Do you ever feel like your lips are constantly chapped, no matter how much lip balm you apply? Whether it’s due to weather changes, diet, or sun exposure, sometimes you need to step it up and add a lip mask to your routine.
“A lip mask is a reparative, restorative treatment that helps heal the lips,” says double-board certified facial plastic surgeon, P. Daniel Ward, MD. “In contrast to lip balm, which is primarily a preventative treatment, lip masks work to heal the lips.”
There’s so many lip masks today that promise juicy, plump pouts overnight. But how many can truly deliver the results? To filter fact from fiction, we asked volunteers to test 25 promising products in our lab. Following the product’s instructions, our testers rated each mask on the feel, hydration, and overall results it provided. Laneige’s Lip Sleeping Mask had the perfect consistency and transformed our tester’s cracked lips into a soft, supple pout, earning a perfect score and our spot for Best Overall.
If you are ready to wake up to kissable, pillow soft lips, stock up on one of these best lip masks.
Best Overall
Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask
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Not too heavy or light, this celebrity favorite mask transforms parched lips overnight.
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There isn’t an unscented version for those that want to avoid fragrance.
From the consistency to the applicator and scent, our tester loved every aspect of using this mask. “It's the best of both worlds between a lip jelly and a cream without being too heavy nor too light,” they say. The luscious mask comes in five fun scents (including the original berry, which is our favorite), easily spreads with the included applicator wand and leaves a glossy sheen without feeling sticky or oily.
Though it’s meant to be used overnight, the mask made a significant difference in our tester’s lips in just 30 minutes, thanks to its blend of vitamin C, shea butter, and other antioxidants. “I struggle with dry, parched, and crackly lips,” says our tester. “This mask left my lips feeling and looking extra juicy, soft and well-hydrated.” Securing perfect scores in every category, it’s no surprise that this mask has a cult following and is also a favorite with celebs, like Kendall Jenner.
Key Ingredients: Vitamin C, Shea Butter | Size: 0.7 oz | Packaging: Jar
Best Value
She Loves 2PCS Lip Mask Overnight
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You get two adorable yet equally effective lip masks for the price of one.
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Some reviewers say the dippers break easily.
This adorable set is an incredible value because it comes with a day and night mask for the price of one. “The day mask feels smooth like a balm, while the night mask has more of a sticky texture,” describes our tester. Both masks left her lips hydrated, thanks to a blend of honey, beeswax, and vitamin E. The formulas also have mineral oil, which attracts moisture from the air and binds it into the skin to increase hydration. Since the balms didn’t leave too much of a gloss or sheen, our tester could see herself using them under a lipstick or stain for extra moisture. The honey dipper-shaped applicators are so cute, too, you’ll be wanting to apply these masks all day.
Key Ingredients: Honey, Beeswax, Vitamin E | Size: 0.35 oz each | Packaging: Jar
Best for Cracked Lips
Fresh Sugar Recovery Lip Mask Advanced Therapy
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The superfine sugar particles in this mask gently exfoliate cracked lips for better penetration of the hydrating ingredients.
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It’s a little pricey for the small amount you get.
To get the most out of your lip mask, Celebrity Master Esthetician Sarah Akram recommends first gently exfoliating your lips, especially if they are very dry and cracked. If you prefer to knock out two steps with one product, though, Fresh’s Sugar Recovery Lip Mask exfoliates and nourishes at the same time. The formula contains superfine sugar molecules that buff away dead skin, so the medley of moisturizing ingredients can deeply penetrate your lips. The hyaluronic acid draws in moisture while berry wax and shea butter act as a protective barrier to lock in the hydration. After 30 minutes, the mask left our tester’s lips noticeably more plump, hydrated, and restored.
Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic Acid, Shea Butter, Sugar | Size: 0.35 oz | Packaging: Jar
Best Clean
Beautycounter Lip Conditioner in Calendula
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You get all of the nourishing ingredients without the use of animal testing.
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Reviewers wish it lasted longer on the lips.
