Lip oils are enjoying new popularity as they offer the comfort of a balm with the glamour of a gloss. Hydrating and conditioning, but not at all sticky, some lip oils focus on nourishment, whereas others aim for shine, and there are even tinted lip oils for a pop of alluring colour.
To help you find the perfect oil for luscious lips, our buying guide is here to help you sort the excellent from the average. With popular formulas from Clarins, NYX and Barry M, we've ranked the top 10 best lip oils in the UK on John Lewis, Boots and Amazon to rid your pout of chapped and flaky skin with heaps more sass than bog-standard balms!
Quick List - Top Lip Oils
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Selecting a lip oil doesn't have to be hard, but as there are lots of products out there, you'll be spoiled for choice. We want to make your decision easier, so in this section, we'll help you consider the different types of lip oil available and their advantages. That way you'll know you've spent your money wisely!
Finally, there are lip oils which will help you achieve some serious gloss and shine, while conditioning your lips. Glossy oils are perfect if you love to get dressed up, or are attending a party or event. These products are preferable to the lip glosses of our childhoods, since they are less sticky in texture and mostly contain oils that are naturally derived from plants.
When shopping for a lip oil, it's vital to keep an eye on the ingredients list. Lip oils may promise to condition your lips, but it helps to know that contents that will actually have a conditioning effect on your cupid's bow.
First and foremost you can expect nut, seed and fruit oils and butters. These are usually packed with fatty acids which are vital for the rebuilding of your skin cells, creating a smoothing and softening effect.
You might also want to look for the popular hydrating ingredient hyaluronic acid. This is a beta hydroxy acid which occurs naturally in the skin and can hold up to one thousand times its own weight in water. This helps your skin cells to attract and hold onto moisture, resulting in a plumping effect.
You'll need to decide whether you'd like a transparent lip oil, which adds a layer of shine and gloss, or a tinted oil with a pop of colour. Clear glosses will be a little more subtle making them 'easier' to wear at work or with casual outfits, while tinted lip oils make for a bolder statement.
One thing to keep in mind when considering a clear gloss is that if you have small, slim lips, shine can actually make them look thinner. So it could be beneficial to choose a tinted lip oil, which will has a more flattering effect. But don't let us put you off enjoying a sheer gloss if crazy colour isn't your thing!
If you're lucky enough to have very full lips, clear glossy oils will give you a gorgeous, glamorous pout. This is because sheer glosses will accentuate the contours of already plump lips. For an even more eye-catching look, pick a colourful tinted gloss to help your bee-stung chops stand out!
While of course there is no strict rule, you can often choose a flattering shade for your face by keeping in mind your colouring and skin tone. Very dark skin looks exceptional with a bold, bright, orange-toned red, or a vibrant pink, but can also look lovely with browns, berries, purples and lavender.
If you have olive, mid-brown to golden-toned skin, dark, blue-toned reds can look truly stunning, as can deep browns and warm pinks. For those with very pale skin, whether pink or golden-toned, coral oranges can look properly striking, as can peaches and all shades of pink.
If you're brave enough to experiment with a more electric shade like violet, blue or even mint green, add a subtle eye shadow and some mascara to keep your face balanced.
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Clarins Lip Comfort Oil | ![]() | The Ultimate Lip Oil | |
2 | Estee Lauder Pure Colour Envy | ![]() | Collagen-Enriched Conditioning Overnight Lip Oil | |
3 | Hourglass No 28 Lip | ![]() | Sumptous Conditioning Oil with a Glossy Finish and Sultry Shade Options | |
4 | Barry M Coco Loco Lip Oil | ![]() | Smooth and Gloss Rough Lips for a Snip | |
5 | Dior Addict Lip Glow Oil | ![]() | Light, Nourishing Gloss from Top Designer Brand | |
6 | NYX Professional Makeup #THISISEVERYTHING | ![]() | Glossy Lip Oil in Space Age, Silvery Shades | |
7 | Florence by Mills Low Key Calming Glow Yeah Lip Oil | ![]() | Calming pH Adjusting Tint by Millie Bobby Brown | |
8 | Charlotte Tilbury Magic Lip Oil Crystal Elixir | ![]() | Plumping Oil with Hyaluronic Acid | |
9 | Revlon Glow Lip Oil | ![]() | Elegant Gloss with Mother of Pearl in 7 Marvellous Shades |
Number one on our list has to be the OG of lip oils, Clarins Lip Comfort Oil. Jojoba and hazelnut oil are the key components that inject your lips with plumping fatty acids. So if you're looking for a product that smothers your lips in a nourishing swipe, while looking gorgeous enough for a fancy night out - this is the product for you!
