Here’s Why You Should Be Using Lip Oil Instead of Lip Gloss

While lipstick lends a creamy or matte consistency and bold color payoff—and lip gloss creates a sheer, glossy tint—lip oil saturates your pout with a natural flush and moisturizing ingredients. The result is plumped, hydrated lips and a natural hint of gorgeous color. 

"I love lip oils because they not only look beautiful, but also provide skincare benefits. The visual effect of a lip oil is similar to the glasslike finish of gloss, but less viscous and gloopy-looking,” says makeup artist Bryan cantor.

What’s the Difference Between Lip Gloss, Lip Oil, and Lip Balm?

Lip glosses, lip oils, and lip balms are all great additions to your makeup collection, but each serves a unique purpose and vary in their viscosity.

Lip Gloss

Lip gloss has a thicker, stickier, and tackier finish than lip oil. When infused with color, it also lends a bit more color payoff thanks to higher concentrations of color pigment within the formula.

Lip Oil

Lip oil is lower in viscosity, and thus much thinner in consistency, with a fairly sheer color payoff. “As opposed to lip glosses, lip oils are actually skincare in disguise and will not only look and feel great while you are wearing them, but will also help to lock moisture into your lips to help them stay hydrated longer after the product wears off,” Cantor says.

Lip Balm

Lip balms have the highest viscosity and form a thick, protective layer over the lips, says cosmetic expert Ron Robinson. Lip balms are generally not colored or glossy.

What Should You Look for in a Good Lip Oil?

Before purchasing a new lip oil, take a look at the ingredients to make sure you’re getting one with the best benefits. Robinson recommends selecting lip oils with hydrating ingredients like jojoba oil, sweet almond oil, or cherry oil. Additionally, makeup artist Jessica Candage suggests opting for a lip balm enriched with argan oil for its anti-inflammatory properties and high vitamin E content, which can help minimize the appearance of fine lines.

How Often Should You Apply Lip Oil?

Unlike lip gloss, which stays on the surface of your lips and requires frequent reapplication, the hydrating components of lip oils penetrate into the lips, providing longer-lasting hydration. For this reason Robinson advises only applying lip oil a few times per day.

The Benefits of Lip Oil 

Not quite sold on the merits of lip oil? Perhaps these benefits might persuade you to add-to-cart.

Seriously Hydrates  

Makeup artist Aimee Carr says one of the biggest benefits of lip oils is that they keep lips hydrated and smooth. “It is a great option for those with dry lips to get some moisture,” she says.

Softens and Plumps

Carr says, “Lip oils also serve to keep lips soft and plump, which can help lessen the visibility of fine lines and wrinkles.” 

Nourishing Formula 

The oils utilized in the base of the formula help hydrate, smooth, and plump, but lip oil formulas often pack more goodness into the formula. “Many lip oils are formulated with other skincare ingredients, like hyaluronic acid and vitamin E, to pack even more benefits into a single formula,” notes Cantor. Carr adds that some lip oils also include antioxidants, which help protect from free radical damage.

Long Lasting Shine 

“Lip oils give long lasting shine and hydration to the lip, and can also revitalize the lip alone,” says Carr. “It becomes a treatment and a makeup wrapped into one product. The oils serve to restore the skin's natural balance and offer a layer of defense against the environment.”

Beautiful and Layerable 

For all the skincare benefits lip oils promise, they also just look beautiful. The extra shine creates a subtle sparkling effect and can create the illusion of fuller lips. Plus, Carr says you can layer lip oils over balms or lipsticks if you want that shiny finish and locked-in moisture.