I’ve had and used the Laneige Cream Skin Refiner for a while, and I realize that the hype has died down somewhat. It was all the rage a few months ago, if you remember. Or it might be because there was a campaign running haha!
That said however, I do understand the hype, because this is quite a nice product!
It is just very hard to understand what it exactly is, or how we could and should use it. So let me share my thoughts with you :)
Laneige Cream Skin Refiner – What is it?
What is the Laneige Cream Skin Refiner is a very good question. I had no idea myself, the day I got hold of it.
What Laneige says it is, is a very moisturizing skin refiner, that not only boost skin moisture, but can even operate as a moisturizer (which I tend to not agree with, but more on this later).
This, they say, is done by dissolving and blending a whole jar of cream into a bottle of toner, and it is as if you just applied moisturizer or cream on your skin after using this product.
But what is it?!
The Laneige Cream Skin Refiner is a hydrating lotion/toner. That’s what it really is. If I’m not mistaken, Laneige has other Skin Refiner products as well. The difference is that the Cream Skin Refiner is designed to be very much more hydrating.
Laneige says that it’s so moisturizing, it leaves your skin moisturized the minute you apply it! This, they say, is because it’s like a cream.
Feels like water, Moisturizes like a Lotion
In the elegant frosted glass bottle, the Laneige Cream Skin Refiner looks like a lotion or emulsion. It is only when you open it up and shake it about, that you realize that it’s really a liquid!
It pours out opaque, like watery milk. And best of all, there’s no scent.
When patted on skin, I like how it sinks right in, and boosts my skin moisture. My skin does feel a little more moisturized, a little more plumped.
It feels like I’ve applied a very light lotion over my skin, but does it feel like it’s fully moisturized? No, it does not.
It must be said that I have dry skin, so for me, the Laneige Cream Skin Refiner operates more like a very moisturizing lotion, that adds that much needed boost to my skincare routine, but can never take the place of a moisturizer.
I like how it does not feel oily or sticky on my skin at all. However, I am comfortable with my skin being a little more sticky or ‘oily’ when I have skincare on. It doesn’t bother me, but I know it can bother some people.
Laneige also says that if you have oily skin, you can get away with using just the Laneige Cream Skin Refiner on its own, as a moisturizer. I cannot attest to this, as I do not have oily skin, so if you do, and you find it comfortable used this way, please do share.
I do think however, that it might not serve the full function of a moisturiser, unless you are also using other hydrating products underneath. Otherwise, I fear that it might just be insufficient, and may result in your skin being dehydrated.
How do I use the Laneige Cream Skin Refiner?
I use it in the most basic of ways – as a lotion/toner.
I pour 1-2 shakes of the bottle into the palm of my hand, and then pat it all over my face, neck and chest. I do apply it on damp skin, as I adopt the moisture sandwich technique.
I also find that applying the Cream Skin Refiner on damp skin helps it not only absorb better, but moisturises my skin better too.
RELATED READING: In fact, applying skincare on damp skin is good practice! READ HERE
I however, do not use the Cream Skin Refiner is part of my moisture sandwich technique i.e. I do not use it as a layering product. The reason I don’t is because I find it a little heavy for this purpose.
I also do not practice the multiple toner layering technique, which seems to have fallen out of favour recently. I find it too heavy.
Instead, I use the Cream Skin Refiner as ONE of my hydrating lotion steps, especially in the day time. This way, it does not run out so quickly, and does not feel too heavy on my skin.
What I do therefore is something approximating this (for my dry skin) in the day time:
Cleanse -> Vitamin C serum -> Mist -> Hydration serum -> Mist -> Laneige Cream Skin Refiner -> Moisturiser -> Sunscreen
This is working quite well for me, as I have noticed that my skin is less prone to dryness, and the few dry patches I had a little while ago, have disappeared.
I personally feel the Laneige Cream Skin Refiner is a bit of a confusing product, if you believe the copy that Laneige sells us, about there being a cream dissolved in the toner.
But if you just think of it as a moisturizing lotion, that you can use to boost your skin’s moisture and keep it plumped and comfortable for longer, especially in the day, then it isn’t too hard to understand. And it’s a product that works pretty well!
IN A NUTSHELL
The Laneige Cream Skin Refiner a.k.a Laneige Cream Skin Toner & Moisturizer is a very moisturizing lotion toner that feels just like water on skin. Yet, it absorbs nicely into skin and keeps it feeling moisturized and comfortable for long hours. I use it in the day as part of my hydrating skincare routine, and I do notice a difference in my skin quality. However, as you will see above, I don’t use it as a moisturizer, or to layer. I treat it exclusively as a moisturizing lotion, and it is very good for that purpose.
PROS:
Fairly affordable
Will last a long time
Light watery texture absorbs into skin quickly and easily
Does not leave a residue on skin
Skin feels moisturized and comfortable for long hoursCONS:
Can be a little hard to understand where it fits in your routine
Not a substitute for moisturizer as they claim it to be
Glass bottle is lovely and luxe, but not portableWHO WILL LIKE THIS: Anyone who has drier skin who wants a fairly affordable moisturizing lotion
PRICE: RM125 | US$33 for 150ml
WHERE TO BUY: Sephora, Laneige stores and counters
For those interested this is the ingredients list for the Laneige Cream Skin Refiner.
Ingredients: Butylene glycol, glycerin, meadowfoam seed oil, 1,2-hexanediol, polyglyceryl-10 stearate, glyceryl stearate citrate, sodium stearoyl glutamate, inulin lauryl carbamate, glycerol Ricinoleate, ethylhexyl glycerin, propanediol, disodium iodide, green tea extract, tocopherol
Have you tried the Laneige Cream Skin Refiner? A fan?
It’s actually quite a decent product, and lasts an impressively long time so I’d recommend this for someone wanting a fairly affordable moisturizing lotion to add to their skincare routine :)
Paris B
I loved the texture and the feel of it on my skin, but it gave me such a breakout! I had to part ways with it (very reluctantly…). I passed it to a friend and she got a full sized bottle after finishing the mini one. She has oily skin and this is moisturizing enough for her, topped with sunscreen and she is good to go.
Sounds nice… the hype didn’t make it to Europe despite the Internet, I had never heard of this.
At the moment I use Albion Essential Skin Conditioner and Dr Jart+ Ceramidin Liquid, both are lovely. I often do several skins with the Albion and finish with Dr. Jart. :D
Also, I have increased my fluid intake significantly, about 2.5 l a day. More hydration and I would drown. ;-)
BTW, did you notice that you can sing “Good good good good Hydration” to the melody of the Beach Boys’ song?
At the end of the day, I still don’t understand this product is meant to be used as toner or all in one moisturizer. ???? I guess using this depends on your skin type? I recall reading the product description of this product as all in one moisturizer.
I actually LOVE this. I decant it into a mist bottle and spray it on my face instead. Works better in my opinion and because it is not scented, I can be a bit more liberal with it. I love using this in the day, before using a moisturiser and at night, at the very last step. Sometimes, in the morning when I’m super pressed for time, I throw a sheet mask on my face after a shower and then right before I fly out the door, I toss the mask and spritz a couple of times with this, before my SPF. No extra moisturiser needed!
Good tip. Thanks for sharing!