The 17 Best Lip Oils of 2023, According to Derms, Makeup Artists, and Editors

May 24, 2023

Pucker up for shiny, nourished lips

Alyssa Brascia is a commerce writer PEOPLE, covering beauty, fashion, home and lifestyle products. She has previously written commerce content for Dotdash Meredith brands such as InStyle, Shape, Southern Living and more during her time as the E-Commerce Editorial Apprentice while she was an undergraduate fashion student at Iowa State University. Her passions include fashion and beauty writing as well as makeup artistry and styling. You can find her on Instagram to follow along on her creative journey.

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The first step to beautiful lipstick application is a great moisturizer, but if you’re growing tired of your run-of-the-mill stick of lip balm, then a great (and more nourishing) alternative is lip oil. Often formulated with natural ingredients, lip oils aim to restore the thin skin of the lips to a smooth and hydrated state after being dry or cracked. "Maintaining healthy moisture levels is critical for the lips as they don't have oil glands or any natural moisturizer," explains dermatological nurse Natalie Aguilar, who is an aesthetician to Sofia Vergara and Rita Ora. No matter how good you are about your daily water intake, your lips will most likely always need a little help from a sort of moisturizer.

Lip oils have become somewhat of a trend within the beauty space, with brands from Burt's Bees to Dior debuting their signature blends of natural oils and sometimes a hue or two. With so many brands and serums to choose from, we researched the market and asked celebrity makeup artists, aestheticians, and our editors what the best lip oils are based on their expertise.

To help you narrow down your choices, here are the lip oils that are really worth the hype.

Target

Shoppers who want a luxurious-feeling oil at a fraction of luxury prices

Those who dislike the scent and taste of artificial fruit

We love a good drugstore beauty purchase, and the best lip oil at your local convenience store has to be the Milani Fruit Fetish Lip Oils. Dermatologist-loved ingredients like vitamin E oil and fruit extracts make up the delectable formula that is Milani's lip oil, which provides the slick sheen of a gloss with the lightweight feel (and beneficial properties) of an oil at a considerably low price. With four tinted shades (Passionfruit Coconut being the most neutral), you can achieve a color-kissed look without messy layers of lipstick and gloss.

A big doe-foot applicator is always a plus in our book, as it makes application quick and easy for on-the-go gloss. This fruity formula is a great option for shoppers wanting to test out lip oil without spending $20 or more, as this type of product can easily produce a high price tag. We do want to warn you that these flavors do come with artificial fruit fragrances, which may be a downside to shoppers sensitive to strong scents. But if this isn't a deterrent for you, we think you’ll love the fresh and flushed look that this drugstore buy provides.

Price at time of publish: $8.99

Size: 0.14 oz. | Key Ingredients: Vitamin E and fruit extracts | Fragrance: Yes | Finish: Tinted, glossy | Shades: 4

Amazon

Anyone who wants a high-quality oil at an affordable price

Someone who prefers a doe-foot applicator to a brush

We love being able to pick up a quality product for a modest price tag, and that's exactly what you get with the Burt's Bees Tinted Lip Oil. Aguilar advises us to utilize products that are rich in fatty acids when looking for a quality lip oil, which makes this product stand out from the competition due to its clean and effective ingredients at a drugstore price. There's a whole lot of sustenance packed into this tube with the highlighted ingredients being meadowfoam seed and coconut oils, which are said to reduce fine lines and lock in that hydration.

This oil is packaged in an unique pen style with a brush tip, requiring you to click the bottom until the tinted serum is produced from the bristles. With six gorgeous shades to choose from, it's hard to not to find your perfect fit. At times when you need a quick swathe of color with the benefits of a balm, simply swipe on this tinted oil and get on with your day.

Price at time of publish: $8.99

Size: 0.48 oz. | Key Ingredients: Meadowfoam seed and coconut oils | Fragrance: Yes | Finish: Tinted, glossy | Shades: Six

Sephora

High-end beauty lovers who want an extra pump of hydration — designer style

Wearers who want a thin consistency rather than a lip gloss-like formula

This pick was definitely TikTok's favorite lip oil, and with its luscious results, we can easily see why. The Dior Lip Glow Oil is given its slick and shiny glow thanks to its highlighted ingredient, cherry oil, which protects the thin skin of your lips against stress factors and dehydration. "There are a few reasons I always have this lip oil in my purse: It's not sticky, it adds an instant hit of hydration and I love the high shine finish," says Deputy Style Director Brittany Talarico. "Plus, the doe-foot applicator is cushiony and soft, which makes the experience of using it feel luxurious."

