If there's one thing the beauty industry has seen a boom in this side of the millennium, it's plump lips. Many experts put this down to the rise of social media. The beauty trend predictably resulted in an increase in demand for lip fillers. Whilst non-surgical procedures like dermal fillers are unregulated in the UK, data from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons revealed that back in 2015 as many as 27,000 Americans underwent lip augmentations - that's one American every 20 minutes.
It seems social media is playing its part in the plumped-up lip look once more with a steady stream of lip massage how-tos that promise to plump up your lips, no needles required. These videos focus on massaging both your lips and the area surrounding them with your fingertips to boost the fullness of your pout. One particular how-to filmed by New York-based aesthetician Danna Omari reeled in over 23K likes on TikTok. So do they really work?
Watch: Danna Omari's Lip Plumping Massage
In a series of odd-looking movements, Danna Omari manipulates her lips and encourages her audience to do the same in order to achieve a plump pout at home. She advises against wearing a lip balm or using lip oils for this as, apparently, you need to have a bit of grip. Omari also warns that those with lip fillers should not attempt the massage as it could adversely alter the distribution of the filler.
The Expert's Take
According to Grazia's go-to GP, Dr Isabella Kent, 'Whilst massaging your lips may increase blood flow to the area, giving the temporary illusion of a fuller pout, it's unlikely to replicate the visible results of lip fillers.' That's not to say that Isabella is dubious about face massages as a whole. 'I know and appreciate the value of a good face massage, I used to love going to FaceGym pre-lockdown, but the benefits with that sort of face massage lie in their abilities to boost lymphatic drainage and to de-puff, not to plump things up.'
In short, there's nothing wrong with massaging your lips. It's an easy way to while away some time in front of a Netflix series and is pretty relaxing, too. It might well plump things up very slightly for a short amount of time, but don't expect anything transformative.
Want to give your lips a new lease of life? Here are the best lip balms, tested by self-confessed lip balm addict, Jade Moscrop:
SHOP: The Best Nourishing Lip Balms
1 of 12Dr. PAWPAW Scrub & Nourish Duo Pot
"The consistency of this balm is thick, which means it lasts a long time and is great if your lips are really chapped, like in winter. The scrub is an excellent addition - a really nifty product that helps to exfoliate lips and keep them healthy."
Rating: 4/5
2 of 12Carmex Original Lip Balm
"I swore by Carmex for a number of years but went off it in favour of other products. It's got a lovely texture and scent but I find myself needing to apply it frequently throughout the day. It doesn't really give me the long-term healing I'm looking for."
Rating: 4/5
3 of 12EOS Organic Lip Balm
"This gets top marks from me. I like the packaging, the smell, the texture - everything. It healed my dry lips within just a day of using it and keeps them feeling moisturised all day."
Rating: 5/5
4 of 12Vaseline Lip Balm Therapy, Cocoa Butter
"I've been reaching for Vaseline since I was about 15 years old - it's tried and true. However, it doesn't always give me the intense lip hydration that I need. It's a good everyday balm and great for adding a bit of shine, but if your lips are really damaged, you might need to reach for something stronger."
Rating: 4/5
5 of 12Lotil Lip Balm
"Lotil's lip balm is easily the creamiest lip balm on the list, which is great for long-lasting moisture. With added SPF30, it's ideal for all-year-round use but especially in summer. You will need to reach for the tube a few times a day, but the gloriously soft feeling you get from using it makes it all worth it. It's dermatologically tested, PABA free and SO purse-friendly."
Rating: 5/5
6 of 12Skin Sapiens Lip Balm
"If it's a totally natural product you're looking for, this vegan formula ticks all the boxes. It feels great on the lips and doesn't get sticky or tacky like some thicker formulas. It doesn't have a scent or colour which might split opinions."
Rating: 4/5
7 of 12Gnarly Joe Moisturising Lip Balm
"I had to give Amazon's best-rated lip balm a try and it worked a treat. The texture is a little odd at first - it's a hard balm that warms up on your fingers. It smells amazing and provided intense hydration, even when applied just a couple of times per day - this will be my new winter go-to."
Rat****ing: 5/5
8 of 12Burt's Bees Balms
"Burt's Bees came highly recommended by several people, and for good reason. These balms smell lovely, work well and are perfect for having in your car or purse. They aren't quite as hydrating as other balms, so I had to reapply more often, but the fact that the multi-packs exist makes them a good investment."
Rating: 4/5
9 of 12PIXI Shea Butter Lip Balm
"This Pixi lip balm doubles up as a natural-looking lip colour, which is good for when you're out and about and need a quick lip top-up. It isn't as hydrating as some others out there and is a little pricey for the size of it, but the colour selection is perfect."
Rating: 4/5
10 of 12Elizabeth Arden Eight hour Intensive Lip Repair Balm
"This works super quickly to hydrate lips and keep them feeling soft. At £15 a pot, it's on the luxury end of the scale."
Rating: 4/5
11 of 12NIVEA Original Care Caring Lip Balm
"Lots of people I know swear by Nivea's lip balms and it's perfect for a bit of quick relief. The only downside is that I found I needed to use this more often than some of the other products to get moisturised lips."
Rating: 3/5
12 of 12Blistex Relief Cream
"If you have extremely dry and cracked lips, Blistex is great for reviving them. I would use this at night to let it go to work and use a different balm during the day - it isn't really one I've found you can keep in your bag as the tube is prone to splitting, but it really does work."
Rating: 4/5