Plump up the volume

Very few women in this world are blessed with a pair of lips that would make a strawberry this lucky.

Most of us prefer to avoid injectables for fear of being 'Leslied' - my term of reference for an allergic reaction to lip fillers, as made infamous by British TV star Leslie Ash. Leslie, a naturally pretty woman, decided to fall prey to the pressure to stick a needle into her lips - with unexpected results. The wind aint changing for Leslie - it was a permanent allergic reaction.

So for us mere mortals with an aversion to needles, the occasional use of a lip plumper allows us to channel our inner Angelina (sans Brad), if only for a few hours.

I'll state this upfront: lip plumpers don't produce miraculous results. But - if chosen well, they do produce a noticeable result.

Lip plumpers work their magic by being more irritating than Kyle Sandilands. Loaded with ingredients such as menthol and camphor, the formula 'disturbs' the delicate skin of the lip area, thus creating a plumping effect as your lips struggle to understand what the hell is going on.

Upside: a temporarily fuller and more lustrous pout.
Downside: 20 seconds of mild stinging as the formula goes to work.

My favourites:

DuWop Lip Venom (about $40AUD from specialist makeup stores)
This heady, sweet-tasting cocktail of cinnamon, ginger and essential oils causes blood to rush madly to the surface of the lips. You know a product has cult status when the marketing gurus behind the phenomenally successful Twilight movie team up with DuWop to produce a spin-off product. Vampires aside, the original Lip Venom packs a massive punch, if you can grit your teeth through the initial sting.

Too Faced Lip Injection (about $28AUD from specialist makeup stores and Myer)
Claims to make lips look 'up to 20% fuller in 5 minutes' - and you know what? They're not lying. It comes in a range of sheer and pretty colours, with Techno Kiss being a personal favourite. Tip: hide this from your girlfriends or you'll be sharing it around forever. The two girlfriends who sampled my Lip Injection suddenly morphed into mega-flirts and susequently met their new beaus the very same evening. Placebo effect? Probably. A bit of innocent fun? Definitely.

Most makeup brands have produced a plumper at some point, but don't bother with the cheaper versions. In this case, you get what you pay for.

Happy plumping!

~ Rosie x