Hannah Betts Better...not younger
Chuck out your gloss, 2023 is all about LIP OILS
ON THE day on which John Lewis released its latest beauty predictions, i’d staggered into its Oxford Street branch in full January angst and emerged with three lip oils — one for me and one each for pals in the wars.
So it did not come as a huge surprise to read that sales of said product are up a hefty 222 per cent.
The department store is billing this as the ‘ lipstick economy 2.0’. Translation: where once, when times were tough, lipstick would have been our small feminine fillip, so matters have moved on and we now depend on lip oil to lend cheer.
As head of make- up Heena Mohammed elaborates: ‘Lip oils are a new favourite. They are packed with goodness and supply quick, long-lasting benefits, while still providing that minimalist, glowy look. And this is only set to continue with “Gym Lips” trending on TikTok, demonstrating the lip liner and oil combo that creates the perfect sheen and plumps your lips.’
Heena is 36, i’m 51, and the friends i bought lip oils for are 17 and 79. This points to another great advantage of getting involved with the vogue. Not only do oils make you look young because they provide plush, crevice- filling, poutperfecting shine, they also suggest you have a handle on the most modish modern textures — whether at 17 or 79.
GIVEN the weather conditions, they are also, literally, a balm. Can’t be bothered to scrub, then soothe? This is your lazily luxurious, one-step solution.
Grease phobics can rest easy: the best lip oils feel lavish without any of the gunkiness of a traditional gloss; and your hair won’t stick to them.
Plus, if you pick a flattering hue, it’s an easy way to lend colour to a drained winter face. it’s foolproof in application even if you don’t have a mirror — i swoosh mine on in gales while walking the hound.
Clarins created this cunning innovation back in 2015 when it released two, limited- edition tinted oils as a skincare/slap fusion. Then the pandemic made this overlapping product area a phenomenon as we all went wild for #selfcare.
Since April, Clarins has boasted eight juicily-hued, fruity-tasting Lip Comfort Oils (£21.50, clarins. co.uk): Honey, Raspberry, Cherry, Pitaya, Apricot, Strawberry, Chocolate and Plum. Plant oilpowered po and prettily nurturing, tu they’re one of the brand’s br best-sellers. Dior Addict Lip Glow Oil (£ 30, dior.com) is deemed by oil aficionados to be top notch. it comes in six shades and a clear incarnation, with no divisive taste issues. Heena Mohammed loves 001 Pink, considered universally flattering. i i adore 006 Berry, an insouciantly i sexy, blackcurrant sheen that can be deployed on its own, under lipstick as a primer, or as a volumising top coat. Don’t be confused: Charlotte’s Magic Lip Oil Crystal elixir (£28, charlottetilbury.com) is a rollerball version of her Magic Cream, only for mouths. However, it’s Charlotte Tilbury Collagen Lip Baths (£27) that give us her lipoil-as- cosmetic crossover. They come pearlescently pigmented, in six takes on Charlotte’s rose-gold obsession, and have a minty zing. i also harbour a penchant for Rihanna’s fabulously over-thetop Fenty Cherry Treat Conditioning Lip Oil (now £15.20, boots.com) with its pinky tinge and uber-glossy glam.
Budget oils can be tricky because many taste vile and are on the gluey side.
i’ve been wading my way through them on your behalf and admire Lottie London Gloss’d Supercharged Lip Gloss Oil (£5, asos.com), in three, cool shades and one clear. While Sleek Makeup Lip volve Lip Oil in Strawberry (£5.99, boots.com) is non- sticky and high- shine, imparting long-lasting colour.
The reliably excellent NYX Professional Makeup is the purveryor of (about to launch) Fat Oil Lip Drip Gloss (£7.49, superdrug.com) — i have two of its eight hues on order.
i informed a 14-year-old makeup groupie that i had a couple on the way and she cooed: ‘ Man, you’re cool.’ As i said: youthful.