Certified by the Environmental Working Group and Leaping Bunny, Beautycounter’s lip treatment is a clean formula and free from any animal testing. Alternatively, it uses plant-based oils like jojoba to moisturize and antioxidants like vitamin E to reverse sun damage. “The calendula and chamomile oils create a sweet scent and a really nice sheen,” says our tester. “I love the way the gloss accentuates the natural pigment of my lips.”The conditioner left the tester’s lips feeling instantly hydrated without any sticky residue, too. If you’re looking for a way to get a clean, cruelty-free, and kissable smile, this is it.
Key Ingredients: Avocado Oil, Vitamin E, Jojoba Oil | Size: 0.4 oz | Packaging: Jar
Best Fragrance-Free
Kiehl's Buttermask For Lips
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Smooth as butter, this treatment quickly absorbs into your lips for intense hydration.
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There’s no applicator, so you have to use your fingers.
If you want to smother your lips in the softest, smoothest cocoon, we recommend this lip butter from Kiehl’s. The formula contains mango butter and grapeseed oil, which our tester loves for its lightweight feel and high absorbency. “The mask was light as a feather and practically melted into my lips,” says our tester. The fragrance-free formula is extra gentle, too, and instantly soothed her inflammation. “My parched lips went from dry to the most supple lips ever,” she adds. Because of how quickly the treatment absorbs, it doesn’t easily rub off compared to others, meaning it will spend more time on your lips than your pillowcase. And with no glossy sheen, this butter can easily double as a daytime balm.
Key Ingredients: Mango Butter, Grapeseed Oil | Size: 0.35 oz | Packaging: Jar
Best Application
Mented Cosmetics Coconut Lip Treatment
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Coming in a tube, this treatment is mess-free and portable.
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The thick formula is slightly tacky.
Not everyone is a fan of having to dip their fingers into a little tub, so for easy, on-the-go moisture, reach for this lip treatment in a tube. The blend of shea butter and castor seed oil made our tester’s lips incredibly soft, smooth, and flake-free. Because the formula has a thicker consistency, it’s a little tacky — but that ensures its staying power. You can also apply the vegan, paraben-free treatment to other dry areas of your body, like your cuticles, for some extra TLC. Who doesn’t love a multitasking product?
Key Ingredients: Shea Butter, Castor Seed Oil | Size: 0.34 oz | Packaging: Tube
Related: The Best Cuticle Oils
Best Hydrating
Belif Aqua Bomb Overnight Lip Mask
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The Korean formula has special ingredients — like cica — that go above and beyond to repair dry lips.
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We wish it came with an applicator.
You’ve probably heard of Aqua Bomb’s hydrating powers for your skin — this is the brand’s version for your lips. Just like water, the formula is lightweight, but still provides your lips with hours of moisture. “Even after eating, drinking, and hours passing by, the mask was still visible,” says our tester. “My lips felt very hydrated and supple.” The secret is superpower ingredients, including cica which helps soothe inflammation and rebuild the skin barrier, says board-certified dermatologist Joshua Zeichner, M.D. Our tester loves the cute packaging and that a little of the product goes a long way, though she wishes the little jar came with an applicator for simpler scooping.
Key Ingredients: Cica, Shea Butter, Madecassoide | Size: 0.7 oz | Packaging: Jar
Best Exfoliating
Kaplan MD Perfect Pout Lip Mask
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In addition to moisturizing, this mask exfoliates and plumps your lips.
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For extra moisture, you might need to apply a balm on top.
Why only moisturize your lips when you can also exfoliate and plump them with the same product? This mask has papaya enzymes which naturally dissolve dead skin so the moisturizing ingredients, like hyaluronic acid, can penetrate deeper. According to Dr. Ward, because our lips are a very prominent part of our face, they take quite a beating from the elements; but regular use of this exfoliant can help reduce wrinkles, including along the lip contour. L-Ornithine Amino Acid, which works to plump the skin, helps to further minimize fine lines, too. Though the mask does have a slight tingly feeling, our tester didn’t find this uncomfortable. In fact, it became one of her favorite lip masks. “It feels very nourishing on the lips making them feel instantly softer and smoother,” she says. For even more hydration, the brand recommends applying a lip balm on top.
