Last summer, TikTok went wild for lip oils – a 3.2 billion views type of wild. The high-shine lip colours were everywhere and on everyone… and they still are. Google search results for “lip oil” are up 22% yearly, and our brands are taking notice of this demand. We’ve just launched a new formula from Guerlain, and there are new limited edition shades coming in one of the category’s best-selling products in April. So, with that in mind, I wanted to answer some of your most-asked questions and share some of my favourites, both new and iconic…
What is lip oil?
My favourite way to describe lip oil to someone is to say it’s as if lip gloss and lip balm had a baby. Lip oils are more like lip care than makeup; they give the high-shine finish of a lip gloss but contain the lip-caring ingredients usually found in a lip balm.
Why are lip oils trending?
TikTok has pushed lip oils into the spotlight. Users have created videos on their favourite formulas that have amassed billions of views. Celebrities are also behind the popularity surge: Selena Gomez’s brand Rare Beauty, Negin Mirsalehi’s Gisou, Kylie Jenner’s Kylie Cosmetics and Rihanna’s Fenty, to name but a few. Although yet to release a lip oil, Hailey Bieber’s brand Rhode is a key player in the overall lip balm category, which is also growing, with Google search for “lip balm” up 49% yearly.
How are you meant to wear lip oils?
Lip oils are incredibly versatile. They can be worn alone or layered over lipstick or lip liner to give lips a shiny finish.
1. Clarins Lip Comfort Oil
Best for: Shade range
The Lip Comfort Oil is a best-selling lip oil, and for good reason. The formula is the result of 65 years of essential oils expertise. Each of the eight shades contains 93% natural ingredients, and 98% of the formula is classed as skincare. The tinted lip oils are enriched with lip-caring ingredients like organic sweetbriar rose oil, organic jojoba oil and hazelnut oil.
2. GUERLAIN KISSKISS Bee Glow Oil
Best for: Luxury
The Bee Glow Oil is the latest addition to the category, and dare I say, the most luxurious in my opinion. It’s honey-infused, smells delicious, and comes in 6 shades. The formula contains 92% natural-origin ingredients, including propolis and royal jelly, which boosts the skin’s natural hyaluronic acid synthesis so lips are always plump and moisturised.
3. Estee Lauder Pure Color Envy Nighttime Rescue Lip Oil-Serum
Best for: Hydration
If you’re not into tinted lip products, this lip oil is for you. The Nighttime Rescue Lip Oil-Serum is a clear oil-serum that feels lighter on the lips than a traditional lip oil. It’s designed to be worn overnight, and it contains naturally derived oils camellia, rose and lavender, which hydrate and soften your lips while you sleep.
4. Coola Classic Liplux Hydrating Oil SPF30
Best for: Travel
The lip area is often overlooked when it comes to sun protection, so I love this lip oil. The lips are one of the first places to show signs of ageing, so it pays to protect them. The Liplux Hydrating Oil has added SPF30, which shields this delicate area from harmful UV rays, while organic fruit oils and vitamins counteract the drying effects of the sun.
5. Nuxe Reve de Miel Honey Lip Care
Best for: Scent
The first thing I noticed when I applied the Reve de Miel Lip Oil was its smell; it has a delicious French lavender honey and vanilla fragrance that’ll make you want to reapply it repeatedly. And if the scent wasn’t enough reason to grab it out of your bag, its adorable packaging, with a honeycomb-shaped applicator, is.
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