most lip plumpers work as a local irritant. these “plumpers” contain ingredients that might cause temporary swelling such as peppermint oil peppers and menthoxypropanediol a potent derivative of menthol. unfortunately there are not many scientific or multi-institutional studies to demonstrate the long-term efficacy of lip plumpers. if you're looking for a slight temporary plumping of the lips for a special evening out you may be satisfied with the results you get from these cosmetic lip plumpers. if your lips are thin and you're looking for that bee stung look you'll likely be disappointed. use of a lip plumper combined with cosmetic techniques that add the illusion of fuller lips such as using a lip liner slightly outside the natural line of the lips may provide a more satisfying illusion of fullness or you can always play up one of your better features such as your eyes to draw attention away from your thin lips. <link> <link>
do over-the-counter lip-plumping products really work?