Top 10 Lip Oils in India For a Non-Sticky & Glazed Finish, from the pros
Written by: Zahabiya Ali
@Simply Nam
The best picks for Indian skin tones.
The beauty-bazaar and beauty-media’s freshest obsession, since 2023 has been lip-glazing syrups, best known as lip oils. If you hit a ‘refresh’ on lip-care, you will certainly discover a newly-launched lip oil India. On lip-oil’s manifesto, you can expect hydrated and moisturised lips with a glassy sheen. Unlike the conventional glosses, these oils eliminate stickiness and chapped lips. Upon label sleuthing, you can find jojoba oil, almond oil, coconut oil, shea butter, hyaluronic acid and many more as common nourishing agents, present in these tiny tubes. The tinted lip oils were quick to replace their predecessors given social-media trends.
At The Beautiful Societies, we are always on the look-out on the best products for people of colour and we collaborated with three industry experts to investigate whether tinted lip-oils are inclusive for deeper complexions. We also deep-dived into lip oils to better understand the formula and its benefits. These caramelising lippies have found their spots on almost every brand’s agenda and we are here for it.
The Experts
Rachna Rastogi is the Head of Research & Development for 82°E Skincare.
She has a Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering and over twelve years of experience working in scientific research for some of India’s most reputed pharmaceutical companies. Rastogi works closely on designing clean and effective formulations and products for 82°E and is a vital partner in bringing the brand’s vision of trusted, high-quality products to life.
Namrata Soni is a leading celebrity makeup and hair artist with 20 years of experience in the industry. She is also the founder of Simply Nam, a premium beauty brand.
Kairavi Bharat Ram is the founder of Typsy Beauty, an Indian beauty brand which was awarded with the ELLE Rising Beauty Brand award in 2022 for its strong brand values of quality, authenticity and inclusivity.
Slipping back in time to revisit India’s lip-care aesthetic, the tradition of applying ghee and blend of oils and botanicals remains unmissable. Melding the benefits of natural balms and a lustrous finish, the Ayurvedic lip oils have come a long way, entering the global beauty space with modern renditions and spicy glam. According to a survey by Glimpse, the obsession with lip oils grew 56% over the past year, compared to the year before. The multifaceted appeal of lip oils have kept them afloat, beyond just a trend. Ahead, the experts decode all-things lip oils as we bring you our top picks off the beauty aisles!
Power Packed Lip Oils for Hydration and Treating Dry, Cracked Lips in India
The hotter months in India are accompanied by extreme sun exposure, gusts of dry air and for many — dehydration. These factors are primarily responsible for chapped and dry lips India. Along with regulating your hydration intake, applying a moisturising lip-remedy is essential. For summer lip care India, Rastogi advocates, “a nourishing lip oil that provides intense hydration by forming an occlusive layer to retain moisture”. For protecting the lips from sun damage, she says, “look for a formula, enriched with sunscreen agents, which also prevents darkening. I love treating my lips with 82°E’s Pomegranate Sheen, it is packed with pomegranate extracts, squalane, and vitamin E with a specially researched ceramide-like compound. This blend creates a protective film on the lip surface, reducing roughness and enhancing overall appearance”.
When it comes to intense lip oil hydration India, Soni loves a blend of Jojoba Oil, Shea Butter, flower extracts, squalane and lots of seed oils. These ingredients are present in Simply Nam’s Colour Enhancing Magic Tint which are beneficial for dry and chapped lips; it creates a barrier over your lips which helps them stay hydrated all day long”.
Are Lip Oils Better Than Glosses and Balms?
Since lip oils have a gloss-like shine and many on the market are tinted ones, how are they different from the conventionally glamorous lip glosses? To find answers we turned to experts. Rastogi explains that, “While both lip oils and lip glosses provide a high shine finish with a plump look, lip oils typically contain nourishing and moisturising emollients like seed oils, vitamins, and actives (such as peptides and ceramides). These ingredients help repair dry and damaged skin, offering added benefits beyond just shine”.
“Lip glosses do last longer on your lips because they have certain ingredients in them like waxes which allow them to adhere and stick onto the lips. Lip oils on the other hand contain oils and shea butter which makes them a lot more nourishing for your lips”, adds Soni.
The candy-like lip oils have a one-up on the good-old lip balm too. The flavoured balms create a temporary barrier on the lips which tends to prevent chapping for a while, but offers no nourishment. On the flip-side, overusing balms further dehydrates the lips, making them appear sticky and flaky.
How to Choose a Tinted Lip Oil Based on Your Skin Complexion? (specific to Indian skin tones)
As is the case with lipsticks, your lip oil tint should compliment your skin tone as well. The washed out glossy-nudes or ultra-light baby pinks may not be as flattering for deeper, Indian skin complexions. Soni goes on to explain that “when choosing a lip oil, what you need to remember is to choose colours like soft browns, peaches and pinks. These shades work wonderfully on Indian skin tones and add the right colour and tint to your skin”.
The clear lip oils are super fun to glide over any lipstick and achieve a desired tinted lustre. I use my sheer oils to instantly turn a matte lippie into a glossy one, without compromising on the shade. Adding to this, Bharat says that, “the great thing about tinted lip oils is that thanks to its sheer texture, most shades are universally flattering and will suit a wide range of skin tones.
Having said that, shades with an orange, coral or brown tone are the most ideal for Indian skin tones”.