Due to its thicker consistency, this oil feels a little more like a standard lip product than a lightweight oil. "While the formula feels a bit more like a gloss than an actual oil, it always leaves my lips feeling hydrated," Talarico notes. "My only complaint is [that] it fades quickly after you eat or drink, so be ready to reapply," she advises. If you want your lips to feel ultra luxurious, then this hydrating oil is the one for you.

Price at time of publish: $40

Size: 0.20 oz. | Key Ingredients: Cherry oil | Fragrance: Yes | Finish: Glossy | Shades: 8

Someone who wants natural color payoff and moisturizing results

Shoppers who are looking for an opaque lip color

Colored lip glosses may feel amateur, but this lip oil is its more sophisticated older sister. The Versed Silk Slip Tinted Lip Oil is a lippie available in a trio of tinted hues that will leave you with a lightly flushed swathe of color — Ruby (a sheer cherry red), Fig (a delicious berry shade), and Blossom (a barely-there ballerina pink) that won't bleed or settle into fine lines. Inside the nostalgic squeeze tube is a concoction of hydrating contents, from must-have vitamin E to hero ingredients like jojoba, sunflower seed, sesame and camellia oil (known for its protective properties).

It's worth noting that this formula is free from parabens, silicones, and sulfates; this means that it's a good choice for more mature or aging lips and skin which may be in need of nourishing ingredients. If you’re looking for a bold pop of color, then this may not be the correct oil for you; however, makeup minimalists will love the light tint and supple skin that this offers.

Price at time of publish: $9.99

Size: 0.3 oz. | Key Ingredients: Vitamin E, jojoba, camellia, sunflower seed, sesame oils | Finish: Tinted, glossy | Shades: 3

Ulta

Someone who wants a dermatologist-recommended oil that can provide both color and nourishment to dry, cracked lips

Anyone looking for a clear-colored oil

If healing properties and punchy color is what you’re after, then the Clarins Lip Comfort Oil is the answer to your wishes. Dr. Rachel Nazarian, board-certified dermatologist at Schweiger Dermatology Group in New York City, noted this product as her favorite for a number of reasons. Nourishment is at the forefront of this product's benefits thanks to its rich formula of natural oils, making it a saving grace for dry lips. "This product contains a high level of omega fatty acids, which can improve the hydration barrier, but also antioxidants (such as rose oil and jojoba) which are quite calming to skin," Dr. Nazarian commented.

And feel free to not skimp out on application – doctor's orders. "Because these ingredients have no addictive properties and only continue to hydrate better with continued use, I recommend using as needed, or even daily," she added. The eight glossy shades that this oil is available in makes this product a tint and moisturizer all in one, so you can give your lips some TLC while rocking a fun color as well. New favorite product, incoming!

Price at time of publish: $28

Size: 0.20 oz. | Key Ingredients: Organic sweetbriar rose, jojoba, and hazelnut oil | Fragrance: Yes | Finish: Glossy | Shades: 8

Coola

Shoppers who spend a lot of time in the sun

Someone planning to wear lip oil as an overnight mask and doesn't need SPF in the formula

Nowadays just about everything has SPF in it, but the types of products that often lack a sun protectant are anything for your lips. It's easy to slather on the tinted sunscreen and go about your day, but our lips are often forgotten about when it comes to this step — and applying an oil in the bright rays can make matters even worse, attracting more sun and potentially causing skin damage. The Coola Organic Liplux Lip Oil is our knight in shining armor, including SPF 30 in its already-nourishing formula.

Not only does this oil include broad spectrum SPF 30 with UVA/UVB protection, but its vegan and gluten-free formula also seals in the healing properties of organic camellia and jojoba oil for all-day hydration while you have fun in the sun. Its golden hue is a color that suits anyone, making your lips appear glossier and plumper despite the dry heat. This lip oil from Coola should be part of everyone's morning routine, sun-conscious shopper or not (just throw an extra in your beach bag for good measure).

Price at time of publish: $18

Size: 0.17 oz. | Key Ingredients: Vitamin E, camellia, jojoba oils | Finish: Glossy | Shades: 1

Sephora

The beauty lover who wants a shade that customizes to their individual skin tone

Someone who doesn't want the color to deepen each time it's applied

You may know Lady Gaga for her chart-topping albums and growing silver screen accolades, but her beauty brand Haus Labs by Lady Gaga is no joke – especially when it comes to her ultra-hydrating PhD Hybrid Lip Oil. "I can't get enough of this lip oil; it's become my go-to for makeup prep and replaced my lip glosses," shares Commerce Writer Alyssa Brascia. The formula is made to act as a lip gloss, balm and treatment all in one with its silky mixture of vegan collagen, prickly pear oil and plant squalane. These ingredients come together to protect the barrier of the lips with fortifying amino acids.

