The Difference Between Lip Oil and Lip Gloss

As time goes by, makeup trends change and evolve. Ultra-matte, full-on glam from years past has been replaced by natural, glowy makeup that’s comfortable and cool. It’s a look that’s taken the beauty world by storm. While our founder and master makeup artist Rose-Marie Swift has always been pro-glow (it's why she created RMS!), more and more people are opting for this luminous, lower-maintenance routine. It focuses on enhancing your natural beauty rather than covering it up. The look includes a dewy complexion, creamy contour and blush, minimal eye makeup, and lush, lustrous lips.

How do you achieve shiny, shimmering lips? Many people reach for their favorite lip gloss, a product made to give lips shine and color. Made of thickeners, such as waxes or butters, gloss sits on top of your pout and has a firmer, less slippery texture that results in long-wearing lip color with a bit of tackiness to it.

However, there is another option to getting sultry, shiny lips: Lip oil (like our brand-new Legendary Lip Oil). But is lip oil the same as lip gloss? Not exactly. A lip oil is a multi-tasking product that’s both skincare and makeup. Made with nourishing oils, it hydrates your lips while giving them shine and a sheer wash of color. Because of the soft, silky formula, there’s no stickiness to it. The lightweight, comfortable formula provides a low-maintenance lip color that adds a gorgeous glow.

Want to know more about the difference between lip oil and lip gloss? Below, we break down everything to know about the shine-inducing lip products and how to use lip oil to get slick, sultry lips.

Lip Oil vs. Lip Gloss: Similarities

While there are differences between lip oil and lip gloss, here are some similarities between the two:

High-Shine Finish: Lip oil and lip gloss both give your lips a shiny finish. Swiping either product onto your lips will give you a glassy, wet effect, which will make your lips look plump and glowy.
Intense Hydration: Lip glosses and lip oils are made with nourishing ingredients to help hydrate the lips—just in different ways. Lip glosses are typically made with thicker ingredients (think: waxes or butters) to offer temporary relief from dryness. The glossy formula sits on top of the lips, locking in moisture and preventing damage. We’ve infused our LipLights Cream Lip Gloss with plumping peptides and soothing botanical butters for a lovely lip tint that works as a treatment balm, a sophisticated gloss, and a subtle volumizer. Lip oils, on the other hand, are more lightweight and slippery since they’re made with non-sticky oils. These hydrating ingredients penetrate the lips and deliver deep nourishment. Our Legendary Lip Oil contains bitter cherry seed oil, which is rich in antioxidants to revitalize, smooth, hydrate, and condition lips.
Easy Application: Both lip oil and lip gloss are incredibly easy to apply. Simply swipe the gloss or oil onto your lips, and you’re done. Many products have a doe-foot applicator (like our Legendary Lip Oil) to easily trace the shape of your lips. However, our LipLights Cream Lip Gloss comes in an artist’s tube so you can squeeze out and use up every last drop of the product before recycling.

Lip Oil vs Lip Gloss: Differences

What is the difference between lip oil and lip gloss? Lip oils have a lighter, oil-based consistency which creates a shiny, slippery, sheer look while lip glosses have heavier waxes or butters that sit on top of the lip and have a thicker, somewhat tacky, lustrous finish. Here are some more differences between lip oil and lip gloss:

Texture: Lip oil has a lightweight, slippery formula that’s super-shiny. Due to the oils in the formula, lip oil isn’t sticky like your favorite lip gloss and provides a natural luminous finish. The nourishing ingredients deeply penetrate the skin on your lips to provide intense hydration. Lip gloss, on the other hand, has a thicker consistency due to the waxes and butters in the formula. While lip gloss adds shine and luster, it doesn’t provide the hydration that lip oil can. It simply adds sparkle to your look, making your lips look fuller and ultra-slick.
Pigment: The thinner, oil-based formula for lip oil means the color payoff is slightly sheer. Applying a lip oil will help enhance your natural lip color (or bring out your chosen lipstick color). If you want a more pigmented lip product, lip gloss is the choice for you. Because of its thicker consistency, it can deliver more pigment while providing a high-shine finish.
Ingredients: Lip oils typically contain natural, nourishing oils (our Legendary Lip Oil is made with bitter cherry oil, for example). If you have sensitive skin or are looking for a clean lip product that delivers a shiny, wet finish, lip oil is your best bet. That’s because lip glosses can sometimes contain fragrances and artificial ingredients. Just be sure to read the ingredient list before buying! And if you’re searching for a clean lip gloss, try our LipLights Cream Lip Gloss, made with skin-loving natural ingredients.

How to Choose Between Lip Oil vs. Lip Gloss

Ready to take your lip lineup to the next level? Add a lip oil or a lip gloss for some shine as a finishing step to make your lips look plump and hydrated. If you’re in the market for a natural wash of color and extra hydration, lip oil is the product for you. Our Legendary Lip Oil is the ultimate low-maintenance lip color—swipe it on for a gorgeous glow. (Psst: Learn more about our Legendary Lip Oil here.) Looking for something a little more glamorous? Try lip gloss, which has a thicker, more pigmented formula that will stay put throughout the day.

Remember, when it comes to makeup, there are no wrong decisions. It’s all about what makes you feel your best. Whether you choose a lightweight lip oil or a shimmering lip gloss, we know your beauty will shine bright.

If you're still having trouble deciding which lip product to try, we’re here to help. Reach out to our incredible Artist Experts for a free consultation! They’ll help you with everything from product selection to shade matching to application tips.