Written by Clémence Rubiella | Published on 20 July 2023 | Skincare
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Dear readers,
Lip oils, lip balms and sleeping masks, what is not to like about them? A joy to apply, a gorgeous glossy finish, and an intense hydration. But there is nothing more annoying than getting your hair stuck in it... Well, that is just a slight inconvenience that we are ready to overlook to nourish our beautiful lips.
My personal favourite, lip oils, have become increasingly popular in the last years with the release of the Dior Beauty Lip Glow Oil which is a good product let’s not say otherwise but at a whopping price of $40 (at the time of this article's publication), the Korean beauty industry has amazing alternatives lip oils that will make the Dior Lips shiver.
Lip balms have never left my handbag for the past couple of years. Wherever I go, they go and, I have to admit I have tried a bunch but only a few really lived up to my expectations as to what a lip balm should do for your lips. That is for my daycare. Now for the night-time, I prefer to use what is called a sleeping mask, which helps smoothen, nourish and soften your lips during the night to wake up with baby-soft lips in the morning. It is basically a glorified lip balm and here are my recommendations for your lovely lips.
My recommendations:
Best Overall: Apieu Honey & Milk Lip Oil ($5)
Best Colour Lip Oil: Sampar French Lip Oil ($12) Best Colour Lip Oil Runner-up: Missha Superfood Lip Oil ($6)
Best Lip Balm: Innisfree Canola Honey Lip Balm Intensive Moisture ($6)
Best Color Lip Balm: Peripera Ink Mood Glowy Balm ($10)
Best Sleeping Mask: Innisfree Lip Sleeping Mask ($12)
1. Best Overall: Apieu Honey & Milk Lip Oil
Rating: 5 / 5 Product quantity: 5g
Highlights:
Long-lasting hydration
Very comfortable on the lips, a nice thickness
Can be used as a gloss
Comes in a lip balm, sleeping mask and lip scrub version
What we don’t like:
Absolutely nothing
I came across this product while searching for a new one to try and I haven’t looked back ever since (this was a few years ago). This tiny cutie bottle is everything you want from a lip oil; intense moisture, super glossy finish, long-lasting, not sticky yet thick (adheres tightly to the lips), and last but not least, affordable! I carry this little guy with me in- and outside the house and truly love the high hydration and the elasticity it gives my lips. It is saturated with vitamin E, I can say without hesitation that I am obsessed with this little guy. A few other products exist in the same Honey and Milk collection; a lip balm ($4), a lip scrub ($6) and a sleeping mask ($5).
2. Best Colour Lip Oil: Sampar French Lip Oil
Rating: 4 / 5 Award: Glowpick 2023/2022, PowderRoom 2022 Product quantity: 4.5ml
Highlights:
Non-sticky
Light-weight
Very soft applicator
What we don’t like:
Not long-lasting
Rose scent may be uncomfortable for some
Even though this product is not a Korean one, it is incredibly popular in Korea. Initially, I wasn't enchanted by this product, I felt the hydration wasn't amazing like the Apieu Honey & Milk Lip Oil, but it did grow on me. The rose scent is divine, although perhaps a bit strong for those that are sensitive to scented products, however, it is not a chemical scent, a very natural rosy smell. In the end, I found myself reaching out for this product more throughout the day than the Apieu Honey and Milk Lip Oil. The only weak point for me is its hydration, which could be a little more intense, other than that, it is a divine oil.
Best Colour Lip Oil Runner-up: Missha Superfood Lip Oil
Rating: 4 / 5 Product quantity: 5.2g
Highlights
Liquidly formula (not sticky)
High pigmentation
High shine
What we don’t like
Semi-lasting
This Missha Superfood Lip Oil in Berry is highly pigmented and very moisturizing. The packaging is not the most appealing however, the product quality is not to be doubted. Easily applied, glides on the lips, a great shiny finish, it is not sticky hence it doesn't last a long time on the lips but it is one product that I keep reaching for when I want more hydration than a lip balm and a hint of colour. Missha also made a Honey clear version of the Berry lip oil.
3. Best Lip Balm: Innisfree Canola Honey Lip Balm Intensive Moisture
Rating: 4.5 / 5 Award: Glowpick 2022 Product quantity: 3.5g
Highlights
Highly creamy and non-sticky
Very soothing and hydrating
Smells like honey
What we don’t like
Semi-lasting
As it is a lip balm, it doesn't last as long as lip oils but this lip balm is so creamy and hydrating that it has been my favourite lip balm purchased over and over again for years before I switched to the Apieu Honey and Milk Lip Oil. It contains honey, jojoba and almond oils which make it so creamy, melts onto the lips and gives high moisture to the lips. It doesn't taste funny if by any chance some products get into your mouth when you rub your lips together. It is so comfortable to wear. The only negative point I would have to say about this product is that you need to apply it gently on the lips as it may get all smashed up if you apply it with too much strength because of its creaminess. Basically, treat it with softness and it will treat you with utmost hydration.
4. Best Color Lip Balm: Peripera Ink Mood Glowy Balm
Rating: 3.5 / 5
Product quantity: 3.5g
Highlights
Dewy finish
Natural colours
Non-scented
What we don’t like
No deep moisture
Not long-lasting
Peripera has been on the Korean market since 2005 and they became famous with their signature Lip Tints that are a combination of cute packaging, affordable prices and excellent quality. This Ink Mood Lip Balm is part of their collection called Ink Mood which is composed of glowly tints and matte sticks. There are four shades in total for this product but the shade that I recommend is 03 Rose Thought, which works wonderfully well for lighter skin tones. The pigment is soft so it is perfect for everyday wear. Bear in mind, it is not long-wear, as you can imagine a lip balm would be, and the hydration could be better, but for what it's worth, the colour scheme is charming.
5. Best Sleeping Mask: Innisfree Lip Sleeping Mask
Rating: 4.5 / 5 Product quantity: 17g
Highlights
Smooth application
Thick consistency
Intense hydration
What we don’t like
Packaging material
When nighttime comes, I am always looking forward to putting on this Innisfree Lip Sleeping Mask with canola oil as the last step of my skincare routine. It is the most hydrating sleeping mask I have tested so far. You really wake up the next morning with smooth lips. I have used it as a lip gloss before, the shine is amazing. They also made a green tea version as the green tea ingredient is a staple of the Innisfree brand. Although there is no difference whatsoever in the hydration level between the two flavours, I prefer the sweet smell of the canola oil. There is enough quantity to last you a few months. As I purchased a few of these sleeping masks, it happened that sometimes the case had a strong plastic smell, which I think was due to a manufacturing issue, but just letting you know that it can happen. The product quality inside was in no way affected by this faulty case.
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