Worth It? Hourglass No. 28 Lip Treatment Oil Review

Hourglass No. 28 Lip Treatment Oil is the most expensive lip product I own.  At $42 for 0.25 oz., it’s almost as expensive per ounce as La Mer’s lip balm (Hourglass: $168/oz. versus La Mer: $172/oz.).  Containing 28 different oils and applied via a cold 24kt gold-plated tip, the oil feels plush and thick, not runny.  It has a slightly herbal fragrance, but I don’t really notice it anymore.

For best results, use a lip scrub before bed and then apply the oil.  The oil absorbs overnight and you’ll wake up to soft, plump lips.  Unlike ordinary lip balms (such as Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment or even my beloved Dior Addict Lip Glow), the moisturizing effect lasts and, because it’s not waxy, there’s no residue to rub off your lips in the morning.  I often feel as if I could apply lipstick right after I wake up because my lips are that smooth.  With regular use (and use of a lip scrub as needed), your lips will be in tip-top shape.Pros: Lasting moisturizing effect.  Tube will last a long time because only a small bead of oil (like in the photos) is needed each time. Update: Used 5-7x a week, the tube lasted 11 months.

Cons: Because of the thick oil texture, it doesn’t work well if applied right before or on top of lip color; your lip color will probably run and be sheered out.  I suppose it’s possible to just blot the excess oil, but that seems wasteful.  Therefore, best to reserve this for an overnight treatment or allow a long time for it to absorb.