Ultimate Laneige Review: 8 Laneige Products Put to the Test
If you’re curious about the Laneige hype, read on for a detailed Laneige review.
By now, you’ve likely heard of Laneige – the K-beauty skincare brand that has taken the beauty world by storm with its cult-like following.
But with so many products on the market, knowing where to start when trying out Laneige can be overwhelming.
I tested these Laneige products over several months and narrowed down my top picks for the best Laneige products.
This post may contain affiliate links. This means I may earn a small commission if you purchase a product through my link at no extra cost to you. All items are carefully curated by me and reflect my honest opinion.
About Laneige Skincare
Founded in South Korea in 1994, Laneige focuses on using “water science technology” as a key element to develop innovative skincare products with Himalayan snow water.
Its name literally translates to “the snow” in French.
Apparently, this water is rich in minerals which Laneige utilizes to develop ultra-hydrating products.
This specialized focus has carved out a niche for Laneige as a leader in K-beauty trends worldwide.
Also, did you know Amorepacific is Laneige’s parent company? I didn’t until I started researching the company!
I’ve always been impressed with Amorepacific products, and Amorepacific and Laneige focus on hydration and the importance of water for youthful and vibrant skin.
Laneige Review: The Best Laneige Products
I became a little obsessed with Laneige products after trying their Water Bank Moisturizer and Overnight Sleep Mask together one night.
I woke up with dewy, glowing skin. I couldn’t stop glancing in the mirror…what was in it?
I was already a big fan of their Lip Mask and Water Sleeping Mask. So, I went down a Laneige rabbit hole and tried some of their most popular products over several months.
Below, I share my experience and the pros and cons of each product.
For reference, I’m 40 years old and my skin type is normal to dry.
01 | Laneige Water Sleeping Mask
I had no idea overnight masks were a “thing” until I started researching Korean beauty, which is all about light layers of hydration with multi-step routines.
The Water Sleeping Mask is one of Laneige’s most well-known products, and for good reason.
I assumed this was gimmicky until I tried it a few times and loved it!
You’re supposed to use this 1-2 nights a week over your regular moisturizer and keep it overnight to hydrate, brighten, and refresh your skin.
The gel-like formula is soothing on dry skin and has Squalane, a powerful ingredient for retaining skin moisture.
I really love this one for nights when I need extra moisture. It’s non-irritating, and it helps seal in the moisture and gives me a healthy glow.
Best for: Dry, dehydrated skin
Key Ingredients:
- Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate: probiotic complex for glowing skin and balanced microbiome
- Squalane + Trehalose: highly moisturizing ingredients that mimic the skin’s natural oils and retain skin moisture
- Tranexamic Acid: Known for its skin-brightening properties, helping to reduce the appearance of dark spots and hyperpigmentation
Pros:
- Very hydrating
- Easy to layer with other moisturizers
Cons:
- Jar packaging (it does come with a mini spatula)
- Fragrance (it’s not strong, though)
02 | Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask
If you haven’t tried the Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask, try it – trust me on this one.
I was initially annoyed with myself that I spent $24 on a lip balm. My first time using it, I thought it was “fine,” but nothing special.
But I forced myself to use it, and it grew on me over several weeks. Suddenly, I couldn’t be without it.
It’s thick and glossy but not goopy, and ALL the flavors smell amazing.
It has shea butter, coconut oil, fruit extracts, and Vitamin C to soften lips, and I noticed my lips stay hydrated all night when I use this.
Nothing else has replaced this yet, and I have since gone through two full jars and always bring one with me when I travel.
If you were to grab anything from this Laneige review, try the lip mask!
Best for: Dry lips
Key Ingredients:
- Shea Butter: Restores hydration to dry lips
- Berry Mix Complex: A blend of raspberry, strawberry, cranberry, and blueberry extracts to nourish and protect the lips
- Vitamin C: Helps brighten and provides an antioxidant for the lips
Pros:
- Extremely moisturizing
- It can be used as a daytime lip gloss
- Fun flavors that are actually really good
- One jar lasts forever
Cons:
- Jar packaging (comes with a cute spatual I never use)
03 | Laneige Water Bank Blue Hyaluronic Cream Moisturizer
The Laneige Water Moisture Cream has recently replaced some of my top-shelf medical-grade skincare products.
