Try the $4 Miss Spa Deep Recovery Pre-Treated Gel Lip Mask for Smoother Lips and a Fun Experience

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!