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Tester feedback from managing editor Alessandra Foresto
“I should really not be surprised that this lip mask is superior to any other I have tested in the past, given that I haven’t been disappointed by any Tatcha product I’ve ever tested. This mask works quick, though, leaving my lips flake-free almost as instantly as the jelly-like product touches my lips – it’s pretty impressive! I let it soak into my lips at night, but I also use it as a softening primer with my skin care in the mornings before applying gloss.” — Alessandra Foresto, managing editor.
- Key ingredients: triisostearin (glycerin, fatty acids), squalane, vitamin E, allantoin.
- Who it’s for: anyone with cracked lips.
- Shade count: 1.
- Fragrance free: no.
Best Exfoliating: Ilia Lip Wrap Overnight Treatment
Why it’s worth it: Everything about Ilia’s Lip Wrap Overnight Treatment feels special, from its silky texture to the faintest tingle once the balm hits your lips. The formula includes papaya enzymes that gently slough away dry patches, plus hyaluronic acid and sea succulents that lock hydration in. Mango butter and coconut oil also moisturise, for noticeably smoother, softer, and more supple lips by morning – a perfect canvas for your favourite lipstick, oil, or gloss.
Tester feedback from Shopping Director Shanna Shipin
“Perennial dehydration, eczema, and constantly testing lip products give me grade-A chapped lips. Whenever my lips look shrivelled, I feel like my lines are deepening, or if there’s some peeling, this mask will re-hydrate, gently buff, and plump them up. Seriously, almost every time I use this overnight, I wake up with better lips. They’re soft, pillowy, and perfectly primed for whatever lippie I want to wear. Just note that there are some white exfoliating bits in the pot, so you may pick one up (and unknowingly leave it on your lips)!” — Shanna Shipin, Shopping Director.
- Key ingredients: hyaluronic acid, papaya enzymes, mango butter, coconut oil, salicornia (sea succulent).
- Who it’s for: anyone with dry, flaky lips.
- Shade count: 1.
- Fragrance free: yes.
Best for Layering: Then I Met You Honey Dew Lip Mask
Why it’s worth it: There are many reasons we love this juicy Then I Met You Honey Dew Lip Mask. For starters, the convenient silicone tip makes for more hygienic application that doesn’t involve dipping your finger into a pot. Then, there’s the blend of hydrating ingredients, like honeydew melon, squalane, and avocado oil, alongside lactic acid, which gently exfoliates and dissolves dead skin cells the way a lip scrub would – sans mess.
The formula is buildable: A thin layer applied during the day adds a glossy finish, while a thicker layer at night conditions and softens lips while you sleep. Bonus? “The product has a mild fruity scent and flavour that doesn’t make my boyfriend go, ‘Ack!’ every time I kiss him,” senior news editor Nicola Dall’Asen says.
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Tester feedback from commerce editor Sarah Han
“My lips are a dry, chapped mess without constant care – meaning, lip balm prep before my usual lip stains in the morning and, perhaps more importantly, slathering on a healthy dose of lip mask as my final last nighttime skin-care step. Then I Met You’s Honey Dew Lip Mask works any time of the day, but I slash it for nighttime and apply many layers for maximum masking benefits. Unlike other lip masks, I love that it contains a banger of lactic acid for that all-important exfoliation without the mess of a scrub (which I can never be bothered to use anyway!). The hydration of it all is a given: honeydew, squalane, avocado oil, honey, etc. Despite multiple layers, it doesn’t feel goopy or heavy, and my lips stay pillowy-soft and smooth come morning.” — Sarah Han, Commerce Editor.
- Key ingredients: honeydew melon, squalane, honey, lactic acid.
- Who it’s for: people who want a lightweight mask that can double as a daytime gloss.
- Shade count: 1.
- Fragrance free: no.
More lip masks we love:
- Kiehl’s Buttermask for Lips is our favourite fragrance-free option. Chock-full of nourishing ingredients like mango butter, coconut oil, and cocoa, with a creamy (not sticky!) consistency, it’s worth the splurge. Blanket your lips with a hefty coat of the stuff before bed and, come morning, you’ll wake up with supple, hydrated lips. Although it’s fragrance-free (making it ideal for sensitive skin types), the formula smells sweet, thanks in part to cocoa butter and vanilla extract.
- Lawless Forget The Filler Overnight Lip Plumping Mask is the key to a plumper pout (as the name implies), which gradually boosts volume and nourishes very dry lips. While the brand’s beloved lip plumpers also contain MaxiLip, a peptide-packed complex, this formula doubles the amount – and packs ceramides, shea butter, and eight different forms and weights of hyaluronic acid.
Frequently Asked Questions
When do I need a lip mask?
Lip masks are a great addition to any lip-care routine, but they’re especially helpful when bouts of seasonal dryness, chapping, and flaking banger. Chapped lips can develop anywhere, anytime, on anyone for a variety of reasons, including environmental factors (like sun damage), allergies, and lip-irritating habits like biting or picking the skin. Like a lip balm, these masks mainly rely on moisturizing ingredients (some of which we’ll dive into below). But masks have more concentrated formulas to provide more significant smoothing and plumping results in a shorter amount of time than a balm.
Which ingredients are found in lip masks?
Emollients like ceramides and fatty acids often do much of the heavy lifting in lip masks. But, as with face masks, you can find other active ingredients that promise more targeted results. For instance, you can find formulas that exfoliate (making quick work of flakes) and offer a subtle plumping effect, as well as others that boost collagen production to tackle fine lines around the mouth. Slather on these moisturising treatments while you sleep, commute to work, or whenever you need long-lasting hydration.
How we test and breakdown products
When we test a product, our editors look at it from every angle in an effort to best serve you. We breakdown ingredients, scrutinise brand claims, and, when necessary, examine peer-reviewed scientific and medical studies. In addition to testing each and every product that’s included in each and every breakdown, we rely on experts who shape their fields, including dermatology, cosmetic chemistry, and medicine, to help us vet the ingredients and formulas.
For our list of the best lip masks, we considered each product’s performance across five primary categories: product ingredients and efficacy, packaging, fragrance, texture, and product wear. Every product was determined to have excelled in each category by our editorial team, which is composed of in-house writers and editors as well as contributors – along with special consideration from dermatologists. To learn more information on our reporting and testing processes, read our complete reviews process and methodology page.
This story originally appeared on Allure.
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