Lip Oil Versus Lip Balm: A Guide to the Top 5 Differences that Influence Your Choice

Lip oils and lip balms essentially serve the same purpose – they help to hydrate, nourish and protect the lips, but they do it in slightly different ways. Lip balm, often available in a stick form, is an occlusive product, meaning it creates a physical barrier between the skin and the environment, preventing moisture loss. It often contains ingredients such as beeswax or petroleum jelly, which provide this shielding effect.

On the other hand, lip oil, which usually comes in a tube or a small bottle with a wand, is more of a treatment and has a similar consistency to a light face oil. The nourishing effect of lip oil comes from its rich mix of hydrating ingredients. These ingredients typically include natural oils like jojoba oil, almond oil, or even rosehip oil which deeply conditions the lips.

However, some formulations of lip oil also include occlusive agents like lanolin or mineral oil to provide the barrier effect. In this sense, using a lip oil could potentially offer dual benefits of treatment and protection. Regardless, it’s important to scrutinize the ingredients list to make sure you are getting the benefits you seek.

The Texture and Consistency

Lip balm usually has a thick, creamy texture that adheres well to the lips. Its emollient nature is because it's primarily conceived to protect and moisturize the lips. Therefore, it generally feels heavy on the lips and might provide a glossy sheen depending on the formulation.

Lip oil, on the other hand, has a more fluid, serums-like consistency that glides onto the lips. The application tends to feel luxurious, thanks to its light, non-sticky texture. A lip oil is ideal for adding a high shine finish to your lips while simultaneously providing hydration. Its consistency may range from a light, almost watery texture to a slightly thicker, gel-like one depending on the specific formulation.