6 Ways to Plump Up Your Pout For That Sexy Valentine's Day Date

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While you can't develop Angelina Jolie lips overnight, there are secret ways to make your lips look fuller — no painful injections or itchy, tingly plumping products required. Makeup artists have relied on a handful of simple tips and tricks to help their clients pump up the pucker volume, and we've got them all right here to share with you. Don't blame us if you end up getting that postdate snog!

For the Beginner

Avoid dark colored lipsticks or glosses that can actually make your lips look smaller. Instead, choose a lighter shade with a shiny finish to reflect light and give off the illusion of fullness. Try exfoliating your lips with a baby toothbrush and applying lip balm like this classic Rosebud Salve ($6). It's a gentle way to exfoliate, and it promotes circulation in the lips, causing a temporary plump. You can also sweep a tiny dab of light-colored gloss like Benefit Ultra Plush Lip Gloss in Dandelion ($16) on the middle of your top and bottom lips.

For the Intermediate

Apply a luminizer or a nude or white eye pencil to your cupid's bow only (the "M" shape right above your upper lip) and blend lightly. Experiment with Rimmel Soft Kohl Kajal Eye Liner Pencil ($4). Additionally, you can use a slight amount (about one eighth of an inch) of soft brown eyeliner directly beneath your lower lip line. This is a trick that makes it seem like your lips are actually creating a shadow. Try CoverGirl Perfect Blend Eye Pencil in Smoky Taupe ($4).

For the Expert

Apply concealer to your entire lip surface to create a blank canvas. Then, using a lip liner in a shade similar to your own lips (or one to two shades darker), draw a line around the perimeter of your mouth from just slightly outside your natural line, moving inward. Smudge any rough edges and apply lipstick, gloss, or both.