TikTokers Are Saying This Dior Lip Oil “Turned Their Lips Black”

One of the more common online theories suggests that Dior’s lip oil acts as a “cooking agent” of sorts, catalyzing irritation. Dobos dismisses this as an exaggeration: “[On an average day,] you’re not getting to any sort of temperature where you would be ‘cooking’ the skin.” Dr. Gohara, on the other hand, says, “Glossy lip products can intensify UV exposure by acting like a magnifying glass. Without SPF, this can lead to sun-induced pigmentation.” (The Dior lip oil does not include sunscreen ingredients.)

Some TikTok users theorize the lip oil is causing “margarita burns”—a nickname for phytophotodermatitis, a skin condition wherein certain ingredients (like lime juice) exposed to light cause a burn-like rash. That’s what Kavita Mariwalla, MD, a New York-based board-certified dermatologist, and Chesahna Kindred Weaver, MD, a Maryland-based board-certified dermatologist, both believe is happening to these Dior customers. “Certain plants—especially citrus fruits, celery, and carrots—can cause pigmentation changes when exposed to sunlight,” Dr. Weaver says. “It’s the same thing that happens when someone spills lime juice on their skin while vacationing in the sun and develops a rash in that area.” The symptoms of the skin condition Dior customers are reporting align greatly with the symptoms of this type of rash, they both say.

But here’s where things get a little confusing: Dior’s formula doesn’t contain lime juice or any other similar fruit or vegetable juices, as Dobos points out. If you ask her, “This is more likely about how certain ingredients are interacting with individual sensitivities and sun exposure over time.”

What’s certain, though, is that continued use of the product even after mild irritation has occurred is making the condition more difficult to treat. “In melanin-rich skin, anything that irritates—acne, bug bites, or in this case, a lip oil—can cause hyperpigmentation,” Dr. Weaver says. “When someone continues to apply the problem, the pigmentation deepens.” Dr. Mariwalla agrees: “The longer it persists, the harder it is to treat.”

“The condition may be physically harmless, but socially and emotionally, it’s significant.”

Dr. Chesahna Kindred Weaver

To prevent lip irritation like this, Dr. Gohara recommends wearing a lip balm with SPF daily, especially under glossy lip products. If you are experiencing hyperpigmentation you think might be caused by prolonged use of Dior’s lip oil, she and Dr. Weaver both advise ceasing use and getting in touch with a doctor. Dr. Mariwalla warns against the temptation to treat the problem with aggressive exfoliants. “That often worsens the pigmentation,” she says.

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