The 6 Best Lip Oils for Hydrated, Glowy Lips
Updated: Jan. 10, 2023
The best lip oil marries all the best parts of a lip balm, gloss and stain into the perfect union.
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Chapped lips, especially during the colder winter months, are the absolute worst. Irritating, unsightly and painful, they make it almost impossible to properly apply your go-to lipstick or gloss. There’s a new trending solution to solve all your pucker problems: Lip oils.
The best lip oil combines the nourishing qualities of a lip balm, the shine of a gloss and the lasting power of your favorite lip stain.
Sure, lip balms are amazing (especially if you know these eight lip balm hacks). Tried-and-true tubes (hello Burt’s Bees) are affordable, easy to find, and some—like this $8 multipurpose balm—contain formulations to soothe more than just chapped lips.
But no matter how bomb the balm, they just don’t add the same color or shine as a gloss. However, these winning lip oils properly hydrate lips, without the annoying stickiness found in most glosses.
What to look for when buying lip oils
You’ll want to look for ingredients that soothe and hydrate lips with vitamins, antioxidants and other nourishing natural oils. And when it comes to choosing the best color for your lips, keep in mind that not all lip oils contain pigment (you’ll want the best drugstore lipsticks for that). In fact, several lip oils on our list apply clear. Others react with the moisture or pH in your lips to enhance their natural color.
Evaluation criteria
When compiling our list, we looked for products with cult followings, hydrating ingredients and overwhelmingly positive user reviews. We passed on anything deemed too sticky or products with tendencies to dry out lips.
Best overall lip oil
Dior Addict Lip Glow Oil
A favorite of models and influencers alike, this nourishing Dior lip oil hydrates your pucker with a long-lasting, brilliant shine. So what makes it the best lip oil? It uses color reviver technology to enhance your own natural lip color, meaning it adapts to the moisture in your lips to reveal a custom color unique to each wearer. Enriched with cherry oil, its formula creates a protective film to banish dryness.
Wear it alone, as a top coat for sparkling shine or as a primer under lipstick. The non-sticky and non-greasy texture leaves lips softer and more revitalized, even when bare, for five days after application. Choose from a variety of shades, with shiny and natural finishes, but beware: They often sell out. No matter the hue you pick, it’s sure to be the perfect finishing touch on your natural makeup look.
Pros:
- Infused with vitamin A and rich cherry oil to nourish, hydrate and soften lips
- Uses color reviver technology to enhance your own natural lip color
- Free shipping, complimentary gift wrapping and two gratis samples with any order
- Long-lasting
Cons:
- On the pricier side at $38 a tube
Best value lip oil
Ulta Beauty Juice Infused Lip Oil
A perfect pout for just $10? Yes, please! This Ulta Beauty pick offers an incredible product at an unbeatable price. Natural ingredients like vitamin E and squalane condition and soothe while antioxidants act as anti-wrinkle properties, helping to slow down the aging process.
Six shades each feature slightly different ingredients for a combination of lip-healing benefits. Don’t spend too much time trying to decide on a color—all of these hydrating, juice-infused lip oils apply clear. And if you still haven’t decided whether you’re team Ulta or Sephora, this lip oil definitely tips the scale in Ulta’s favor.
Pros:
- Only $10
- Contains natural ingredients that condition and smooth lips
- Vegan and cruelty-free
Cons:
- Slight scent might bother some
- All of the oils apply clear, so if you prefer color, you may want to try another lip oil on this list
Best splurge lip oil
Charlotte Tilbury Magic Lip Oil Crystal Elixir
Charlotte Tilbury’s Magic Lip Oil Crystal Elixir is downright, well, magical. The beauty guru constantly churns out products that earn a cult following, and her newest lip invention will surely follow suit. This lightweight, clear oil serves as a high-shine lip conditioner by day and a nourishing lip mask by night. The splurge-worthy pick is packed with high-performing ingredients.
Aloe vera, vitamin A and vitamin C work together to heal chapped lips. Hyaluronic acid, which keeps skin hydrated for up to 24 hours, provides an intense boost of nourishment. Alpine rose, a powerful antioxidant, soothes and plumps; while swertian leaf extracts reduce the appearance of vertical lip lines.