“One can also explore pH changing lip oils, as they adapt as per your skin tone. A great recommendation would be the Typsy Beauty ShadeShifter Sparkle — it's a tinted, glitter lip oil with pH adapting abilities, and comes in three super weasel shades - transparent, coral and pink and all of them shift as per your pH”, she continues.
Now that we have charted out the lip oil benefits, take a look at what’s worthy of popping in your tote:
Our Top 10 Picks: Best Lip Oils to Combat Summer Dryness
Best Tinted Lip Oil: SIMPLY NAM Colour Enhancing Magic Tint
@Simply Nam
If you ever believed that a candy pink or a rose-tinted shade isn’t flattering for deeper skin tones, this magic tint by Simply Nam will change your mind. The lip oil adapts to your lips’ pH and creates a shade, ideal for your complexion. As per the online reviews, people love the non-sticky formula and long lasting stay, without the hassle of frequent reapplications.
Best Lip Oil With Spf: 82°E Pomegranate Sheen | SPF 15 PA++
@82°E
82°E understood the summer-memo by combining sun protection with nourishment in lip oil. Enriched with antioxidants and ceramides, the formula repairs chapped lips and layers them with an illuminating, glossy finish. The lip plumping effect is another reason to try 82°E Pomegranate Sheen. I loved using the lip oil for instant hydration and soothed lips.
Best Long-Lasting: TYPSY BEAUTY Shade Shifter Lip & Cheek Oil Ph-Enomenal
@Typsy Beauty
This product has a permanent spot in my on-the-go beauty bag. Typsy Beauty’s shade shifter lip oil is perfect for instantly elevating your look. The pH-adaptive, tinted formula creates the perfect pink hue for my skin. One swipe across the lips will last a long time while also providing moisturisation.
Best Hydrating Lip Oil: MOIRA Glow Getter Hydrating Lip Oil
@Moira Beauty
Truly a hybrid where lip hydration meets glossy glam. Moira’s glow getter has lip treating properties that makes the lips soft and supple. The blend of plant oils like jojoba, coconut and apricot allows deep moisturisation minus the stickiness. There’s a variety of gorgeous shades to choose from. I enjoyed topping the lip oil on my lipstick for an added oomph but it can be super fun to apply on bare lips as well.
Best Organic Lip Oil: Raw Beauty Dewy Lips Anti Ageing Lip Oil
@Raw Beauty
Raw beauty’s coveted lip oil is a one-pot solution for dry, pigmented and mature lips. The recipe involves natural and innovative ingredients like rosehip oil, poppy flower and seabuckthorn. This can be accommodated in your AM and PM routine for intense hydration, while also adding a lustrous sheen.
Best Flavoured: Too Faced Kissing Jelly Lip Gloss Oil
@Too Faced
This particular collection of fruity— sweet and sour flavours by Too Faced, combines the properties of a lip oil and a gloss. With succulent scents and pretty shades, from pearly pinks to sheer shimmer and minty blue, this range is all things fun. The online reviewers love its smooth finish, soft applicator, non-sticky formula and hydrating properties. The best part is that all the shades are universally suitable for all skin tones.
Best Lightweight Formula: LOVECHILD masaba Lip Gelato Tinted Lip Oil
@Lovechild Masaba
Lovechild’s newest launch is the tinted lip oil, just in time of summer. The thoughtful whip-up of ingredients like hyaluronic acid, peach fruit extract, sweet almond oil, shea butter and more, cast a luminous finish, long lasting hydration and an ultra-lightweight feel. Additionally, the lip oil also plumps, protects and tones the lips.
Best Moisturising Lip Oil: Kay Beauty Hydrating Lip Oil Gloss
@Kay Beauty
The cult-favourite, Kay Beauty is well-known for its lippies among the patrons. And the lip oil gloss makes no exception. Meant to intensely moisturise, repair and treat damaged lips, this formula is infused with essential oils and hydrating elements. Ideal to enhance your minimal makeup looks, this product offers a voluminous and glossy effect.
Best Non-Sticky Lip Oil: PRAUSH Beauty Pout Cushion Luxe Lip Oil
@Praush
One of my most loved homegrown beauty brands — Praush introduced their luxe lip oil, and it does the job! With two variants, a clear gloss and a peachy hue, these lip oils have a weightless, smooth and non-sticky finish.
Best for Dry, Irritated Lips: inde wild Dewy Lip Treatment
@inde wild
Brimming with the goodness of botanicals like rose, lotus and pomegranate along with ghee, shea butter, and squalane, this inde wild lip oil is packed with conditioning and hydrating properties. This lip treatment combats dryness, chapped lips and soothes irritation. Restore the softness and add plumpness to your lips with a few glides of this emollient.
Pro Tip: How to Get the Most Out of Your Lip Oil
Owing to its multifaceted appeal, lip oils have made their way to almost every beauty vanity. However, with new brands entering the chat ever so often and delivering newer shades and textures, there has been quite some stir around the best way of using lip oil India.
According to Soni, “the best thing to do when using lip oil or any kind of lip product, is to always do a lip scrub. If you don't have a lip scrub at home, you can just wet your lips, use the back of your toothbrush and gently scrub your lips. This is one of the most important steps to incorporate before using your lip product as it will take away all the layers of dead skin and will allow the product benefits like those in a lip oil, to seep into the layers of your lips and allow them to remain hydrated”.
“ Lip oils are versatile products and can be applied on their own or along with lip colour to give your lips a plump look. They can be used throughout the day whenever your lips feel dry and need extra care”, adds Rastogi.
Keep reading: Makeup-Friendly Sunscreens: Top Picks for Every Skin Type (India Edition)
