Lip Oil: Makeup’s Newest It-Girl

Makeup trends evolve much like fashion. When everyone was sporting skinny jeans in 2016, they were (regrettably) paired with ultra-highlighted cheeks. Then, in 2018 when animal print was all the rage, so were voluminous false eyelashes and glitter accents. By 2021, when you couldn’t step out of the house without being confronted by a low-waist cargo skirt, we were also seeing soap brows, nose blush and graphic eyeliner.

Now, in 2024, as everyone is strutting their stuff in balloon skirts, ballet flats and slingback heels, we are looking up to their faces to spot the latest trends.

For me, the answer is blindingly obvious. There's a standout product not just seen on faces, but also being religiously carried in handbags and displayed front and centre on makeup counters. 

Lip oil.

It’s been a long time coming. A few years ago, those ahead of the curve flaunted the iconic Dior lip oil. With its ample applicator and pretty, pink packaging, it quickly became the it-girl product. However at around £32, not all of us it-girls can afford to oil up daily.

Soon, a few more options appeared. 

The Gisou honey-infused oil could be found in Selfridges and Sephora. Clarins released several tinted versions of their lip comfort oils. But, it wasn’t until this year that we started to see lip oils being added to drugstore lines. NYX’s ‘Fat Oil’ became an instant classic, along with Elf’s affordable, glow reviving option. Brands including Fenty, Nivea and Rimmel all quickly followed suit. 

So, what does this mean?

We are seeing a shift in how we approach makeup. In the past, when we saw high-coverage matte foundation or heavy smokey eyes, makeup was looked at as a mask. “Putting your face on” was both done to feel more confident, but also appeal to socital expectations.

Now, with more subtle, gentle products such as lip oils, we are starting to use makeup to enhance our natural beauty, while also preserving it. These oils actually contain ingredients, such as Beauty Pie’s collagen oil, which benefit our skin in the long run. We are not covering up, but celebrating and caring for our faces.

This is in tandem with the steady growth of interest in skincare since the pandemic. Influencers like Skincare By Hyram went viral as they taught us all about perfecting our regimes. Moreover, we also had time to invest in learning about skin types and how to identify certain ingredients, including which ones to avoid. Having this base of understanding now allows us to be more conscious about what is going on our face and the impact it is having.

Let’s care less what others think and more about caring for ourselves.