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Byrdie / Kevin Liang
We wholeheartedly love and appreciate a glossy lip. Whether bare or bright, there’s something about a high-shine finish that’s stunning, sophisticated, and sexy. The only issue? As much we love ‘em, many lip glosses admittedly have their fair share of drawbacks—think stickiness, fading, and sometimes, a goopy texture.
That’s why lip oils are an incredible alternative. The balm-gloss hybrids are, in one word, ingenious. They’re also both a treatment and a cosmetic in one, giving you a beautiful shine and much longer-lasting hydration and relief from chapped lips than even a balm, says celebrity makeup artist Bryan Cantor. They can be clear or pigmented and, in short, combine the best of all your go-to lip products in a one-stop-swipe. Plus, there’s no wrong way to use them. “A lip oil can be used on its own, layered under lipstick for extra hydration, or over lipstick for extra shine,” says Cantor.
So, we researched the best lip oils on the market, and combined those findings with our personal experiences using tons of products in the category. Ahead, find our top picks.
Best Overall
Clarins Lip Comfort Oil
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Ulta
Non-sticky
Glossy finish
Enriched with plant extracts
Wears off easily
Byrdie editors unanimously agree that this oil is hands-down one of the best there is. There’s no shortage of things to love, including a hydrating blend of jojoba and hazelnut oils for plenty of moisture and an oversized doe-foot applicator that’s specially curved to hug the contours of your lips. There are eight options available, some of which deliver a sheer wash of color, others that react with the pH of your lips for a personalized hue, and a few that simply have a yummy flavor.
Price at time of publish: $28
Size: 6 ml | Shades: 8 | Cruelty-Free: No | Byrdie Clean: Yes
Best Overall, Runner-Up
Dior Lip Glow Oil
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Sephora
Glossy finish
Large doe-foot applicator
Pretty shade range
Luxe packaging
Texture can feel slightly thick
Chances are, you're familiar with this TikTok viral lip oil. But let us just say we get why it's been so well-loved. In addition to the adorable, luxurious packaging, the formula is really great. It feels incredibly hydrating on the lips, and it provides them with a sheer wash of color and a super glossy finish. It also smells a bit like minty vanilla, which is quite refreshing on the lips. Plus, the large doe-foot applicator makes swiping it on quick and easy. While it can feel just slightly thick on the lips, we don't mind as it's not overly stick,y and the thickness makes it last longer than other options on the market.
Price at time of publish: $40
Size: 6 ml | Shades: 8 | Cruelty-Free: No | Byrdie Clean: No
Related: Why Is the Dior Beauty Lip Glow Oil So Popular?
Best High-Shine
Ami Colé Lip Treatment Oil
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Sephora
Extremely glossy finish
Moisturizing feel
Wears for several hours
Can be slightly sticky
Juicy lips with a glass-like finish are always in, and this incredible lip oil will help you achieve the look in one swipe. It glides across lips smoothly, coating them in a hydrating, glossy oil that creates the most gorgeous finish. While it can be just slightly sticky, we don't mind this because that minor tackiness lends to a more long-wearing formula. Pop it on top of lip liner or over bare lips, and you'll be left with a plump-looking pout.
Price at time of publish: $20
Size: 4.5 ml | Shades: 4 | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes
Best Budget
Versed Silk Slip Tinted Lip Oil
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Versed
Non-greasy and non-sticky
Long-wearing
Various shades
Might create chapped lips for some
It’s hard to decide what we like best about this formula: the super hydrating feel, the beautifully sheer color, or the wallet-friendly price. Thankfully, there’s no need to choose because you get all three. A combo of jojoba, camelia, and sesame oils, plus vitamin E, adds tons of nourishing moisture, and the three shades are ideal for adding just a little something-something to your lips. (You can even dab a little bit onto cheeks in place of blush.)
Price at time of publish: $10
Size: 9 ml | Shades: 3 | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes
Best Drugstore
NYX NYX Fat Oil Lip Drip
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NYX
Smooth texture
Glossy finish
Large applicator
Great shade range
Fragrance might be overbearing for some
Finding a great lip oil from the drugstore can be challenging, considering the pretty limited options, but this one is a great. It comes in lots of shades that provide a hint of color to the lips, and the texture feels like a hybrid between a cream and an oil—it's incredibly comfortable. Once applied, it creates a really glossy shine, and it never feels sticky, greasy, or heavy. We also love the large doe-foot applicator because it makes application quick and easy. One thing to note is that if you're super sensitive to fragrance in your makeup products, be warned that this one is heavily scented. However, it dissipates once applied.
Price at time of publish: $9
Size: 4.8 ml | Shades: 8 | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No
Best Plumping
Kosas Wet Lip Oil Gloss
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Kosas
2-in-1: lip treatment and gloss
Adds extra doses of hydration
Various color options
Not sticky
Can get a bit goopy
Swipe on this pick if you’re looking to create the illusion of plumper lips. “It contains peptides to plump up your lips, plus healthy doses of hyaluronic acid and shea butter to add extra hydration,” says Cantor of one of his favorites. He’s partial to ‘Jellyfish,’ a clear shade, though it also comes in several pretty colors, too. While it feels like a non-sticky gloss on the lips, if you rub your lips together too much, it will get a bit goopy.
