I splurged a bit on a higher-end moisturizer about a week ago: Laneige Water Bank Moisture Cream. I have to admit that the beautiful packaging was 90 percent of the reason I reached for this moisturizer over any of the other options at Sephora. I’d say that this is a step above my normal drug store brands like CeraVe and Cetaphil, but still a tier below more premium options like Sunday Riley and Drunk Elephant. Laneige is the sister company of AmorePacific, which is a luxe Korean beauty brand. In this review, I’ll share my early impressions of this moisturizer.

This moisturizer is marketed as suitable for those with “normal to dry skin,” which doesn’t exactly fit me (I have combination-oily, acne-prone skin with some dry patches around my upper lip and nose). However, since I use drying products like acids/peels and Differin, I figured it was worth a shot.

Laneige Water Bank Moisture Cream ingredients

water, glycerin, butylene glycol, squalane, dimethicone, pentaerythrityl tetraethylhexanoate, bis-peg-18 methyl ether dimethyl silane, dicaprylyl ether, cyclopentasiloxane, sucrose polystearate, cyclohexasiloxane, glyceryl stearate, urea, chenopodium quinoa seed extract, salicornia herbacea extract, magnesium sulfate, manganese sulfate, calcium chloride, zinc sulfate, sodium hyaluronate, limnanthes alba (meadowfoam) seed oil, copper tripeptide-1, ceramide 3, phytosphingosine, niacinamide, myristyl myristate, glyceryl undecylenate, acetyl glucosamine, cetearyl alcohol, cetyl ethylhexanoate, tocopherol, propanediol, stearic acid, ascorbyl glucoside, hydrogenated lecithin, xanthan gum, trisiloxane, palmitic acid, potassium cetyl phosphate, polyglyceryl-10 stearate, polyacrylate-13, polyisobutene, propylene glycol, peg-100 stearate, acrylates / c10-30 alkyl acrylate crosspolymer, peg-5 rapeseed sterol, hydroxyethyl acrylate / sodium acryloyldimethyl taurate copolymer, hydrogenated polyisobutene, polysorbate 20, tromethamine, disodium edta, glyceryl caprylate, ethylhexylglycerin, fragrance

A few notes about the ingredients here. The water in this product is actually “hydro ionized mineral water” that contains six minerals that are supposed to help moisturize your skin: zinc, manganese, magnesium, sodium, calcium, and potassium.

I like that it also contains squalane, niacinamide, tocopherol (vitamin E), and copper tripeptide-1, which are all supposed to be hydrating, soothing, beneficial ingredients for skin. It also contains two ingredients that are normally found in CeraVe products: ceramide 3 and phytosphingosine (go ahead, check the label of just about any CeraVe product, and you’ll see them listed).

I don’t normally opt for moisturizer that contains fragrance, but I was in the mood for something different, so I decided to give it a try. Plus, Sephora has a really good return policy, so that helped me feel more adventurous.

My first impression of Laneige Water Bank Moisture Cream

Texture

I like that Laneige Water Bank Moisture Cream is doesn’t leave an oily finish on the skin. It has a nice creamy texture without any hint of the heaviness or oiliness that petrolatum-based moisturizers like CeraVe moisturizing cream has. The texture is actually quite nice, and soaks into the skin nicely, and leaves my skin feeling plumper and smoother.

Packaging

This is packaged in a heavy glass jar with two covers. It also includes a small plastic spoon that you can use to scoop out a little at a time. I like to use the stainless steel spoon I picked up at the DECIEM store in SoHo and wash it after each use.

If you don’t want to wash the spoon after each use, you can buy something like this pack of 200 little disposable spoons on Amazon. I wish it came in a pump, so that I wouldn’t have to use a spoon. Plus, I’m afraid I’m going to drop this heavy glass jar and it will shatter everywhere. But I have to admit that the glass makes it feel like a more luxurious product.

Caveats

It does contain dimethicone (a silicone) in it (which I don’t mind), but if you tend to avoid silicone-heavy products, this won’t be a good option for you.

The main thing I don’t like about this moisturizer is the slightly floral fragrance. Even though fragrance is listed as the last ingredient, remember that companies can list ingredients that are included at <1% concentration can be listed in any order the manufacturer likes. Of course, <1% is still pretty low. But if you’re averse to applying any product that has a prominent floral (almost granny-like) fragrance, I’d steer clear of Laneige Water Bank Moisture Cream. I thought it wasn’t going to bother me that much, but I think I have a higher tolerance for citrusy fragrances like the one in Frudia Citrus Brightening Cream Review, and a lower tolerance for floral scents. If your skin is sensitive to fragrance, I’d recommend looking elsewhere for a fragrance-free moisturizer.

Further reading

• Save or Splurge? Laneige Water Sleeping Mask vs. Laneige Water Bank Moisture Cream
• Other Korean beauty product reviews
• COSRX Snail Mucin Essence 96 Review
• Frudia Citrus Brightening Cream Review