Did you guys know that Target now carries Laneige, a cult Korean skincare brand? I was super excited to see the line on their shelves, even though the price range isn't exactly drugstore; but given the interesting ingredients, the fact that they're under the Amore Pacific umbrella, and the rave reviews I've been reading, I was still intrigued to try it. Which is why I was really happy to be sent a very generous package with Laneige products for review consideration. Today I'm going to review the
Water Sleeping Mask* ($23 for 80ml/ 2.7 fl oz), which is one of their bestsellers, but prepare yourselves for lots of Laneige posts in the near future!
Let me start by saying that esthetically, I really appreciate Laneige's packaging. The skincare range comes in sturdy white and blue outer boxes, and the bottles and jars inside are also done in weighty plastic, tinted cornflower blue (I may be biased as it's one of my favorite colors EVER). The Water Sleeping Mask comes in a jar with a screw-on top, and the box also included a little spatula for scooping out the product.
The Laneige Water Sleeping Mask, which claims to recharge dehydrated skin overnight with ionized mineral water and ceramides, as well as to brighten and purify with apricot and chestnut extracts, is nothing like what I had previously come to expect from an overnight moisturizing mask (for reference, I've tried both the hyped up Origins Drink Up Intensive as well as
Avene Soothing Moisture Mask). I expected the mask to have a heavy, creamy consistency that sits on the skin for a while after application, but instead, the Water Sleeping Mask is an airy, liquidy gel that absorbs instantly with no tacky residue.
What's more, the 'Sleepscent' fragrance is absolutely dreamy (sic!): a fresh, relaxing combination of orange flower, rose and sandalwood that doesn't irritate my skin. Quite the opposite, in fact: the mask feels incredibly soothing and cooling when you smooth it on, just like giving your parched skin a tall glass of water. Now that it's summer in New York City and my skin can get both oily and dehydrated both from the sun and sunscreen application, the Laneige Water Sleeping Mask seems to be a god-send. I wake up with my face feeling soft, smooth, even and happy. I pretty much wish I could just use it every night instead of my moisturizer, but I'm trying to follow directions and use it no more than twice a week. Would my skin get too used to it if I applied it more often? I'm too scared to find out.
The ingredients' list reveals the mineral water (lol, obviously - Laneige calls itself the Water Science Skincare), glycerin, trehalose, a water-binding plant sugar, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory beta-glucan, apricot, chestnut and willowbark extracts, as well as mineral salts: magnesium sulfate, manganese sulfate and zinc sulfate, which supposedly is the magic ingredient in the popular La Roche Posay Serozinc toning mist.
I would recommend the Water Sleeping Mask to just about anyone, but particularly someone looking to dip their toes in the world of Korean skincare but not knowing where to start. But seriously, this stuff is amazing - go check it out at your local
Target. I can't say whether this mask would be moisturizing enough for very dry skin, but I was also sent the Firming Sleeping Mask, which sounds just a bit more nourishing; I'll compare the two for you at some point.
Have you tried any products from Laneige? What is your favorite overnight hydrating mask?
Disclaimer: Item marked with
an asterix (*) is a press sample I received from the brand's PR for review consideration. All links
are non-affiliate. All opinions are 100% honest and
unbiased,
no matter if the
products featured were purchased with my own monies or provided as free
press samples. Thank you for reading!
Oh my, that cyclopentasiloxane just scared me (I am not sure if I am comfortable with -load of xane or -cone overnight)even I (just realized a few month ago) do have pretty dry skin that requires lots of mist and oil...I just hope Target would start to carry their color makeup, which are much more tempting.
ReplyDeleteYes, it contains quite a few silicones, doesn't it? But then, about 80% of skincare and make-up does these days... Fortunately, silicones don't break me out, so I don't particularly try to avoid them. Target carries the cushions already, so maybe rest of the color line is still in the works? I certainly hope so!
DeleteI've heard some bloggers use this every night or/and instead of a regular moisturiser. I got a sample size of this and I have to say I wasn't a huge fan of it. First of all I was dubious of the blue color of the cream, secondly it wasn't very moisturising on my dry and sensitive skin. Just okay, but not worth of purchasing in my opinion. I think it could have absorbed better. Many people like this though. I'm hoping I could try Laneige's makeup in the future, I've heard the cushion and lip products are very good
ReplyDeleteHi Kafi! Yes, it definitely contains both added fragrance and dye - but fortunately I'm not particularly sensitive to either (with the exclusion of citrus essential oils). Hmm, I half expected this may not be moisturizing enough for dry skin - maybe the Firming version will fare better, I'll test it out and report back. I have the BB Cushion to try out as well, it's next on my 'to be reviewed' list!
DeleteI miss target :(
ReplyDeleteMaybe Shoppers Drug Mart will pick Laneige up some time in the future? :)
DeleteSoooo I've been thinking of trying this for a while, and now I absolutely will! (Of course, I did just buy a Caudalie moisturizing mask... and a Korean moisturizer... and the Replenix caffiene serum... but that just means I'll never use anything up, so why not add another to the mix?)
ReplyDeleteThe ingredients sound simple and straightforward, and I really like that! Though I have no idea where to fit a "sleep mask" (different than a moisturizer how, other than the instructions?!) into my evening routine.
At one point I think I had three overnight masks in rotation, but then I gave some away - so I absolutely understand your situation :D Which Korean moisturizer did you buy?
DeleteI actually just use mine instead of a night moisturizer (well, technically I'm using a facial oil instead of a moisturizer at the moment) about 1-2 times a week. I guess you could probably use it more often, but I didn't want to freak my skin out to begin with. I'd say these sleeping masks are just bumped-up versions of night creams, and that's about it.
I had a few Laneige products (the BB cream and the moisturizing cream) which I think both are superb in terms of quality albeit the scent (c'mon ppl how hard it is to have the product unscented, please). BUT.. since you mentioned the scent of this one is quite fresh, this one will go back to my "to try" list. Thanks for sharing the review!
ReplyDeleteI think I saw some Laneige testers at Target, so give it a sniff! It smells a bit like a fresher version of a Nivea lotion to me :)
DeleteI received a decent sized sample of this overnight mask in a Target Beauty Box earlier this year. I was really excited to try it, and I loved the texture and how hydrating it was, but after every use I'd wake up with one angry, painful pimple. =( Aside from that, it left most of my skin feeling awesome.
ReplyDeleteI love this product but forget to use it regularly because I have amassed way more skincare stuff than I have opportunity to use After reading your review I got up from bed to put on a layer of this mask, thank you for reminding me. It was the perfect time to use this because I was trying out a new serum and there's always the possibility of irritation but higher hydration levels cushion those blows in my experience. Like you I love the smell and the skin-feel of this product. I'm not a fan of silicones but I also don't think they should be rejected outright, unless you have a severe adverse reaction to them. Silicones can serve a purpose. In the case of this mask, the silicones help it spread over skin better & works as an occlusive barrier that will prevent moisture loss overnight. --- Joy
ReplyDeleteyea this is /such/ a popular item from laneige. i still haven't tried skincare from them but got my mom to haul two lipsticks back when she was in asia. they're def on my list to try though.
ReplyDeleteAaah I wish we got Laneige here! This sounds like something my skin would adore.
ReplyDeleteI love overnight masks - would definitely try this one out one day as it sounds pretty easy to get along with :) At the moment I'm trialling The Body Shop Drops of Youth Bouncy Sleeping Mask and always have the Origins mask on standby in my nightstand - I think Avene will be the next I pick up as it is readily available here in Australia.
ReplyDelete