Price at time of publish: $22
Size: 4.5 ml. | Shades: 11 | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes
Best Splurge
Hourglass No. 28 Lip Treatment Oil
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Courtesy of Nordstrom
Packed with natural oils
Increases moisture levels
Provides glossy finish
Applicator can be tricky to use
This splurge is well worth the money, boasting several unique ingredients that do everything from increase moisture levels to improve lip texture and reduce the depth of wrinkles. The 24-karat gold-plated tip not only looks super luxurious, but it also claims to be antibacterial, a major boon for germaphobes. And no matter whether you opt for the clear version or one of the tinted options, you’re guaranteed high-impact shine. Just beware that the clicky applicator can take some time to actually bring the product to the surface of the tube.
Price at time of publish: $54
Size: 7.5 ml | Shades: 8 | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes
Best Solid
Ogee Luxury Organics Tinted Sculpted Lip Oil
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Comes in a large shade range
Silky in feel
Vegetable-derived volumizers help to plump the lips
Colors could be more vibrant
Prefer lipsticks and solid lip balms? This pick is for you. It’s another one of Cantor’s favorites, a chubby, oil-based pencil that imparts tons of moisture and glides beautifully across lips. Jojoba oil and butters are the main ingredients, combined with hydrating hyaluronic acid and refreshing peppermint oil. We also appreciate that it comes in a nice array of shades, though we wish the color payoff was a bit more intense.
Price at time of publish: $28
Size: 3 grams | Shades: 11 | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes
Best Satin Finish
ILIA Balmy Gloss Tinted Lip Oil
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Sephora
Various fun pink shades
Has a plumping effect
No stickiness
Glides on smoothly
Applicator is a bit small
If you prefer lip products without a super glossy finish, but you still want some hydration and a subtle shine, this is the one for you. It softly tints the lips and creates a nice satin finish. It’s also loaded with hydrating shea butter, sunflower seed oil, and meadowfoam seed oil, and it comes in a really pretty range of pink and rosy tones.
Price at time of publish: $26
Size: 4 ml | Shades: 6 | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes
Best Scented
InnBeauty Project Glaze Lip Oil InnBeauty Project Glaze Lip Oil
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Creates a juicy, gloss look
Has a large, doe-foot applicator
Lasts several hours on the lips
Can be a bit thick
If you like lip products that feature unique scents, we have no doubt you'll love this lip oil. It comes several really fun scents, like Candy Apple and Fruity Cereal, and each one is truly mouthwatering. And while the delicious fragrances alone is reason enough to use this, it’s also very moisturizing and delivers an equally juicy finish to the lips with a wash of color. It is slightly stickier than a few others on this list, but not in a bad way, and we also love that the doe foot is slightly curved to help seamlessly hug your lips.
Price at time of publish: $17
Size: 6 ml | Shades: Frose, Glaze | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes
Final Verdict
Our top pick is the Clarins Lip Comfort Oil, thanks to its glossy finish, moisturizing formula, and non-sticky texture. But if you're in search of a more affordable option, we recommend the NYX Fat Oil Lip Drip. And if something with a more subtle, satin finish is your preference, go for the Ilia Balmy Gloss Tinted Lip Oil.
Meet the Expert
Bryan Cantor is a celebrity makeup artist and beauty expert based in New York City. He brings his impressive knowledge of makeup products, skincare, application techniques, and professional tips and secrets to clients and companies in New York City and across the globe.
What to Look for in a Lip Oil
Natural, Moisturizing Ingredients
It may sound obvious, but the more of these, the better. A few of Cantor’s favorite oils to look for include jojoba oil and castor oil; vitamin E is also great. Jojoba oil can soften the skin, as well as balance natural oil production, while vitamin E seals in moisture and soothes skin irritations.
According to Cantor, you’ll want to steer clear of picks that contain camphor, menthol, and synthetic fragrances. “These can actually make your lips dryer and may even cause inflammation,” he cautions.
Pleasing Scent
Many lip oil products are unscented, or use mild, natural fragrance ingredients for those who want just a hint of scent. If you adore the Lipsmacker vibe, there is of course a product for you, but for those that don't, it's worth a sniff before committing to a lip oil. Since it's directly under your nose, you'll want to be positive it won't give you a headache. If you like scented lip products, you can't go wrong with the InnBeauty Project Glaze Lip Oil.
According to our Diversity Pledge, 15% of products in our newly-published market roundups will feature Black-owned and/or Black-founded brands. At the time of publishing, we were not able to find any lip oils from a Black-owned and/or Black-founded business. If you know of one we should consider, please email us at contact@byrdie.com and we will evaluate the product ASAP.
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