As the temperature drops, it’s common to find yourself reaching for a lip balm to combat the stripping effects of brisk winds and frosty chills, but if those aren’t enough to help you find relief, you may need to augment your lip-care routine with the best lip mask. While lip balms are designed for use throughout the day, “lip masks are typically used overnight to do their job,” explains Kseniya Kobets, MD, board-certified dermatologist and director of cosmetic dermatology at Montefiore-Einstein Advanced Care in Westchester, New York.
Vogue’s Favorite Lip Masks:
You can compare the differences between these two formula types to those between your average conditioner and an intensive hair treatment. “Similar to a hair mask, a lip mask is a thicker product designed to deeply hydrate the lips,” explains Jennifer Levine, MD, a board-certified facial plastic surgeon in New York. Lips are more susceptible to dryness because unlike the skin on the rest of our face and body, they lack sebaceous glands. “Vaseline and Aquaphor are great for chapped lips and help prevent moisture loss, but sometimes aren’t enough to replenish lost moisture,” says Connie Yang, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at PFRANKMD in New York.
To really quench your lips’ thirst, consider using both, especially if you’re prone to dryness or if winter is wreaking havoc on your lips: your lip balm provides daily protection, while your lip mask helps stave off future chapping and irritation. Just take a look at the ingredients of any lip mask you’re considering to make sure it can supply the delicate skin of your lips with the support it needs. With that, read on to discover our favorites; plus, some helpful tips to choosing the right one for you.
In This Story:
- What makes a lip mask different from a lip balm?
- What to Look for in a Lip Mask
- Are lip masks good for your lips?
- How often should you use a lip mask?
- How We Tested
- Meet the Experts
Best Overall: PCA Skin Overnight Lip Mask
- Why We Love It: The hardworking ingredients and rich, yet not greasy texture of this mask make it a must for anyone looking to revive lips. “It has an elegant consistency and is formulated with squalane, shea butter, and antioxidants for added protection,” says Yang, who uses this treatment herself. “It works magic overnight and helps maintain smooth, plump lips when used consistently.”
- Editor’s Experience: “Though I’m quite fond of PCA Skin, I was surprised by just how good its Overnight Lip Mask is. I prefer something with a jelly-like slip and this one really delivers on the texture front—leaving my pout almost glossy and plush whilst its nourishing blend tends to my lips’ moisture levels. When I run out, I miss it dearly.” —Kiana Murden, beauty shopping editor
- Key Ingredients: Squalane, shea butter, vitamin E
- Size: 0.46 oz.
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Very nourishing, even in harsh winter weather | Spatula not included with jar packaging |
| No added fragrance |
Best Flavored: Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask
- Why We Love It: A frequent in TikTok get ready with me s and in high demand at Sephora, all of our experts acknowledged that this mask from Laneige is a fan favorite, with Dr. Levine adding that it’s especially popular among her younger patients. “This product contains hyaluronic acid and antioxidants that are good for hydration,” says Nathan Newman, MD, board-certified dermatologist in Beverly Hills. It’s available in a bevy of flavors, ranging from classic berry to limited-edition, seasonal options like eggnog latte. Just proceed with caution if you have especially sensitive lips: “Added fragrance can be irritating and worsen dryness and flaking,” warns Dr. Yang.
- Editor’s Experience: “As a millennial that grew up with flavored lip products, I just can’t get enough of Laneige’s Lip Sleeping Mask—I keep several different options on rotation so I can pamper my lips with seasonal flavors. But one jar is really all you need: It contains a staggering amount of product, so if you only use it as an overnight treatment, it may take you an entire year to use it all up. It also comes with a convenient rubber-tipped spatula so you can scrape every last dab of the mask out of the jar without getting your fingers dirty.” —Emily Orofino, contributor
- Key Ingredients: Shea butter, murumuru butter, coconut oil, vitamin C
- Size: 0.7 oz.
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Large jar lasts for many months, even with nightly use | Contains fragrance, which may irritate sensitive lips |
| Diverse flavor options to suit all tastes |
Best Applicator: Tatcha Kissu Lip Mask
- Why We Love It: There’s a lot to love about this lip mask, including the bouncy, jelly-like texture which melts into lips and the squalane-rich formula, which Dr. Newman notes is good for soothing and moisturizing a parched pout. “This lip mask is free from synthetic fragrances—the light scent comes from peach and camellia oils—which makes it perfect for sensitive, burning, and eczema-prone skin,” adds Dr. Kobets. But the cherry on top is the gilded applicator: While it can be easy to misplace a lip applicator, this one offers both function and flair. It slips into the cap so it’s always at hand to scoop out the perfect dose while enhancing the aesthetic of the mask’s jar.
