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 doesn’t make my boyfriend go, ‘Ack!’ every time I kiss him,” senior news editor Nicola Dall’Asen says.
Frequently Asked Questions
What causes dry or chapped lips?
The skin on your lips is structurally different from the rest of your face, which is the main reason why they become dry and chapped so easily. “Lips don’t have oil glands, so they dry out easily,” says Anna Karp, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City. On top of your skin’s lack of natural moisture, Dr. Karp also lists a slew of triggers that lead to dry, chapped lips: cold weather, wind, sun exposure, licking your lips, dehydration, certain medications like isotretinoin, allergens, and irritants in toothpaste or lip products.
How are lip masks and lip balms different?
Usually, lip balms are designed for all-day wear, whereas most lip masks are designed for overnight wear and include heavier occlusives like petrolatum. “Think of balms as your daytime moisturizer and lip masks as your nighttime recovery cream,” says Hallie McDonald, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and co-founder of ERLY. That being said, she notes that if your everyday balm has a rich consistency, you can use it overnight for similar benefits.
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 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 that deliver stronger smoothing and plumping results in less 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 moisturizing 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.
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.
Our staff and testers
A beauty product is a personal purchase. You might be searching for a face cream to address persistent dryness or a new nail product to add to your Sunday self-care routine; you may simply be browsing around for the latest launches to hit the hair market. No matter what you seek or your individual needs and concerns, Allure wants to ensure that you love anything we recommend in our stories. We believe that having a diverse team of writers and editors—in addition to the wide range of outside testers and industry experts we regularly call upon—is essential to reaching that goal.
After all, can we really say a skin-care product is the “best” for people over 50 if the only testers we’ve solicited opinions from folks who have yet to hit 30? Can we honestly deem a high-end diffuser worthy of your hard-earned cash if it’s never been tested on curls? We’re proud that our staff spans a wide range of ages, skin tones, hair textures, genders, and backgrounds, which means that we are able to fairly assess any beauty product that comes into the beauty closet.
