Patrick Ta's Secret for Plump, Juicy Lips? Oh, Just This $5 Drugstore Hero

With a stacked celebrity roster (Candice Swanepoel, Camila Cabello, and Gigi Hadid, to name a few), Patrick Ta is someone I'm always looking to for glam inspiration. I have eagle eyes on his Instagram page just in case he posts a particularly saveable look or drops a gem of a product rec I can immediately add to my collection. So when I got the chance to personally ask the iconic makeup artist about his go-to lip combo, you better believe I was champing at the bit to hear his routine.

Ta, of course, has his makeup line, the eponymous Patrick Ta Beauty, so I was expecting to hear his favorite picks from the collection, but it turns out he uses an unsuspecting drugstore product for what he considers the most important step—the prep.

"Prep is really important for any lip, but especially for a plump juicy look," Ta tells me. After all, water-attracting hydration (think hyaluronic acid and glycerin) can visibly plump the lips, while cushioning emollients (think shea butter) effectively smooth out any lip lines. Both help create an even canvas for your subsequent lip color and make the area appear naturally fuller.

For Ta's moisturizing prep step, he reaches for none other than a Burt's Bees lip balm. It's a beloved drugstore hero at only $5. (Psst: You can snag two for just $6 during Amazon Prime Day.) They also come in eight different shades, so you can choose a tint closest to your lip color du jour.

In terms of an everyday routine, "You can start with a Patrick Ta Liner to line the lips before adding a balm of your choice to compliment your lip color and skin tone," Ta shares. "For an extra glossy look, I like to add my Major Plumping Gloss over the top, which will also add the shimmery glow you are often looking for." Think of it as a "my lips, but better" combo with some extra-juicy sheen.

Shop Ta's Lip Combo

More Juicy Lip Products to Swoon Over