Available in three adaptive shades plus one clear oil, the agents in this product react to the pH in your skin to produce a color that's unique to you. "You can wear it alone for a hint of color (and super moisturized lips) or top your lip liner off with it for a layer of shine," Brascia adds. "Or if you use the clear shade, you could wear it overnight as a nourishing mask." Gaga knows the importance of individuality and this lip oil does just that, crafting a hue that's exclusive to you with every wear.

Price at time of publish: $24

Size: 0.25 oz. | Key Ingredients: Vegan collagen, prickly pear oil and plant squalane | Fragrance: No | Finish: Glossy | Shades: 3 pH-reactive shades and one clear

Sephora

A wearer who wants the illusion of fuller lips sans needles

Someone who doesn't like a sweet taste to their lip products

If you want the effects of a lip plumper but without the stinging sensation, then you’re in luck with the InnBeauty Project Glaze Lip Oil. "This product is everything you want in a lip oil: non-sticky gloss-like finish, big doe-foot applicator that perfectly pampers your lips with each swipe, and a delicious scent and flavor (I liken it to cherry Jell-O)," says Director of Commerce Lindsey Metrus. Both vegan and cruelty-free, this oil is formulated with natural red-root and jojoba oils with the extra benefits of fermented pomegranate and apple extract. The clean serum is then complemented with a plant-based plumping complex that exaggerates your natural lips.

"Every time it's within my line of vision, I can't help but apply it and give my lips (and taste buds) a treat," Metrus adds, speaking to its noticeably sweet flavor. "Plus, it gives a nice temporary plumping effect so I can fake a fuller pout while it lingers on my lips." Plump and silky-smooth lips? Sign us up.

Price at time of publish: $17

Size: 0.20 oz. | Key Ingredients: Natural red-root and jojoba oil, fermented pomegranate, apple extract and a plant-based plumping complex | Fragrance: Yes | Finish: Glossy | Shades: 2

Target

Shoppers looking for a full-pout plumper at a lower price than InnBeauty

People who don't like the tingling sensation of a plumper

It may only be a few dollars less than the InnBeauty Glaze, but those dollars add up — and it’ll be worth it when you realize how addictive the Jason Wu Beauty Tint It Oil It Plump It lip is. "This oil has become a mainstay in my beauty routine — I transfer this tube into every purse I carry because of its pretty color payoff and instantly-plumping effect," says Brascia.

Though the pigment appears to be a fuschia variant, it wears like a light pink and delivers a delicious shine. Free of parabens, phthalates, gluten, talc, and more, this non-sticky formula is the perfect storm between nourishing oil and colorful gloss. Its pink glaze is fortified with shea butter, jojoba, argan, and hemp seed oils to shroud your lips in moisture while added hyaluronic acid goes to town on the plumping part. Perfect for wear on its own or to finish off your lip liner, tack on this miracle product for a plump, dimensional lip.

Price at time of publish: $12

Size: 0.23 oz. | Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, shea butter, jojoba, argan, hemp seed oils | Fragrance: No | Finish: Glossy | Shades: 3

Merit Beauty

Shoppers who want their oil to double as a lip stain and skincare

Someone who doesn't want the color to last on their lips too long after application

Creamy in consistency yet weightless on the lips, the Merit Shade Slick is the ideal tinted lip product thanks to its dual role as a lip stain and restorative oil. This buildable formula becomes more pigmented as you layer it, with eight neutral shades to choose from for everyday wear. You can rest assured that your lips will be pillowy and soft after use thanks to the inclusion of shea butter, grapeseed, rosehip and jojoba oil in this rich formula.

Jackie Fields, Deputy Beauty Director at PEOPLE, loved the array of shades to choose from and felt that the selection was appropriate for any age. Fields shared that she thought the oil had, "A lovely application and pretty tint [while being] not at all drying." The ingredients are free from harsh chemicals such as phthalates, formaldehyde and drying alcohols which are harmful to the skin and can actually withdraw hydration (so, exactly what we do not want in a lip oil). For a product that not only provides top-notch nourishment but can fit in flawlessly with your other lipsticks, glosses and more, you simply can't go wrong with the Shade Slick from Merit.

