Alyssa Brascia is a commerce writer PEOPLE, covering beauty, fashion, home and lifestyle products. She has previously written commerce content for Dotdash Meredith brands such as InStyle, Shape, Southern Living and more during her time as the E-Commerce Editorial Apprentice while she was an undergraduate fashion student at Iowa State University. Her passions include fashion and beauty writing as well as makeup artistry and styling. You can find her on Instagram to follow along on her creative journey.

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Full lips are definitely having a moment, with many people over-lining with lip pencils or turning to filler for a semi-permanent plumping effect. But if you want to avoid the doctor’s chair and achieve a voluptuous pout at home, then you may want to give lip plumpers a shot.

With so many plumping products on the market, it’s hard to know which product is right for you. “[The] best ingredients to look for are hyaluronic filling spheres and vitamin E, and [be sure to] avoid parabens and sulfates,” says celebrity makeup artist Tobi Henney, formerly the L'Oréal Paris Makeup Director for Australia and MUA behind some of Megan Fox and Ashley Graham’s signature red carpet looks. 

With lip plumper often comes a tingling sensation, a result of the plumping agents within the product reacting to your skin. Henney states that you “should feel [it] a little, as that will mean the plumping effect is working. However, it should not hurt or feel super uncomfortable.” 

From sheer and pigmented shades to glosses and balms, there is an overwhelming amount of options to choose from. That’s why we took to the PEOPLE Testing lab to see which product reigns as the best once and for all.

This Too Faced option had the longest-lasting and most significant plumping effects and didn’t have a sticky consistency.

This product packs a punch in its plumping agents, meaning you’ll feel the tingling sensation a bit more noticeably in this product than others.

When a product is named “Lip Injection Maximum Plump Extra Strength Lip Plumper,” you know it’s going to put in work. This gloss from Too Faced scored 5 out of 5 stars for its plumping ability when it was tested in the PEOPLE lab, a score that was unrivaled (except for one other product by the same brand). Our tester reported that it “significantly and visibly plumps [the] lips and makes them look bigger. [It provided] a more long lasting plump than the others.” Available in five glossy shades, ranging from shimmery formulas to high-shine finishes, this plumper was the star of the show.

We do want to warn you about the tingling sensation, however, as this plumper really does what it says. The paraben-free formula is made with “max-plumping technology” that makes the lips a bit sensitive. “It's not sticky, so texture-wise I enjoy it. But it definitely has a burning sensation, so proceed with caution,” our tester advised.

But despite having a potentially uncomfortable tingling formula, its hydrating properties quickly erase any irritation. The tester pointed out how nice and soft their lips felt after wearing the plumper for 15 minutes and gently wiping it off. Living up to its name, she described this product as “one of the more intense lip plumpers out there.”

This cost-efficient option has a cooling sensation that both calms the skin and plumps your lips simultaneously.

While this plumper is great for color, there is not a clear gloss option for everyday wear or makeup application prep.

Everyone knows e.l.f. for their budget-friendly and surprisingly great quality products, so it’s no surprise that this plumping gloss won for the cost-conscious category. This vegan and cruelty-free plumper is only $7, a stark contrast to the other contenders on this list. Our tester commented that this gloss was noticeably smooth and hydrating, accompanied by a cooling sensation on the lips compared with other plumpers’ tingling side effects. 

However, the plumping result was more subtle than the first product, partially due to its softer sensation on the lips. “I would say my lips look slightly fuller and ‘juicier’ if you will,” the tester wrote. With its selection of buildable colors and reasonable price tag, this e.l.f. product is a great option for those who are just starting to experiment with plumpers.

This formula is ultra-hydrating and feels as luxurious as its price tag suggests.

Though the final product is nourishing and glossy, our tester’s lips were not noticeably plumper.

If you’re not a fan of sticky lip products, join the club. The La Mer Lip Volumizer has a silky-smooth consistency that can be used alone, as a primer, or layered on top of any lip color you choose. Our tester was a fan of the slick formula, sharing that it was "nourishing my lips and hydrating in a way that won't wear off.”

Our tester found the tingling sensation to be essentially non-existent with this product, which made for a very comfortable wear. They also approved of the large sea kelp-inspired applicator, as it added to the high-end feel of the product. However, the La Mer plumper was best for nourishing instead of pouting in the end, as our tester’s lips were left feeling more hydrated than before but just about the same when it came to plumpness.

In addition to its incredible nourishing qualities, the Patrick Ta plumping gloss has a variety of high shine hues to fit your style.

 You need to pack on the product to get the full effects of this plumper.

If you’re looking for a plumper that’s going to double as a moisturizer, then the Patrick Ta Major Volume Plumping Lip Gloss is the product for you. Upon first application, our tester noticed the initial stickiness and tingling sensation of the product, but felt both of these effects die down as the 15 minutes of wear time went on. “If I kept [this gloss] on all day I feel like I could go most of the day without reapplying lip balm,” she shares. “I also felt like I didn't need lip balm underneath this, which I do for most glosses.”

Though this product is formulated with cinnamon and ginger to naturally plump the lips, our tester goes on to say that she needed to apply a lot to notice a difference in lip volume. However, the hydrating effects of the gloss and color selection was enough to prove this plumper’s worth. This tester finished off her feedback by stating that this is “definitely a top pick for plumpers if you want even a little bit of volume.” 

In addition to its multiple luscious shades, this high-shine lip plumper from Tarte includes maracuja oil for firmer and smoother lips.