The unique crystal roller ball application glides on easily to deliver a glossy finish. This little tube of luxury is an easy makeup secret to always look put together.
Pros:
- Contains hyaluronic acid, aloe vera and plant extracts for intense hydration and smoothing
- High-shine finish
- Lightweight formula isn’t sticky
- Use as a lip mask at night
Cons:
- Small tube for the price
- Only available in clear
Best tinted lip oil
InnBeauty Project Lip Glaze Vault
The perfect lip oils provide equal parts hydration and gloss with a pop of color. Not sure which hue to try? InnBeauty Project’s Glaze Lip Oil has nine different tints in fun flavors like Frosé, Cookie, Fruity Cereal and Merlot. You can even shop all the delicious glazes together in one complete set (at a discount!) perfect for experimenting.
There’s plenty to love about this vegan lip oil. For starters, the formula features all-natural ingredients, like fermented pomegranate, which gently exfoliates lips. It also contains red root and jojoba oil, which soothe and moisturize, while a plant-based plumping complex gives the appearance of fuller lips.
Reviewers confirm the mega-shine oil feels cushiony on lips and stays on for hours. Pair it with these Doe eyelashes for an effortless, elevated look.
Pros:
- Vault includes nine colors and flavors
- Plant-based plumping complex for softer, fuller lips
- Juicy, non-sticky formula
- 100% vegan and cruelty-free with recyclable packaging
Cons:
- Some users say the scent is too strong for their taste
Best clear lip oil
Winky Lux In the Stars Lip Oil
This affordable Winky Lux lip oil gives you a glossy shine with a hint of golden shimmer. Standout skin-loving ingredients, plus a nearly perfect five-star rating, warrants its spot on our list. Its nourishing formula boasts vitamin E, avocado, sunflower and jojoba oils to keep lips soft and hydrated, while peptides stimulate collagen production to reduce the appearance of fine lines.
According to reviewers, this lip oil smells just like cupcakes and adds just the right amount of shimmer and shine.
Pros:
- Applies clear with a glossy finish
- Affordable
- Nourishes, moisturizes and hydrates lips while reducing the appearance of fine lines
Cons:
- Some reviewers say the tube runs out quickly
Most hydrating lip oil
Haus Labs PhD Hybrid Lip Oil
Dying to try the viral Dior Lip Oil but don’t want to shell out almost $40 for a tube? Reviewers dub this Haus Labs pick the best alternative for the famous product. This fragrance-free lip oil uses plant squalane, prickly pear oil and vegan collagen to hydrate and plump lips without any sticky residue.
It’s available in clear as well as four pH-powered shades that adapt to your lips, giving them a true-to-you tint. Feel free to slather it on—repeated use won’t dry out your pout. Our only advice: Act quickly, because this product has a tendency to sell out. Check out even more cool things to buy online before they sell out.
Pros:
- Natural ingredients provide long-lasting hydration
- Each color reacts with the pH of your lips to give you the perfect tint and a natural glow
- Vegan and cruelty-free
Cons:
- Frequently sells out
How we found the best lip oils
As shopping experts, our only job is to help you find a winning product. We start with the research and reporting basics—what products are made of, what they look like and how much they cost—to ensure that we’re only recommending the buys that are worth your time and money. Then, we research the features that speak to the product’s quality, taking advice from industry insiders and subject matter experts on what makes a product a smart value (or worthy of a splurge). Finally, we do the work of combing through user reviews to see how real people interact with the product, and if it stands up to the test.
FAQs
What does lip oil do?
These pout protectors hydrate your pucker like a lip balm, while giving them the pop of color and shiny finish you get from your favorite lip gloss.
How is lip oil different from lip gloss?
Lip oils contain more hydrating ingredients and typically aren’t as thick or sticky as lip gloss.
Is lip oil good for your lips?
Yes! The top lip oil products are packed with antioxidants, vitamins and other nourishing natural oils to keep your lips hydrated and healthy.