Price at time of publish: $24

Size: 0.23 oz. | Key Ingredients: Rosehip, jojoba, and grapeseed oil, shea butter | Fragrance: No | Finish: Glossy | Shades: 8

Nordstrom

The lip gloss-obsessed shopper who wants something more hydrating and non-sticky than your typical gloss

Those who are looking for an oil's skincare properties only and are not interested in a makeup product

If you thought the viral Kosas concealer may have forever changed your makeup routine, then just wait until you add the Wet Lip Oil Gloss to the mix. With eight romantic shades to choose from, there's a plumping hue ready to complete any look you’re going for. "When it comes to lip products, I'm all about the color and fairly agnostic about the formula," shares Beauty and Style Director Andrea Lavinthal. "As long as it's a pale pink-y beige hue, I'm game. Kosas Wet Lip Oil Gloss in Unhooked nails my shade qualifications with the added bonus of feeling incredible on my lips (it has avocado oil and shea butter)."

This formula stands out from the rest with its intricate blend of hyaluronic acid for water absorption, peptides for subtle plumping, and evening primrose and avocado oils to lock in moisture. Lavinthal loves that this oil truly does give you fuller lips. "It actually makes them look plumper (thanks to hyaluronic acids and peptides) — total win-win," she says. With its non-sticky feel and the healing benefits of hyaluronic acid, this lip oil and gloss combo is worth the price.

Price at time of publish: $22

Size: 0.15 oz. | Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, peptides, avocado and evening primrose oil | Fragrance: Yes | Finish: Glossy, shimmery | Shades: 8

Sephora

Someone who wants a fragrance-free and super hydrating lip oil that can double as makeup and an overnight mask

Anyone who wants multiple shades to pick from

If you’re looking for lip oil instead of a run of the mill balm, then you’re most likely wanting to invest in some seriously hydrating stuff. Board-certified dermatologist Dr. Dendy Engelman, M.D., shares that ingredients like vitamin E and "hydrators like avocado, jojoba, [and] castor oil" are the ones to look out for when choosing a moisturizing product. The Jouer Cosmetics Essential Hydrating Lip Oil is chock full of these natural ingredients, including the main players of jojoba oil and vitamin E as well as apricot oil, which has ultra-hydrating properties thanks to its abundance of fatty acids. Rice bran oil, sunflower oil, and mulberry fruit extract round out this serum for a lush formula that truly soothes the skin.

This product is also free of sulfates, parabens, formaldehydes, and more to give you your softest lips without those additives. It's also just barely pink and fragrance-free, so you can enjoy the healing effects of the oil without a potent fragrance or color, if you prefer products without them. Fragrance- and tint-free products can also double as overnight masks; the healing effects of the serum will saturate your skin while you sleep.

Price at time of publish: $20

Size: 0.16 oz. | Key Ingredients: Apricot oil, jojoba seed oil, and vitamin E | Fragrance: No | Finish: Glossy | Shades: 1

Fenty Beauty

Someone with cracked or sensitive lips due to environmental stressors

A wearer who is not a fan of candy-like fragrance

Rihanna can do no wrong in our book, and her Fenty Beauty products are no exception. The Fenty Skin Cherry Treat Conditioning + Strengthening Lip Oil is a juicy concoction of cherry, jojoba and rosehip oils that when combined with cherry extract deliver ultra-hydrating results. Antioxidants are monumental in skincare, as they are utilized to strengthen the skin (which is especially important for the superficial outer layer of your lips). And since cherry oils are extremely rich in antioxidants, this serum provides extra protection from the elements so your lips can stay soft when the weather begins to cool.

In traditional lip oil fashion, you can use this product like a moisturizer throughout the day and then reapply before going to sleep to further strengthen the skin barrier. However, you’ll want to know about its fragrance. If you’re someone who loves a sweet scent then you’ll adore this lip oil, but if not, you’ll be happy we warned you. Upon testing the product, we felt that the cherry scent was very strong, but it's luckily unflavored and not at all sticky. So if you want your lips to be as luscious as cherries and smell like them, too, then this lip oil is for you.

