Glossy, juicy and versatile, a lip oil is the new must-have in your lip care kit. But if you’ve ever found yourself asking, ‘what is lip oil?’ – well, you’re not alone.
It’s the glow-up your lips will love. Think ultra-glossy shine (minus the stickiness), next-level hydration, and a swipe of sheer tint that instantly boosts your look. From effortless no-makeup days to full glam moments, lip oil is a gorgeous lip hack you’ll keep coming back to.
Part skincare and part makeup, lip oils are more than just a gloss. Below, you’ll learn what a lip oil is, the benefits of this product, and how to apply lip oil to create natural, hydrated, and plumper-looking lips.
What is lip oil?
A lip oil is a lightweight, glossy lip product that delivers a sheer, shiny finish in a range of shades. It’s designed to visibly improve and care for your lips, boosting hydration and softness. Being an oil-based product, lip oils offer a skincare-meets-makeup moment where you get the best of both worlds: high shine with a real dose of moisture.
What does lip oil do for your lips?
Want a glossy, hydrated look? Look no further than a lip oil. It gives a fresh finish to your pout, delivers hydration while smoothing out dry flakes, and leaves your lips soft and plump.
To prevent dryness and dullness, lips oils are formulated with a variety of nourishing ingredients. Options like our Fat Oil Lip Drip are infused with vegan squalane, cloudberry and raspberry oils, delivering up to twelve hours of hydration to the lip surface.
6 lip oil benefits
Lip oils go beyond their shiny surface – they’re low-maintenance, stylish and a staple when creating a no-makeup makeup look. Below are six lip oil benefits.
- Deep hydration without the heaviness: The lightweight texture sinks in fast, delivering moisture that lasts without feeling heavy.
- Glossy finish, zero stickiness: You get all the shine of a gloss with none of the tackiness.
- Soft and smooth lips: Infused with nourishing ingredients, lip oils help keep your pout feeling plush and nourished all day.
- Perfect for everyday wear: Whether you’re going for a no-makeup vibe or an epic summer look, a lip oil gives your lips subtle colour and a glossy finish.
- Lipstick’s best friend: Layer it over your favourite lipstick to dial up the shine and add a hit of hydration.
- Effortless to reapply: Swipe it on whenever, wherever – no mirror needed.
Lip oil vs lip balm vs lip gloss: what’s the difference?
Within your beauty kit, each lip product serves a specific purpose, whether that’s to hydrate, add some gloss – or both. Read on for a breakdown of the differences between a lip oil, lip balm and lip gloss.
Lip balm focuses on protection and nourishment. These products are made to support dry or chapped lips and – compared to a lip oil or gloss – have a thick texture when applied. Our Fat Oil Slick Click is packed with the benefits of a balm but has a subtle infusion of oil for a non-sticky, high shine finish. If you’re loyal to a matte finish, opt for our Smushy Matte Lip Balm, a plush tinted lip balm that imbues the lips with mochi rice powder and sugar ceramide.
Lip gloss is about adding a layer of shine along with a subtle plumping effect. Formulas like our Duck Plump High Pigment Plumping Gloss are a fantastic example of what a lip gloss can do. Serving a bold pop of colour along with spicy ginger to visibly plump the lip surface. You can also rely on our cult-favourite Butter Gloss for gorgeous luminosity without the stickiness of a gloss. Wear on its own or over your favourite lipstick for that perfect glossy sheen.
Lip oil is like a blend of the two; you get that glazed appearance and a healthy dose of hydration. Lip oils have a lightweight feel and a subtle tint of colour. Test it out yourself with our Fat Oil Lip Drip which is available in up to seven shades.
How to use lip oil
Able to be worn on its own, over lipstick or with a lip liner – lip oils are surprisingly versatile for a range of different makeup looks.
Next, find out how to use lip oil in a way that suits your style and encompasses your favourite lip products.
Over bare lips
Swipe lip oil straight onto freshly exfoliated lips for an instant dewy shine. The feather-light texture melts in – leaving your pout soft, juicy and selfie-ready. You can either opt for a subtle wash of colour or stick with a clear lip oil for the ultimate clean girl look.
Over bare lips is the ultimate low-effort, high-reward option for chill days. And if you’re going for a subtle vibe, finding the right foundation match is key to nailing that fresh-faced look without overdoing it.
With lip liner only
You’ve nailed lip oil application on its own, but how does lip oil work with lip liner?
Start by defining your lips using the Suede Matte Lip Liner. This matte formula glides on easily to help you create sharp lines or gently diffused colour for an ombré style. Once you’ve lined your lips as desired, apply your lip oil to amplify hydration and shine.
This is the perfect option if you like more lip contour without committing to the full pigment of a lipstick.
On top of lipstick
To accentuate the pop of your favourite lipstick, you can finish with a shiny layer of lip oil. This will seal in moisture and leave your lips looking extra plump and juicy.
Lip oils also make for a more comfortable finish over matte lipsticks. If you want to add a touch of shine to your matte look, begin with the full-bodied matte Lip Lingerie XXL Matte Liquid Lipstick and top it up with a coat of lip oil. You can even layer a lip oil over a cream matte lipstick like our Suede Matte Lipstick. You’ll enjoy the hydration of a lip oil while keeping your colour intact.
Now that you know how to use lip oil, study up on the differences between a lipstick, lip stain and lip tint.
