Not quite a balm and not quite a gloss, the best lip oils are the ideal in-between, offering hydration, shine, and often, your-lips-but-better tint. Because they’re formulated with an oil base, they deliver the juicy, decadent finish of a lip gloss or sheer lip tint with the moisturizing benefits of a lip balm—ideal for people with dry lips. But unlike glosses, lip oils swap surface-level stickiness for formulas that sink into your lips. In fact, most are loaded with conditioning ingredients you’ll recognize from your skin-care routine, like peptides, antioxidants, and botanical oils, because, ICYMI, your lips deserve the same TLC as the rest of your face. Scroll on to give your gloss a break and welcome a nourishing lip oil into the spotlight.
Our Top Lip Oils:
Frequently Asked Questions
Best Overall: Summer Fridays Dream Lip Oil
Why it’s worth it: Summer Fridays’ Dream Lip Oil is a hit among our editors for its velvety, high-shine finish and moisturizing feel. Packed with softening vitamin E and nine botanically derived oils (hi, rose oil and apricot oil), it strikes the perfect balance between a milky wash of color and buildable pigment power, minus the slick or sticky feel. It has just enough slip for comfortable wear, and its sheer shine lasts all day, thanks to those oils that give the formula its long-lasting, glossy finish.
Tester feedback from Allure commerce editor Sarah Han
“I have about a million and one lip balms and oils lying around my apartment and various bags, but Summer Fridays Dream Lip Oil—’quiet luxury’ in a tube, as I like to call it—is the one I reach for the most. I love wearing it on its own on no-makeup days or as a hydration-boosting prep step before applying lipstick or lip tint (my perpetually dry lips drink it up). And as an aficionado of colorful lips, I much prefer the hint of tint this formula leaves behind over a clear oil any day.”—Sarah Han, commerce editor
“Right off the bat, I loved how big the applicator is. I have fairly big lips, so I appreciate that I only had to do one swipe on each lip to get the job done. The tint is really pretty and sheer; it doesn’t pack on too much color, but just enough that you get the effect.”—Annie Blay-Tettey, associate beauty editor
- Key ingredients: apricot oil, rose oil, jojoba oil, squalane, shea butter, shea oil
- Shades: 8
Best Budget: E.L.F. Cosmetics Glow Reviver Lip Oil
Why it’s worth it: E.L.F. Cosmetics’s Glow Reviver Lip Oil is a little minty, a lot pigmented, and always ready to offer a mid-morning, mid-afternoon, mid-evening—or mid-mid-evening—perk-up. After months of Best of Beauty testing, our editors crowned it one of the most pigmented options around, delivering bold color without sacrificing hydration (or excessive coins). Infused with luscious apricot, avocado, jojoba, and pomegranate oils, this oil locks in moisture for the long run, and the shade options are chef’s kiss. Our top picks? Succulent Red Delicious, a juicy, sheer watermelon, and Jam Session, a scrumptious black cherry hue.
Tester feedback from Allure commerce producer Sarah Hoffmann
“Two things about me: I love a fat doe-foot applicator and sheer berry anything. E.L.F. Cosmetics’ Glow Reviver Lip Oil in Jam Session hands me both in one sub-$10 package. My lips are very, very pale naturally, so I do like applying it over a bit of a lip tint or liner to help the color along, but this lip oil is truly the black cherry on top of a solid chunk of my lip combos. The thick and luxe texture gives $40 lip oil vibes, so it feels like a lucky break that it’s only $9.”—Sarah Hoffmann, commerce producer
- Key ingredients: apricot oil, jojoba oil, pomegranate oil, avocado oil, squalane
- Shades: 10
Best Plumping: YSL Loveshine Plumping Lip Oil Gloss
Why it’s worth it: A gloss, an oil, and a plumper all in one, YSL’s Loveshine Plumping Lip Oil Gloss had our testers swooning during Best of Beauty Testing (earning it the 2025 award for best plumping gloss). The why behind the win? In addition to drenching lips with moisture (thanks to vitamin E and hyaluronic acid), Loveshine makes them appear fuller à la a subtly tingling mix of ginger and pepper oils. The result: lips so juicy and plush, don’t be surprised if someone asks if you’ve had “a little something done.”
