Lip Sleeping Masks that are NOT Worth the Hype
- Jul 23, 2023
- 3 min read
Updated: Feb 11
Written by Clémence Rubiella | Published on 22 July 2023 | Updated 11 February 2026 | Skincare
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Dear gentle readers,
Not every beauty treasure is destined to delight, and not every product earns a place of honour in one’s cosmetic collection. It is only fair, I dare say, that I share with you those Korean lip moisturizers I have tested and — alas — found wanting.
After our rapturous discussion of the Best Korean Lip Moisturizers, it seems only proper to present those less worthy of your attention. All of these are of the sleeping mask variety — indulgent, deeply hydrating balms intended, as the name suggests, for nightly application. Of course, nothing prevents the adventurous from employing them during the day, should the mood strike.
And so, dear readers, let us proceed with a most candid exploration of lip care that, regrettably, failed to enchant.
My Bottom Picks:
1. Not recommended: Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask
Rating: 2.5 / 5
Awards: Glowpick 2022/2023
Product quantity: 20g
Highlights:
Cute shine
What we don’t like:
Overpowering smell
Lacking deep moisturization
Strange feeling on the lips
Not long-lasting
Expensive for what it is
Pot format not convenient
Prepare yourselves, for I fear I must confess a rather unpopular opinion: I am decidedly not a devotee of the much-lauded Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask. Upon my arrival in Korea all those years ago, I, too, was swept up in the excitement and purchased this fabled balm, celebrated even within the motherland.
Alas, the memory of my first application remains most vivid — and most disappointing. I recall thinking, “Is that… all?”— a sentiment one scarcely wishes to entertain regarding a newly acquired treasure. The fragrance, I found, was altogether too assertive; the hydration paled in comparison to a humble classic lip balm; and there was, dare I say, a peculiar tangling sensation upon my lips, despite no mention of plumping effects.
I will grant it this: the shine it imparts is charming enough, and it undoubtedly offers more than a simple gloss. Yet, my dear readers, I simply cannot fathom the global adoration that surrounds this product. In my most candid estimation, it is thoroughly overrated. As for me? I shall pass.
2. Not recommended: Klaavu Nourishing Care Lip Sleeping Pack
Rating: 2 / 5
Product quantity: 20g
Highlights:
Nice shine
What we don’t like:
Not long-lasting
Lacking deep moisturization
Narrow pot not convenient
Alas, this little treasure also failed to capture my heart. Klaavu, a celebrated and award-winning Korean brand, is famed for its gentle, clean formulations inspired by the sea — pearls, essential oils, and marine plant extracts being their signature flourish. One might reasonably expect their lip sleeping pack to offer a subtle pearlescent glow or at the very least, sumptuous hydration.
Alas, dear readers, it offered neither. The hydration was minimal, the shine entirely unremarkable, and though the lightweight formula was comfortable upon the lips, its effects were fleeting at best. A charming idea, perhaps, but ultimately a pass in my book.
3. Not recommended: Etude House Ginger Sugar Overnight Lip Mask
Rating: 0 / 5
Awards: Glowpick 2022/2023
Product quantity: 20g
Highlights:
None
What we don’t like:
Too sticky
And now, for the crown of misfortune: the Etude House Ginger Sugar Overnight Lip Mask. I fear this particular product takes the title for sheer exasperation. While the previous contenders, Laneige and Klaavu, may be tolerated by those who enjoy a whisper of hydration and a delicate shine, this one is an entirely different affair.
The texture is so stubbornly sticky that extracting it from its pot requires a feat of strength. And should you succeed in retrieving a modest amount — forget about measuring with precision — you are immediately faced with the challenge of persuading it to spread evenly upon your lips. Glide, it does not. It clings with the obstinacy of a brick. A word to the wise: resist the temptation to rub your lips together, lest you experience a most uncomfortable and decidedly unpleasant twinge.
In short, dear readers, it is profoundly disagreeable to wear. For me, this is unequivocally a pass.
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