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Lip oils are the easiest way to look fresh and dewy this spring
All the glossiness, none of the gloop!
For a reflective finish that also nourishes dry lips, look no further than a lip oil.
A hybrid of gloss, balm and (if you want it) tint, lip oils generally have a silky smooth application thanks to a combination of naturally-derived oils such as jojoba and almond.
"The ultra-glossy lip look is firmly back in style," says Charlotte Knight, CEO and founder of British beauty brand, Ciaté. "With our Fruit Burst Lip Oils, we wanted to encapsulate that wet-look finish, without any of the traditional, sticky feeling of a regular gloss."
Lip oils get points for versatility too. Because most lip oils impart a subtler tint and shine compared to their glossier counterparts, they pair beautifully with any look; from easy, glowing skin to a full-on, glamorous smokey eye.
Lip oils do wear off with throughout the day and catch your hair to some degree (we've yet to find one that doesn't), but reapplication is part of the fun. There's no need for precision, just swipe and go!
Here are the lip oils we'll be making space for in our makeup bags this season.
Clarins knows a thing or two about making iconic products (there's at least one royal who's a fan of the Lip Perfector!) and one of our current favourites is the Lip Comfort OIl.
This lip oil is glossy enough to create the illusion of a fuller pout without feeling heavy. Cherry lends a pretty, scarlet tint while Honey (pictured here) works beautifully as an overnight treatment. The new formula is also infused with omega-rich sweetbriar rose oil to nurture chapped lips.
Speckled with ultra-fine gold shimmers, this is our most glamorous pick on this list. You can layer over your lipstick to give it extra pizzazz, but even on its own, the dazzling formula leaves lips looking fuller and oh-so-dewy.
This oil is slightly at the heavier end of the spectrum, so a little goes a long way. Top tip: dot a tiny amount on the centre of your lips and pat outwards with your fingertip for a smooth finish.
For a glassy, mirror-like finish, look no further than Dior's cherry oil-infused Lip Glow Oil.
It works to enhance your natural lip colour just like the original Lip Glow, but with a high-sheen effect. There are 6 shades available with the colours being extremely sheer, making it perfect for layering on top of a lip liner or lipstick for extra punch.
Ciaté London Fruit Burst Lip Oil - Lychee & Acai
Ciaté wasn't kidding when it named this 'Fruit Burst'. For one, it smells like delicious lychee syrup, and for another, it makes lips appear oh-so-juicy! Meanwhile, a cocktail of sunflower, avocado and jojoba seed oils keeps flakiness at bay.
Estée Lauder Pure Color Envy Nighttime Rescue Lip Oil-Serum
If you're committed to matte lipstick (which can sometimes cause dryness), you need this hyaluronic acid-infused lip treatment in your arsenal.
Before bed, try gently exfoliating your lips with a soft flannel, then applying this treatment. You'll wake up with softer lips, ready for their next coat of matte lipstick.
This LA brand is still under the radar in the UK but we rate it for its glow-boosting, botanical-infused products.
This dewy gloss doubles as a moisturising treatment using shea butter, avocado and evening primrose oils. One swipe will leave you with comfortably soft, shiny lips.
This new addition to the 'Magic' range is so popular, the brand can hardly keep it in stock! Aside from imparting a radiant glaze, this formula - packed with aloe, hyaluronic acid and sunflower oils - works extra hard to soften fine lines and treat thirsty lips.
The cooling roller ball applicator is a nice touch too. Hurry before it sells out (again)!
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