by Snow Vandemore

Created on: August 30, 2009

Plump, youthful, kissable lips. It's an attractive, sexy look made famous by movie actress Angelina Jolie, and one that you can create yourself at home, naturally and economically, by making your own lip plumper.

If you've seen the commercial lip plumpers at your local cosmetics counter or at online makeup sites, you know they can easily cost as much as $50.00 for just one-third of an ounce. For around $15.00 in raw materials, you can make enough of lip plumper for your own use, to give to your friends and for holiday gift-giving - at a fraction of the cost of just one of the famous brands.

The "Secret" Ingredient

The common ingredient found in most of the expensive commercial lip plumpers is Cinnamon Leaf Essential Oil. Why? Cinnamon Leaf Essential Oil, when placed on the lips, irritates the delicate skin of the lips and makes them swell. Full, pouty lips and diminished fine lines around the lip area result.

Other essential oils, such as Peppermint, Menthol or Clove may also be used, but will likely not produce the same dramatic effect as the Cinnamon Leaf Essential Oil.

Before we start, a couple of important reminders:

- All ingredients that you can buy to make your own beauty products are not necessarily created equal. Be sure that the ingredients you purchase are cosmetic grade, which means they have been tested and are safe and suitable for topical use on the skin.

- As an added precaution, wear rubber gloves and goggles when mixing essential oils as splashing could cause a serious skin irritation.

With that said, here are the ingredients you will need to make your own lip plumper:

"Plumping" Essential Oil: Cinnamon Leaf, Peppermint, Menthol or Clove

Coconut or Jojoba Oil

Liquid B3 Extract (Niacin)

Small, clean 2-ounce container with secure top (portable, purse size)

Large 8-ounce container with secure top (to store larger amounts of prepared lip plumper)

Directions: Mix 1-1/2 Tablespoons Carrier Oil with 2-3 drops Essential Oil and 2-3 drops Niacin. Test the mixture on your lips to determine if the desired effect is reached. Apply only to your lip area (not surrounding skin, or it may burn.)

If the "burning sensation" you feel is uncomfortable, rinse the lip area quickly with cold water. Add a few more drops of the carrier oil to your mix to dilute the Essential Oil.

If you want more of a plumping action, add one more drop of the Essential Oil, mix thoroughly and test again. Continue to add one more drop of Essential Oil until you are satisfied with your mixture.

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