In the end, Hewitt, Ireland, and the brand’s vice president of product development Jessica Abrams created a formula that is, in fact, dreamy in every sense of the word. It’s a lip oil, yes, but unlike others we’ve tried, it’s not too slick or too sticky. That’s not to say it doesn’t have great slip (it does!) or impart a gorgeous shine (you should see the way it reflects light). Though rich in oils (more on that in a moment), the texture is best described as milky, if not a little bit mousse-like.
Dream Lip Oil is available in four takes on neutral: Pink Cloud (sheer, soft pink), Blush Dreams (pinky-beige), Soft Mauve (cool-toned purple-y pink), and Rosewood Nights (rosy brown). Jennifer Fleming, a makeup artist based in New York City and Paris, describes the color range as “elegant and approachable.” While the tint is subtle enough that the shades are fairly flexible and can work on a wide range of skin tones, Fleming found that Pink Cloud, a light, bubblegum pink, didn’t have enough pigment to stand out against her dark skin.
To pump up the color payoff no matter your choice, Fleming recommends first applying a lip pencil in a similar hue. You can apply it all over or, if you’re less concerned about enhancing the pigment and more interested in adding some definition, use it to trace the outer edges of your lips before applying the oil.
The Ingredients
First and foremost, says Ireland, a “dream” lip oil must leave lips soft and supple. “We always think about care first, so we [prioritized] those ingredients, then perfected the texture and shades,” she says.
Summer Fridays already knows a thing or two about lip care: Lip Butter Balm, a thicker formula made with vegan waxes that feels more like a traditional balm, is a top-seller (and Best of Beauty Award winner, might we add). So when they were creating Dream Lip Oil, the team took a look at the ingredient list for Lip Butter Balm — and realized they could take a cue from the star ingredient, shea butter, and formulate it with shea oil.
Shea is among nine oils in the formula — castor seed, apricot kernel, avocado, and jojoba are also on the list — and one that Kelly Dobos, a Cincinnati-based cosmetic chemist, confirms is particularly beneficial for lips, thanks to its emollient properties that help lock in moisture.
