Laneige Water Sleeping Mask Review: Everything You Need to Know

Waddup everybody? After using the Laneige Water Sleeping Mask for about a month and a half, I’m happy to report that I found a new almost-holy grail! 😀

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It’s always such a relief when I can find a product that’s compatible with my ridiculous skin. I’ve been waiting to review this for a while, so let’s get right into it.

Ingredients and Benefits.

Check out the full ingredient list.

Water, Butylene Glycol, Cyclopentasiloxane, Glycerin, Cyclohexasiloxane, Trehalose, Sodium Hyaluronate, Oenothera Biennis (Evening Primrose) Root Extract, Prunus Armeniaca (Apricot) Fruit Extract, Beta-Glucan, Chenopodium Quinoa Seed Extract, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Magnesium Sulfate, Zinc Sulfate, Manganese Sulfate, Calcium Chloride, Potassium Alginate, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/VP Copolymer, Polysorbate 20, Dimethicone, Dimethiconol, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Propanediol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Stearyl Behenate, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, HYDROXYPROPYL BISPALMITAMIDE MEA, Inulin Lauryl Carbamate, Alcohol, 1, 2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Carbomer, Tromethamine, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, Fragrance, CI 42090

On a firsthand glance, it doesn’t look like any too special, but you’d be surprised how well this works. According to COSDNA, this is one of most non-comedogenic moisturizers available today. The only ingredients that come up as potentially pore-clogging are butylene glycol and dimethicone, which both score at nefarious 1/5 on the comedogencity scale anyway.

Let’s break down all the ingredients of interest!

• Cyclopentasiloxane

What TheBeautyBrains call one of their “mostest favorite ingredients in the whole wide world!” :p

Cyclopentasiloxane is a water-thin silicone that helps disperse thicker and greasier ingredients. This is what gives the Laneige Sleeping Mask it’s glorious feel and ultra-smooth spreadability (more about this later).

What makes Cyclopentasiloxane especially cool is that it actually evaporates into the air, which makes your skin feel less weighed down by product. This is great for those that don’t like the feeling of moisturizers on their skin.

As an aside, silicones don’t jibe with everyone’s skin. Mine personally loves them, but hates fatty acids and most oils. It seems that for many people, it’s either one or the other. If you don’t know which type you are, make sure to patch test.

And if you’re the kind of person that can tolerate fatty acids, oils, and silicones. I hate you. :p Just kidding…. sort of. 🙂

• Sodium Hyaluronate

A sodium salt of hyaluronic acid, which is a naturally occurring polysaccharide in skin. In cosmetics it’s used as a very powerful humectant to give your face some serious hydration. It does this by glomming water molecules and holding them to your face.

Studies have shown that sodium hyaluronate is good for wound healing. (1, 2)

• Evening Primrose Extract

It’s hard to say exactly what this does in its extract from, but for whatever it’s worth — primrose oil has been shown to sooth skin and is rich in linolenic and linoleic fatty acid, which is good for acne-prone skin.

• Apricot Extract

Again, I couldn’t find much on this ingredient but apricot oil has skin-soothing and antioxidant benefits.

• Beta-Glucan

A naturally occurring polysaccharide sugar found in the cell walls of yeast, some bacteria, seaweed and cereals. (3) In skincare products, it’s used as a texture enhancer with powerful anti-redness capabilities. (4)

It also doubles down as an antioxidant and soothes the skin. Some more recent research has shown it’s an effective treatment for wrinkles. (5)

• Ascorbyl Glucoside

A vitamin C derivative paired with glucose (a sugar) that breaks down into ascorbic acid in the skin. (6) Ascorbic acid being the form of vitamin C that increases collagen production, brightens skin tone, and fades hyperpigmentation.

• Dimethicone

Another silicone. This one is super common and found in most western moisturizers because of how well-tolerated it is. It doubles down as an emollient and occlusive, meaning it moisturizers the the skin in 2 ways: (1) creates a barrier to prevent water loss. (2) Sinks into the brick and mortar structure of skin to make it more flexible and less prone to cracking.

• Fragrance

Sigh. The only downside about the Laneige Water Sleeping Mask. Unfortunately, fragrance in skincare can be irritating to select individuals. Particularly women with eczema or those with who have a history of allergic reactions to deodorants or perfumes.

For more information about fragrance-free skincare, go here.

Overall, a solid product with a basic formula. You can expect this sleeping mask to add some serious hydration into your skincare routine.

This is also compatible for those suffering from malassezia sensitivities, which is the case with seborrheic dermatitis, pityrosporum folliculitis (“fungal acne”), and eczema. None of the ingredients in this formula will feed the genus of fungi that makes these conditions worse.

Like I mentioned above however, I caution those with eczema to steer clear of this product given that it has fragrance.

Application and Feel.

The first time I put this stuff on my skin I thought, “Holy sh*t! This stuff feels GLORIOUS!” The texture and look of the gel is simply beautiful. It comes in a pretty glass jar with a little scooper to prevent your filthy hands from from investing it with bacteria. :p

It spreads and glides super easily across the skin. And again, it feels GLORIOUS — pretty lightweight, has a ton of slip, is silky, and dries matte.

If you’ve ever used a silicone-based moisturizer, you’ll know how this feels after drying. The words velvety come to mind. Your skin just instantly feels softer and smoother to the touch.

Every time I used this and woke up the next morning I could literally see the effects it had on my skin. Everything just looked more plumped and hydrated. I imagine this is because all the silicones in the formula do an excellent job of locking in the skin’s water content.

How to Use the Laneige Water Sleeping Mask.

Since this is a sleeping pack, it goes on as the last step in your routine after moisturizer and before occlusives like vaseline or aquaphor. Alternatively, it can be used as your primary moisturizer. This is how I used it for a couple weeks.

The instructions say to use it only twice a week (not entirely sure why). I used it twice daily and had no problems. :p Matter of fact, my skin seemed quite happy about it.

Summary.

• Ingredients: 4/5

A mixture of silicones, antioxidants, and a couple extracts. According to COSDNA this is one of the safest moisturizers as far as the comedogenic scale is concerned (i.e. it won’t clog pores). However, it does come with the addition of fragrance which can irritate some people.

• Benefits: 5/5

Very hydrating, locks in moisture, and “refreshes” skin. Some of the antioxidants like ascorbyl glucoside may help brighten skin tone.

• Application: 5/5

Very cosmetically elegant. It spreads with ease, has a lot of slip, and a little goes a long way. It dries leaving the skin soft and smooth.

• Packaging: 5/5

Comes in a glass jar with a little spoon to prevent bacterial overgrowth.

• Value: 5/5

Not too expensive for how long it will last.

Overall: 4.8/5 (Almost Holy Grail Status!)

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All in all, a solid sleeping mask that can just as easily be used as a lightweight moisturizer. It’ll give the skin needed hydration, shouldn’t clog pores for the majority of people, and is compatible with very finicky skin conditions like seborrheic dermatitis and malassezia folliculitis.

Hope you’ve enjoyed this review!

Warmly,

—f.c.

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