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 flavor that don’t make my boyfriend go, ‘Ack!’ every time I kiss him,” senior news editor Nicola Dall’Asen says.
Key ingredients: honeydew melon, squalane, honey | # of shades: 1
Best Texture: Cosrx Lip Sleep Ceramide Lip Butter Sleeping Mask
Why it’s worth it: This rich shea butter formula acts like a blanket of comfort to dry, chapped lips. The Cosrx Lip Sleep Ceramide Lip Butter Sleeping Mask is thicker than most but melts into a deliciously silky cream as you apply it to your lips. The buttery texture instantly quenches dry lips, while a cocktail of ceramides, the aforementioned shea butter, and coconut oil work overtime while you sleep to heal and restore softness.
Key ingredients: ceramides, shea butter, coconut oil | # of shades: 1
Best Rinse-Off: Sara Happ The Sweet Clay Lip Mask
Why it’s worth it: Sara Happ is renowned for her sublime lip treatments and this Sweet Clay Lip Mask—a go-to for associate digital beauty director Sarah Kinonen—is no exception. Packed with deep-cleansing bentonite clay, nourishing shea butter, and an Ayurvedic herb known as Swertiamarin sourced from the Himalayas, this mask means business. Rather than leave it on, treat this thick formula like a clay mask and rinse or tissue it off after 10 minutes, revealing smoother lips without having to wait until sunrise to see results. Fair warning: Its bubblegum-pink hue may make your lips look like you’ve caked them in icing, so you may want to reserve this one for your nighttime routine.
Key ingredients: bentonite clay, shea butter, swertiamarin | # of shades: 1
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 hit. 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 on 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 your usual 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 in a variety of formulas, too, for 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 moisturizing lip treatments while you sleep, commute to work, or whenever you need long-lasting hydration.
How we test and review products
When Allure tests a product, our editors look at it from every angle in an effort to best serve you. We review ingredients, scrutinize 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 review, we rely on experts who shape their fields, including dermatology, cosmetic chemistry, and medicine, to help us vet the ingredients and formulas.