Lip oils have taken over drugstores – it seems like there are options from every brand. But not all drugstore lip oils are created equal!

I’ve tested five of the top-rated budget lip oils to break down the differences – which do you think will work best for you? I’ll be sharing lip swatches, my experience with each, and a side-by-side pigmentation comparison. Let’s dive in!

One of the newest drugstore lip oils to hit the shelves, the elf Glow Reviver Lip Oil already a personal favorite. It’s definitely the most pigmented I’ve tried and the color really stays even when the shimmer wears off. It’s also the thickest and softest formula – by no means lightweight – but that means it doesn’t rub off as quickly! The formula includes squalane, apricot oil, avocado oil, jojoba oil and pomegranate oil. Even after a meal, you can feel the moisture it leaves behind. It has added flavor in mint flavor.

This one is my personal one goldilocks lip oil. The Milani Color Fetish Lip Oil is only slightly more transparent than elf, but feels lighter. This looks great on its own for a wash of color or over a lip liner to work into makeup. Highlights of this formula are hazelnut oil, soybean oil, sunflower oil, jojoba seed oil, safflower seed oil, rose oil and fruit and flower extracts and vitamin E. It’s super versatile and feels nice and soft on the lips. As with most of these, you’ll probably want to reapply after a meal for shine, but the moisturizing feeling lasted about 7 hours on me!

Although I like the look of the NYX Fat Oil Lip Drip Gloss, it doesn’t exactly give me what I look for in a lip butter. It feels more like makeup (it is labeled as a lip gloss after all) and has a sticky feel as it wears off. Although the formula contains raspberry oil, blueberry oil as well as squalane, I don’t find it provides long-lasting hydration or comfort to the lips. I love this shade Follow back, which is a warm nude with shimmer. I may repurchase if there is another shade that catches my eye. But I don’t quite consider them traditional lip oils.

If you’re looking for a product that acts more like lip care than makeup, then this is it ColourPop Lux Lip Oil is the choice for you. They are very sheer, provide just the lightest shade and have a very thin formula that feels like a liquid lip balm. The fragrance-free formula is super lightweight while containing antioxidant-rich chamomile and calendula oils. Although this one wears off quite quickly – lasting about 4 hours on me – the thinner formula sinks into the lips quickly and leaves them super soft for much longer.

One of the most unique lip butter formulas on the shelves, Lottie London Oil Slick Lip Oil it feels exactly like it says… smooth. It’s slick and thin, not balmy or soft like the others. This contains a blend of jojoba oil, sweet almond oil, omega 3 and vitamins e and b to help the skin barrier, hydrate and nourish. Although it comes in some fun shades, I found that all three I own apply almost completely sheer. This one also wore off quickly but provided the longest lasting moisture of the five – I felt it really sank into the lips quickly for quick results.

Pigmentation comparison

Applicator comparison

Which drugstore lip oil is your favorite?

– Miranda