This oil is available in the widest selection of colours, including natural golds and reds, alongside striking purples, greens and blues. Each shade is sheer and smells utterly glorious. But most importantly, it's long-lasting, comfortable and lightweight.
If you are looking for a lip oil that focuses on conditioning your lips rather than creating a glossy glow, we think this product has to be our top pick. It uses camelia, rose and lavender oil to soothe and calm your lips, reducing redness and sensitivity, plumping fine lines and weightlessly softening cracked, chapped lips.
As well as natural oils, Estee Lauder's signature lip oil also contains collagen filling spheres and the exquisitely soft applicator tip is ideal for applying just the right amount of oil. So you can wear as an overnight mask for your pout, allowing you to smooth away fine lines while you sleep!
Another absolute favourite on our list, the No 28 Lip by Hourglass not only soothes sore lips, but also conditions them and provides a sophisticated glossy finish. Free from parabens, sulfates and mineral oils, this product boast the nourishing benefits of 14 esential oils.
Being the most costly of all the lip oils we've recommended, it's not going to be suited to every budget. But, we do think this oil ticks every box. It's vegan, cruelty free and available in three subtle shades. Plus, the tip of the applicator is actually plated with 24 carat gold!
This is by far our favourite bargain lip oil! For under a fiver, you get a delightfully smooth oil bursting with the benefits of the fatty acids present in mango butter and coconut oil. Camelia is also high in Omega 3 oils, so your pout will feel cushioned and plumped with a single swipe.
This transparent lip oil is ideal as a nourishing overnight treat, but can also double as a way to draw subtle attention to your smackers on more casual days when worn with natural-looking makeup. It smells delicious, so if you're shopping for a proper 'barg' or your teen is looking to spend their pocket money, this has to be the one!
We highly recommend this light, smooth and superbly nourishing lip oil. It is enriched with cherry oil which is rich in vitamin A and can help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles on and around the lips.
The hand-held mini wand is super soft making it easy to control. It's also anti-bacterial and feels gorgeous against the skin. Sadly, this oil is not vegan, and the price tag is fairly hefty for the volume of liquid you get. However, if you are willing to shell out a little more, we do think this is one of the lushest lip oil options on the market!
Ahh, good old NYX! If you like to make a statement, and treat your lips to a mini conditioning treatment at the same time, we think you'll love the new #ThisIsEverything lip oil. It comes in some fabulous sheer shades with a little iridescence in every bottle, and it's vegan and cruelty-free to boot!
In this range you'll find three key oils: almond, rosehip and jojoba. This blend not only boasts excellent benefits for the skin, but also forms part of a superbly smooth and silky consistency that looks luscious on lips and lasts throughout the day.
Stranger Things and social media star Millie Bobby Brown has launched a cruelty free vegan makeup line based on her personal experience in the makeup artist's chair. This lip oil is aimed at sore lips that need soothing, with hydrating mango butter and smoothing South American paracress flower providing the lion's share of the calming effect.
What we like about this oil is that it gives a glorious gloss with a subtle peach-pink tint that adjusts to your skin's natural pH levels. Don't be fooled by the celebrity status of this brand's ambassador, she's masterminded a seriously effective cosmetics range that will stand the test of time.
If you favour a more subtle look, or want to draw attention to your naturally full lips, we highly recommend this oil. It's packed with a decent percentage of hyaluronic acid that's high enough to have a genuine effect on the skin's surface, smoothing rough lips and plumping up their cell-regenerating capacities too.
It conditions and glosses, without feeling tacky or sticky, and the feel and appearance are both top-class. What's more, Charlotte Tilbury is an entirely vegan, cruelty-free brand, which is why we think the higher price tag is worth the money.
Probably the biggest perk of this lip oil is the superb gloss you can achieve for under ten quid! It coats your lips beautifully, with no sense of stickiness, and it's infused with Mother of Pearl, a protein said to have skin healing properties that may even encourage cell regeneration.
It's available in 7 colours ranging from subtle berry-tones to peaches, pinks and glow-enhancing, close-to-clear shades. Unfortunately, although not tested on animals in the UK, Revlon do sell to countries where animal testing is required, so they aren't legally considered a cruelty free brand.
Selecting a lip oil isn't easy, as there are so many options and some can have the wrong type of results. Armed with our tips you can shop smart and choose yourself a product that is deeply nourishing and leaves lips plumped, shiny and full. Mwah!
Author: Annie Hopkins
No. 1: Clarins|Lip Comfort Oil
No. 2: Estee Lauder|Pure Colour Envy
No. 3: Hourglass|No 28 Lip
No. 4: Barry M|Coco Loco Lip Oil
No. 5: Dior|Addict Lip Glow Oil
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