If I’m not careful, dry climates, cold temperatures and even my sleeping habits can do a number on my lips, so I take my lip care very seriously (it’s my favorite step in my skin care routine ). Lack of moisture can lead to painful cracking and bleeding, which I typically prevent with a lip mask — they’re designed to retain moisture by creating a barrier between your lips and harsh wind or environmental pollutants, experts say. To help you learn more about lip masks, I spoke to board-certified dermatologists about the benefits of using one, what ingredients to look for when shopping and the major differences between a lip mask and a lip balm .
Plus, I compiled a list of expert-recommended lip masks, along with some of NBC Select staff favorites and highly rated options. SKIP AHEAD How I picked the best lip masks | The best lip masks | How to shop for lip masks | Why trust NBC Select? When deciding which lip mask is best for you, our experts recommend keeping the following factors in mind: I asked dermatologists for their favorite lip masks and lip treatments, including overnight lip masks and sheet masks. I also rounded up some highly rated options and NBC Select staff favorites that align with expert guidance.
Best overall: Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask Laneige’s antioxidant- and hyaluronic acid -rich Lip Sleeping Mask comes recommended by Ilyas and board-certified dermatologist Dr. Annie Chiu . It comes in various scents, including vanilla and berry , and packaged with a tiny applicator so your hands never have to touch your lips.
“I never want to use another lip product after using this,” says NBC Select commerce editor Lindsay Schneider . “I love that I still wake up in the morning with it on my lips — it actually has staying power and I don’t need to reapply it every hour. I also like to wear it during the day.
It’s a little thicker than your standard balm, but looks glossy and light on my lips.” Best splurge: Tatcha Kissu Lip Mask Chiu recommends this fragrance-free mask for people with sensitive lips. It has squalene , which is a natural occlusive that your body produces, and peach extract that often heals the lips without any stickiness, says Chiu.
“This lip mask is one of my absolute favorites because it instantly moisturizes my lips and is super easy to spread,” says NBC Select updates editor Mili Godio . “It’s definitely on the pricey side, but a little goes a very long way. Plus, the metal spatula feels cooling and luxurious.
” Best overnight treatment: Jouer Cosmetics Overnight Conditioning & Repairing Lip Mask This lip mask has jojoba oil, shea butter, vitamin E and hyaluronic acid to help soften your lips, says board-certified dermatologist Dr. Jeriel Weitz . It’s specifically designed for overnight use and you should wipe it off in the morning, according to the brand.
Although the mask has a thick consistency, reviewers say it feels lightweight once you spread it. Most lightweight: Farmacy Beauty Apple Peptide Lip Smoothie In my experience, you can use this lip balm during the day or as an overnight mask since the consistency isn’t too thin and isn’t uncomfortably thick. It has apple extract to moisturize, vitamin C to smoothen lip lines and shea butter to soften lips, according to the brand.
After I apply it, I wake up and can feel a noticeable difference. I can actually see the cracked areas return to their normal moisturized state. Best exfoliating mask: Ilia Lip Wrap Treatment Mask “Ilia’s treatment mask pretty much hits all the ingredients,” says Chiu.
It has papaya enzymes to exfoliate the skin on your lips, hyaluronic acid for hydration and shea butter to lock in moisture and create a barrier without being overly sticky, according to Chiu. This lip mask is also a favorite of NBC Select associate updates editor Zoe Malin . “My lips are significantly less irritated, red and dry when I wake up after using it,” she says.
“It’s thick enough to stay on my lips overnight, too, because I still feel it when I wake up.” Editor’s pick: Naturium Phyto-Glow Lip Mask I firmly believe in not having to break the bank for a quality lip mask, and that’s one of the main reasons I love this one from Naturium. Not only is it one of the most affordable lip masks on this list, but it’s one of the most effective — it keeps my lips moisturized overnight and throughout the day, leaving them feeling both smooth and hydrated.
Initially, it wasn’t my favorite lip mask, but after talking to NBC Select SEO editor Nikki Brown (who also loves this mask), I realized it was because I didn’t break through the top film-like layer (which involved firmly pressing my finger into it). Once I did, I could fully get the benefits of it. Now, it goes everywhere I do; I keep the lip mask in my toiletry bag, on my desk at work or with me on the couch as I watch TV.
Best applicator: Fenty Skin Plush Puddin’ Intensive Recovery Lip Mask Fenty’s repairing lip mask, formulated with coconut, pomegranate and jojoba oils, leaves your lips smooth and gives you a firmer and plumper-looking pout in one week, according to the brand. Many reviewers love how easy it is to dispense and apply this lip mask. Unlike others on the list, it requires you to twist the base to slowly release the product.
Reviewers say it doesn’t get messy, it’s user-friendly and an excellent option for even those with longer nails. The lip mask has a 4.1-star average rating from over 820 reviews at Sephora.
Best for cracked lips: Nooni Applebutter Lip Mask This mask, which Chiu recommends for its more affordable price point, has lactic acid to help exfoliate the top layer of skin, and shea butter and jojoba oil to moisturize your lips, she says. The mask also has microcrystalline wax, which is an occlusive that seals all that moisture in, says Chiu. Best gloss: Glow Recipe Plum Plump Hyaluronic Gloss Balm You can use this gloss balm throughout the day and as an overnight treatment.
When my lips are extremely chapped, I scoop a tiny amount of this thick mask from its tub — a little goes a long way, and my dry lips immediately feel a sense of relief that lasts throughout the night and into the following day. The mask has ingredients like hyaluronic acid to moisturize and hydrate, a plum blend to protect the lips from environmental aggressors and raspberry extract to hydrate and retain moisture, according to the brand. Best sheet mask: Burt’s Bees Moisturizing Lip Mask If you’re not fond of the idea of dipping an applicator (or your finger) into a jar over and over again, you might prefer these single-use masks .
