The 15 Best New Lip Products of 2024 Tested
Lip products are officially having their main-character moment. Scroll through Instagram or TikTok on any given day and you’ll spot a new launch a plumping serum, a tinted oil, a peptide-laced balm every few posts. It’s not just a trend cycle; it’s a full category reset, with formulas that blur the line between skincare and makeup more than ever before.
To find out which launches are worth your money, we tested nearly 20 of this year’s most-hyped lip products over several weeks, evaluating everything from hydration and wear time to how each one performed under real-world conditions coffee, meals, and long days included. Below, the 15 that made the cut.
Best Overall: ESPA Nourishing Lip Treatment Indulgent Oil
For lips in genuine need of repair, this treatment oil delivers. A blend of avocado, jojoba, and sweet almond oils absorbs quickly without leaving a greasy film, while a light natural scent elevates the whole experience. With regular use, lips look visibly smoother and feel intensely moisturized.
The catch: The jar-style packaging isn’t ideal for on-the-go application.
Best for Anti-Aging: Gatineau Défi Lift Volumizing Peptide Lip Treatment Balm
This balm does double duty, using peptides and plumping actives to soften the look of fine lines while giving lips a fuller, more defined shape. The rich, creamy formula absorbs into a soft, supple finish carried by a subtle natural fragrance.
The catch: The plumping ingredients can cause mild tingling, patch test if you have sensitive skin.
Best Lipstick-Treatment Hybrid: Charlotte Tilbury K.I.S.S.I.N.G. Fallen From The Lipstick Tree
Orchid extract and a nourishing wax blend help this lipstick glide on smoothly while keeping lips comfortable through wear. The shade range runs from quiet neutrals to bold statement colors, making it easy to find a match for nearly any skin tone.
The catch: Expect to reapply after meals or drinks, as with most creamy lipsticks.
Best Plumping Serum: Plump It Volumising Lip Plumper
A rosy-brown shade that’s become a cult classic, this pencil lines and fills without dragging, delivering full coverage in a single swipe thanks to a highly pigmented formula. The velvety matte finish resists fading and feathering for all-day wear.
The catch: None worth mentioning, this is as close to universally flattering as lip products get.
Best Budget Plumper: e.l.f. Pout Clout Lip Plumping Pen
Formulated with coconut oil and vitamin E, this plumping pen conditions as it plumps. The pen applicator allows for precise control, and the mild tingle signals a subtle, wearable plumping effect without the drama of pricier alternatives.
The catch: Sensitive skin should test in a small area first.
Powered by a vitamin-rich Berry Mix Complex and Moisture Wrap Technology, this overnight mask restores moisture and smooths texture while you sleep. The velvety formula creates a barrier that locks in hydration, and the vanilla scent makes the ritual feel like a treat.
The catch: The rich texture is better suited to nighttime than daytime wear.
Best Everyday Lip Oil: Rose & Caramel Lip Oil
A straightforward formula built on jojoba oil, cocoa butter, and vitamin E, this lip oil hydrates, plumps, and smooths with consistent use, no frills required.
Best Vegan Pick: Melixir Vegan Lip Butter
Reviewers credit this vegan butter with rescuing severely dry, cracked lips. It’s available in a natural and a tinted formula, both carrying a citrus scent that testers loved.
The catch: A small number of users report mild tingling.
Best Tinted Lip Oil: Rare Beauty Soft Pinch Tinted Lip Oil
Feather-light and non-sticky, this tinted oil delivers a buildable, matte-leaning wash of color across eight shades.
The catch: It prioritizes color over hydration, so treat it as a tint first, treatment second.
Formulated with peptides and oils, this gloss creates the appearance of fuller lips without any heaviness, delivering pigmented shine that lasts for hours. It’s also free from gluten, phthalates, sulfates, and parabens.
Best for Post-Filler Maintenance: ESHO Pause Advanced Lip Boosting Serum
Part of Dr. Tijion Esho’s “The Lip Doctor” line, this serum combines bioactive ingredients, anti-aging peptides, and wakame algae to keep lips looking youthful, a favorite for those looking to extend the results of lip filler.
Best Hyaluronic Acid Plumper: CODE Beautiful Lip Plumping Treatment Gloss
Hyaluronic acid delivers long-lasting hydration and a fuller look without the harsh swelling associated with some plumpers. A brief minty tingle and a universally flattering nude-rose tint round out the formula; consistent daily use over two weeks is recommended for best results.
Best Spicy Plumper: Maybelline New York Lifter Plump Lip Gloss
Chili pepper extract gives this gloss a mild-to-medium heat, delivering a hydration-driven plumping effect in the same comfortable, non-sticky texture that made the original Lifter Gloss line a hit. Available in eight shades.
Best Shimmer: Physician’s Formula Diamond Lip Plumper
This hybrid gloss-serum hydrates and plumps while adding genuine shimmer from real diamond dust. It’s talc, paraben, and gluten-free, making it a comfortable option for sensitive lips.
The Final Verdict
For serious repair, the ESPA Nourishing Lip Treatment Indulgent Oil and Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask are worth the investment. If subtle plumping is the goal, the CODE Beautiful Lip Plumping Treatment Gloss offers the most comfortable results, while the e.l.f. Pout Clout Lip Plumping Pen delivers similar effects at a fraction of the price. And for a reliable, long-wearing color that never disappoints, the MAC Lip Pencil in Whirl remains a category standout.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the best lip product for extremely dry, cracked lips?
The ESPA Nourishing Lip Treatment Indulgent Oil and Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask stand out for serious repair, thanks to oil-rich and vitamin-rich formulas designed for intensive, overnight hydration.
Do lip plumpers actually work?
Most lip plumpers create a temporary, visible fullness through mild tingling ingredients like Volulip or hyaluronic acid that draw blood flow to the lips or add surface volume. The effect is real but not permanent, and it varies by formula.
Are lip plumpers safe for sensitive skin?
Most brands recommend a patch test before full application, since the tingling or warming sensation that creates the plumping effect can be uncomfortable for sensitive skin types.
What’s the difference between a lip oil and a lip gloss?
Lip oils are primarily formulated for hydration and typically have a lightweight, non-sticky finish, while lip glosses are designed for shine and color payoff, with hydration as a secondary benefit.
What’s the best budget lip product on this list?
The e.l.f. Pout Clout Lip Plumping Pen (£9.99) and Maybelline Lifter Plump Lip Gloss both deliver noticeable results at accessible price points.
