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What is lip oil? Why are lip oils trending? How are you meant to wear lip oils? 1. Best Lip Oil For Colour Options: Clarins Lip Comfort Oil 2. Best Luxury Lip Oil: GUERLAIN KISSKISS Bee Glow Oil 3. Best Hydrating Lip Oil: Estee Lauder Lip Oil-Serum 4. Best Protecting Lip Oil: Coola Classic Liplux Hydrating Oil SPF30 5. Best Smelling Lip Oil: Nuxe Reve de Miel Honey Lip Care
Lip oils continue to reign over social media, maintaining their billions of views status across TikTok and Instagram. These high-shine lip colours aren't going anywhere -they're now a staple in the "clean girl" and "glazed-donut" aesthetic, blending skincare with makeup.
Brands have definitely taken note of this sustained demand. We've seen a shift towards formulas that offer more hydration, subtle plumping effects, and nourishing ingredients like hyaluronic acid and cherry oil.
So, with lip oils becoming a permanent fixture in our makeup bags, I wanted to answer some of your most-asked questions and share some of my favourites, both new and iconic...
What is lip oil?
My favourite way to describe lip oil to someone is to say it’s as if lip gloss and lip balm had a baby. Lip oils are more like lip care than makeup; they give the high-shine finish of a lip gloss but contain the lip-caring ingredients usually found in a lip balm.
Why are lip oils trending?
TikTok has pushed lip oils into the spotlight. Users have created videos on their favourite formulas that have amassed billions of views. Celebrities are also behind the popularity surge: Selena Gomez’s brand Rare Beauty, Negin Mirsalehi’s Gisou, Kylie Jenner’s Kylie Cosmetics and Rihanna’s Fenty, to name but a few. Although yet to release a lip oil, Hailey Bieber’s brand Rhode is a key player in the overall lip balm category, which is also growing, with Google search for “lip balm” up 49% yearly.
You get deep hydration and treatment for dry, chapped lips while wearing a beautiful colour. They truly condition your lips, not just sit on top of them.
They are a multi-purpose product that simplifies your beauty routine, acting as a balm, gloss, and treatment.
They enhance the natural appearance of your lips, making them look healthy and supple instantly.
How are you meant to wear lip oils?
Lip oils are incredibly versatile. They can be worn alone or layered over lipstick or lip liner to give lips a shiny finish.
1. Best Lip Oil For Colour Options: Clarins Lip Comfort Oil
The Lip Comfort Oil is a best-selling lip oil, and for good reason. The formula is the result of 65 years of essential oils expertise. Each of the eight shades contains 93% natural ingredients, and 98% of the formula is classed as skincare. The tinted lip oils are enriched with lip-caring ingredients like organic sweetbriar rose oil, organic jojoba oil and hazelnut oil.
2. Best Luxury Lip Oil: GUERLAIN KISSKISS Bee Glow Oil
The Bee Glow Oil is the latest addition to the category, and dare I say, the most luxurious in my opinion. It’s honey-infused, smells delicious, and comes in 6 shades. The formula contains 92% natural-origin ingredients, including propolis and royal jelly, which boosts the skin’s natural hyaluronic acid synthesis so lips are always plump and moisturised.
3. Best Hydrating Lip Oil: Estee Lauder Lip Oil-Serum
If you’re not into tinted lip products, this lip oil is for you. The Nighttime Rescue Lip Oil-Serum is a clear oil-serum that feels lighter on the lips than a traditional lip oil. It’s designed to be worn overnight, and it contains naturally derived oils camellia, rose and lavender, which hydrate and soften your lips while you sleep.
4. Best Protecting Lip Oil: Coola Classic Liplux Hydrating Oil SPF30
The lip area is often overlooked when it comes to sun protection, so I love this lip oil. The lips are one of the first places to show signs of ageing, so it pays to protect them. The Liplux Hydrating Oil has added SPF30, which shields this delicate area from harmful UV rays, while organic fruit oils and vitamins counteract the drying effects of the sun.
5. Best Smelling Lip Oil: Nuxe Reve de Miel Honey Lip Care
The first thing I noticed when I applied the Reve de Miel Lip Oil was its smell; it has a delicious French lavender honey and vanilla fragrance that’ll make you want to reapply it repeatedly. And if the scent wasn’t enough reason to grab it out of your bag, its adorable packaging, with a honeycomb-shaped applicator, is.
The Author: Ceryn Askins
❓ Your Lip Oil FAQs Answered
We've covered what lip oils are and why they're trending, but here are quick answers to a few more of your most frequently asked questions.
Is lip oil better than lip balm?
It depends on your preference! A lip oil offers the hydration of a balm but with a high-shine finish similar to a gloss. A traditional lip balm often offers more intensive, heavy-duty moisture for very chapped lips and has a matte or subtle sheen. Lip oil is a great everyday hybrid of care and shine.
Do lip oils dry out your lips?
Unlike some lip glosses that contain ingredients that can evaporate and leave your lips feeling drier, modern lip oils are formulated with nourishing ingredients (like the natural oils mentioned above) that are designed to condition and moisturize your lips. Good quality lip oils should not dry out your lips.
Can you wear lip oil overnight?
Absolutely! Many lip oils are excellent for overnight wear, especially those formulated with a focus on hydration and repair, like the Estee Lauder Pure Color Envy Nighttime Rescue Lip Oil-Serum you reviewed. They work while you sleep to soften and condition your lips.
Are lip oils sticky?
Generally, no. One of the key benefits of lip oil over traditional lip gloss is that it is typically designed to feel much lighter and less tacky. The oil-based formula gives a high-shine look without the thick, sticky feeling.
Does lip oil plump your lips?
Lip oils generally focus on hydration and smoothness. By deeply moisturizing your lips, they can make them look naturally fuller and healthier. While they don't typically contain strong 'plumping' ingredients, deep hydration itself offers a plumping effect.