Key Ingredients: Papaya Enzymes, Hyaluronic Acid, L-Ornithine Amino Acid | Size: 1 oz | Packaging: Jar
Best Soothing
Dermelect Smooth & Supple Lip Mask Melt
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The calming ingredients and metal applicator soothe burned lips.
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The jar is a bit bulky, so it’s not portable.
Thanks to the smooth metal applicator, this mask soothes your lips on contact while keeping the application process hygienic. “The mask immediately melts into the lips, the texture is amazing, and my lips feel smooth and hydrated,” says our tester. The blend of various oils, radish seed extract, and antioxidants hydrates while further reducing loss of elasticity and sun damage. Our commerce writer Maya Gandara also swears by this mask to soothe her chronically-chapped lips, and says it instantly makes flakes and dry patches disappear. With its luxurious look and feel, you’ll want to keep this mask right on your nightstand.
Key Ingredients: Castor Oil, Abyssinian Oil, Jojoba Oil | Size: 0.5 oz | Packaging: Jar
Best Overnight
Aceology Overnight Lip Mask
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Squalane and coconut oil work together to revive your lips overnight.
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Even though it comes in a tube, you still have to use your fingers to apply it.
Who doesn’t want to wake up with soft, plump lips? With this mask, you can. One of the main ingredients is squalane, which is praised for replenishing your skin’s moisture barrier while being lightweight and non-comedogenic. Another star ingredient is coconut oil, which according to board-certified dermatologist Mona Gohara, M.D., delivers anti-inflammatory and hydrating properties in the skin, Describing the mask as creamy and light, our tester says it made her lips look fuller and plumper. “It’s very hydrating and my lips immediately feel softer, smoother, and more hydrated,” they say. After using this mask, we now understand why it’s called beauty sleep.
Key Ingredients: Squalane, Coconut Oil | Size: 0.5 oz | Packaging: Tube
Best Tinted
Nars Orgasm Lip Mask
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You get Nars iconic orgasm blush shade in a hydrating formula.
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Despite the higher price point, there’s no applicator.
Anyone that’s a fan of Nars’ universally flattering Orgasm blush will rejoice knowing they can get the same color on their lips in a super-hydrating form. Besides imparting a subtle peachy sheen, the balm nourishes your lips with sunflower and echium oils as well as balloon vine, a tropical plant that soothes and replenishes dry skin. “My lips feel soft, nourished, and creamy,” says our tester. “When I removed the mask, my lips remained hydrated and smooth, too.” The cute millennial pink jar will look adorable coming out of your purse when you want to add a pop of color and moisturize your lips during the day. It’s important to note that the jar doesn’t come with an applicator, which our tester found slightly disappointing considering the price of the product.
Key Ingredients: Sunflower Oil, Echium Oil, Balloon Vine | Size: 0.33 oz | Packaging: Jar
Most Reparative
Sara Happ The Dream Slip
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The light chamomile scent is super calming and helps us relax before bed.
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It’s too thick to use during the day.
Sometimes you need to pull out the big guns for some heavy-duty TLC. Likening the consistency to Vaseline, our tester found this mask thick and heavy, which she expected for a deep, overnight treatment. The vegan, cruelty-free formula combines hyaluronic acid and four plant-derived oils, including sweet almond oil, for deep nourishment. High in vitamin E and fatty acids, sweet almond oil is a jack of all trades, as it hydrates, slows signs of aging, reverses sun damage, and calms skin irritation. Our tester certainly saw the ingredients working. “After completely removing the mask, my lips felt smooth and soft,” they say. Infused with flavors of chamomile, honey, and vanilla, the mask is extra calming as you apply it before bed. Since it is so thick, our tester wishes the jar came with an applicator rather than having to waste some product on her fingers.
Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic Acid, Sweet Almond Oil, Jojoba Oil | Size: 0.5 oz | Packaging: Jar
Best Plumping
Averr Aglow Goodnight Kiss Lip Mask
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The nourishing ingredients plump your lips from the inside out.
