There are so many lip care products – lipsticks, lip glosses, stains, and now we have lip oils. Well, the hydrating oils for the lips is not a new fashion phenomenon, it has been in use for ages. It’s not just an uptick in the photo clicking world and photo posting world of Instagram.
The use of lip oil goes way back. It was used to protect the lips from the harsh climates. Our lips also lose their shape due to age and medical conditions such as cold sores and acne. Lip oils are multifunctional – they hydrate and nourish the lips and give the lips a shine like the lip gloss.
Difference Between Lip Oil And Lip Gloss
The difference between lip gloss and lip oil is easy to understand but its difference is subtle. Both lip oil and lip gloss gives the lips an attractive shine and it looks good, but lip gloss is more of a cosmetic product than lip oil. Lip oil is available in the market, but it can easily be made at home with carrier oil and essential oil.
Lip gloss is a makeup item that is meant to give the lips a subtle color and lots of shine. The word gloss means a smooth, shiny surface. The lip gloss makes the lip look smooth and shiny. Lip oil on the other hand also gives the lips some shine, but it has more of a hydrating effect. Lip oils have nutrients that penetrate the epidermis and reach beneath the skin surface where it repairs and nourishes the lips.
Lip oil is for skincare, but can also be used as a lip gloss or makeup product. Some of the lip oils available in the marketplace have ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, which give the lips a supple and hydrating look.
Most of the homemade lip oils have fatty acids, linoleic acid, linolenic acid, Vitamin E and proteins, which replenishes the lips giving it a supple or full look. When applied regularly, it keeps the lips plump.
Lip gloss is sticky and is always on the top of the lip or skin. Lip oil penetrates the skin and acts more like a medicine by replenishing the skin with nourishment. Lip oil also gives the lips a good glow.
Carrier Oils - Hydrating Oil For Lips
Carrier oils too are derived from plants, much like essential oils. But, carrier oils are non-volatile and used as a base oil that dilutes the volatile essential oil. By diluting the essential oils they make the essential oils safe for topical application, especially around sensitive parts of the body including the lips.
Carrier oils and its compounds form an essential part of any cosmetic product. They are always used with essential oils to make it safer; but, carrier oils on their own have a lot of benefits as they are packed with nutrients. Carrier oil consists of various vitamins and essential fatty acids that hydrate the skin and prevent flakiness of the lips.
When To Use Carrier Oils For Lips
To protect against weather
Applying carrier oils on the skin and the lips will create a barrier on the skin. It should be applied regularly to be effective. Now, regardless of the weather (cold or hot), the carrier oils will keep the lips hydrated. Extreme weather of any kind is not good for our health, including skin and lip health.
Carrier oils are the easiest way of protecting the skin. The carrier oils including coconut oil or jojoba oil will moisture the lips and keep it that way for a long time. These oils were used in ancient times as well to keep the bad effects of weather away.
To Protect From Cold Sores
Carrier oils are filled with vitamins that soothes the skin and nourishes it, which is needed to fight against the cold stricken lips. Some of the oils used against cold sores are castor oil and almond oil. If these oils are applied regularly, they will protect the area surrounding the affected lips from cracking.
To Protect Lips from Ageing Effects
The skin loses its elasticity with age. This is a universal truth. It happens due to the loss of collagen. We all know what happens to the skin, but what happens to the lips. Well, it becomes dishevelled and loses its plumpness. Going to a surgeon to get the lips repaired is not a good idea.
The early use of carrier oils is a simple and cheap method of boosting the elastin and collagen in the lips. There are carrier oils that have the property to boost collagen production in the body which in turn keeps the lips hydrated and plump..
Some of the hydrating oils for lips that are carrier oils are mentioned here.
Hydrating Carrier Oils For Lips
Coconut Oil for Lips
Coconut oil is considered to be the best carrier oil for lips. It is not just the ease of availability and the cost, but the presence of the triglycerides. The coconut oil’s triglycerides boost the supply of collagen. This dose of collagen is beneficial for the lips as it makes the lips look plump and firm.
Coconut oil is also easily absorbed by the skin. It penetrates the outer layer of the skin and nourished the skin with lauric acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid and more. It is also non-comedogenic oil, which means that it does not clog the pores. It is also used as a base oil for essential oils for lips. (1)
Grapeseed Oil For Lips
Grapeseed oil is extracted through the process of cold processing and is a thin carrier oil. As it is less viscous, it is easily absorbed and penetrates the skin and nourishes it with Vitamin E and omega fatty acids. It might also repair skin texture. (2)
Sweet Almond Oil For Lips
Almond oil is a thick oil that can condition the lips and keep it hydrated for a long time. It penetrates the outer layer of the skin and rebuilds the collagen and elastin.