- Editor’s Experience: “Tatcha’s Kissu Lip Mask is almost too pretty to use. Housed in a beautiful tiny jar is a sensorial blend of conditioning agents that moisturizes the lips almost instantly. I like to wear this one in the daytime as it also enhances one’s natural lip color.” —Kiana Murden, beauty shopping editor
- Key Ingredients: Squalane, peach extract, camellia oil
- Size: 0.32 oz.
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| A little goes a long way; luxurious texture and packaging | May not be nourishing enough for severely chapped lips |
Best Korean: CosRx Propolis Lip Sleeping Mask
- Why We Love It: This cushy formula is packed with nourishing ingredients like petrolatum, shea butter, and propolis, which “has antimicrobial and healing properties,” says Newman. It’s a resin-like substance that bees produce to repair their hives and protect themselves from harsh weather—and in this mask, it helps restore softness to lips while shielding them from overnight moisture loss.
- Key Ingredients: Petrolatum, shea butter, honey complex
- Size: 0.7 oz.
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Generously-sized jar; deeply nourishing without feeling greasy | Off-putting taste |
Best Exfoliating: Ilia Lip Wrap Overnight Mask
- Why We Love It: This formula works as a two-in-one lip treatment, reviving dry lips with hyaluronic acid and shea butter while gently exfoliating them with papaya enzymes that sweep away dead skin cells. This combo staves off flaky, dry skin for a smoother, softer, and more moisturized pout. Because of these resurfacing enzymes as well as fragrance ingredients, “my recommendation is that this lip mask is for someone who does not have skin sensitivity or chapped, burning lips, but rather dry and dull lips,” says Dr. Kobets. Though it’s meant to be used overnight, we also like using it in the morning—it’s a great prep step before applying matte lipstick for flake-free application.
- Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, papaya enzymes, shea butter
- Size: 0.34 oz.
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Provides lasting moisture with a lightweight, comfortable texture | Exfoliating enzymes may irritate very sensitive lips |
Best Fast-Acting: Typology L72 - Repairing Lip Mask
- Why We Love It: The texture of this formula is unlike most lip masks—it has a lightweight, gel-like consistency—but that doesn’t mean it’s light on benefits. Lips in dire need of TLC will drink up the ceramides and hyaluronic acid, which “are good for repairing the skin’s barrier function and locking in moisture,” says Newman. But what’s particularly noteworthy about it is how fast it can get to work. “I like that this can be used as a quick 15-minute treatment or deeper overnight repair,” says Yang.
- Key Ingredients: Mango butter, ceramides, hyaluronic acid
- Size: 0.5 oz.
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Intensive treatment works in minutes; non-sticky texture | Overuse may sensitize lips |
Best Lightweight: Abib PDRN Collagen Lip Mask
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- Why We Love It: This bouncy, jelly-like balm boasts buzzy ingredients, including PDRN sourced from centella asiatica and gingko, to support plumper lips. “The topical collagen plus hyaluronic acid ingredients plump up the skin, while acetyl hexapeptide-8 adds to skin rejuvenation,” adds Dr. Kobets. Though it’s quite nourishing, it’s lighter in weight than most masks, so it can be comfortably worn during the day—even over lipsticks to add a gorgeously glossy sheen.
- Editor’s Experience: “If you’re someone who doesn’t like a heavy lip mask, this one’s for you. It’s remarkably lightweight—you’d likely forget you’re wearing it if it weren’t for the shine and slip it delivers. When I wear this at night, I wake up with smooth, soft lips despite not finishing the carafe of water at my bedside.” —Kiana Murden, beauty shopping editor
- Key Ingredients: PDRN, collagen, hyaluronic extract, glycerin, peptides
- Size: 0.38 oz.
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Feels soothing upon application; unique and luxurious jelly texture | Pot-style packaging can get messy |
Everything You Need to Know
What makes a lip mask different from a lip balm?
