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7 best lip oils for dry and chapped lips, tested on 190 women
Cushion your pout with a hydration hit that lasts
Tested by Nora MerikFormer Beauty and Grooming Tester
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 2026
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How we test lip oils at the Good Housekeeping Institute
In the Good Housekeeping Institute 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.
Coola Classic Liplux Oil SPF30
Coola Classic Liplux Oil SPF30
Score: 81/100
Formulated with broad spectrum SPF 30 protection (a plus for us), this organic lip oil left our panel with instantly plumper and glossier lips. It also nourished while still feeling lightweight and it aced our lab tests for its moisturising performance.
It’s not as sweet as the other lip oils we tried, so the taste wasn’t for everyone. The small applicator can be fiddly to use, but the fact that it’s clear makes it ideal for those searching for shine without the bold shade.
Key specifications
| Number of shades | 1 |
|---|---|
| Size | 3ml |
Charlotte Tilbury Charlotte's Magic Lip Oil Crystal Elixir
Charlotte Tilbury Charlotte's Magic Lip Oil Crystal Elixir
Score: 81/100
Matching the top two performers with a 5/5 score for hydration in our lab tests, this smoothing lip oil was also popular with our panel. “This single-handedly repaired my dry, chapped lips — they’ve never felt softer or more conditioned,” said one delighted tester.
The unique rollerball design was a hit for ease of application, achieving an even distribution of product and preventing waste. All testers swooned over the sweet scent, too.
Key specifications
| Number of shades | 1 |
|---|---|
| Size | 8ml |
Score: 80/100
This is the perfect oil to carry round in your pocket during party season, as it comes in a selection of bold shades that add instant joy to any outfit. The honey option is a warm neutral that adds a natural-looking shine.
Another sensorial favourite, our panel enjoyed the fruity fragrance and found the plumping plant oil formulation nourishing and moisturising. The pigment is flattering, with testers describing it as “like their natural colour, but better.” The doe-foot applicator proved divisive, though, with some finding it messy while others enjoyed using its big pillowy pad.
Key specifications
| Number of shades | 10 |
|---|---|
| Size | 7ml |
Kosas Wet Lip Oil Gloss
Kosas Wet Lip Oil Gloss
Score: 80/100
Our panel praised the colour payoff here, with buildable pigment sticking around even when the shine had faded during the day. People loved how they could adapt their look for any occasion, sticking to a subtle glassy shine in the day and layering it up in lieu of lipstick at night. Almost everyone agreed that the moisture boost lasted for hours too.
The welcome mix of hyaluronic acid, peptides and evening primrose oil works together to create this super hydrating effect, while also stimulating collagen production and protecting against pollution and stressors. Light work, it seems, for this LA-grown cult brand and its “botanical-based” formulation.
Key specifications
| Number of shades | 8 |
|---|---|
| Size | 4.6ml |
ILIA Balmy Gloss Tinted Lip Oil
ILIA Balmy Gloss Tinted Lip Oil
Score: 78/100
Enriched with Salicornia herbacea extract — that’s an uber-hydrating sea succulent to you and I — and meadowfoam seed oil, Ilia has reached out to mother nature for a solution to our chapped, sore lips as the seasons change.
This lightweight oil left smiles looking noticeably healthier, with the immediate plumping and hydrating impact wowing our panel.
Testers praised its hydrating qualities, with one saying it out-performed all other lip oils they’d used. A few were disappointed that the colour didn’t last long enough, but otherwise this is a great everyday lip oil that’s not at all sticky.
Key specifications
| Number of shades | 6 |
|---|---|
| Size | 4.5ml |
Merit Beauty Shade Slick Tinted Lip Oil
Merit Beauty Shade Slick Tinted Lip Oil
Score: 74/100
Merit is the subtle, ‘quiet luxury’ makeup brand that beauty buffs are currently buying in their droves. From soft, creamy blushes to luxurious lipsticks and its new range of neutral cream shadows, everything is packaged in gold, glass pots and bottles that the likes of Cameron Diaz and Mandy Moore have displayed on their bathroom shelf.
With twelve elegant shades to choose from, including a ‘warm clear’ un-pigmented option, the brand won bonus points for its selection of sophisticated tones. Testers said the oil was hydrating without any stickiness, “providing a wash of colour without being too lipstick-y”.
It went on easily and had great staying power, with panellists claiming the colour lasted a few hours before they needed to reapply. Some testers did mention that it wasn’t a like for like replacement for lipstick — the shade was far too subtle for that — but it doesn’t claim to be.
Key specifications
| Number of shades | 12 |
|---|---|
| Size | 7ml |
Fenty Skin Cherry Treat Lip Conditioning Oil
Fenty Skin Cherry Treat Lip Conditioning Oil
Score: 74/100
Rihanna might run the show when it comes to inclusive underwear ranges and the whole number one single, bestselling artist thing, but it seems she has even more strings to her bow.
Fenty Beauty was founded on the belief that the range of shades offered by many makeup brands just wasn't representative of the array of skin tones in the real world. And her success would suggest a lot of people agree.
This particular Fenty lip product utilises decadent fruit oils to fortify the moisture barrier of the lips, leaving wearers with a sweet cherry smile. Made with jojoba seed oil (the oil most similar to the skin’s own sebum) and cherry extracts from Rihanna’s home nation Barbados, the formulation is super moisture-locking.
Our panel praised the paddle applicator, the cherry scent and the consistency, which “wasn’t claggy or sticky” as other oils can be. Some said the effects didn’t last very long, so it’s one to keep in your pocket to reapply throughout the day.
Key specifications
| Number of shades | 1 |
|---|---|
| Size | 5.6ml |
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.”
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
