Long have I loved a full face sheet masque and those under-eye patches that mask a thousand (red wine) sins. So, naturally, the latest iteration to make a splash – this time, to hydrate and tone our lips – was, without a second thought, going to get a whirl. Chief Product Tester in the name of beauty: Reporting for duty!

An off-kilter concept on paper (Won’t it just slide right off into a sodden heap? How will I possibly not speak for a full 15 minutes?), while equally making all the sense in the world, I should’ve seen the rise of the lip mask coming. And, in their droves have they come, by way of the South Korean beauty scene. Opting for versions that are loaded up with hydration (to diminish the dryness that chilly climes brings about), I’ve cherry-picked three to put to the all-important test...



My favourite for their ability to stay put and deliver moisture on demand, are Patchology's Flashpatch Hydrating Lip Gels (as seen on yours truly); packed with peptides to reduce crow’s feet and fine lines, niacinamide to increase ceramide and prevent the loss of moisture, and antioxidant green tea extract for its soothing capabilities – all through its advanced, patented HydraSurge5 Moisture System – just five minutes gives your lips the love they're longing for.



Second place goes to Burt’s Bees Moisturising Lip Mask, which harnesses responsibly sourced, 100% natural ingredients – as is the case with any of its products. Infused with a cocktail of almond and meadowfoam seed oils, this mask kicks chapped lips to the curb. Rich in hydration, but taking on the guise of the quintessential sheet face mask, it’s one to apply behind closed curtains.



A close third, is high-street hero Nip+Fab, that makes the cut with its Dragon’s Blood Fix Lip Mask that extracts the actual blood of a dragon to make for its key ingredient… Just kidding! Read: Red sap, found in the Croton Lechleri tree, which works to protect the skin from environmental aggressors. Combining it with edelweiss extract and coconut water, this mask – again, taking on the form of a sheet mask – delivers with a triple whammy of refreshing, hydrating and soothing capabilities...

Give me more where that came from, please!

Fend off the woes of winter (yes, Christmas is only SIX weeks away) with this lip-loving edit:



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