I slapped this on after my morning coffee — before mascara, before anything. First thought: *oh, it’s actually sticky*. Not the glassy Instagram kind.
But here’s the thing — ten minutes later my lips felt… plump? Not tingly-plump, just *alive*. That’s rare for a gloss that costs $20.
Rare Beauty calls this a “lip oil” but honestly — it’s a hybrid. Thin like oil, wears like a balm. $20 at Sephora. The claim that hooked me: “48-hour hydration.” I rolled my eyes, but tested it anyway.
The Wand
It’s a big, squishy doe-foot — picks up way too much product. You’ll wipe half off on the rim.
The Scent
Faint vanilla — like a candle that’s been burning for an hour. Not cloying.
The Pigment
Sheer. Like a tinted lip balm’s shy cousin. Don’t expect color.
Photo: Nick Noel / Unsplash
No plumping agents, no tingles. Just oils — and surprisingly, they sink in instead of sitting on top like a greasy film. Here’s the roster:
- Jojoba Oil: Soaks in fast, doesn’t just sit there
- Sunflower Seed Oil: Lightweight, no greasy residue
- Hyaluronic Acid: Actually pulls moisture into the lip surface
- Vitamin E: Calms my chapped winter lips
Photo: Siora Photography / Unsplash
First swipe: feels wet, then slick, then… gone? Not dry — just absorbed. It’s like a lip treatment that forgot to be sticky. I kept reapplying because I *wanted* to, not because my lips were screaming.
Week 2 surprise: my lip lines looked softer. Not erased — just less angry. But it also pills if you layer it over a matte lipstick. So don’t.
Photo: Jocelyn Morales / Unsplash
My lips felt less crusty by day 4. But if you want gloss that stays shiny for hours? This ain’t it — it fades into a healthy stain.
Photo: Marek Studzinski / Unsplash
It’s not a miracle, but it’s a genuinely good lip oil that actually moisturizes — rare for the hype machine. I’d repurchase before my lip balm runs out.