Milk Makeup’s Melatonin Lip Mask Makes It Look Like I Had Lip Injections—and I’m Obsessed

• Value:17/20
• Functionality:18/20
• Ease of Use:18/20
• Aesthetics: 19/20
• Scent:19/20
• TOTAL: 91/100

It all started with the promise of a free zodiac tattoo stamp.

I was scrolling the internet recently when an ad (targeted, I’m sure), alerted me that Milk Makeup was offering a free astrology tattoo stamp with any $50 purchase.

The girls in the photo had these cute little temporary tattoos on their cheeks, fingers and ears. Now, I have a couple of real tattoos, but they’re not on my face, so I thought, I must have one. I also justified my $50 purchase by reasoning that despite wanting to try Milk’s products for a couple years now, I’ve never pulled the trigger.

I placed an order, waited about a week (damn you, COVID shipping delays), and realized that the tattoo stamp was, in a word, garbage. What was supposed to be a cute little Virgo symbol bled into the surrounding skin, obscuring its intended form. By the way, if you know anything about Virgos, you know that we do not take well to such imperfection.

So while the tattoo stamp was a bust, it did introduce me to my new favorite lip product, which I ordered in the hopes of hitting that $50 minimum: Milk Makeup’s Melatonin Overnight Lip Mask. According to Milk’s website, it’s “An overnight lip mask that replenishes, hydrates, and calms, so you wake up to softer, smoother, plumper-looking lips.”

Like Shakira’s hips, that production description doesn’t lie.

Its texture looks and feels like every lip balm I’ve ever used, but its averageness stops there. First, let’s talk about smell. It’s made with lavender oil and chamomile extract, so it smells like a soothing, calming glass of sleepy-time tea. It’s not overpowering, but every now and then you’ll catch a whiff and be compelled to say, ahhhhh. Now, how well it works. As I mentioned, it feels like a normal lip balm when you apply it, but let me tell you about how your lips look and feel when you wake up in the morning: Incredible.

After my first night of wearing it, I literally skipped downstairs to show my sister my lips. It looked like I had had the subtlest, most tasteful lip injections. They were smooth and ever so plumped. And they felt even better. We’re talking major hydration with nary a crack or dry spot. And while I’m still working from home because of the pandemic and not really wearing makeup, I just know that lips that hydrated would be the ideal canvas for a bold color. 

How exactly does it work its magic? A quick scan of the ingredient list shows that hyaluronic acid delivers hydration, while a blend of topical melatonin and a quartet of goji, acai, blueberry and blackberry helps provide antioxidant benefits for rejuvenated-looking lips overnight. Unlike melatonin gummies or tablets, it doesn’t lull you to sleep, so you technically could wear it during the day. In terms of price, it’s definitely more expensive than your Vaselines and Carmexes, but it’s also cheaper than similar products like Tatcha’s Kissu Lip Mask. Like all Milk products, it’s cruelty-free and vegan.

Have I worn it every night since it arrived, and will I repurchase as soon as there are signs I’m running out? Am I a sucker for a “free” gift with purchase? The answer to all of those questions is a resounding duh.