So, we went straight to the experts to get an answer to this burning beauty question.
According to beauty pros, there are plenty of similarities and differences between the two.
Meet the Experts
What Is Lip Oil?
Stocksy
Another common ingredient is hydrogenated polyisobutene (it also appears in plenty of glosses).
That’s why oils give your lips a natural, juicy look.
What Is Lip Gloss?
“[Lip gloss] gives the lips a glossy, almost vinyl look,” King says.
However, not all lip glosses are equal.
Some are sheerer, while others are highly pigmented and feature flecks of glitter or holographic pigments.
“But, again, it depends on the formula,” she adds.
For starters, skin-softening hydrogenated polyisobutene and thickening polybutene can be found in both products.
This also holds true with castor and mineral oils.
Natural oils are also a key ingredient in many lip oils and glosses.
“There’s no guarantee that lip oils hydrate more than gloss and vice versa,” she notes.
Shine Factor
Both lip gloss and lip oil leave the lips shiny to varying degrees.
Plumping Capabilities
There are many lip oils and glosses that focus on plumping.
Many contain ingredients like peppermint oil, cinnamon, and peptides to increase lip fullness temporarily.
King adds that pepper and ginger are also commonly found in plumping lip glosses and oils.
Layering a gloss or oil over other products enhances the appearance of everything underneath it.
When layering lip gloss over lipstick, for example, you’ll get more color payoff.
When layering oil over lipstick, you’ll create a shiny stain.
Ease of Use
Lip oils and glosses are incredibly easy to use.
Most come with a wand applicator.
However, they may also be in packaging that features a rollerball or squeeze tube.
These various formats allow the formula to be swiped on the lips in seconds.
The Differences
Texture
Lip oils are lighter in weight than gloss.
Lip glosses typically don’t provide this benefit.
Pigment
Lip gloss leaves more color on the lips because it contains a higher pigment concentration.
“They [offer] a more luscious, hydrated, high-gloss formula,” Lu says.