“I’m not usually a lip plumper person, but this one makes my lips look juicy without that lingering sting. It’s definitely tingly—more refreshing than burning—which I actually look forward to when I apply it. The shades are gorgeous, and the formula feels creamy and silky going on. If we’re talking luxury, this one takes the cake—it’s earned a spot in every one of my purses.”—Lily Wohlner, commerce writer
“This plumping gloss gives a subtle tingle that’s not overwhelming. It has just the right amount of spice to make lips look fuller and more defined while delivering that signature high-shine payoff. My go-to shade is 44 Nude Lavallière, which is the perfect sheer pink for pairing with any lip combo.” —Bianca Richards, social media manager
- Key ingredients: vitamin E, hyaluronic acid, ginger root oil, pepper oil
- Shades: 10
Glossiest Finish: Kosas Wet Lip Oil Gloss
Why it’s worth it: The hyaluronic acid and evening primrose oil infused in the Kosas Wet Lip Oil Gloss hydrate and adorn lips with a vinyl-like glow, without any stickiness. Even as the formula wears throughout the day, you can still feel its smoothing effects. We love it so much that it has two Best of Beauty Clean Awards (2023 and 2025). In terms of shade range, there’s everything from a nudey Bare (which is what Allure former shopping market editor Angela Trakoshis is using above) to a cherry popsicle-like Jaw.
“The Kosas Wet Lip Oil is literally skin care for your lips—hello, hyaluronic acid, peptides, and avocado oil. It leaves my lips looking glass-like—as if I just used a luxurious lip gloss—and plump like I just got them filled.”—Angela Trakoshis, former shopping market editor
- Key Ingredients: hyaluronic acid, peptides, avocado oil
- Available Shades: 11
Best Sheer: Clinique Pop Lip + Cheek Oil
Why it’s worth it: Gen Z may have made Clinique’s iconic Black Honey hue go viral, but it’s long been an everyday essential. Once exclusive to the brand’s Almost Lipstick, Black Honey lives on in Clinique’s Pop Lip + Cheek Oil (a 2025 Best of Beauty winner). The formula is what keeps us hooked: a plush, glassy, and nourishing blend of safflower, jojoba, olive, sunflower seed, and castor oils that add a subtle yet slightly punchy wash of color. While the original Black Honey (a sheer mauve) won our hearts, the lineup also includes the equally flattering Pink Honey (a sheer pink) and Nude Honey (an apricot-not-too-warm, not-too-pink dream). Dab it on the lips for a sheer, juicy tint and the cheeks for a dewy flush while you’re at it.
Tester feedback from Allure designer Briana Rengifo
“Clinique Pop Lip + Cheek Oil in Black Honey has been one of my favorites to use when I’m in a rush and want something I can use in a multitude of ways. The color makes my lips look perfectly flush and adds a beautiful sheer tint to my cheeks!”—Briana Rengifo, designer
“I’ll be honest: I missed the Clinique Black Honey craze the first time around. But we all love a comeback! Although my signature is a matte red lip, I like something weightless and silky for every day. I find myself reaching for this lip oil before every Zoom call so my mouth doesn’t look bare (or ashy) on camera. The color is barely there but the glossy finish let’s everyone know my lips are properly moisturized.”—Jessica Cruel, editor-in-chief
- Key ingredients: safflower, jojoba, olive, sunflower seed, and castor oils
- Shades: 3
Subtlest Shimmer: Gisou Honey Infused Lip Oil
Why it’s worth it: In addition to our ol’ faithful hyaluronic acid and a blend of oils like buriti and blueberry seed oil, both rich in antioxidants like omega 3, 6, and 9, Gisou’s Honey Infused Lip Oil contains the brand’s proprietary Mirsalehi bee garden oil, harvested from founder Negin Mirsaheli’s family garden to deeply condition and smooth lips. On top of its intensively hydrating formulation, Each shade leaves behind a glossy, light-catching finish (yes, there are real shimmer flecks in there) that somehow doesn’t feel sticky or heavy. Not into sparkle? Don’t worry—the brand makes non-shimmery versions too.
Tester feedback from Allure contributor Annie Blackman
“The Gisou Honey Infused Lip Oil perfectly bridges the gap between gloss and oil: It’s shiny without being sticky, pigmented without being too much, and the bottle is so chic. I like to layer it on top of lipsticks or stains, or wear it alone.”—Annie Blackman, contributor
- Key ingredients: honey, hyaluronic acid, omega 3, 6, and 9
- Shades: 4
Best for Dry Lips: RMS Beauty Legendary Lip Oil
Why it’s worth it: Lush, plush, conditioning, and perfectly pigmented, RMS Beauty’s Legendary Lip Oil brings all of the hydration. Like skin care for your lips, it’s formulated with ingredients like jojoba oil and RMS’s Adaptogenic Herbal Blend—infused with mineral sea water, wildcrafted buriti oil, and cherry seed oil to condition. It lasts from morning coffee to lunch break to keep super dry lips feeling hydrated, unlike some oils we tried that seem to slip off the lips after just a few minutes. The oil is also scented and flavored with vanilla extract to add to its deliciousness. The jumbo doe-foot applicator distributes product evenly every time, resulting in softer, fuller-looking lips that strike that just-right balance between everything and nothing.
