The early 2000’s brought us high-shine lip gloss, and in the (er, many) years since, those goopy tubes have evolved into some of the best lip oils your cosmetic case has ever seen. We’re talking hydrating, glossy formulas with dreamy sheen and none of the stickiness that gets stuck on your hair. And now that the matte lip look has finally taken a backseat, more people are favoring these pretty lip oils. To find the best options, we put over a dozen popular ones to the test, checking for long-lasting moisture, shine, and color. Our top pick is the Kosas Wet Lip Oil Gloss because it has just about everything we want in a lip oil: hydrating ingredients, lightweight feel, and comes in a wide array of shades. Below find all our tried and true favorites that kept our lips moisturized for hours, without the need for constant reapplication.
The best lip oils, at a glance
Your lip oil questions, answered
What are lip oils and what are they used for?
To put it simply, a lip oil is a lip balm or tinted lip balm alternative that helps keep your pout ultra hydrated. “Lip oils create a protective barrier that helps seal in moisture, which is essential for protecting the delicate skin on your lips,” says Melissa Kanchanapoomi Levin, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and founder of Entière Dermatology in New York City. “They make lips soft and supple and add pigment and shine,” says Kasey Spickard, a NYC-based makeup artist.
Is lip oil better than lip balm?
Lip oils aren’t necessarily better than lip balms, but they provide a different finish, and some may not be as hydrating. “Not all lip oils contain humectant properties, which means they might not add significant hydration on their own,” says Dr. Levin. Basically, it depends on the hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid, ceramides, dimethicone or shea butter. Additionally, peptides, squalane, castor seed oil, and hemp seed oil are all rich in nutrients and fatty acids that will keep your lips stay moisturized.
Is lip oil better than lip gloss?
“Lip oils aren’t better than lip glosses, they’re just different,” says Spickard. Glosses typically have a much higher impact shine and wear a bit longer than oils. It comes down to preference, for example if you don’t like the stickiness of lip gloss, you may prefer the consistency of lip oil.
How often should you use lip oil?
You can use lip oils as needed, multiple times a day. Pro tip: “Use a clear one as an overnight treatment to nourish, hydrate and restore the lips,” says Spickard.
We chose the best oils based on consistency, finish, and value. For example, did they feel tacky and heavy to apply, or were they smooth and lightweight? We also looked at the finish and surveyed how shiny or glossy it looked, and how it wore throughout the day. We considered how many shades each lip oil has (the more the merrier, in our opinion) and how it paired overall with our makeup. Some of our editors have been testing lip oils for years, so we were sure to include favorites that are near and dear to our hearts.
Best Overall: Kosas Wet Lip Oil Gloss
Original video by Glamour commerce writer Alanna Martine Kilkeary
Yes, the packaging is gorgeous, but it’s the formula that’ll keep you loyal. Formulated with hyaluronic acid and nourishing botanical ingredients like evening primrose oil, this gloss-like oil adds just the right amount of plumpness and color to your lips. “I’m currently loving the Unzipped shade,” says makeup artist Jenna Menard, who recommends it for all skin tones. (Hailey Bieber is also a fan.) “It’s a soft yet sexy nude with a slightly frosty shimmer in the best way possible.”
Glamour’s commerce writer, Alanna Martine Kilkeary, has been wearing this lip oil since it dropped in 2019. “This slick lip oil was really my first foray into the product, and I’ve been wearing it on repeat ever since. It’s not sticky in the slightest, leaves behind a nice glossy sheen and keeps my usually-very-chapped lips soft and crack-free,” she says. Kilkeary particularly recommends it for the fall and winter months. “I find that my lips get so dry when the temperatures drop, and I never really liked the balmy-ness of lip balms or Chapstick—they’re too medicinal. This lip oil does all the things that you’d want from a major lip hydrator thanks to ingredients like hyaluronic acid and avocado and primrose oils. My favorite shade as of late is Dip because it’s a sparkling brown-pink shimmer that nicely compliments my everyday makeup.” The best part? It’s also available on Amazon so you can snag that fast shipping (and it even makes a great beauty gift).