The tube does not hold too much product, which means you may have to purchase it frequently if you fall in love.

Most lip plumpers are oftentimes made as gloss formulas, but rarely do you see them in a balm, pseudo-lipstick form. What makes this plumper from Tarte different is the lipstick-like tube that you click at the bottom to push the product up, serving as a balm, gloss, and color all in one. And with a selection of nine glossy shades, it’s impossible to not talk about the great color payoff that this plumper provides. One swipe of the plumper gives off a sheer, moisturized look while two coats produce a glossy finish — a feat almost unheard of from a lipstick consistency.

Thanks to the product’s vegan formula, our tester stated that the plant-based plumping agents produced a “minty feel” on the lips. They also raved about the hydration this plumper provides, saying, “[My] lips feel extremely hydrated and comfortable. [This] definitely moisturized my lips.” Hydration seems to be the key with this product, as our tester noticed that the lips were not significantly more plumped — “just more hydrated and full.”

Aside from its plush applicator, the hue of this plumping gloss is ideal for the illusion of larger lips.

The formula is scented like glazed doughnuts, which may not be for everyone.

The Lorac Holy Lips Plumping Serum was a top contender for many reasons, but the standout quality of this product was the doe foot applicator that “was great for super strategic coverage,” according to our tester. She even went so far as to say that this plumper was “the best [she] tried all day,” touching on the gentle scent, subtle tingling, and the gloss’s honey hue. To add to the ever-growing list of pros, this plumper is also vegan and cruelty-free.

This product was also one of the few that our tester truly did feel plumped up her lips — though the end result was nothing drastic. “They look slightly plumper, but not a huge difference,” she recorded after 15 minutes of wear. However, the hydration this plumper provided was a perk, as the serum left her lips feeling moisturized even after wiping it off.

Complete with an array of shades to choose from (and plumping you can both see and feel), this gloss packs a punch.

This product is a bit stickier than our other selections.

Available in a range of 16 different shades, with your choice between shimmer, glitter, and high-shine finishes, this paraben-free gloss from Too Faced gives you a plethora of options to play with. The tester trying this product thinks “It would look nice over a lipstick or on its own,” and she even thought that she “would probably purchase this [herself].”

Not unlike the other products out there, our tester felt that this gloss was not incredibly plumping, but “overall [she] can see a cute, pouty look.” We can thank not only the plumping agents within the formula but the tinted gloss for that, as the high-shine formula helps create the illusion of fuller lips sans needles.

Not only did this gloss feel smooth as glass going onto the lips, but there was none of the tingling or burning sensations that most plumpers have.

This plumper did not deliver outrageously fuller lips, but it did make the lips more hydrated and plush.

Expecting a smooth formula and getting a sticky gloss is never a great experience, and luckily, that’s not the case with this product from Make Up For Ever. In fact, this gloss glides on so buttery smooth that our tester remarks that she, “keeps forgetting [she] has it on.” Another notable quality about this plumper is the absence of the trademark tingle — a comfortable, yet concerning characteristic that made her wonder if it was even working.

To her surprise, the plumper was in fact doing its job in stealthy silence. “I would say it worked overall. They look rounder and I believe the high shine contributes to that as well,” she wrote after wearing the gloss for 15 minutes. No burning and a pain-free pout? Sign us up!

As it is with all beauty products, formula is a huge factor when buying new makeup. There are many ingredients to look out for when purchasing a lip plumper, such as the hyaluronic filling spheres and vitamin E that Henney recommended earlier. In her same statement, she recommends steering clear of sulfates and parabens, which are harmful ingredients to apply to the skin. Another formulaic aspect to consider is the consistency you are looking for — whether it be heavy plumping with the accompanying tingling sensation, or a light pucker with a minty-clean feel.

Though you may use plumpers just as a gloss, many use it to prep the lips as well for a fuller base. In this case, it’s vital to choose a moisturizing product that can nourish the lips while simultaneously providing that pout. Sticky formulas often lack in hydration, so be sure to select a plumper that feels weightless and smooth.

We all go for different makeup looks on a day-to-day basis, as different events call for different glam. However, the most common finishes you can find when it comes to plumpers are shimmer, glitter, and high-shine. The latter is ideal for everyday or formal events, whereas shimmer and glitter finishes are great for a night out or anything that warrants getting a little dressed up. But at the end of the day, however you want to wear it is how you should — just another factor to keep in mind as you shop!

Our testers evaluated 27 different lip plumpers based on the three categories of feel, plumping ability, and hydration. Each tester was assigned to two different plumpers over the course of 30 minutes, wearing one product for 15 minutes before moving on to the next. Each category was rated on a scale of 1 to 5, 1 being the lowest score for each quality and 5 being the highest. After the tester’s wear time was up, they gently removed the plumper, using makeup remover if needed, and assessed the hydration of their lips in comparison to before application.

We created the PEOPLE Tested seal of approval to help you find the very best products for your life. We use our unique methodology to test products in three labs across the country and with our network of home testers to determine their effectiveness, durability, ease of use, and so much more. Based on the results, we rate and recommend products so you can find the right one for your needs.

But we don’t stop there: We also regularly re-review the categories in which we’ve awarded the PEOPLE Tested seal of approval — because the best product of today might not be the best of tomorrow. And by the way, companies can never buy our recommendation: Their products must earn it, fair and square.

In short, PEOPLE Tested provides recommendations you can trust — every day, every purchase.

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