If ever there was a lip formula made for our current work from home situation, it’s the low-maintenance lip oil.
Oils are basically the offspring of all of your favourite formulas, with the shine of a gloss, the comfort of a balm, the colour of a stain, and the nourishment of a serum. Not bad for a product that takes two seconds to apply, right?
Because while your go-to red lippie may be a little much for a Zoom call (whatever works for you, though), you still might want to pep your face up a little more than your clear balm can. And in these times of need, lip oils hit the ‘done but not too done’ brief out of the park.
And with a bunch of our favourite brands jumping onboard the oil bandwagon, there are heaps of comfy formulas in an array of flattering shades to choose from, from frosty pink to deep cherry. So without further ado, these are the lush lip oils you need in your life.
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Raww
Enriched with a blend of plumping Kakadu plum and the hydrating oils of coconut, avocado and grapefruit peel, this high-gloss oil comes in three fruity shades: raspberry, strawberry and peach.
Revlon
With four sheer shades (beige, red, peach and berry), there’s a colour option for every occasion. The pout-conditioning moringa oil and mother of pearl mix, however, is perfect for them all.
Kosas
Kosas Wet Lip Oil Gloss ($43, mecca.com.au)
If ‘juicy’ is the lip finish you’re after, we cannot recommend this hyaluronic acid and peptide-powered formula enough. The berry, pink, peach and rose hues are all stunning, but we’re extra head over heels for this natural yet polished pale pink.
Elizabeth Arden
Elizabeth Arden Sheer Kiss Lip Oil
Enriched with avocado, coconut and meadowfoam oils, this hydrating blend delivers the perfect pop of low-maintenance colour in six versatile shades – nude, rose, purple, pink, coral and red – ideal for building out your WFH lip wardrobe.
Burt’s Bees
With six shades (caramel, crimson, orchid, rose, sunset and plum) and a blend of coconut oil and beeswax that melts into lips, these tints feel just as glorious as they look (and they look damn glorious).
Clarins
Clarins Instant Light Lip Comfort Oil
The OG oil that sparked the rennaisance of comfy colour, this rich, rejuvenating concoction contains hydrating hazelnut and jojoba oils, and comes in a whopping nine hues: neutrals, pinks, purples, peaches, and even some shimmer-packed shades for a little extra glam factor.
Tarte
Tarte Maracuja Glossy Lip Oil ($24, sephora.com.au)
This superfruit-infused sheer oil is loaded with six nourishing oils (maracuja, macadamia seed, safflower seed, olive fruit, vitamin E and acai), and comes in just one single shade – but don’t worry, the rosy pink is universally flattering (and nowhere near as Elle Woods-y as it looks).
Votary
Votary Natural Lip Oil ($60, sephora.com.au)
After a natural (and natural-looking) option? This 100% natural oil is legitimately good (and clean) enough to eat, with no shade but plenty of shine. It uses African watermelon, passionflower and sweet almond oils to boost moisture levels, soften lips and impart a subtle sheen.
I prefer a lip balm, I find they last longer on my lips
I do like the idea of the Burt’s Bees. Our chemist stocks Burt’s Bees. I’m thinking that next time we go there for scrips perhaps one might accidentally fall into our basket. Oops!
These all look lovely. I have got a Clarins one that looks similar to this. There’s an Hourglass one, and OMG it’s exquisite. Expensive, but it lives up to it’s expectations. Mine was a gift. Sadly it’s all gone now. But Mother’s Day is approaching……
My daughter loves lip oils. I'm not that fussed tbh.
I’ve never tried lip oil before, I wonder if it feels greasy.
Really love Lipglosses use them when I am going out somewhere but prefer Lip Balms when I am home.
Lip balm and mascaras really help
Ooh the Clarins one looks so good
I haven't considered lip oils, but with fine lines around my lips, I would worry about the colour bleeding.
The Elizabeth Arden and Clarins packaging are gorgeous.
Loving atm lip glace from nudesticks. Well it contains shea, avo and murmuru butters and much more of goodies…plus cherry colour is divine. I love pop of colour and this one is very juicy and amazing
I received Clarins lip oil in a GWP and its gorgeous so nourishing pretty and easy to wear.
I got a few tinted lip balms. Perfect for this time.
I haven't tried any of these.
I haven't used a lip oil before Raww's one sounds nice
I have not tried a lip oil before.
I have never tried a lip oil but im certainly interested to give it a go.
Haven't tried one, would like to try the Burts' Bees one. haven't worn any make up for weeks now, my skin looks better for it.
Anything I need to reapply frequently I'm going to pass on.
I really like the idea of lip oils, but they’ve never really worked for me – too sheer, too sticky. That said I’ve never tried a $60 oil. One would hope it would work well.
I have the Clarins one which is great but the tube tends to leak a little so I have to keep it at home and not in my bag
These look lovely!
I've tried coconut oil on my lips with great results… but these sound really cool!!!
The Clarins lip oils are really nice.
I never tried coloured lip oil.
Lip oils are lovely and they always add some nice shine!
I must admit I have not tried a lip oil. I would be up for trying anyone of these pictured.
They look beautiful , never tried a lip oil before , I have few lip balms and shines in my little collection .
I would like to try some lip oils, but ones that are highly pigmented and that have a cool undertone.
Never tried a lip oil before, but given that my lips are somewhat in a state of flux atm, I think I'd give anything a try just to make them better!
I've used the Burt's Bees lip oil and it is nice and has a good price point too.
Nice looking lip colours to try. I currently just use a coloured lip balm. I like it better than lipstick- less transfer etc
The Kosas colour sounds like something I'd love.
I wouldn’t mind trying the Raww one
i love the clairns ones – so good and nourishing
The Raww one sounds worth trying.
These look like a good alternative to lipstick and gloss. Next time I need a colour I might investigate, but probably something you can't try before buy. Not much out there anyway we can try before buy now, thanks to the Covid-19.
I have a clear lip oil but I prefer a lip gloss when I go out.
Look more nourishing and less sticky
I don't own any coloured lip oil yet, but I love using squalane on my lips. I love the smoothing, hydrating and softening effect that it gives 🙂
Must check out some coloured options soon.
Raww lip oil seems viable
Sounds interesting, but I think I’ll stick to the humble lip balm.
I have not tried a lip oil yet but have them somewhere in my stash!