This oil is an emollient and is useful for those with dry lips. And it has non-comedogenic properties, which means that it does not clog the pores and allows it to breathe properly. Almond can be applied directly from the bottle or it can be applied after heating it slightly. It is a good practice to apply the oil at night for a few weeks. (3)
Jojoba Oil Lip Moisturizer
Jojoba oil, much like coconut oil, is an easily accessible and affordable carrier oil with good hydrating properties. The oil has natural properties and has a large number of fatty acids. This oil is also a wax and hence keeps the lips hydrated for a long time while giving it a good shine.
Olive Oil for Plump Lips
Olive oil is said to be the mother of all oils. It can hydrate, it can repair and it can give suppleness to the lips. Olive oil has a lot of nutrients that can keep the lips hydrated and repair the damage. It makes the lips supple, by keeping it moisturized.
Hydrate Lips with Argan Oil
Argan oil is a little known carrier oil, but is considered a good oil for the lips. Research has shown that 80% of the argan oil is made up of omega 6 and omega 9 fatty acids. Argan oil is a nourishing oil that can mix well with essential oils. When applied on the lips, the oil gets absorbed into the lips quickly. Besides the important omega 6 and omega 9 fatty acids, argan oil also has linoleic acid that fortifies the skin barrier. This makes the lips soft and firm.
Tamanu Oil for Repairing Damaged Lips
Tamanu oil is a carrier oil that is used to repair cold sores, cracks on lips or any wound since this oil has cicatrizant properties that assist in healing scar tissues. It is native to East Africa where it has been used in traditional medicine. Tamanu oil is a solid at room temperature and must be heated before applying on the lips. And once applied on the lips, it gets absorbed quickly and makes the lips plump.
Avocado Oil for Lip Health
The popularity of avocado and avocado oil has risen exponentially in the last few years. The oil is especially good for the skin. It has a thick base and emollient characteristics. Thus, avocado oil makes a good base oil for the lips. The thickness of the oil contributes to its tackiness. It sticks to the lips, but gets absorbed quickly.
Castor Oil For Cool Lips
Have you ever felt honey? The thick lustrous feel of the honey is replicated by castor oil. (Of course, not the taste.) It sticks to the lips and gives it a plump appearance. It is an emollient that nourishes the skin. It has a cooling effect on the lips. Since the oil is thick, it is warmed before applying on the skin. It then penetrates the layers of the skin and nourishes it. The essential fatty acids and triglycerides promote the production of collagen and elastin. (4)
Healthy Lips with Rosehip Oil
Rosehip carrier oil has Vitamin C and Vitamin F both of which have a huge role in skin health, ergo lip health. The oil hydrates the lips and the vitamin C in the oil boosts collagen production. Vitamin F makes the lips look plump by doing away with dryness. Besides the vitamins, the oil also has carotene that gives the lip a shiny hue. The oil is applied on the lips regularly to allow the vitamins to get deep into the skin; however, the quantity of the oil used should be minimal. The lip oil is absorbed quickly and shows its effect immediately (5)
How To Apply Lip Oil (According To A Fashion Expert)
The lips do not have sebaceous oil glands like the rest of the skin and are prone to get dry. So what does the absence of the sebaceous gland mean? It means that the lips are not able to naturally moisturize. A moisturized skin is essential to keep the skin layer shielded.
Hence, it is difficult for the lips to remain hydrated and hence they need products that can keep it constantly hydrated. Now that we know that the lips are dryer than the rest of the skin, let’s find how to use lip oil.
Lips are part of the skin and part of the face, treat it that way. It should always be a part of skin care. Buy a lip scrub and start by scrubbing the lips to remove the skin from and around the lips. Use it gently though. Massage the lips with the scrub and apply moisture occasionally.
Scrub the lips for 20 to 30 seconds. Let the lips dry or pat it dry and apply the lip oil immediately. The softened lips will absorb the oil faster and better, thus ensuring that its nutrients get fully absorbed. You can carry the lip oil in a roll-on bottle and apply it all day. This will keep the flakes away. Applying an emollient after applying oil will also be helpful as it will keep the oil intact.