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It’s not readily available online.
Loaded with vitamins, oils, and fatty acids, this mask brings your lips back to life, making them appear plumper by morning. Our tester says the pink jelly feels like Vaseline, and applies very smoothly with no stickiness. Coming with an applicator, it was easy to swipe across her lips and a little went a long way, meaning this jar will last you a while. Made from two different butters and fruit oils, the cocktail drenched our tester’s lips with hydration. “It feels extremely hydrating and my lips look softer and more moisturized,” she says. Though you are meant to use the mask overnight, even just 30 minutes gave our tester’s lips a decent boost.
Key Ingredients: Shea Butter, Illipe Seed Butter, Strawberry and Raspberry Seed Oils | Size: 0.5 oz | Packaging: Jar
Our Testing Process
After speaking to beauty experts and learning the best ingredients to hydrate the lips, we compiled 25 promising products for different needs and budgets. Our 15 testers applied each mask following the manufacturer’s instructions and took notes of the product’s consistency and staying power. Once the recommended amount of time passed, our testers took off the masks following the product’s instructions and evaluated how soft and hydrated their lips felt, using a ranking scale of 1 to 5 in the categories of feel, hydration, and overall look. We then calculated the highest-scoring lip masks and narrowed down the original selection to the 13 best lip masks.
What to Keep in Mind
Moisturizing Ingredients
Similar to lip treatments, the efficacy of a lip mask all comes down to the ingredients. “Humectants are ideal to really help lock in moisture,” says Akram. “Ingredients such as glycerin, vitamin E, and hyaluronic acid are just a few — these ingredients are more suitable in a mask form to penetrate the lips.”
Added Flavors and Fragrances
If your lips are especially sensitive, Azza Halim, M.D., a board-certified physician and anesthesiologist, recommends staying away from added fragrances and flavors, which can further irritate and dry out your lips.
Packaging
As you can tell by this list, most lip masks are packaged in little jars. To make application easier and more sanitary, look for products that include an applicator stick, so you don’t have to use your fingers. For ultimate portability, go for a tube that you can apply directly to your lips.
Your Questions, Answered
When do I need to use a lip mask?
A lip balm is a preventative step to prevent dryness, while a lip mask heals damage that is already done through concentrated ingredients and more time spent on the lips, usually overnight.
“Most lip masks are formulated to target dry lips, lines and wrinkles, and volume loss,” says Akram. “Usually a lip mask is something you incorporate as an added treatment when your lip balm isn't cutting it.”
How do I use a lip mask for the best results?
Before applying the lip balm, Akram recommends gently exfoliating your lips to get the most of the mask’s ingredients. You can use a top-quality lip scrub or cotton washcloth to buff your lips. Once all the dead skin is sloughed off, apply the lip balm for the recommended amount of time. Depending on how much TLC your lips need, you can use the lip mask once a week or more frequently. However, there’s no harm in using nightly if you find your lips craving that moisture boost.
What Is InStyle Picks?
Did you notice the InStyle Picks seal of approval at the top of this story? That means our team of testers has reviewed every product on this list using a unique methodology to ensure it’s really worth your time, money, and attention. We may get samples for free to try but we never promise positive (or any!) coverage in exchange. Put simply: InStyle Picks are products we love, and we’ve put them to the test to be sure you will too.
Why Shop With Us
Emily Cieslak is an assistant commerce editor at InStyle and writes about all things beauty. She uses our pick for Best Overall, Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask, every night before bed and swears it makes her lips plumper by morning. To get more insights on the benefits and uses for a lip mask, she interviewed double-board certified facial plastic surgeon, P. Daniel Ward, MD and Azza Halim, M.D., a board-certified physician and anesthesiologist. She also spoke to Celebrity Master Esthetician Sarah Akram, who pampers everyone’s skin from Vanessa Hudgens to Tiffany Haddish. She then analyzed the ratings of the 25 tested products to find the highest-performing lip masks.
Want more product recommendations? From best-in-class concealer to the black pants you need for work, check out all of our InStyle Picks content.