One reason I’m personally ecstatic about the end of dreary winter weather? The end of the incessant need to constantly keep reapplying my favorite lip balm. But, because I am not one to let my lip get chapped for even a moment, I’ve swapped them out for a new lip oil this season.
It’s no secret that oils have been at the center of the beauty zeitgeist lately: hair oils and face oils reign supreme these days, so it was only a matter of time before it reached our lips, too. Lightweight, protective, and ultra-reflective, the best lip oils act as a barrier to your lips to lock in moisture all day long. Think of them as the 2023 edition of even the best lip gloss.
It also seems that Hollywood—and the internet—has taken note of the trend, too. Emily Alyn Lind, the star of HBO Max's recent Gossip Girl reboot, swears by it. Bella Hadid has applied it in a few videos on her TikTok. Users on the app have even sold out Dior’s viral Addict Lip Glow Oil a few times over thanks to its luscious glossy look and hydrating feel. Associated with the viral “clean” makeup trend that’s currently dominating the app, Gen Z has dubbed it the go-to lip product of summer 2023.
Keep reading to read all about the best ones to choose from right now, including a few hand-selected picks from our very own beauty team here at Marie Claire.
Behold the internet's favorite lip oil: Dior's Addict Lip Glow Oil. Available in 10 shades and a bevy of finishes that range from ultra-glittery so simply shiny, this oil does it all. The internet is particularly obsessed with the Cherry Glow iteration, which gives you an easy just-bitten look.
The gloss has just enough shine to catch the light, coating my lips in a sheer bronze tint that never feels overdone but still delivers that warm, shimmery finish. Color aside, a lip product is only as good as its formula. No amount of shimmer is worth it if the texture feels sticky or goopy. Luckily, the brand's beloved Afterglow Lip Oil is a gel-oil hybrid that delivers the glossy look of a traditional gloss with the moisturizing payoff of an oil.
Siena Gagliano applies the NARS Afterglow Lip Oil in Laguna from the Hot Escape Collection.
This is the lip gloss-lip oil hybrid that changed the game for me. It plumps the lips using hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid to draw water in, and at the same time, it promotes collagen production thanks to a peptide complex known as palmitoyl tripeptide-1. The color payoff and texture itself are also top-tier—there's zero stick, and the gloss just glides right onto the lips.
Shades: 11
Ingredients: Palmitoyl tripeptide-1; Hyaluronic acid
What I Love: The plumping effects don't cause any tingling; Great color payoff
What I Don't: Sometimes the gloss will leak from the bottle if kept on its side
Review for MC: "This is the most comfortable lip gloss I've tried. It's totally weightless, yet keeps my lips hydrated throughout the day. I also love how some of the darker shades act like a stain on my lips. So even if the glossy sheen wears off, I still have a wash of color leftover." — Siena Gagliano, Beauty Editor
Siena Gagliano before and after applying Kosas Wet Lip Oil.
A skincare-infused lip balm treatment first, shiny lip gloss second, this formula contains two superstar, collagen-producing peptides that work to plump and smooth lips over time. Combine that with a slew of antioxidants and hydrators, and you have a powerhouse gloss that looks pretty on the lips and works with your skin's natural repair process.
Shades: 7
Ingredients: Volulip; Maxi-Lip; Argan oil; Vitamin E; Hyaluronic acid
What I Love: Works to increase collagen over time; No sticky residue
What I Don't: Not super long-wearing, you'll have to reapply often
Review for MC: "Perricone MD might not be the sexy lip gloss that comes to mind when you hear 'Lip Gloss' on the radio or when you're shopping for a new one—but trust me, it’s one of the most hydrating lip oils on the market. As the OG no-makeup makeup skincare brand, this lightweight formula is infused with peptides, hyaluronic acid, and pomegranate seed oil to keep lips soft, nourished, and tinted throughout the day." — Iman Balagam, Contributing Beauty Writer
Iman Balagam before and after applying Perricone MD No Makeup Lip Oil.
This lip oil from MERIT is just pigmented enough. It leaves your lips looking juicy without the fear that it will smear across your face the minute you take a sip of coffee. The color sticks around long after the shine fades for a subtle lasting finish.
This lip oil was hand-selected by our Beauty Editor, Samantha Holender. "I’m a lip oil girl through and through—so trust me when I tell you that this silky smooth formula is the real deal," she says. "It’s thick without being the slightest bit sticky, gives a plumped-up appearance without intense tingling, and straight up reflective on the lips. Not only does it look great when applied, but the ingredients inside are just as good. Thanks to hydrating hyaluronic acid, my lips stay soft all day long. While I’m personally partial to She’s a Peach, a peachy pink hue, there are five stunning, subtle shades to choose from.
"It's impossible to find a gloss that's not too sticky and offers a sophisticated scent, but his oil fits the bill," says Marie Claire's Beauty Director, Deena Campbell. "It's comprised of natural ingredients that work together to leave your lips with a hint of color and subtle notes of sandalwood and arnica. To top it off, there are six color families, but you can't go wrong with Beige Sapotille, a universally flattering coral."
This cult-favorite lip oil from iNNBEAUTY PROJECT has taken the internet by storm. Not only does it retail for under $20, but the jojoba oil-rich formula actually makes your lips feel softer.
One of the most lipstick-adjacent lip oils on this list, this pick from ILIA comes in six colors and offers a subtly plumping effect. The creamy texture is by no means the most reflective option here, but it's great if you're looking to try out a new texture.
If a makeup product contains hyaluronic acid, it lands a top spot on my must-buy list. This product was that for me, and Sephora's legions of reviewers agree. One user who gave it five-stars said that they can "Can use [it] over a lip color or stain for a natural gloss or wear alone. Moisturizes my lips and looks and feels so nice."
One of the original lip oils to hit the market, Clarins' Lip Comfort Oil is a godsend for those of us with chronically dry or chapped lips. It's been recently reformulated to include organic Sweetbriar Rose oil, which provides ultimate hydration to your lips for hours on end.
This pick from KOSAS has all the treatment properties of a traditional lip oil plus the added shininess from a gloss. It also makes your lips look visibly more plump without the burning aspects of other, similar products.
This $10 oil from Milani isn't sticky, but it has a thicker, jelly-like texture than other options on this list. Reviewers have noted that the fruity smell reminds of them of the '90s (which I love), while the pigmented color leaves lips feeling instantly refreshed.
This $8 oil from ColourPop is commonly considered to be a dupe for Dior's far pricier version. The shade Bengal looks nearly identical on the lips, with a similarly shiny finish and sheer finish.
If you love the wet-lip look, consider this option from Jouer Cosmetics. It's a cruelty-free formula that looks completely clear on the lips for a classically shiny finish.
