If you have dry skin, you likely have a routine that caters to your forehead, cheeks, under-eye area, and maybe even other neglected beauty spots. But what about your lips? This sensitive area can can also experience dry, flaky moments like the rest of your face does, so it deserves extra love.
Since serious hydration is the answer to the issue of just about all your dry skin woes, you can never go wrong with investing in the best lip oils, lip balms, and lip butters you can find. Not only will they help deliver maximum moisture, but they’ll also add a nice finish that signals you haven't skipped your lip care routine.
Ahead, 4x Emmy-nominated makeup artist Kerrin Jackson of The Makeup Refinery explains the difference between the three. Plus, shop nine of our favorite nourishing lip products!
What are lip oils?
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You've probably seen lip oils go viral within the past year and may even have one that you swear by. If you're like us and have found yourself confused about their actual purpose, we've got you covered thanks to MUA Kerrin Jackson. She says, "Think of a lip oil solely as a skincare product..." that really works to provide the ultimate hydration for your dry lips during the winter months.
"Lip oils have a thinner consistency than a lip gloss and generally aren't as sticky. Also, they tend to have less pigmented tint in them so you'll want to use tinted lipgloss or lip balm if you're looking for a richer color payoff," says Jackson.
What are lip balms?
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While lip oils are going to replenish your lips hydration levels, lip balms are their first line of defense. Jackson says, "A lip balm is usually wax-based and once applied, sits on the surface of your lips to help keep the moisture inside." They can be worn when you're having a makeup-free day or after you've finished your nighttime skincare routine.
According to Jackson, lips balms also "can contain SPF to protect your lips from harmful UVA and UVB rays, and are designed to have more function than form."
What are lip butters?
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Contrary to the yummybutter candles you can eat, lip butters are strictly beneficial for your lips. Jackson says, "Think of a lip butter as a creamy, buttery formulated lip product that's designed to enhance the look and feel of your lips." If your mind immediately went to "pillow-soft lips," then you've got the right idea! Their ingredients tend to include butters like cocoa, olive, and shea to name a few.
However, Jackson wants to share that it's design and ingredients means that a lip butter "may not stay on your lips as long."
The Best Lip Oils
Ami Colé Hydrating Lip Treatment Oil (Bliss)
The only thing you need to know about this hydrating lip treatment oil is that it glides on smoothly. Just like Jackson said, it has the appearance of a gloss without actually feeling like one. Plus, it has a vegan formula that my clean beauty girls will love.
DIOR Addict Lip Glow Oil (007 Raspberry)
Dior's lip glow oil is all about enhancing the color of your lips while providing the hydration they need. Infused with cherry oil, you're also going to experience the gift of having softer lips the more you wear it. Whether you wear it alone or over matter lipstick, you'll want to spend a little more to keep this in your bag.
Summer Fridays Dream Lip Oil for Moisturizing Sheer Coverage
This is another clean lip oil that not only provides moisture, but also plumps your lips so that your pout looks extra juicy. It provides sheer coverage that doesn't skimp on the high-shine factor and that's enough to get our hearts racing.
Karuna Tinted Lip Oil (Pause)
Recently launched, Karuna's Tinted Lip Oils are something you should definitely keep in your purse. They're super nourishing thanks to their sweet blend of antioxidants and botanical oils.
They're also vegan and cruelty-free which is always important when it comes to beauty.
The Best Lip Balms
Glossier Hot Cocoa Balm Dotcom
This lip balm smells good enough to eat thanks to it's sweet blend of sugar, vanilla, and rich cocoa, but try to refrain from licking your lips if you can! Although it's not vegan, it's still worth buying if you're looking for something that's going to continuously condition your lips throughout the day.
e.l.f. Cosmetics Squeeze Me Lip Balm
Looking for the ultimate form of protection for your lips that won't put a dent it your shopping budget? Invest in this $4 lip balm by e.l.f. Cosmetics! Just because it's not expensive doesn't mean it won't get the job done though. As a matter of fact, you'll find hyaluronic acid, shea butter, and goji berry in it!
Laneige Lip Glowy Balm
Known for creating the world's best lip sleeping mask for you lips, Laneige also has a lip balm you definitely want to try. Aside from having a hydrating formula, it's also made without Parabens and Phthalates.
P.S. It's a community favorite among Sephora's shoppers!
The Best Lip Butters
Burt's Bees Lavender & Honey Lip Butter
Burt's Bees is like the holy grail of lip products when you're looking for something that soothes and moisturizes your lips. A customer who rated it five stars said, "Cute tin, great smell and formula. Comes with a good amount of product." If that's not enough to convince you to spend $4 to buy this lip butter, the responsibly sourced shea and cocoa butters should serve as a nice incentive.
Kylie Cosmetics Lip Butter Balm
If you don't want to worry about how to carefully remove lip butter from a tin can, you can always squeeze Kylie Cosmetics' lip butter balm. You'll receive hydration for up to 24 hours and the lines of your lips will improve the more you wear it. This is an added benefit that will make wearers of matte lipstick rejoice.
Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Kiss Cupuaçu Lip Butter
This lip butter had us at 'warm and spicy scent' because we love anything that's in the gourmand family. It's cruelty-free and has a natural sheen that'll make your lips look irresistible. We told you we're on #teampillowsoftlips!
Tweet us your favorite lip products @BritandCo!
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This post has been updated.
