Before I discovered lip oils, I was utterly obsessed with lip balms. When I was younger, every weekend, my best friend and I would hotfoot it down to the nearest Claire’s and spend the best part of the afternoon meticulously deciding which Lipsmackers lip balm I’d be investing this week. If I focus really hard I can still smell the Vanilla Coke flavour like it was yesterday.
Lip balms continued to stake their claim at the bottom of my schoolbag throughout my adolescence. There were the Nivea Pearly Shine Lip Balm years, a brief dalliance with Blistex MedPlus (honestly, I can’t remember why either), and later an obsession with Glossier’s Balm Dotcoms, which still remain scattered throughout my life like delicious balmy breadcrumbs.
But most recently, I’ve become a complete convert to the cult of lip oils. Bar one from Clarins, I could never remember seeing them around (it’s possible I was too dazzled by my never-ending array of lip balms). Now, much to my delight, it seems like I can’t go a day without a new lip oil launching – and I’m fully on board.
The thing is, as much as I love my lip balms, they’ve never really done enough to moisturise my lips as much as I’d like them to. Lip oils on the other hand not only give me glossy, plump lips, but they seem to leave them in a much more nourished state. Also, to be fully transparent, applying a lip oil makes me feel like a rich French woman.
The best lip oils
As you can imagine, the lip oils I choose to have on rotation from my prized stash has become pretty serious business. Below, find out which ones I think are worth a spot in your tote bag, including Gisou’s latest shimmery launch.
Gisou Lip Oil Golden Shimmer Glow, £24
If you’re a fan of Gisou’s traditional lip oil, you need to get your hands on its newly launched golden shimmer glow formula. Packed with the same hyaluronic acid as the original, alongside Gisou’s signature Mirsalehi honey, its ultra hydrating with the added plus of leaving lips with a delicate shimmer. Rather than a traditional gloss finish, it contains tiny flecks of glitter, which sparkle in the light making it the perfect night our lip topper, IMO.
Typology Tinted Lip Oils, £18.90
I love everything about these lip oils. The shades! The chic square packaging! The tiny applicator! This isn’t a super oily texture and feels more like a serum so a bonus if you don’t like your mouth to turn into a slip-and-slide. I go between the clear lip oil on lowkey days and the red shade, which gives a sheer cherry tint, on days I want to feel very put together. Also, wearing these brings me one step closer to making my rich French woman dream a reality – sort of.
Nivea Lip Oil, £5.49
As the same brand that created the OG Pearly Lip Balm, I wasn’t surprised when Nivea’s new lip oil started going viral on TikTok. At the moment it comes in two shades which I find look quite similar on my lips (the lighter pink has a bit more of a shimmer but they’re both pretty translucent). I found it has more of a glossy texture than other lip oils I’ve tried but it doesn’t leave a tacky finish at all and your lips feel moisturised and plump afterwards. For just over £5, I’ll be making sure one of these is always within reach.
Dior Addict Lip Glow Oil, £28
The lip oil that probably needs no introduction, Dior’s Lip Glow Oil is one of the products I’ll always splurge on. It’s got a true oil texture and finish which drenches the lips in moisture. Whether you prefer a violet or pink hue, the shade range has something for everyone, not to mention the formula works with the undertone of your lips to bring out your natural vibrancy. A steeper price tag yes, but I promise it feels every bit as luxurious and more.
Revolution Pro Eternal Rose Lip Oil, £7
If you can’t justify splashing the cash on the Dior Lip Oil, Revolution’s is a pretty close dupe. It comes in a few different shades but my favourite is Rosy, which gives a similar tint to Dior’s Rosewood shade. The applicator on this is huge which I love (one swipe and you’re good to go) and the formula gives the lips the most gorgeous glass-like finish.
Fenty Cherry Lip Conditioner, £20
Clearly, part of me can’t leave my obsession with fruit-smelling lip products in the past, and I blame this cherry-scented lip oil from Fenty. Not only does it smell delightful, but it’s formulated with Barbados cherry and wild cherry extracts to condition and plump your pout. It’s got a very slight tint to it, so a good option if you want a subtle enhancement to your natural lip shade.
Rare Beauty Soft Pinch Tinted Lip Oil, £20
As soon as I saw this lip oil going viral on TikTok I knew I had to try it and now I’m officially obsessed. Selena designed these after loving the look of lip tints and stains yet finding they’d leave her lips feeling dry. This lip oil is the ideal antidote, giving a wash of colour that dries down to a stain without that uncomfortable tight feeling. Is it a traditional lip oil? I’d say no, but do you need one in your makeup bag? Definitely yes.
Kosas Wet Lip Oil Gloss, £18
Since touching down in the UK earlier this year, Kosas has been causing a storm in the beauty world. This lip oil-gloss hybrid lives up to the hype, giving a slick of hydrating colour that doesn’t feel sticky or tacky. However, while it does contain the nourishing traits of a lip oil, this definitely has a more hybrid gloss-like texture, meaning it feels slightly thicker than other lip oils. I wouldn’t say this is a negative but if you don’t like feeling product on your lips I’d suggest trying one of my previous picks.
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