Curious about non-surgical ways to make your lips look fuller? Pick up a few pro techniques from Ariel Tejada, the makeup artist behind Shay Mitchell and the Kardashian-Jenner sisters. Plumping Your Lips With Makeup: Insider Techniques From Shay Mitchell's Celebrity Artist
A few years back, Ariel showed both Kylie and Shay his go-to method for giving lips a fuller appearance using nothing but cosmetics. His partnerships with the world's most famous siblings and additional A-list celebrities have earned him more than 2 million followers on Instagram, earning him a reputation as the go-to authority on "Instagram makeup."
Ariel constantly gets bombarded with questions from women about how to make their lips look bigger without anyone noticing. Luckily, his techniques have grown significantly sharper since his days collaborating with Jenner. These days, he has mastered the art of adding plumpness and dimension to lips without veering into clown-fish or Ronald McDonald territory. Shay Mitchell, best known for "Pretty Little Liars," relies on this same trick regularly.
According to the makeup pro, achieving plus-size lip volume calls for just two essentials — a quality lip balm and a liner pencil. Everything else comes down to mastering the right technique.
READ Holograms Of Late Artists: Why Are They Created And How Does The Public React?
Because Ariel has worked with Shay Mitchell on countless occasions, he frequently uses this non-invasive lip-plumping hack on her. Since Shay launched her own beauty-focused YouTube channel, fans have been able to witness Tehada's finished results firsthand while also picking up his signature technique. Mitchell's tutorial video is honestly a lifesaver for anyone wanting to subtly tweak their lip shape without ending up with an unflattering duck-like pout. Bonus: the whole process takes just a couple of minutes, so even a total beginner can pull it off.
Ariel's step-by-step approach to fuller-looking lips
- Start by applying a hydrating lip balm so the pencil doesn't cling to dry patches or highlight flakiness. The balm also acts as a smooth base, prepping your lips for the rest of the routine.
- To create the illusion of extra volume, pick up a matte pencil in a shade close to your natural lip color (or your chosen lipstick). Begin outlining from the left corner of the upper lip, tracing precisely along the edge. Once you've covered about a third of the way, drift the pencil just 1-2 mm beyond your natural lip line. Continue along the next third following your real contour, then lift slightly again near the cupid's bow area. Only the center of the upper lip needs that subtle boost — overdoing it will make the result look fake.
- Mirror the same steps on the lower lip, lifting the line only through the central section.
- Use the pencil to fill in the outer corners and a portion of the outline, but keep the center of the lips bare. This contrast is what gives the illusion of a plumper pout.
- Clean up and sharpen the edges with a concealer, particularly when working with bold or deep lipstick shades.
- Coat the entire lip area with a matte lipstick matching the pencil, blending thoroughly so it merges seamlessly with the liner.
- Pop a slightly lighter lipstick shade — or dab on a touch of balm — right in the middle of the lips to create a 3D plumping effect.
In the tutorial, Ariel doesn't attempt to alter Shay's actual lip shape — he simply enhances their fullness. That said, if you're looking to correct minor asymmetry, which typically shows up on the upper lip, he suggests using the corner of the cupid's bow that sits higher as your reference point.
Featured image on womenshealthmag.com