They’re made with natural ingredients like almond oil and sunflower seed oil that deeply moisturizes and penetrates the lip quickly, says Chiu. Best for damaged lips: Henne Organics Lip Mask For those who prefer a thicker consistency, Chiu recommends this USDA certified-organic mask from Henne. It has beeswax, avocado and jojoba seed oil for moisture and essential oils like peppermint oil (which may cause a tingling sensation) to help blood circulation in the lips, according to the brand.
For best results, the brand recommends applying a thick layer and leaving it on for 15-30 minutes, then gently wipe off the excess using a tissue. If you are using it as an overnight mask, the sea buckthorn in its formula may stain your pillowcase, according to the brand. Best ointment: Vaseline Blueseal Original Pure Petroleum Jelly Vaseline is a hydration favorite of many NBC Select staffers.
While this product is technically an ointment, many people use it as they would a lip mask, including NBC Select editorial projects manager Rebecca Rodriguez , who applies it to her lips every night before bed and throughout the day. This product is creamy and non-drying, according to the brand. Petroleum jelly is a staple product that you can also use to treat minor wounds, like cuts and scrapes, relieve dry skin elsewhere, rehydrate nails and more, according to the American Academy of Dermatology .
Best for quick results: Kaplan MD Perfect Pout Lip Mask Chiu recommends this lip mask for daytime use since it has antioxidants. (Antioxidants protect the skin from environmental aggressors, like UV light and pollution, according to Ilyas.) This mask also has papaya extract to exfoliate, while hyaluronic acid attracts moisture, says Chiu.
If you want to target fine lines around and on your lips, leave it on for 10 minutes (rather than the recommended five) before using a damp cloth to wipe off any excess. If you have extremely dry lips, you can also use this mask as an overnight treatment, according to the brand. Most versatile: Ranger Balm You can use this sensitive and eczema -prone skin multipurpose balm as a moisturizer , beard balm, lip mask and even hair mask , according to the brand.
“It makes an ideal lip mask because it’s rich in fatty acids, restorative ceramides , vitamins and antioxidants,” says Weitz. “This is one of my favorite masks to hydrate, nourish and soothe dry or cracked lips.” The solid balm, which turns into an oil on contact, has ingredients like coconut oil and sunflower seed wax that will hydrate your lips and help them retain moisture, according to the brand.
Best scented: NCLA Beauty Overnight Lip Mask This vegan and cruelty-free mask from NCLA Beauty is formulated with shea and mango seed butters, castor seed oil and vitamin E, according to the brand. “It feels like it sets into my lips a little before bed so it won’t smear away, and it smells delicious,” says Rodriguez. Best tube mask: Then I Met You Honey Dew Lip Mask This lip mask, which comes in tube form, helps hydrate, moisturize and gently exfoliate your lips during the day and at night.
It has squalane and honey to help your skin maintain moisture, melon to protect lips from free radicals, lactic acid to remove dead skin and avocado oil to moisturize, according to the brand. With a 4.4-average star rating from over 310 reviews at Then I Met You, reviewers say it’s great to leave on during the day because of its shiny and glossy appearance.
Best for lip health: Cosrx Ceramide Lip Butter Sleeping Mask This lip mask focuses on moisturizing your lips while maintaining their overall health. It combines ingredients like ceramides, shea butter, glycerin and coconut oil to help strengthen the skin barrier on your lips, prevent dryness and soothe any cracks, according to the brand. “I use this lip mask the most out of all the ones in my collection, and especially when my lips need some extra TLC,” says Godio.
“It feels so smooth and light, and I wake up with hydrated lips that don’t need layers of lip balm throughout the day.” Most plumping: Alpyn Beauty Willow & Sweet Agave Plumping Lip Mask Reviewers say they use this lip mask overnight, while others apply it during the day or use it to top off their lipstick. Regardless of when they apply it, many reviewers say their lips feel more moisturized, appear fuller and no longer have any roughness.
It uses ingredients like sweet agave to hydrate the lips, hyaluronic acid to improve moisture and fullness and willow bare to exfoliate and smooth lips, according to the brand. This lip mask, which also comes in a tube form , has a 4.5-star average rating from over 240 reviews at Sephora.
Best softening: Kiehl’s Buttermask For Lips This fragrance-free mask, which has a 4.4-star average rating from over 150 reviews on Amazon, uses coconut oil and mango butter to soften, smooth and repair your lips overnight. Reviewers say that when they wake up, their lips appear more plump and retain moisture from the night before, so they don’t have to constantly reapply lip balm throughout the day.
It also comes in a small size, so it’s great for traveling and won’t take up space in your luggage . Lip masks should have ingredients that moisturize, soften and soothe dry lips, including sunflower oil, sesame oil, vitamin E, omega fatty acids, linoleum acids and coconut oil, experts say. Additionally, here are five other key ingredients that will ensure your lips are properly cared for: At NBC Select, we work with experts who have specialized knowledge and authority based on relevant training and/or experience.
We also take steps to ensure all expert advice and recommendations are made independently and without undisclosed financial conflicts of interest. I’m an associate reporter at NBC Select covering skin care and hair care, who recently wrote stories on the best body serums and shower oils . For this piece, I interviewed dermatologists and researched highly rated lip masks on the market that met the guidance of our experts as well as gathered NBC Select-staff favorites.
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