Though they may seem the same at first blush, lip balms and lip masks are different and serve different purposes. “Lip balm is generally a lighter, everyday product that serves to protect the lips from daily moisture loss and environmental stressors, like cold air or wind,” explains Dr. Nathan Newman, a board-certified dermatologist in Beverly Hills. They’re designed to absorb quickly and are usually reapplied multiple times throughout the day (bonus points if it’s a lip balm with SPF). A lip mask is a more concentrated product with a richer formulation—often with ceramides, hyaluronic acid, and plant oils—that delivers profound hydration while working to repair the skin barrier function of the lips, typically overnight.
What to Look For in a Lip Mask
Ingredients That Help Soften
These are the most important ingredients in any lip formula, but especially a lip mask. “Look for products that contain both a humectant and occlusive—ingredients to hydrate and also seal in the moisture,” says Dr. Yang. Common humectants include hyaluronic acid and glycerin, which draw water into the skin, while occlusives like beeswax and petroleum jelly will act as a physical barrier to prevent moisture from evaporating.
You’ll also want to check the ingredient list for emollients, which help restore the skin barrier while helping to soften and smooth the lips. Dr. Newman recommends natural plant oils and butters (like coconut, avocado, and shea) as well as ceramides, which are essential to your skin’s barrier function.
Additional Active Ingredients
While hydrating and nourishing properties are absolute musts from a lip mask, there are other ingredients that may be less common, but still welcome additions. For example, antioxidants and peptides, which can rejuvenate the skin, says Dr. Kobets. The former category, which includes ingredients like vitamin E, helps protect skin against free radical damage, while peptides offer multiple benefits, including hydration, firming, and smoothing.
Texture:
Ideally, a lip mask will be on the thicker side, but not feel sticky, says Dr. Newman. “It should form a protective layer on the lips, ensuring moisture retention while feeling comfortable during wear, especially overnight,” he explains. A thicker mask will linger longer on the lips to provide lasting benefit (and is more likely to stay put, even if some of the formula inevitably rubs off on your pillowcase).
Are lip masks good for your lips?
Not all lip masks are created equally—it’s all about ingredients, says Dr. Kobets. “The right ingredients can do good for the lips, especially for lips that are dull and dehydrated,” she explains. “However, if you are sensitive to fragrance or other ingredients in lip masks, you may need to be cautious and also repair any active skin burning, cracked lips, or eczema flare ups before trying new products.”
Read the ingredient list carefully if you’re prone to irritation from added fragrance. It may just be described as “fragrance” on the packaging, or they may be specific organic compounds like geraniol, limonene, and linalool. “These widely-used components may cause a skin rash over time or immediately if already sensitized,” warns Dr. Kobets. Those with very sensitive skin might due best with Aquaphor or lanolin (like Lanolips).
How often should you use a lip mask?
This depends entirely on your lips. While most people can maintain hydrated, healthy lips by using a lip mask once to three times weekly, you may need to bump that up to nightly use. This is especially true in the dry, winter months, says Yang. To get the most out of your application, Newman recommends prepping your lips by ensuring they’re free of any residual lip product, gently exfoliating with a lip scrub if you’re dealing with any flakes. Then, “apply a thicker-than-usual layer to ensure the lips are fully coated, especially if using the mask overnight,” he says. If your formula doesn’t come with an applicator and is packaged in a jar, Levine recommends using a cotton swab to apply. “This will prevent germs from your fingers getting into the product,” she says.
How We Tested
When we test and review a product, we take a holistic approach to deliver well-rounded product recommendations. First, we lean on Vogue’s vast network of experts—from board-certified dermatologists to celebrity estheticians—to gain professional acumen on the industry’s standout products, ones these specialists would actually use on their clients. We pair their expertise with our editorial best practices to curate the thoughtful edits you read on our site.
As it relates to lip masks, we selected the best based on the following characteristics: ingredients, texture, packaging, finish, and how effectively they address dry, chapped lip concerns. To do this, we paired our own personal tests of each formula with expert guidance and reviewer insights to determine which we would recommend to you.
Meet the Experts
- Kseniya Kobets, MD is a board-certified dermatologist and Director of Cosmetic Dermatology at Montefiore-Einstein Advanced Care in Westchester, New York.
- Connie Yang, MD is a board-certified dermatologist at PFRANKMD in New York.
- Jennifer Levine, MD is a board-certified facial plastic surgeon in New York.
- Nathan Newman, MD is a board-certified dermatologist in Beverly Hills.
