When you think about all the things you’ve done this year in quarantine, what comes to mind? Did you bake bread like everyone else? Were you on a workout kick at the beginning and now are over it? How many Zoom calls/Google Hangouts/FaceTimes have you done? Have you made the TikTok-famous feta pasta yet?
I’ve been thinking a lot about my year in quarantine, and I know I’ve learned a lot about myself, others, and the world. But to be honest, lately, I’ve kind of been reminiscing and taking inventory of all of the stuff that has got me through this past year. Call me materialistic, but I’ve already done some reflection on my personal growth, which you can read about here.
But back to the stuff. I feel so lucky that I’ve been able to spend most of my time at home and that I’ve had the means to feed my online-shopping wants and needs. And it feels like I’ve tried a lot of different products and gadgets in quarantine. I’ve bought journals and books for my mental health. I splurged on a Peloton to amp up my fitness routine. I ordered more leggings, sweatshirts, athleisure, and loungewear in bulk.
When it comes to beauty products, I purchased some skincare saviors (like my favorite vitamin C serum and all the moisturizers, creams, and masks). My makeup has been pretty minimal (i.e., nonexistent) most days, but one beauty discovery I’ve made during quarantine has been my absolute favorite: lip oil.
Okay, I know lip oil isn’t a new invention, but I never gave it a second thought before quarantine. Then, I got a couple to try, and now, I’m hooked. Who knew it was such a multitasking powerhouse? It manages to leave my lips with a pretty shade, a nice sheen, and so much hydration and moisture. I don’t wear much makeup these days, but when I swipe a lip oil on before a Zoom meeting, I feel instantly put-together. It’s just so easy.
Below, take a look at some of my favorite lip oils that I’ve tried, plus some on my wish list.
This is my absolute favorite lip product at the moment, and it happens to be a lip oil! It’s infused with rosehip oil and shea butter, so it really softens and smoothes my lips. The color is perfect, and you can layer it on for more of a pigmented finish or just do a swipe for a little flush of color. My go-to color is Sangria.
Lilah B.’s product is another favorite of mine and was one of my first intros to lip oil. It leaves a nice shine and color to my lips and has pretty good staying power. It also has nourishing ingredients like bilberry-seed oil, milk thistle extract, and vitamin E.
Dior’s Lip Glow Oil is on my wish list because it looks like a super-sophisticated lip gloss to me. The formula is enriched with cherry oil and has special technology that creates a custom color for your lips based on the skin’s moisture level.
If you’re looking for a drugstore option, you can’t go wrong with this $5 find from E.L.F. The nonsticky and nongreasy formula is infused with jojoba, apricot, and vitamin E oils.
Ilia’s lip oil has hyaluronic acid to plump and hydrate your lips. It has the perfect amount of shine and leaves a natural-looking color. There are six shades available.
Charlotte Tilbury’s lip oil isn’t tinted, so if you just care about hydration and conditioning, this one’s for you. It’s enriched with hyaluronic acid, aloe vera, and plant extracts to really give your lips a nice treat. You can also use it as an overnight treatment.
Versed’s tinted lip oil was the first product I tried, and I was immediately obsessed. I loved that it gave my lips a nice shine, but it wasn’t goopy or sticky like some lip glosses can be. It also has just the right amount of color that looks super natural, so it’s perfect for that no-makeup look.
This product from Kosas is like a hybrid between a gloss and an oil. It’s formulated with hyaluronic acid, peptides, and evening primrose oil to keep lips moisturized, plumped, and protected.
If you want to experiment with different shades, Clarins’s lip oils come in unique hues like Honey and Tangerine.
Technically, this is a gloss, but it’s also enriched with botanical oils to moisturize and soften, so I’m going to consider it a hybrid. It has a sheer finish that you can really layer, too.
This lip oil has a gel-balm consistency and will nourish and plump your lips thanks to shea, jojoba, and plum oils. The shades are subtle but are still so pretty and natural looking.
Here’s another lip gloss that I’m adding to the list because it’s got conditioning grape-seed oil. The product also contains apple extract, which works to exfoliate any dead skin, and coconut milk to soothe.
Nars’s Orgasm hue is absolutely legendary, and if you’re a fan like I am, you’ll be happy to know you can get it in a lip oil, too. The peachy pink shade gives a nice shine and a hint of shimmer. It contains raspberry-seed oil to soften and protect the lips.
Here’s another non-tinted option for you. This lip oil is formulated with five forms of coconut, vitamin E, and aloe vera, so it will revive your dull, chapped lips.
Hourglass’s lip oil has anti-aging benefits, conditioning the lips, protecting against dryness and environmental damage, and reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. The applicator is just so luxe—it has a 24-karat gold-plated tip.
This under-$10 option from Ulta features natural ingredients like antioxidant-packed vitamin E to smooth and condition. These may look pigmented, but they go on clear.
Tarte’s lip oil is super hydrating thanks to jojoba, hazel, and sunflower-seed oils. But it’s also just really fun—it leaves a shiny, juicy finish and has a raspberry sugar cookie flavor. Next up, We’ve Tried Hundreds of Blushes—These Are the 19 That Give Us the Perfect Flush
