A little shine can change the mood of a lipstick without taking away its color. The key is to treat lip oil like a finishing touch: apply it after your liner and lipstick, use a small amount, and place it with a light hand.
This is The Poutly Beauty Journal, Poutly’s own beauty publication. The technique below works with products you already have.
Start with a little prep
Begin with lips that feel comfortable and have no excess balm or oil on the surface. If you’ve applied balm while getting ready, blot away what remains before adding color. Too much slip underneath can make lipstick harder to place neatly.
You can use lip liner if you like a more defined edge. Apply it before lipstick, then fill in with lipstick or leave the liner just at the perimeter. Adding oil before liner can make the surface slippery and the outline harder to control.
Illustrative image of lip preparation.
The order: prep, liner, lipstick, oil
Apply a thin, even layer of lipstick and let the surface settle before adding anything on top. This gives you a more even base to work with. If the lipstick still feels wet or very creamy, a gentle blot with tissue can remove excess without wiping away the whole layer.
Then add the oil. Celebrity Jessica Jung described dabbing lip oil at the center of matte lipstick for a touch of shine in an Allure interview. The placement is useful: it gives the middle of the lips a reflective finish while leaving more of the color and definition at the edges undisturbed.
Lip oil may shift lipstick, depending on both formulas and how it’s applied. Don’t assume adding lip oil will extend lipstick wear; results depend on the products and application.
The order matters too, though in the other direction. A Glamour editor who tried rosehip oils under a liquid lipstick found the formula went looser and harder to place evenly. That was one editor’s experience with one kind of oil and one kind of lipstick, not a rule about lip oils in general or about applying oil on top. On top and in small amounts, the effect is easier to control. For the most careful result, use less than you think you need and avoid sweeping the applicator across the whole lip.
Lip oil vs. lipstick textures: what tends to pair well?
There isn’t one pairing that works the same way for every product. Lipstick bases, oil textures, and application all affect the finish. Use these as starting points, not rules.
| Lipstick texture | What layering may look like | A careful approach |
|---|---|---|
| Matte | Shine appears where the oil sits, softening the matte finish in that area. | Let the lipstick settle; tap a small amount onto the center. |
| Satin | The added shine can make the finish look more luminous. | Start in the center, then decide whether you want more. |
| Cream | The extra slip may blend or move creamy color. | Use a small amount and pat gently rather than swiping. |
| Stain | A sheer base can show through beneath a glossy center. | Let the stain settle first; build the shine gradually. |
Formulas vary. A thinner oil may feel different from a thicker, more cushiony one, and a lipstick’s own texture matters just as much. If you want to keep a crisp outline or an even, fully matte finish, a full layer of oil may be a poor match. Try a center-only placement instead, or keep the lipstick as it is.
How much oil should you use?
Start with a light coating on the applicator. If it looks loaded, wipe some away at the tube’s edge before it reaches your lips.
For a subtle highlight, tap oil onto the center of the lower lip and, if desired, the center of the upper lip. Use a clean fingertip to pat it outward a little, stopping short of the lip line. You can add more in small increments.
For shine across the whole lip, apply a very thin layer and use short, gentle pats to spread it. A full-lip application gives a more all-over glossy look, but it may shift the lipstick more than a center-only dab. Choose the placement based on how much of your original finish you want to keep.
Illustrative guide to centered placement; no product is shown.
Touch up without making color patchy
When the shine fades or moves, resist the urge to add more oil over everything. First, check the base. If lipstick has gathered or worn unevenly, gently blot away excess oil with tissue. Reapply a little lipstick only where the color needs evening, then let it settle before adding a small dab of oil.
If the color still looks smooth, refresh the shine with a little oil at the center. Keeping oil away from the corners and lip line can help maintain a cleaner-looking edge.
Common slips, gently corrected
Using too much. A thick layer adds extra movement and can make the lipstick beneath look uneven. Begin with a small amount and build only if you want more shine.
Rubbing your lips together. Pressing lips together can help distribute product, but repeated rubbing may shift color. Pat the oil into place instead.
Putting oil on before liner. Oil can make the lip surface slippery, which may make the liner harder to apply precisely. Keep the order simple: prep, liner, lipstick, then oil.
From everyday sheen to evening shine
For daytime, keep the color light and add one small dab at the center. It gives a hint of gloss without needing to cover the entire lipstick finish.
For evening, begin with the same base and add oil in small touches across more of the lip. You can also keep the shine centered for a softly dimensional look. Either way, check the edges before you finish; a quick clean-up with tissue or a cotton swab can restore definition if product has strayed.
Illustrative evening lip look.
Find your everyday finish
Apply liner before lipstick, let the color settle, then tap on a small amount of oil. Start at the center and add more only if you want a wider shine.
Poutly’s Glass Glaze Lip Oil comes in six shades, if you’d like to see the shades and product details at Poutly.
Sources
- Allure: Jessica Jung on her beauty essentials, for her description of dabbing a little lip oil in the middle over matte lipstick.
- Glamour: Does lip oil actually help?, for one editor’s account of trying rosehip oils under a liquid lipstick, after which the formula went looser and harder to place.