It has blue hyaluronic acid, glycerine, and squalene, which penetrate the skin for plump and smooth skin. Based on studies, Laneige claims that this cream will give you 100 hours of hydration.
I like it because it’s light but moisturizing, making it a good pick for daytime and evening use.
The scent is light and fresh, not overpowering.
Best For: Normal to Dry Skin
Key Ingredients:
- Blue Hyaluronic Acid: Attracts and holds moisture to the skin for a plump, hydrated appearance.
- Squalene: a hydrating ingredient that mimics the skin’s natural lipids.
- Pepta-Panthenol Complex: firms and soothes the skin while reinforcing the skin’s moisture barrier.
Pros:
- Hydrating but lightweight texture
- Refillable packaging
- Innovative Blue Hyaluronic Acid (proprietary)
Cons:
- Bulky packaging (because of the refillable container)
04 | Laneige Perfect Renew Skin Refiner
The Laneige Perfect Renew Skin Refiner is essentially a toner you use after cleaning. It has a very light gel consistency.
I purchased this because it is formulated with Laneige’s Tri-Peptide complex – three essential amino acids that improve skin elasticity.
At 40 years old, this is exactly what I need!
It’s also packed with antioxidants, including Superberry Complex, which has a 4X stronger antioxidant effect than vitamin C to prevent the skin from free radicals.
I love how this moisturizes and preps for my other skincare, and it works well under makeup, too.
Best for: Mature Skin
Key Ingredients:
- Hedychium Coronarium Root Extract: potent antioxidant to protect the skin
- Adenosine: Adenosine is known for its anti-aging benefits, promoting smoother and firmer skin by reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
Pros:
- Packed with antioxidants
- Works well under skincare and makeup
Cons:
- None so far
05 | Laneige Water Blue Hyaluronic Cleansing Foam
I didn’t need another cleanser and am loyal to my IS Clinical cleanser. But, I was intrigued by this after really enjoying the moisture cream.
This is foamy but very creamy and has hyaluronic acid to prevent removing the skin’s natural oils, which cleanses but doesn’t strip.
I can’t do cleansers that are too harsh or cleansing. I prefer creamy, foamy, and moisturizing cleaners, so the Laneige Hyaluronic Cleansing Foam was a good match.
It has a light, fresh scent that didn’t bother me, but be aware that there’s fragrance here. It removed all my makeup, and I had no tightness afterward. Overall, a win.
Best For: Normal to dry skin
Key Ingredients:
- Hyaluronic acid: Maintains the skin’s moisture balance.
- Blue calming complex: Soothes the skin while cleansing.
Pros:
- Moisture-lock technology keeps the skin hydrated after washing.
- Restores suppleness and clearness to the skin.
Cons:
- Fragrance might be too intense for some
06 | Laneige Cica Sleeping Mask
The Laneige Cica Sleeping Mask is a calming cream that helps strengthen the skin’s barrier while you sleep.
The ingredients contain squalene, shea butter, and glycerine for guaranteed hydration.
However, the star ingredient in Laneige Cica Sleeping Mask is its patented “Forest Yeast extract,” known for its soothing and nourishing properties.
This overnight mask is great if you have any sensitivity, redness, or need extra soothing.
The texture is like a velvety cream, instantly calming and hydrating on the skin. It’s marketed as fragrance-free but has a very subtle spa-like fragrance (likely due to the small amount of tea tree oil).
Like the Laneige Water Sleeping Mask, it’s meant to be used 1-2x a week and has been my go-to if I have any flakiness or redness from my retinol.
This one comes out on top for this Laneige review because it’s such a unique product that works overnight.
Best For: Irritated or flakey skin
Key Ingredients:
- Forest Yeast: Derived from an ingredient used in fermentation, it strengthens the skin’s barrier and is soothing.
Pros:
- Intensive recovery for red or irritated skin
- Deeply moisturizes to maintain a healthy skin balance
- Great texture
Cons:
- None so far
07 | Laneige Radian-C Brightening Treatment Essence
The Laneige Radian-C Brightening Treatment Essence (toner) has concentrated superberry extracts that target dark spots and uneven skin tone.
