How to Make Thin Lips Look Bigger Naturally

Ever since Kylie Jenner came out with those luscious thick lips, everyone is after those perfect Instagramable lips. If you have thin lips, don’t lose hope!

With all the great products that are available nowadays and these awesome tips, there is no need to have surgery and spend a fortune to make thin lips look bigger.

In a few simple steps, you can have thick gorgeous lips!

Step 1: Always Exfoliate

exfoliate lips for thin lips to look bigger

This may seem like a bit of an unnecessary step to you. However, it’s not, so don’t skip it! When your lips are exfoliated, they are much smoother, this results in lipstick staying on way better and looking more natural.

So how to exfoliate your lips? A simple way is to lightly brush them with a soft toothbrush, alternatively, you can rub them lightly with a towel.

Once you have exfoliated don’t forget to apply lip balm to soothe and moisturise your lips. Leave your lips moisturising for 5 minutes before moving on to the next step.

Step 2: Apply Foundation or Concealer

This step is pretty straightforward. When you’re applying your foundation or concealer, apply it over your lips too.

This will give you a smoother lipstick application and also automatically helps make thin lips look bigger. I find it also helps the lipstick stay on longer. Kinda like a primer!

Step 3: Use a Lipliner

This is probably the most obvious step of all, if you want thick lips, use a lip liner! However, there’s more to it.

If you want the real deal then what I recommend is overlining your lips. This is something that I often see people doing wrong.

To get it right, you must use a lip liner that’s a shade or 2 darker than your lips, otherwise, your lipliner will be seen. And there’s nothing worse or more irritating than that!

Once you have the right colour you can slightly overline your lips and fill them in following your natural lip shape.

Step 4: Apply Lipstick

If you’re not short on time, then I recommend applying 2 different shades of lipstick. A lighter shade in the middle and a darker one in the corners.

This will give your lips more definition and depth which makes thin lips look bigger. It’s basically contouring them.

If you don’t have the time or you simply can’t be bothered for so many steps then choose one shade and apply it everywhere. You can still get the contoured look with my next step.

Choose a matte lipstick, you can always apply a gloss after. My absolute favourite lipstick is MAC Cosmetics Matte HoneyLove. It’s a beautiful nude shade that goes with everything.

Step 5: Apply Shimmer or Gloss

This is my favourite step of all! Applying a shimmer takes the look to a glamorous, dazzling look. I usually apply shimmer because I’m obsessed with the whole finished look at the moment, but a gloss would work really well too.

Take any highlighter, or shimmery light eyeshadow and dab it on the centre of your top and bottom lips. The same can be done with lip gloss.

It adds definition, and depth and makes your lips look 3D! This is my go-to look at the moment and I simply cannot get enough of it!

Step 6: Use Concealer around the Lips

This step is optional but I highly recommend it because it gives the whole look a much sharper finish.

Apply concealer around your lip which will create a stronger contrast, thereby, making your lips appear bigger. It’s also an easy way to fix any mistakes or crooked lines in your lipstick or liner.

That’s it for my tips on how to make thin lips look bigger naturally. Give these tips a try and you won’t turn back.

Aside from it looking smokin’ hot it’s also super fun to do:) It’s not too hard, even if you’re a beginner, you’ll be able to achieve this look flawlessly.

Hollie xx

10 Comments

Orion says:

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Hi Hollie,
What great tips you have given here for more luscious lips – that is great.
I did try once exfoliating my lips with a soft toothbrush but that hurt, so thanks for suggesting using a towel!
Also, the idea of using a shimmer to highlight the lips sounds really great, just in time for the Christmas get together I have this evening!
Looking forward to reading some more tips from you.
Cheers – Orion

1. Hollie says:
  
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  Hey Orion, You’re right it can hurt with a toothbrush, so either do it very softly (make sure the tooth brush has soft bristles) or you can use a towel.
  
  I’m sure you looked dazzling with the shimmer:))
  
  Have a wonderful holiday x
  
Amy says:

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I am grateful for your post as I am plagued with lips I definitely wish were bigger. The lip liner is great – I have never really tried to over line my lips for fear that it would look silly. I will take your advice of getting a liner that is darker than my lips. I worry though that once the lipstick wears off a bit it might look strange with the lip liner? Do you have to constantly apply lipstick or do you have any additional tips to combat this concern?
Thanks!

1. Hollie says:
  
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  A good lipliner can be worn alone too so you don’t have to worry about how your lips will look once the lipstick wears off. Make sure you put lipliner all over your lips, not just the outline. Also when you wear lipliner, your lipstick stays on much better and much longer. I usually don’t have to reapply my lipstick at all.
  
  I hope that helps:)
  
  xx
  
Alejandra says:

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Hi Hollie,

Thanks for sharing a great article to read to know how to make my lips look bigger naturally, and I must say amazing also!

I’m not good at all when talking about doing making up and look natural, but I’m sure I will follow your tips and they will work.

I love your website and I see you have more articles to read that will help me to look great, now I will read your article about how to prevent dry skin during winter, it’s a must to read as I live in Canada.

Alejandra.

1. Hollie says:
  
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  Once you get the hang of lip liners and lipstick it becomes pretty easy to do.
  
  I’m sure living in Canada dry skin is a problem! Follow my tips and you won’t suffer any longer!
  
  Thanks for stopping by:)
  
Jill says:

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Great tips for hot lips, Hollie. Love the idea of exfoliating the lips first. I used to do this if my lips were dry after the winter months. Although it is our rainy season, lips still get dry with all the licking.

The colors you suggest sound really good but I always wear red lipstick as I look very ill if I wear a lighter shade, so will have to play around a bit to get the right look.

1. Hollie says:
  
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  I get that, nude isn’t perfect for everyone and that’s fine. I do recommend using a nude liner so that it looks more natural, then go on with the lipstick of your choice.
  
Mary Ann says:

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Hello Hollie

To be honest, I had never heard of exfoliating lips! As an older woman, my lips have thinned out and I was amazed at your before and after pictures. I am definitely interested in trying the products you mentioned as I tend towards more of the ‘nude’ shades. Although, would you recommend that for an older woman?

These are great tips. I have bookmarked your website for more! Thanks for sharing.

1. Hollie says:
  
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  Hi,
  
  Any age can wear any colour! If you like nudes then go for it! Just make sure your eyes or cheekbones are more dramatic.