In recent years, lip oils have become more popular among beauty consumers. Similar to lip gloss, the oils give the lips a glossy appearance, but they also double as skincare products that are designed to keep lips hydrated.
“When they’re doing the right thing, lip oils promote shine and hydration, and they can even promote plumping of the lips as well,” says Dr. Rebecca Small, clinical professor at University of California, San Francisco.
But ingredients matter, Small says. “Patients do sometimes report increased pigmentation on their lips as a result of using these products.”
A popular lip oil began trending on TikTok with photos of women showing their lips before and after using the product consistently. The social media users, mainly women of color, experienced intense hyperpigmentation that they allege is as a result of adding the lip oil to their skincare routine.
Here’s why certain lip oils may be causing hyperpigmentation, and what to consider when choosing a lip oil product.