It’s also infused with antioxidant-rich vitamin C and niacinamide to boost radiance and firmness.
I was excited about this one because my primary skin concern is age spots and older sun damage.
I used the Radian-c Brightening Treatment Essence every morning and really enjoyed using it.
It also has that light citrus scent that isn’t too overpowering.
I don’t know yet if it had any impact on my sun damage. Like most vitamin C products, consistency and long-term use is key.
Best For: Brightening dull skin
Key Ingredients:
- Superberry Extracts: A blend of seven different berries rich in antioxidants, including acerola cherry, acai berry, elderberry, blueberry, raspberry, cranberry, and strawberry.
- Vitamin C: A powerful antioxidant that brightens skin
Pros:
- Antioxidant packed
- The frosted glass jar feels really luxe.
Cons:
- None so far
08 | Laneige Radian-C Cream
The Laneige Radian-C Cream is a brightening moisturizer powered by Vitamin C, Vitamin E, and Provitamin B5.
I purchased this after I tried (and enjoyed) the Radian-C Brightening Essence. I had to review the Radian-C Cream!
Like the Treatment Essence, The Radianc-C cream comes in a heavy glass jar, which I appreciate and is part of why I purchased it.
This moisturizer is lightweight but a little heavier than the Laneige Waterbank Moisturizer.
The Radian-C Cream has Vitamin C, a potent antioxidant that helps to even out skin tone and reduce the appearance of dark spots and hyperpigmentation.
The cream is also infused with “Melasolv,” Laneige claims, which is 20x the brightening power of niacinamide. However, research indicates there isn’t any known proof of this.
I use this in the morning (often alternating with the Laneige Water Bank Moisturizer), leaving my skin hydrated and plump.
I don’t love the fragrance in this one, so I will not repurchase it.
Best for: Brightening dull skin
Key Ingredients:
- Superberry complex: A blend of antioxidant-rich superberries to protect and strengthen the skin.
- Vitamin C: An antioxidant known for its brightening properties.
Pros:
- It provides long-lasting hydration without leaving a greasy residue.
- Visibly brightens dull skin and evens out the complexion.
- It acts as a shield against environmental aggressors thanks to its antioxidant-rich formula.
Cons:
- Jar Packaging…although I really love the glass jar. Many do prefer pumps, though, to prevent contamination.
- Chemical fragrance might be too strong for some (I didn’t like it)
- Some reviewers reported redness and irritation
Ultimate Laneige Skincare Routine
I usually mix up products and never use a routine from the same brand. But to thoroughly try everything, I did a Laneige routine for three weeks.
In the end, my skin was happy and hydrated.
Morning Routine:
Step 1: Laneige Water Blue Hyaluronic Cleansing Foam (sometimes would skip in the mornings and use the Treatment Essence)
Step 2: Laneige Radian-C Brightening Treatment Essence
Step 3: Laneige Radian-C Cream
Step 4: Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask
Evening Routine:
Step 1: Laneige Water Blue Hyaluronic Cleansing Foam
Step 2: Laneige Perfect Renew Skin Refiner
Step 3: Laneige Water Bank Blue Hyaluronic Cream Moisturizer
Step 4: Laneige Water Sleeping or Laneige Cica Mask (2x week)
Step 5: Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask
Laneige Review
As a beauty-obsessed 40-something-year-old, I am always searching for great products, especially for my skin.
One of the things that stands out to me about Laneige is their use of innovative ingredients in their products. Most importantly, all the Laneige items I tried are extremely hydrating and nourishing for the skin.
I do wish Laneige would consider different packaging for their moisturizing creams, as jar packing can impact the efficacy of ingredients over time.
They can also do without the added fragrance. Their fragrances are pleasant and don’t bother me, but they’re unnecessary in skincare.
Overall, Laneige products have won me over, and I’ll continue to try new items as they come out. Their approach to skincare is innovative, and overall, my skin looks great.
My Top Laneige Picks
- Laneige Water Bank Blue Hyaluronic Cream Moisturizer
- Laneige Cica Sleeping Mask
- Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask
Have you tried Laneige products? Tell me what your favorite is!
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