The formula builds: A thin layer applied during the day adds a glossy finish, while a thicker layer at night also moisturizes lips while you sleep. The bonus? “The product has a soft fruity scent and a flavor that doesn’t make my boyfriend go, ‘Ack!’ every time I kiss him,” says senior editor Nicola Dall’Asen.
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 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 number of factors that cause dry, chapped lips: cold weather, wind, sun exposure, licking your lips, dehydration, certain medications like isotretinoin, allergies, and irritants in toothpaste or lip products.
How are masks and lip balms different?
Typically, lip balms are designed for all-day wear, while most lip masks are designed for overnight wear and contain heavy occlusives such as petrolatum. “Think of balms as your daytime moisturizer and lip masks as your nighttime recovery cream,” says Hallie McDonald, MD, board-certified dermatologist and founder of ERLY. That being said, you notice that if your daily balm has a rich consistency, you can use it all night with the same benefits.
When do I need a lip mask?
Lip masks are a great addition to any lip care routine, but they’re especially useful for seasonal dryness, chapping, and chapping. Chapped lips can develop anywhere, at any time, on anyone for a variety of reasons, including environmental factors (such as sun damage), allergies, and habits that treat the lips like biting or picking at the skin. Like lip balm, these masks mainly rely on moisturizing ingredients (some of which we’ll dive into below). But masks with more concentrated formulas deliver stronger smoothing and plumping results in less time than balms.
What ingredients are in the mouth mask?
Emollients such as ceramides and fatty acids are often highly effective in lip masks. But, like face masks, you can find other active ingredients that promise more targeted results. For example, you can find exfoliating formulas (to make the flakes work quickly) and give a subtle plumping effect, as well as others that improve collagen production to deal with fine lines in the mouth. Indulge in these hydrating treatments while you sleep, go to work, or whenever you need long-lasting hydration.
How we test and review products
When Seduction reviews the product, our editors look at it from all angles in an effort to help you better. We review ingredients, scrutinize product claims, and, when necessary, examine peer-reviewed scientific and medical studies. In addition to testing each product included in each review, we rely on experts in their fields, including dermatology, cosmetic chemistry, and medicine, to help us evaluate ingredients and formulas.
To come up with our list of the best lip masks, we considered each product’s performance in five main categories: product ingredients and effectiveness, packaging, scent, texture, and product wear. Every product is determined to be a winner in each category by our editorial team, made up of in-house writers and editors and contributors—with special consideration from dermatologists. To learn more information about our reporting and evaluation processes, read our full review process and how-to page.
Our staff and inspectors
A beauty product is a personal purchase. You may be looking for a face cream to combat persistent dryness or a new nail product to add to your Sunday skincare routine; you may simply be browsing around for the latest launch to hit the hair market. Whatever your wants or needs and concerns, Seduction you want to make sure you like whatever we recommend in our stories. We believe that having a diverse group of writers and editors—in addition to the extensive list of external reviewers and industry experts we call on regularly—is critical to achieving that goal.
After all, we can indeed Are we saying that a skin care product is “best” for people over 50 when the only testers we asked for were people under 30? Can we honestly consider a premium diffuser worth your hard-earned money if it’s never been tested on curls? We pride ourselves on the fact that our staff spans a wide range of ages, skin tones, hair colors, genders, and backgrounds, which means we are able to thoroughly evaluate any beauty product that enters the beauty closet.
