How Exactly Do Lip Plumpers Work?

The Anatomy of The Lips

The skin of the lips has three to five cellular layers, which is very thin compared to other parts of the body, like the facial skin, which has up to 16 layers. The lip skin does not have sweat glands and so it does not have the usual protection layer of sweat and body oils which keep the skin smooth, and which inhibit pathogens. For these reasons, the lips dry out faster and become chapped or cracked more easily.

Lips are constantly losing moisture. As water is lost, plump, youthful cells become dry and shriveled. This hydration loss is apparent via fine lines and cracks. Personal habits like smoking or not drinking enough water (dehydration), continuous movement (smiling, pouting), external factors (ultraviolet radiation, dry air, sun exposure), gravity and chronological aging; all contribute to the deformation and alteration of the natural shape of the lips.

Structure and Shape

Lips are composed of skin, muscles and mucosa but no bones and no infrastructure, making them flexible. The lips are composed of two main parts: the upper is referred to as the Labium superius oris and the lower as Labium inferius oris. In most cases, the lower lip tends to be larger than the upper lip and is pillowy in its fullness compared to the upper lip. The lips can be broken down further into five shapes. The upper lip may be divided into two cylinders on either side of the central contour. The little vertical indentation just above the upper lip is called the philtrum. The point where the lips meet the surrounding skin of the mouth area is called the vermilion border, and the area within the borders is called the vermilion zone. The vermilion border of the upper lip is known as the cupid's bow. Each pair of lips is unique, similar to fingerprints, so you will not find two sets of identical lip impressions. As the body ages, the body produces less collagen, as a result, the lips start to lose their plumpness and get thinner.

Color

The blood capillaries underneath the mucus membrane cause our lips to look rosy-pink in color. These are visible, as lip skin is much thinner than the rest of our skin. With light skin color, the lip skin contains fewer melanocytes (cells which produce melanin pigment, which give skin its color). Because of this, the blood vessels appear through the skin of the lips, which leads to their notable red coloring. Lighter lips have minimal sun-filtering natural melanin. This means that they have virtually little protection of their own. With darker skin color, the lips contains more melanin and thus is visually darker.

Lip discoloration is the changing of the natural lip color to that of a darker shade. The color of the lips will turn primarily purple or blue. This is not a life threatening disorder, but it is an indication of health problems, hormonal changes, sun exposure or that lifestyle changes are needed. Both males and females can get lip discoloration. However, it is more prominent among women.

Hydrate And Volumize Lips

Hydrate And Volumize Lips

Most lip volumizing products are formulated using one or more of three main type of ingredients which include bee or snake venoms, essential oils and humectants. Each of these components has a unique mechanism of action and the majority of beauty care manufacturers will use a combination of these ingredients to create a synergistic effect for the most effective results. Lip plumpers increase the volume of lips either by using chemical or natural irritants, which are known to increase the blood flow to your lips; or by boosting hydration thereby drawing water towards the lips. Both methods create a swollen and plump effect and enhance lips' natural color and shape by increasing circulation.

What Should You Look For In A Lip Plumper?

We have all been let down by products that promise to help you look younger by increasing the fullness of your lips, only to find a month later that nothing has changed. However, lip plumpers really do work – if you find a legitimate, quality product.

Whenever a beauty trend hits the market, dozens of cosmetics companies spring up overnight to try and cash in. As a result, you’ll find lots of low-quality products that promise results that they simply can’t deliver.

A good product will use the highest-quality patented active ingredients, and contain a minimum of 2% (the higher the better). You should also look for reputable companies that sell a range of products.

When you see a company that’s only selling one item and uses some hot marketing slogans in the name, you’re going to want to steer clear.

If you want to try out any of these promising lip plumpers, check out our review of lip plumpers, where we analyzed the ingredients, company's reputation, customer reviews, and more to help you find the products that get you the results that you are looking for. Now, you don’t have to scratch your head when you Google ‘Best Lip Plumper or Volumizer’ and end up with hundreds of results. We’ve taken the guesswork out of the equation!

What Makes A Lip Plumper More Effective Than Others?

The secret lies in the exact formula offered by the manufacturer. Products that use active ingredients that are backed by clinical research are what's going to make the difference. Look for ingredients that are patented, which means that they have been scientifically tested and approved. Additionally, the formula should contain a high percentage of active ingredients designed to hydrate the lips and replenish missing essential nutrients, as well as provide a defensive layer to protect against environmental toxins that damage and age the lips prematurely. Lip enhancers should not only offer to augment the fullness of the lips but they should also provide nourishment, protection and support for the layers of the lips in order to battle the visible signs of aging and sustain youthful looks for longer.

Read the labels and educate yourself on ingredients. Use the best kept secrets from the laboratory to enjoy healthy, youthful, and plumped up lips that defy the signs of aging.