Tester feedback from Allure contributing commerce editor Deanna Pai
“I usually prefer the utility of a tinted lip balm—swipe and go, no mirror needed—but this lip oil converted me. It’s everything you could want in a lip oil: a non-sticky feel, sheer color, satin finish, and all the moisture I could possibly need, thanks to jojoba and cherry oils. It delivers my-lips-but-better coverage and has become a daily staple.” —Deanna Pai, contributing commerce editor
- Key ingredients: vanilla extract, cherry seed oil, jojoba oil
- Shades: 8
More lip Oils We Love:
Best Splurge: Dior Addict Lip Glow Oil
Why It’s Worth It: When it comes to Dior’s Addict Lip Glow Oil, there’s more than meets the applicator. Despite the seemingly finite shades of this Best of Beauty-winning, TikTok-loved oil, each hue shifts into a custom hue based on your pH, thanks to a nifty ingredient called D&C Red 27. The eight shades of purples, pinks, and oranges are also packed with cherry oil, an antioxidant-rich ingredient that protects lips from environmental aggressors. New York City-based makeup artist and creator Delina Medhin is a fan of the formula for her clients and herself because “[the shades are]sheer and [the formula] feels comfy.”
Tester feedback from Allure former digital editor Jihan Forbes
“The entire experience of applying Dior Lip Glow is satisfying. Its doe-foot applicator has a chubby, rounded tip that comes out of the tube with a lovely squish. Gliding it on feels extra smooth, and it leaves my lips looking juicy. When the shine inevitably fades—or is rubbed off by my sips of tea or snacking—the pink hue persists, leaving my lips looking healthy and moisturized.”—Jihan Forbes, former digital editor
- Key ingredients: cherry oil
- Shades: 8
Best Refillable: KraveBeauty Plumptuous Lip Jelly
KraveBeauty
Plumptuous Lip Jelly
Why it’s worth it: The buildable, sheer KraveBeauty Plumptuous Lip Jelly stands out for its sumptuous sheen and refillable tube—because trust us, you’ll be eager to re-up. Formulated with ingredients that mimic your lips’ natural hydration process, it’s packed with upcycled plum oil, the plumping MaxiLip compound (peptides abound), and triolein, a triglyceride found in oily fats. And when it’s time for a refresh? Just pop out the inner compartment and swap in a new one—saving a bit of plastic and four bucks in the process.
“KraveBeauty’s first makeup launch hits all the marks and is just as thoughtfully formulated and designed as its skin-care siblings. The metal applicator is innovative and feels extra refreshing/cooling on the lips, and the formula itself actually feels like it sinks into my lips and deeply hydrates—rather than superficially sitting on top. My favorite shade is Cherry Cola (a brown-leaning cherry red), which former Allure editor Devon Abelman helped create!”—Sarah Han, commerce editor
- Key ingredients: plum oil, triolein, MaxiLip
- Shades: 4
Frequently Asked Questions
How are lip oils different from lip balms?
“Lip balms often contain humectants, emollients, and occlusive ingredients, working to help boost moisture in the lips, while lip oils provide an occlusive layer to the lips to help seal moisture in,” says Marisa Garshick, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in New York City. “Lip balms tend to be best suited for those who experience dry and dehydrated lips, but can also be layered and used in combination with lip oil.”
In other words, we like to think of lip oils as the intersection between lip balms and glosses. As the skinification of makeup products becomes more popular, the demand for lip oils has risen for their subtle tints and moisture-replenishing properties. Besides the sheer tints that make them so lovable, lip oils also double as nourishing treatments without feeling greasy, heavy, or sticky.
Which ingredients are commonly found in lip oils?
Many lip oils are formulated with lightweight emollients like jojoba, grapeseed, squalane, avocado, or rosehip oil, notes Brendan Camp, MD, a double board-certified dermatologist in New York City. However, Dr. Camp adds: “Some [lip oils] contain nourishing ingredients like peptides, which may encourage collagen production, ceramides, which help fortify the skin barrier, vitamin E, which is an antioxidant that protects skin from oxidative stress, and hyaluronic acid, which is a humectant that helps skin retain moisture.” Whatever the case, lip oils are ideal for anyone experiencing dry, cracked, and dull-colored lips.
Meet the experts
How we test and review products
Before reviewing any makeup, we ask questions about a number of factors: What ingredients are in it? Does the brand offer a wide shade range inclusive of consumers with all skin tones and undertones? Is it safe for readers who have sensitive skin or wear contact lenses? Is it on the affordable side or more of a splurge? Is its packaging consciously designed or needlessly wasteful?