While I love a statement lipstick shade, there is a certain amount of beauty admin that comes with maintaining a bright-red lip. (I'm that girl with the lipstick on her teeth, always.) Lipstick usually parches my lips, so I'm always on the lookout for hydrating formulas that won't dry them out. And as someone who is never more than two feet away from her lip balm, I sometimes yearn for something a bit more luxe to apply, but that won't dry out my lips. Enter lip oils.
What Is a Lip Oil?
With the hydration of a lip balm and the shine of a lip gloss, a lip oil is the perfect hybrid for achieving a glossy look without the stickiness or upkeep of a lipstick. Whether you want a tint of colour or a clear oil to add shine to your natural lip colour, so many great lip oils have been cropping up of late.
What to Look For
However, not all lip oils are created equal—and the secret to the best lip oils tends to lie in their ability to blend hydration and shine with a decent amount of staying power. Of course, nothing with a glossy or glass-like finish is going to stick around all day, so you can expect to have to reapply a lip oil throughout the day, but to make the cut, we wanted a formula that would linger on the lips. And, even more importantly for anyone with long hair, we don't want anything with a hint of stickiness. Having to peel strands off your pout is definitely not chic.
How We Chose
Like everything that we recommend here at Who What Wear UK, all of the best lip oils mentioned below have been put through their paces by me, members of the wider team or fellow beauty editors whose opinions I trust. We have tried hundreds of lip oils and the ones below are the formulas that delivered in terms of finish, hydration and staying power. Plus, we tried to take into consideration different price points too.
Shop the Best Lip Oils
- Best designer lip oil: Dior Addict Lip Glow Oil, £33
- Best non-sticky lip oil: Clarins Lip Comfort Oil, £27
- Best hydrating lipr oil: Fenty Skin Black Cherry Treat Lip Conditioning Oil, £21
- Best tinted lip oil: Rare Beauty Soft Pinch Tinted Lip Oil, £21
- Best glowy lip oil: Gisou Honey Infused Lip Oil, £24
1. Dior Beauty Addict Lip Glow Oil
With the colour of a lip balm and the shine of a gloss, this Dior lip oil really nourishes lips while offering a subtle wash of colour. This comes in a number of core and limited edition shades, from sheer pink to bright coral, and you'll feel so chic pulling this out of your handbag.
Pros
- Chic packaging
- As hydrating as a balm
- Wide range of shades
Cons
- Expensive
2. Clarins Lip Comfort Oil
With a non-sticky formula and eight shades to choose from, this is a favourite among many. We have our eyes on this jammy plum hue for autumn, but there is a great range of pinks, reds and oranges too. Plus, the formula contains a whole host of nourishing plant oils and fatty acids to really hydrate lips while boosting shine.
Pros
- No stickiness at all
- Moisturising plant oils
- Subtly plumping
Cons
- Just a sheer wash of colour
3. Charlotte Tilbury Charlotte's Magic Lip Oil Crystal Elixir
Prefer a clear lip oil? This non-tinted formula is packed with nourishing ingredients like hyaluronic acid and aloe vera to keep lips soft while adding a glassy shine. The formula is a little on the thicker side for an oil, but this means that it does stick around so you won't find yourself constantly having to touch this up. Plus, it looks just as good worn alone as it does layered over other balms or lipsticks.
Pros
- Versatile use
- Skincare-infused formula
- Glass-like shine
Cons
- It's quite thick
4. Westman Atelier Squeaky Clean Lip Oil
If you want a more opaque formula in your lip oil, Westman Atelier's delivers. With six shades from muted pink to burgundy and fuchsia, there's a colour for everyone—think of it as walking the line between an everyday lipstick, a nourishing balm and a shiny gloss. Plus, there's no doubt that this is a luxury product, and it feels incredibly hydrating on the lips.
Pros
- Rich colour
- Feels lightweight
- Luxurious, weighty packaging
Cons
- It's a higher-end price
5. Hourglass Lip Treatment Oil
Truth be told, this is way more than a lip oil—it's an entire lip treatment. Packed with essential oils, vitamins and actives, it actually works to boost moisture levels, dial down fine lines and volumise lips. Plus, it comes in a true blue-toned red, which makes teeth look brighter. Special shout out to the 24-karat-gold applicator that makes applying this so luxurious.
Pros
- Sleek applicator tip
- Intensely nourishing
- Long-lasting
Cons
- Seriously expensive
6. Fenty Skin Cherry Treat Lip Conditioning Oil
If your lips are in need of a hit of hydration, this tinted oil is just the ticket. It's brimming with jojoba seed and rosehip fruit oils to condition, soften, and smooth lips, and actually locks in moisture so your pout stays protected all day. And while it does only provide a sheer wash of colour, it's enough if you just want a subtle hint that looks bright and natural.
Pros
- Sweet cherry scent
- Feels so comfy on the lips
- Deep hydration
Cons
- Not the strongest pigment
7. Rare Beauty Soft Pinch Tinted Lip Oil
"As a lipstick lover, I was never all that fussed about lip oils until these ones from Rare Beauty totally converted me. To me, it's the perfect balance of colour and staying power with hydration and that on-trend soft glow. Plus, as someone who is notoriously lazy about doing my makeup, they have impressive staying powe,r too. Happy is my current go-to—a joy-inducing cool pink that adds instant polish to my basic everyday makeup look." – Mica Ricketts, Freelance Beauty Editor and Who What Wear contributor
Pros
- Great colour options
- Amazing staying power
- Hydrating
Cons
- More expensive than my usual moisturising balm
8. Vieve Lip Dew Oil
The lip-loving formula from Vieve is infused with raspberry seed oil extract (a powerful anti-inflammatory ingredient) and detoxifying green tea extract, which helps to soothe dryness.
Pros
- Natural glossy finish
- Soothes dryness
- Cushiony applicator
Cons
- A little sticky to start with
9. Gisou Honey Infused Lip Oil
A current favourite amongst beauty editors. Infused with Mirsalehi honey and hyaluronic acid, it bestows a glorious glow upon lips and suits all skin tones.
Pros
- Honey-based formula
- Smells great
- So glowy
Cons
- A little heavier than some others on the list
Why Trust Us
At Who What Wear UK, we know that beauty isn’t one-size-fits-all. Our editors have tested thousands of products over the years—spanning skincare, makeup, hair and nails—and work closely with trusted experts including dermatologists, makeup artists and leading industry insiders to ensure every guide is well-researched, inclusive and relevant to you.
We focus on formulas that deliver, whether they’re affordable favourites or luxury investments. Our product selection is based on tangible results, ingredient know-how and what we’d truly recommend to a friend.
