloss hybrid. The formula contains a unique peptide and hyaluronic acid booster that's paired with hyaluronic acid spheres and vitamins A and E to help give lips a fuller look and baby-soft feel.

After a swipe or two, the gloss drenches lips in a refreshing, chilly sensation that the brand describes as "tantalizing." Some find that tingle to be too much, but others, like our tester, found the sensation to be an invigorating reminder that the product was hard at work. "The tingling was slightly more intense than I thought it would be, but it diminished as time went on," the tester admits. "I thought it felt good, but it could definitely be too much for some people."

One of our favorite things about this plumper is that it's available in 10 co*cktail-inspired colorways — ranging from light pinks and nudes to punchier picks like red and mauve.

Ingredients: Peptides, Hyaluronic acid, Vitamins A and B | Finish: Tinted | Shades: 10

If you're not a fan of gummy lip products, this is the pick for you. Make Up For Ever designed this multi-use serum to prep the lips for makeup. Thanks to its blend of nourishing luffa oil and hyaluronic acid, it goes on soft and the cushion-tip applicator helps to smooth out fine lines. "It never tingled, which made me question if it was working or not," our tester admits. "But, eventually my lips felt really supple and looked more defined."

Despite her lips looking more plump, the tester notes that she wished that it was more hydrating. "I would probably need to reapply or put on lip balm underneath it to keep my lips nourished," she says.

Ingredients: Luffa oil, Hyaluronic acid | Finish: Clear and Sheer | Shades: 2

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