Early January I got my hands on the ever illusive Tatcha Kissu Lip Mask. This initially launched a while back in selective regions & online at Tatcha, but now available in Singapore via (Sephora) & hopefully here to stay.
I always wondered if it REALLY was worth the hype?
The Kissu Lip Mask according to the brand is an ‘ultra-soothing Japanese peach jelly that smooths, plumps and helps restore overnight for soft, pillowy lips.’
‘Formulated without parabens, synthetic fragrance, mineral oil, sulfate detergents, phthalates, urea, DEA, or TEA. Non Irritating. Non sensitising. Dematologist tested’.
The product is packaged in the cutest little acrylic jar with it’s own dedicated gold spatula. Ideally I wish it could be attached and stored on top of the jar like other Tatcha creams, but still handy and useful never the less for getting product out without having to dip fingers in (which can contaminate the product).
Even for the pickiest users, this feels super cushion-y on the lip and soft, with a lot of slip and no tackiness. What I like most is there’s no artificial fragrance. It’s near impossible to find a lip mask that’s fragrance-free these days and thank goodness someone decided to make one!
On a regular day i’d scoop out a small pearl sized amount for one application. Within 1-2 hours all flakes are softened and can be scrubbed off to reveal the softest lips. It’s like a conditioning treatment.
Sadly I don’t find it very useful as an overnight treatment as most of it gets rubbed off on my pillow while I sleep; I like to bury my face into the pillow, one side at least… soooo, this i’ve been saving for days when I really need some TLC after an at home facial. Or when I just want to condition my dry lips as I work.
Bottom line
Overall I do love the product. It’s pretty spendy, and i’d classify it as a lip-luxury that’s more of a want than a ‘need’. If you constantly suffer from dry lips it’s a good product to invest in. I feel the appeal in it for me is that it’s fragrance-free and has a nice texture and most importantly gets the job done.
*To make this post more informative i’m rounding up some of the other masks i’ve used before. The most popular is one by Laneige. It comes in several flavours and freely available; also the most budget friendly at a great SGD27! (everything else is well over SGD45). Last year Sulwhasoo introduced their version of lip mask in a gorgeous pot, and quite similar to the Tatcha. I’ve been liking that too.
I would say the closest in terms of texture and conditioning capacity is the Sulwhasoo Essential Lip Mask. If you can’t get your hands on Kissu, this would be my next recommendation. It’s mildly fragranced.
The Estée Lauder Lip Repair Potion isn’t quite as remarkable as the others but a nice contender if you feel you could use some lip therapy on the go. I also like this as it’s a thin formula and can be worn under lipstick for more comfort.
Personally for daily (day time) use, i’m a fan of the Hera Lip Balms that I find are excellent for hydrating and bringing some extra colour. A true winner for dry chapped lips. I never knew a tinted lip balm (that looked like a lipstick with full on colour) could ever be so conditioning. I am blown away.
Another great lip conditioner that launched several years ago is the Clarins Lip Comfort Oil. I don’t think there’s still a formula to rival this. It’s one of those all time greats for me. I even hoarded multiple back-ups when it launched. The new Dior lip oils that dropped a few months were a poor copy. Thick & heavy, they feel more like a sticky gloss to me. I had zero good things to say about it; the only merit would be the luxurious packaging.
Ingredients List
TRIISOSTEARIN, POLYGLYCERYL-2 TRIISOSTEARATE, SQUALANE, SUCROSE HEXAISOSTEARATE, DEXTRIN PALMITATE, ALUMINUM DISTEARATE, DEXTRIN PALMITATE/ETHYLHEXANOATE, CAMELLIA JAPONICA SEED OIL, PRUNUS PERSICA (PEACH) KERNEL EXTRACT, PRUNUS PERSICA (PEACH) FRUIT WATER, CITRUS UNSHIU PEEL EXTRACT, ROSA CANINA FRUIT/(ROSA CENTIFOLIA/ROSA DAMASCENA) FLOWER EXTRACT, LITHOSPERMUM OFFICINALE ROOT EXTRACT, SACCHAROMYCES/CAMELLIA SINENSIS LEAF/CLADOSIPHON OKAMURANUS/RICE FERMENT FILTRATE*, ALLANTOIN, STEARYL GLYCYRRHETINATE, TOCOPHEROL, ETHYLHEXYL PALMITATE, TRIBEHENIN, SORBITAN ISOSTEARATE, PALMITOYL TRIPEPTIDE-1, PYRIDOXINE HCL, AQUA/WATER/EAU, PROPANEDIOL, BUTYLENE GLYCOL, ETHYLHEXYLGLYCERIN, PARFUM/FRAGRANCE, PHENOXYETHANOL, IRON OXIDES (CI 77491), LAUROYL LYSINE, ALUMINUM HYDROXIDE, SILICA
*HADASEI-3
Pricing and Availability
Tatcha Kissu Lip Mask SGD54 (9g) available via Sephora SG.