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What Is Lip Oil and Why It'll Be Your Lips' Best Bud

Your fix for thirsty lips is here.

As more of them hit the market, the name “lip oil” is thrown around more than a pickleball at a retirement home these days. We even started asking ourselves: What is lip oil anyway?

We aimed to answer that question once and for all when we started creating our brand-new KUSH Lip Oil. After over 80 rounds of revision, we landed on a formula that we believe is a lip oil in its truest form. Inspired by our fan-favorite KUSH collection, ours is infused with hemp seed oil to deeply nourish even the driest, flakiest lips. 

Get ready to experience the next gen formula delivering high-grade hydration in a swipe. Meet KUSH Lip Oil, your lips’ new best bud.

What is a lip oil, and what is it used for? 

A true lip oil has a medley of nourishing, plant-based oils right at the top of its ingredient list. All are meant to help hydrate, soften, and smooth lips. It should give a hint of shine and, occasionally, a subtle tint. 

What is Kush Lip Oil?

KUSH Lip Oil is one of the most natural lip oils you’ll ever swipe on. Its formula is packed with the purest, highest possible concentration of hydrating oils, including, but not limited to, hemp seed, sunflower, coconut, and Camellia japonica seed. Together, they slick onto lips with a surprisingly lightweight, non-greasy texture. “It’s not sticky at all,” says Milk Makeup’s Director of Artistry Sara Wren. “It’s super comfortable, silky, and nourishes lips.” 

You’ll also notice that as KUSH Lip Oil hits your lips with its curved doe-foot applicator, it instantly amplifies hydration levels while giving them a smooth, shiny finish, says Milk Makeup’s Global Education and Events Manager Ari Adams. 

Depending on which one of KUSH Lip Oil’s six options you choose, it may impart a super sheer, lip-enhancing tint, Ari points out. Each shade also has a yummy flavor pairing, making this formula a truly sensorial experience. Here’s a quick rundown on all the universally flattering lip oil shades available for this choose-your-own-flavor adventure: 

    • Green Dragon: clear with a sage and peppermint flavor
      • Cookie Dough: rosy beige with a Tahitian vanilla flavor
        • Orange Crush: orange with a citrus flavor
          • Pink Magic: hot pink with a watermelon flavor
            • Dream Machine: mauve with a guava flavor
            • Chocolate Cake: chocolate brown with a cacao flavor
            A stack of all 6 KUSH Lip Oil flavors stacked on top of each other on a white background

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            What are some KUSH Lip Oil benefits?

            Topping the list of KUSH Lip Oil’s benefits: its immediate intense hit of hydration. The aforementioned hemp seed oil is one of the main ingredients for making it happen. It’s rich in vitamins, antioxidants, and fatty acids to help heal and support the skin barrier. Hemp seed oil is also known to decrease irritation, discoloration, and moisture loss. 

            Another thing we love about lip oil? The way it helps soften and smooth rough lip texture, Sara points out. “I love KUSH Lip Oil as a lip prep step, wearing it alone or as part of a lip look,” she adds. It also helps lips appear fuller thanks to the oils’ emollient properties and natural sheen. 

            How long does this lip oil last on lips?

            Lip oil typically lasts a couple of hours as your skin drinks in the moisture. It’s not transfer-proof, so expect it to wear off once you sip some water or enjoy a meal. However, with continued use, your lips are sure to feel softer and more supple even when you’re not wearing it. 

            What is the difference between lip oil and lip gloss? 

            The main differences between lip oil and lip gloss lie in their concentration of oils and textures. Lip oil tends to be less sticky and more lightweight than lip gloss due to a higher quantity of oils. 

            In the case of Milk Makeup’s offerings, KUSH Lip Oil is shimmer-free compared to Odyssey Lip Oil Gloss, which has shades flecked with crushed gemstone for added sparkle. The latter also has a creamier, more intense color payoff and only comes in one sweet vanilla bergamot flavor. Each lip formula has its own specific blend of oils, too. KUSH Lip oil has a tint that enhances the color of your lips, as opposed to going on as a full color.

            Is lip balm or lip oil better?

            Both types of products have a time and place in your beauty routine. Lip balm tends to be on the creamier side with a matte or natural-looking satin finish. Lip oil is more like an oil-based gel with a glassy effect. The hydration benefits are about the same, so you just need to choose the vibe and feel you’re going for before swiping on a nourishing lip product. 

            How often should you use lip oil?

            The instructions for how to use lip oil are self-explanatory: You simply swipe it onto your top and bottom lips as you would with any lip product with a doe-foot applicator. Sara loves layering KUSH Lip Oil on top of Cooling Water Jelly Tint, our lip and cheek stain, for a tanghulu-inspired lip look or with Lip + Cheek for a more impactful color. “I also love pairing lip liner with KUSH Lip Oil for a low-maintenance, everyday lip look,” she adds. 

            Back to the big question: How often should you use lip oil? Well, that’s up to you. You can’t overdo or underutilize lip oil. Apply and reapply whenever you want to give your lips a juicy layer of shine, color, and moisture. And in the case of our KUSH Lip Oil, all you need to decide is what flavor you’re craving.

            Model applies KUSH Lip Oil to her lips on a white background

            Meet the Experts

            ​​Sara Wren (she/her) is the Director of Artistry at Milk Makeup. In her role, she does all the makeup artistry and direction for our Milk Makeup global campaigns, educates the staff and field team on application methods, stars in the brand’s social media videos, and travels to different markets spreading Milk Makeup’s good vibes. When she’s not on set, Sara loves experimenting with DIY hair colors, eating tacos, watching basketball, and scouring for vintage cosmetics to add to her impressive collection.

            Ari Adams (he/him) is the Global Education and Events Manager for Milk Makeup. Boasting over 10 years of experience as a makeup artist, Ari got his start watching drag performers do their makeup backstage. It sparked a passion for beauty that fuels his work at Milk. Ari channels his expertise to train Milk Makeup field team members on how to apply, hack, and talk about our products in Sephora stores and beyond.

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            Devon Abelman (she/her) is a Brooklyn-based freelance writer who focuses on the intersections and intricacies of beauty, culture, astrology, and mental health. She is passionate about shining light on under-the-radar BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ beauty creators as well as Korea’s impact on global beauty trends. In her spare time, Devon can be found dressing up Scorpion, her XXXL blind-and-deaf rescue dog.

            \n", "markdown"=>"**Devon Abelman** (she/her) is a Brooklyn-based freelance writer who focuses on the intersections and intricacies of beauty, culture, astrology, and mental health. She is passionate about shining light on under-the-radar BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ beauty creators as well as Korea’s impact on global beauty trends. In her spare time, Devon can be found dressing up Scorpion, her XXXL blind-and-deaf rescue dog."}">

            Devon Abelman (she/her) is a Brooklyn-based freelance writer who focuses on the intersections and intricacies of beauty, culture, astrology, and mental health. She is passionate about shining light on under-the-radar BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ beauty creators as well as Korea’s impact on global beauty trends. In her spare time, Devon can be found dressing up Scorpion, her XXXL blind-and-deaf rescue dog.

            All information is created for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

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