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9 best lip oils for dry and chapped lips, tested by the GHI on 190 women
Cushion your pout with a hydration hit that lasts
If you’re anything like us, lip balms line the bottom of your handbag and coat pockets. Whether it’s a vat of Vaseline or the cult-classic Carmex, catching us during winter without one is rare. But what if you love a glossy, hydrated look, while also lusting after the pop of colour that a lacquer of lipstick gives? Enter: the lip oil.
Bridging the gap between the smile-softening richness of a balm and the luxurious feel of a lippy, the hydrating lip oil really is having its moment.
Here are our firm favourites at a glance, but read on if you don’t want to gloss over the details.
Best lip oils 2024
Why should I buy a lip oil over a lip balm or lip gloss?
So, what sets these products apart from their famous noughties counterpart, the high-shine gloss? Well, for starters, you’re less likely to lose strands of hair to the formulation’s grip on a windy day. Lip oils tend to melt more naturally into your skin, soothing and hydrating cracked lips with more than just a surface-level solution.
As aesthetic doctor Dr Grace Hula explains, most lip oils use emollients and natural oils to create a barrier on the skin’s surface, preventing moisture loss to the surrounding environment.
“Lip oils often contain a combination of natural oils such as jojoba oil, coconut oil, or argan oil,” Dr Hula says. “These are rich in fatty acids that are easily absorbed by the skin. When applied to the lips, they work to replenish and retain moisture, keeping them soft and supple.
“Lip oils are known for their lightweight, non-greasy texture. Unlike some other lip balms or products that may feel heavy or sticky, they provide a comfortable, smooth application. This means they can be applied throughout the day as needed without any discomfort or build-up.”
“Many lip oils also boast beneficial antioxidants such as vitamin E — an ingredient that can help protect the delicate skin on your lips from environmental damage, including UV radiation and pollution,” Dr Hula continues. “By shielding your lips from these external factors, these oils can contribute not only to maintaining the moisture, but the overall long-term health of your lips.”
How we test lip oils at the GHI
In the GHI lab, we looked at the longevity and performance of a selection of market-leading lip oils using a Corneometer; a specialist device that measures moisture in the skin.
Hydration levels were monitored for three hours after application to track any improvements, and we also asked 190 at-home testers to assess each oil’s design, ease of use, level of pigment, how long any hydration effects lasted and how soft their lips felt after application.
Below, we’ve combined the results to give each product a score, alongside a 'best for' tag, so you can find the one for you.
Florence is our Senior Beauty Writer, specialising in expert-tested beauty and grooming reviews — from toothbrushes to the latest skincare launches. She’s committed to sharing recommendations for products that truly work and make people feel confident and healthy. Prior to this she was at Tropic Skincare, where she worked closely with biochemists in the lab, delving into the functions of each fresh, natural ingredient and conveying its efficacy to her audience in easy-to-digest terms.
With over five years’ experience in beauty and health journalism, Florence has written for ELLE, Women’s Fitness, Sister Magazine, National Geographic Traveller and many more, with a strong sustainability angle thread through much of her work.
When she isn’t packing for a trip away, working out, eating out or reading up on retinol serums, you’ll probably find her experimenting with her film camera and building her portfolio of portraits. Florence’s photography can be found at florencereeves-white.com, her Instagram is @florencereeveswhite and her twitter is @floreadsnwrites
Nora is our Beauty and Grooming Tester and has a master's degree in cosmetic science. She is using her expert knowledge of product development, formulation, product evaluation and market research to test a wide range of hair and beauty products in the beauty labs for Good Housekeeping, Women’s Health, ELLE, Men’s Health. In the lab she uses a variety of methods such as the Diastron, The Multi Skin Test Centre, The VISIA Complexion Analyser to test anything from hydration, skin barrier function, pore size and more.
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