Since last week’s blog post was a little on the heavy side, I thought I’d go a little on the lighter side this week! I get a lot of messages from women (and guys too!) asking me for both health and natural beauty tips. It’s kind of my passion to share what I know, and maybe it’s my own little way of contributing to the revolution too.
The more people that get on board with natural alternatives, the better! Once those big commercial manufacturers start to lose our dollars…maybe, just maybe, they’ll make some positive changes. No one should be exposed to carcinogens or endocrine disruptors in the attempt to look good. Am I right?
So, in that light, today I’ll talk about natural ways to plump up your pout. If you know me, you know I’m no fan of needles in the face…unless they are of the acupuncture persuasion. Botox and fillers are painfully commonplace now, and so many young women are starting to actually look older than they are because of this stuff. Not to mention, they all kind of look the same! Add the fact that that stuff is tested on animals, and can cause adverse health issues…and you know I’m out of that game.
Ideally, we should all just be happy with the way we are, zero enhancement of any kind. However, that would include no working out, no makeup, and nothing to get your hair to look nice. I may be crunchy, but not THAT crunchy.
I’d be lying if I said that how you look doesn’t affect how you feel and how people react to you. Having healthy skin, simple and natural makeup, and a good hair day definitely boosts your self-confidence….and that’s ok! It’s just not worth filling yourself with toxins or dealing with a botched job.
The good news is, you can do things to enhance what you already have in a natural way that preserves the integrity of your features. What makes us all beautiful is how different we are…sadly social media and it’s one-size-fits-all filters is kind of changing that. Women are actually going to see plastic surgeons asking them to make them look like they do in their Snapchat photos!! This is what we’ve come to….but I’ll rant about that another day.
So…back to natural lip plumping. I’ve always had naturally fuller lips, but I do know that as we age, our lip size tends to diminish due to a decrease in collagen production. While nothing you use topically will get you to look like Angelina Jolie, there are some great essential oils, and scrubs that will help your lips stay soft and look more supple. The effects aren’t permanent, but neither are those expensive lip filler injections. At least these natural alternatives are easy on the wallet….and on your health.
Some of the tips I have may seem kind of silly…but believe me they work! One of the first tips I ever learned about for fuller looking lips, was from a makeup artist that I worked with in Milan. She said that every time you brush your teeth, you should massage your toothbrush across your lips. This exfoliates them to loosen dry skin, and aids in circulation. Trust me, this simple trick works!
Another tip I learned early on is to save your coffee grounds….you can use them as an exfoliating scrub for your entire face, but also for your lips. The grounds slough off dead skin, as well as give your skin and lips a little firming caffeine boost.
Other great ways to improve circulation and keep your lips soft and fuller looking include making a lip scrub out of ingredients you probably already have at home. I like making scrubs out of coconut oil and baking soda, raw honey and cinnamon, and sugar or salt with a bit of olive oil. All of these are super hydrating and really get your lips to look and feel great!
After exfoliating with any of these methods, I’ve found that making my own lip plumping formulas works better and is cheaper than buying some of the stuff you can find in stores. I’ve tried so many brands of lip plumping glosses, but most of them have chemical and petroleum based ingredients, cost more than the DIY kind, and don’t really work.
Over time I’ve experimented with a few different recipes and have found a few oils that work really well to get the blood flow to increase to your lips which makes them look and feel plumped up for a good few hours. You can always carry some of these mixtures in a small roller bottle to keep reapplying as you would any gloss. My only warning is that some of these are “hot” oils and not for the faint of heart. You have to be ok with a little stinging or burning sensation that will dissipate after a few minutes. You might want to warn your significant other before you kiss them too! 😉
The best oils for making natural lip plumping serum/gloss are peppermint, wintergreen, cinnamon, cayenne, and clove. These oils create a vasodilation effect…this is what happens when your blood vessels open up creating more blood flow to the area. You’ll want to use a small amount (just a few drops) mixed in with a carrier oil or melted beeswax to start. You want to see how your skin reacts, as some of these oils used in higher doses can cause irritation. I mean cayenne oil….you know that’s gonna have a burn! (For essential oils you can trust visit: MY YL SHOP)
If your lips can handle it, and you want more of an effect, then by all means experiment by adding a few more drops until you find the right amount for you. By the way….the oils that I personally think produce the best effect are cinnamon and cayenne. Clove and the mint are great but a lot more subtle.
When I make my plumpers I like to use a small roller bottle or a little container with a screw-on lid. You can find these on Amazon or sometimes in the travel section at Target. My favorite carrier oils to use are almond or coconut. If I want to use a more “balmy” gloss then melting down a little beeswax works perfectly. I’ve been using these oils for a while so my lips are used to them and I actually like the little bit of stinging that cinnamon and cayenne oils deliver, so I add more than I would suggest to a newbie.
As a general rule of thumb, I would suggest 2 drops of the essential oil to one tablespoon of the carrier oil. You can also mix essential oils for a little extra oomph. I’ve been mixing cayenne and peppermint with almond oil lately and love it! If you want to wear a lip stain or lipstick, just wait a few minutes and wipe the oils off….et voila!
My disclaimer is that you won’t end up looking like Kylie Jenner or her sisters….but you will have a smoother, poutier smile that is all natural and all your own. These non toxic lip plumpers are inexpensive, effective, and actually fun to use and make. Just make sure to start off with a small amount of the oils so you don’t end up with irritation, and if you have sensitive skin, try an even smaller dose. Experiment to find the right amount and blend for you and smirk away at Father Time and his collagen-stealing ways!
**As an affiliate, I make a small portion of every sale made via links on my blog.
