Versus

Laneige Lip Treatment Balm Versus Mac Cosmetics Prep + Prime Lip Primer

Lip Moisturizer
Lip Moisturizer
Korean Brand South Korea
American Brand United States

Updated on March 17, 2025

Overview

What they are

These products are both reef safe lip moisturizers. They have a total of 7 ingredients in common

Cool Features

They both contain peptides and Vitamin E

Suited For

They're both likely to be good for anti aging, dry skin and scar healing

Free From

They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, parabens or sulfates

We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that needs an update? Let us know.

Ingredient Info

Click any item below to learn more and see relevant ingredients

About this product

About this product

At a glance

Click on any of the items below to learn more

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

found in both products
Lip Treatment Balm

Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.

Polybutene is used to help control the viscosity of a product. This just means it helps adjusts the texture.

It is a polymer and does not get absorbed into the skin due to its large size.

Studies found this ingredient did not irritate skin in concentrations below 15%.

Learn more about Polybutene
Emulsion Stabilising

Microcrystalline Wax is created by de-oiling petroleum. It is highly refined and purified before being added to cosmetics.

Microcrystalline Wax is used to enhance the texture and create even consistency. It helps stabilize a product by preventing ingredients from separating.

Ethylhexyl Palmitate is created from 2-ethylhexyl alcohol and palmitic acid. It is a fatty acid ester.

The fatty acid content of Ethylhexyl Palmitate makes it an emollient. Emollients help soften and hydrate your skin by trapping moisture within.

Ethylhexyl Palmitate is also used to help improve the texture of cosmetics. It helps other ingredient dissolve in products and help disperse ingredients more evenly.

You'll likely find this ingredient in sunscreen, as it is often used to mix UV-blocking ingredients such as avobenzone and ethylhexyl triazone.

It can also help stabilize the fragrances in a product as a fragrance fixative.

Ethylhexyl Palmitate can be used to substitute mineral oil.

Due to its high fatty acid content, it may not be fungal-acne safe.

Learn more about Ethylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient, Skin Conditioning

Tribehenin comes from glycerin and behenic acid.

It is used as an emollient, or moisturizer. Emollients form a thin barrier on skin to prevent moisture from escaping.

This ingredient may not be Malassezia folliculitis, or fungal-acne safe.

Learn more about Tribehenin
Emulsifying

Sorbitan Isostearate is an emulsifer and cleaning agent. It is created from isostearic acid and sorbitol.

As an emulsifier, Sorbitan Isostearate prevents oils and water from separating.

Due to its isostearic acid base, it may not be safe for Malassezia or fungal acne.

Learn more about Sorbitan Isostearate
Antioxidant, Masking, Skin Conditioning

Tocopherol (also known as Vitamin E) is a common antioxidant used to help protect the skin from free-radicals and strengthen the skin barrier. It's also fat soluble - this means our skin is great at absorbing it.

Vitamin E also helps keep your natural skin lipids healthy. Your lipid skin barrier naturally consists of lipids, ceramides, and fatty acids. Vitamin E offers extra protection for your skin’s lipid barrier, keeping your skin healthy and nourished.

Another benefit is a bit of UV protection. Vitamin E helps reduce the damage caused by UVB rays. (It should not replace your sunscreen). Combining it with Vitamin C can decrease sunburned cells and hyperpigmentation after UV exposure.

You might have noticed Vitamin E + C often paired together. This is because it is great at stabilizing Vitamin C. Using the two together helps increase the effectiveness of both ingredients.

There are often claims that Vitamin E can reduce/prevent scarring, but these claims haven't been confirmed by scientific research.

Learn more about Tocopherol
Skin Conditioning

Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1 is a 3-amino acid peptide. Peptides are building blocks for protein.

This ingredient is a signal peptide, meaning it tells our skin to create collagen. Collagen is a protein that makes connective tissue. Boosting collagen production leads to a healthier skin barrier. Having a healthy skin barrier means having firm and hydrated skin.

Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1 can help reduce wrinkles and make the skin look more youthful.

Read more about other common types of peptides here:

Learn more about Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1

When to use

57 Routines
53% use in am
47% use in pm
96% use every day
When to use See routines that use it ->
2 Routines
50% use in am
50% use in pm
100% use every day

Reviews

Here's what our community thinks

Laneige Lip Treatment Balm 32 ingredients

4.3 /5
from 3 ratings
Hydrating (2) Works Well (2) Drying (1)
kaymcpherson's avatar

Kay 🌸

4 months ago
Review

ngl I love this product! for me it's better than their lip masks. I picked this up at TJ Maxx at a good price which makes it even better. super sad that this has been discontinued but hopefully the new bouncy and firm lip treatment will be on par with this.

#hydrating
#absorbs well
#light scent
#works well
ErikaGutierrez's avatar

ErikaGutierrez

1 year ago
Review

Not impressed. The smell is okay, but it's nothing amazing and I could do without the slight mintiness. I love the little applicator that comes with it. I was excited by the lactic acid and peptides in it - hoping the exfoliating and hydrating factors would keep my lips looking 100% at all times - but this product only caused eczema and chapping for me.

#expensive
#drying
#irritating
#heavy

Mac Cosmetics Prep + Prime Lip Primer 13 ingredients

5.0 /5
from 1 rating
Expensive (1) Works Well (1)
justphil's avatar

Philip

9 months ago
Review

Best lip primer I’ve tried! I didn’t know I needed a lip primer until I tried this one. The finish is matte but it prevents the lips from turning dry.

#expensive
#works well