Now that summer is here, there are many things I’ve been enjoying that I don’t usually do during winter…like drinking iced coffee without getting strange looks. I also haven’t had a head cold since April, at least, and I’m on the prowl again for the perfect plus-size maxi dress.
But one thing I can never seem to find, no matter the season, is a cure for my dry, flaky lips.
My bag usually has at least two or three different lip balms in it, and I literally hoard them at home, but none of them really, really work. They help, but they aren’t a solution, so now I’m looking for answers outside the realm of everyday lip moisturizers.
I’ve tried exfoliating my lips, but this time I’m going with a more popular approach. I’m testing a mask!
So, face masks are nothing new, as I’m sure you’re aware. Single use sheet masks, in particular, have been extra popular lately (Jen liked this one by Amore Pacific), but have y’all ever tried a lip mask before?
They sound weird, right?
But this affordable little treasure — the Miss Spa Deep Therapy Pre-Treated Gel Lip Mask — was too hard to resist (I’ve seen it at Target for about $3).
This was my first time trying a mask like this, and I was a little surprised when I opened the package for the first time at how thick the mask is.
I assumed it would be a thin sheet mask that would just cover my lips, but as you can see, it’s a little bigger than that.
This was an experience, to say the least. I followed the instructions on the package and pressed the mask over my lips, then smoothed the edges out until it stayed in place.
Now, this took a little finessing, and I also wasn’t sure if I was supposed to part my lips a bit or keep them firmly closed (I kept them relaxed closed). It was akward at first.
The mask itself isn’t completely saturated in a serum. It’s just pre-treated, so it’s a little wet, but it isn’t completely soaked in product when you apply it, which I wasn’t expecting. It also has a light aloe/floral fragrance and flavor.
Here’s a closer look at the ingredients…
Water, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Ceratonia Siliqua Gum, Chondrus Crispus (Carrageenan), Lactobacillus Ferment, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Artemisia Princeps Leaf Extract, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Citrus Junos Fruit Extract, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil (Castor), 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Pearl Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Ethyhexylglycerin, Adenosine, Saccharide Isomerate, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Potassium Hydroxide, Disodium EDTA, Ascorbyl Glucoside
There are some really interesting ingredients in here, like castor oil, Japanese mugwort (Artemisia Princeps Leaf Extract) and pearl extract.
After I put the mask on, I waited 20 minutes while it soaked in…during which time I wandered around my apartment hoping that I wouldn’t swallow whatever was in the mask. In other words, I had ample time to amuse myself.
After 20 minutes, give or take (have you ever accidentally left a sheet mask on for, like, an hour?), I felt an air bubble in the mask kind of…pop. The edges started peeling off, so I figured that it was time to see what this baby had done.
Unfortunately, I lost the picture of what my lips looked like immediately after removing the mask, but my lips were noticeably softer and a little tacky from the solution.
I reached for a lip treatment to seal the deal, so to speak, and my current fave is the Estee Lauder New Dimension Plump+Fill Expert Lip Treatment ($42).
If you’re looking to try a lip mask because balms are just not cutting it for you, I definitely recommend this one. I wouldn’t say that it totally blew me away, but I think it’s well worth $4 as part of my regular spa night ritual. It’s different and fun, and I think it does help.
Have you ever tried a lip mask before? Do you do anything special or out of the ordinary to treat your lips? If you do, my dry lips and I would love to hear about it!
Chris25 says
I’ve never tried a lip mask before, but I am deeply curious about the Bite Beauty Agave mask
Rachel R. says
I’ve never tried a lip mask. Interesting! I don’t have dry lips, so drug store lip balm is my main “treatment.” I exfoliate once a week or so with e.l.f. Lip Exfoliator.
LindaLibraLoca says
Eye masks are as fancy as I did get so far. I love the concept though.
EttaB says
I’m going to have to try this mask! I feel like I’ve tried every lip oil, balm, and treatment out there while my lips just laugh and laugh. They are super cry and can peel in 1/2 inch sections (sorry, TMI!). I have had some success with a combination of lip oil from Seed Body Care (http://www.seedbodycare.com/products/seed-therapeutic-peppermint-lip-oil) and pharmaceutical grade lanolin. I like the Hourglass Lip Oil but I just have trouble paying $42. Of course, I’ve probably paid 10 times that in looking for “cheaper” altertatives. 🙂
Kiss & Make-up says
I recently tried the Sephora Shea Lip Mask and I really liked it, felt so nice!
Carolina Braina says
Hi Marcella! I’ve tried the Sephora one, but found it pretty underwhelming…
I hate the feeling of dry lips, so I exfoliate them every morning with my toothbrush. It just takes a few seconds and makes a huge difference.
Also, my favorite lip balm is the Nuxe Reve the Miel (the one in a pot). It’s a little pricier than your average lip balm, but it lasts months and months and works wonders (at least on my lips).
Stephanie says
Unsolicited lip care advice ahead, feel free to ignore:
I’ve been struggling with dry lips for AGES, and finally started thinking about all those people who say you can get sunburn on your lips. So last week I found a lip balm with sunscreen for about $3 at Whole Foods, of all places, and tried it out on Friday when I planned to spend the entire day outside. Ran it over my lipstick when I touched up. (It’s a pretty white sunscreen, so it helped that I was wearing grey lipstick instead of something that would look awful with white on top.)
And it really, really helped. I still put on super moisturizing balm at night, but I’m not trying to figure out how to get my lips back from the brink of death and peeling. So I wonder if the actual problem was sunburn more than anything else? I dunno, I’m gonna wear all the sunscreen from now on, if it keeps my lips looking like lips over the summer.
Erin says
Looks and sounds cool to me!