Price at time of publish: $24

Size: 0.19 oz. | Key Ingredients: Sweet cherry seed, jojoba seed, and rosehip fruit oils, Barbados cherry and wild cherry extracts | Fragrance: Yes | Finish: Glossy | Shades: 1

Amazon

The skincare-obsessed shopper who wants to use this oil as part of their morning and night routine

Someone who wouldn't want gold flakes in their product

Who doesn't want their pout to shine like gold? While there's no gilded hue to this oil (we actually love that it's clear), the Westmore Beauty Starlit 24K Gold Lip Treatment Oil is a regenerative serum that contains tiny gold flakes and a whole lot of nourishment. Celebrity makeup artist Jamie Dorman recommends as it "contains squalane to prevent moisture loss and restore suppleness to the skin." In addition to the nurturing effects of squalane, this treatment is made up of a few other restorative natural oils as well, including jojoba seed, sweet almond and argan oils – a combination that the MUA is quite a fan of. "All of these oils are recognized by skin cells as similar to the oil they produce and quickly become part of the cell's ecosystem," she explains. "Ideally I look for [lip] oils that have a combination of oils that readily sink into the skin and stay on the surface to seal in moisture."

This oil is recommended for use before bed, as a treatment throughout the day, or as a gloss over your lip color. However, Dorman thinks that the first suggestion is the way to go. "I would recommend applying the lip oil after completing your skin care routine before bed," says Dorman. "That way all the ingredients from your skincare sink in and any on your lips is sealed under the lip oil." If you’re feeling a little fancy and want to rock a shiny lip out on the town or before hitting the hay, then this golden oil is sure to do the trick.

Price at time of publish: $24

Size: 0.13 oz. | Key Ingredients: Squalane, jojoba seed, sweet almond and argan oils | Fragrance: No | Finish: Glossy | Shades: 1

Gisou

People with dry lips who need intensive repair

Shoppers looking for a tinted lip

Your lips will be feeling as sweet as honey once they meet the Honey-Infused Lip Oil from the influencer-founded beauty brand, Gisou. Born of hive-grown honey from creator Negin Mirsalehi's family bee garden, this lip oil has become an internet (and writer)-loved favorite thanks to its silky results and healing properties. "I find myself reaching for this oil several times throughout the day, morning and night — not because I need it (my lips have truly never been more hydrated), but because of how luxurious it is and feels," says Brascia.

Infused with hyaluronic acid and the natural actives found in the Mirsalehi bee garden oil blend (Omegas 3, 6, and 9), this mixture forms a skin-loving serum that targets dry, flaky skin. "I often experience super chapped lips in the winter, and since employing this lip oil into my routine, especially as a mask at night, I’ve seen huge improvements in the overall appearance and feel of my lips," Brascia adds. Plus it comes in a cool, wavy bottle that looks perfect on your makeup counter. What else could you want?

Price at time of publish: $32

Size: 0.27 oz. | Key Ingredients: Honey, hyaluronic acid, Omegas 3, 6, and 9, Buriti fruit, blueberry seed oils | Fragrance: No | Finish: Glossy | Shades: 1

Sephora

Someone looking for a barely-there feel yet high-impact shine

Shoppers needing intensely-hydrating properties

Let's face it, we’re opting for lip oils to avoid the heavy gunk that comes with gloss — and no one's doing it better than Iconic London's Lustre Lip Oil. Available in five wearable shades, from clear to peachy pink, this featherweight lip oil leaves your lips looking as reflective as a mirror while feeling light as air. "I love layering this lip oil on top of my favorite lip liner or a punchy lipstick shade," says Brascia. "It brightens up my look without adding the extra weight of a gloss or plumper."

We also fell in love with the padded, lip-hugging wand that comes inside the translucent tube. It perfectly contours to the shape of your lips, gliding across every curve and leaving a slick (and surprisingly long-lasting) shine that sinks beautifully into your skin. Though this formula includes dermatologist-recommended ingredients like vitamins C and E, we don't think this one was the most hydrating of the bunch — though it definitely delivered some of the most reflective results. If you’re looking for an intensive repair oil this may not be your match, but for a quick fix that's lighter than your typical gloss, we highly recommend this Iconic London lip.

Price at time of publish: $26

Size: 0.20 oz. | Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, vitamin C, vitamin E, maracuja oil | Fragrance: No | Finish: Tinted, glossy | Shades: 5

Sephora

People who prefer a balm-treated liquid lip as opposed to high-shine oil.

Shoppers who want a glossy finish.

Don't get it twisted, this Ilia Balmy Gloss is fully a lip oil — just with the ultra-nourishing benefits of a nutrient-rich lip balm, too. Choose from a variety of six pigmented shades to find the color that feels right for you (but don't think too hard, because each of these hues is sheer enough to create a custom color for your skin tone). But fun color options aren't the only standout qualities of these oils — this hydration level comes straight from the sea, with its hero ingredient being salicornia, an ultra-moisturizing sea succulent that is said to boost hydration up to 6000 percent.

