When your lips are dry, flakey and dehydrated, topping up the moisture levels via a lip oil is your best bet.
Lip oils have the aesthetic appeal of a lip gloss but, in general, are much more comfortable to wear and won’t leave your lips feeling sticky. The addition of plant oils like jojoba and sweet almond work to replenish and repair the sensitive lip area and leave your pout feeling smooth for long after.
We’ve rounded up a few of our favourite lip oils that can treat winter-ravaged lips with ease.
— Clarins Instant Light Lip Comfort Oil
This plant-based formula is rich in active ingredients and melts into the lips without feeling sticky. It nourishes and enhances your lips while also providing a shine similar to a gloss. It’s available in eight different colourways, from clear to red, orange and purple tones.
“The Lip Comfort Oil has become a staple in my beauty bag,” one reviewer called Claudia wrote on the Clarins website. “I love how nourished it leaves my lips feeling — great in winter to prevent them [from] becoming cracked.”
You can shop the Clarins Lip Comfort Oil online for $35.
— Dior Lip Glow Oil
With a similar oil meets gloss vibe, the Lip Glow Oil by Dior deeply protects and enhances the look of the lips by bringing out their natural colour. With the use of its Colour Reviver technology, the Lip Glow Oil reacts differently to the moisture level in each person’s lips, which gives you a custom colour while offering deep moisturisation.
With six shades available, you can pick which hue you’d like for your lips including berry, cherry and coral colours.
“While this is expensive, it is worth it. No more dry lips,” Cath wrote on the Myer website. You can head online to Myer to pick up the Dior Lip Glow Oil.
— Biologi BL Nourish Lip Serum
Formulated with a single-plant extract of native Australian blood red finger lime, this Lip Serum by Biologi is similar to an oil. The addition of blood red finger lime encourages natural healing and has protective properties for the lips, while also working to reduce redness, calm inflammation and leave your pout feeling much softer and supple.
“Love BL! So different from your regular lip balms. Leaves my lips so soft and nourished. My daughters love using it too,” Lyn wrote.
You can shop the Lip Serum via the Biologi website for $24.
— Votary Natural Lip Oil
Made from 100% plant oils including sweet almond, green mandarin and melon, this vegan and cruelty-free Lip Oil by Votary softens, hydrates and nurtures dry and dehydrated lips. It also leaves your lips with a lovely shine and makes them look plump without that feeling sticky, which is common in gloss products.
“I love this lip oil. It hydrates my lips for hours and smells so yummy and uplifting. It is expensive but it’s a little treat that I’m glad I gave myself!” Gemi wrote.
While this particular product is on the pricier side, every Votary product is hand-blended and contains the highest quality oils. Head to the Sephora website to shop Votary’s Natural Lip Oil for $60.
— Kosas Wet Lip Oil Gloss
This vegan Lip Oil Gloss by Kosas is made with hyaluronic acid, which holds 1000 times its own weight in water and plumps your lips, as well as peptides to repair and promote firmer skin and evening primrose oil to protect.
There are five shades to choose from and a quick slick of the oil will leave you with a glossy, vinyl vibe that feels comfortable and nourishing.
“This is great when you got chapped lips. Looks great and natural on the lips, all while moisturising,” Shinxlm wrote.
Head to the Mecca website to shop the Kosas Wet Lip Oil Gloss for $43.
— Natch Essentials Natural Lip Serum
This organic Lip Serum by Aussie brand Natch Essentials is blended with jojoba and castor oil to nourish, moisturise and soften lips. It’s also infused with a touch of peppermint and rosemary antioxidant and doesn’t contain any nasties.
Shop the Natural Lip Serum via the Natch Essentials website for just $12.
— Hourglass No.28 Lip Treatment Oil
This luxurious Lip Oil by Hourglass provides an anti-aging treatment for your lips, thanks to the combination of botanicals, vitamins and three powerful active ingredients. It targets the delicate lip area to provide hydration and reduce the appearance of fine lines around the mouth.
“Goes on smooth and makes your lips, supple and smooth all day, with a delicious smell. Highly recommend this product to be one of your beauty staples!” Milijana wrote.
You can shop the Hourglass No.28 Lip Treatment Oil via the Mecca website for $78. While this is most definitely a luxe purchase, the 24-karat gold plated tip applicator and the anti-ageing formula is worth it for those looking to treat ageing around the mouth.