- Key ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, peptides, primrose oil
- Shades: 9
- Size: 0.2 fl oz
- Pros: Nonsticky finish, paraben-free
- Cons: Slightly scented, reviewers claim that product can leak from the tube
Original image by Glamour commerce writer Alanna Martine Kilkeary
Original image by Glamour commerce writer Alanna Martine Kilkeary
Best Clear Lip Oil: Gisou Honey Infused Lip Oil
Original video by Glamour commerce writer Alanna Martine Kilkeary
Arguably the most high-shine oil of the bunch, Gisou’s honey-infused lip treatment nourishes even the driest of chapped lips. Smooth it on over your lip color, and or wear it over a clear balm for a glass-like finish. “Just a few swipes and my lips feel soft and protected. Plus, it smells great,” says Glamour editorial assistant Monique Wilson of this Gisou lip oil. Glamour’s Kilkeary likes that it has a glass-like finish without feeling sticky or heavy on the lips. “If you want something ultra-lightweight that will also keep your lips moisturized for hours, this lip oil is your answer. It’s much lighter than a lot of the other lip oils I’ve tried over the years, but still gives you a deeply hydrated and plush finish with honey, bee garden oils and hyaluronic acid. While the formula is yellow-gold in the tube, it’s actually glassy and clear upon application and has a sweet honey scent that makes it smell just as good as it feels.”
- Key ingredients: Honey, bee garden oils, hyaluronic acid
- Shades: 6
- Size: 0.27 oz
- Pros: Plumping, gluten-free, nonsticky glossy finish
- Cons: Over $30, reviewers say the gold color can be off-putting at first
Original image by Glamour commerce writer Alanna Martine Kilkeary
Original image by Glamour commerce writer Alanna Martine Kilkeary
Best Hydrating Lip Oil: Rare Beauty Soft Pinch Tinted Lip Oil
Original video by Glamour senior commerce editor Jenifer Calle
“I love the innovation of this tinted lip oil because the formula starts off thicker (in an almost jelly-like format) and melts down to a soft, hydrating lip oil,” says Spickard. He recommends this pick to his clients because it not only keeps your lips moisturized and velvety with jojoba seed and sunflower seed oil, but as it wears it leaves behind a nice stain that won’t budge, even if you’re drinking or eating. Need more convincing? Just read our full review on this Rare Beauty lip oil which Glamour senior beauty editor Ariana Yaptangco describes it’s unique texture.“While it is certainly an oil, it doesn’t feel thin or oily. At first application, it feels a bit more viscous and more similar to a slick gloss, but eventually the formula begins to dry and transform into a shiny tint. Other lip oils have felt similar at first, but they’ve always absorbed too quickly, been too oily, or left my skin feeling dry not long after application.” Glamour’s senior commerce editor Jenifer Calle shares the sentiment. “I like that it’s so lightweight and that I don’t have to constantly reapply because the color payoff is so great,” she says.
- Key ingredients: Jojoba seed oil, sunflower seed oil
- Shades: 8
- Size: .10 oz
- Pros: Comes in 10 shades, all day wear, not sticky
- Cons: Very tinted
Original image by Glamour senior commerce editor Jenifer Calle
Original image by Glamour senior commerce editor Jenifer Calle
Best Vegan Lip Oil: Milk Makeup Kush Lip Oil
Original video by Glamour commerce editor Malia Griggs
Spickard recommends this vegan lip oil formula because it’s super hydrating and looks stunning on its own or paired over lipsticks. “It doesn’t have a greasy or heavy feeling like some other lip oils—instead it’s lightweight and seamlessly glides onto the lips, whether you’re wearing product on them already or not,” he says. The particular oil ingredients like hemp seed and sunflower are notoriously lightweight compared to heavier ceramides or shea butter, which adds to its appeal.
“This is a classic lip oil; it glides right on, isn’t sticky in the least, and stays put for about 40 minutes. I liked that it didn’t seem to have any sort of distracting fragrance of flavor,” says Glamour commerce editor Malia Griggs. “I used it in the shade Chocolate Cake, which didn’t really seem to have any color at all, making it quite subtle overall, if that’s the type of look you’re going for.”