This oceanic element is accompanied by hyaluronic acid for plumpness, meadowfoam seed oil for barrier protection and a medley of other dermatologist-approved ingredients for a product that not only looks gorgeous, but feels like a spa treatment. Is it a creamy liquid lip, a balm, or an oil? It doesn't need labels — it's an all-in-one (and newsflash: you must have it).

Price at time of publish: $26

Size: 0.14 oz. | Key Ingredients: Salicornia herbacea extract, hyaluronic acid, meadowfoam seed oil | Fragrance: No | Finish: Tinted, glossy | Shades: 6

Lip oils are quite versatile beauty products, so the purpose in which you want to use them will help narrow your choices. Each will consist of hydrating ingredients, but are you looking to use it solely as a moisturizing product, or do you want to add it as a finishing touch in your makeup routine? Why not both? You can easily utilize lip oils as skincare by applying before bed to seal in those remedial properties, or you can swipe it on as you do your makeup to soften your lips into a smooth base (healing oils like the Clarins Lip Comfort Oil in shade "Honey" or the Gisou Honey-Infused Lip Oil are great for this). Think about your intended end use of this product, and you’ll have a solid foundation to start your search on.

Some oils are created in clear shades only, so as to act as a skincare product or lipstick topper all in one, while others are tinted or made to provide a rich hue for a gloss alternative. Clear oils have the most versatility, as they can be worn on their own or in addition to other lip products. On the other hand, tinted oils, such as the Merit Shade Slick, can provide that same level of moisturization and serve as a lip color. Each will provide that glossy result, but hues will differentiate one product from another.

As alluded to in the name, lip oils are made from just that – oils. But there are different healing properties to each ingredient being used, and some are objectively better than others. "Look for ingredients that are nourishing such as single-sourced oil extractions," Aguilar advises. She goes on to explain that, "Vitamin E works as a natural preservative, so most clean, hydrating and minimal ingredient products have vitamin E oil." Aguilar notes that her favorite oils for moisturization include rose, grapeseed and nut oils, which are all rich in omegas and beneficial for proper hydration — a combo you can find in almost every single one of our picks.

Though it can be easy to confuse the two with how many lip products are on the market today, lip oils and lip glosses are actually quite different from one another. Glosses typically consist of a thicker formula, are made to be worn as a beauty product, and are usually non-moisturizing, whereas lip oils toe the line between makeup and skincare, offering both moisture and a glossy shine. Where glosses provide a film that sits atop the lips, oils absorb into the skin and moisturize the lips.

There are many plant-derived substances that are healing for our lips, but which are the oils that we should look for in our lip products? Aguilar is a self-proclaimed devotee to pure organic grapeseed oil, mixing this natural ingredient into almost all of her skincare products and even using it alone. "Grapeseed oil is rich in omega fatty acids, especially linoleic acid and vitamin E, which help maintain healthy moisture levels in skin," Aguilar explains. Dr. Nazarian agrees with her statement about vitamin E, sharing that she recommends products that include rose oils, jojoba oils, and aloe as well.

However, there are some substances that should be avoided in your lip oil selection, which Dr. Nazarian helps us pinpoint. "I recommend avoiding ingredients such as menthol or alcohols [as they] often lead to loss of moisture and drying of the lips with chronic use," she states. Nazarian also recommends the use of SPF in conjunction with your lip oil, as most formulas are engineered without it. Additionally, Aguilar suggests avoiding "stimulating oils such as peppermint, mint, cinnamon and menthol, as these can cause irritation and allergies that make lips dry out faster, peel and crack."

Lip balms and lip oils bring different benefits to the table. "The specific lip [products] which contain hydrating oils that improve the skin barrier can replace your everyday lip balms and moisturizer," explains Dr. Nazarian, referring to the aforementioned natural oils that she recommends. While balms are nourishing in and of themselves, the waxy formula can hinder their staying power and even dry the lips out if they are concocted with alcohols. Oils are typically a gentler approach, offering fast-absorbing serums that are rich in natural ingredients for more hydrating (and immediate) results — but if you want a happy medium between the two, your best bet would be the Ilia Balmy Gloss Tinted Lip Oil.

Alyssa Brascia compiled and contributed to this comprehensive guide. We took the recommendations and guidance of celebrity aestheticians, dermatologists, and our own editorial research to uncover and rank the best lip oils that every beauty and skincare lover should have in their kits.The experts we consulted included the following: