Parched, dry skin + Laneige's ultra-creamy, skin loving formulas: it reads a tale as old as time. And one, I've personally been professing for over 10 years (my dedication to slathering their velvety smooth lip mask across my otherwise-chapped lips is perhaps my biggest beauty-brag).

I can’t sing their praises enough. And i’m clearly not the only one. 

With iconic launches like the Sleeping Mask, Water Bank, Cream Skin Toner and Bouncy & Firm (yes, please!), the brand have firmly cemented themselves in the zeitgeist of mainstream skincare. 

Laneige, like much of the K-Beauty category, focus on advanced hydration as the foundation to a healthy and radiant complexion. Their approach is equal parts science-backed as it is utilising soothing, natural ingredients.

With their cult-followed Water Bank collection leading the charge, Laneige has become a go-to for tackling dry, dehydrated skin, particularly as the seasons begin to change. With temperatures dropping, we all know that dry skin can become an inevitable problem.

My colleague Felicity and I, (both members of the dry-skin club) road-tested some Laneige favourites (including newbies!) in pursuit of deep hydration and bouncier, firmer skin.

Here's how the range held up against our parched, seasonally-depressed skin.

Covid's first lockdown saw me purchasing (and repurchasing) 17 of these bad boys. Not kidding. Some were for family and friends, most were for me. I couldn't get enough. Five years on, and this is still one of my favourite lip products.

It's a game-changer for dry, chapped lips. The rich and buttery formula is packed with lip-loving ingredients like vitamin C, antioxidants, and hyaluronic acid to lock in moisture and nourish. Best results come from overnight usage (it works wonders while you sleep), but I personally swipe-on throughout the day too.

After years of regular usage, the texture and tone of my lips have improved immensely. They're soft, supple and boast a healthy flush. It's also worth mentioning that hydration can contribute to the appearance of plumpness too. Just saying...

AB contributor and skinfluencer Alisha Bhojwani wrote a great piece "A Love Letter to Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask, the Best Lip Product I've Ever Tried" - and honestly, same. I relate to her sentiments on a existential level. No notes.

New: The cult formula is now available in two limited edition scent ways: Taro and Matcha (green tea lovers rejoice!)

As we begin to descend into the colder months (sob, sighs), I've already started to notice a difference in my skin: increased dryness and the occasional flaking. My skin, which typically veers-on-the-dry-side, is already begging (read: screaming) for some extra TLC.

My first port of call? Incorporating hyaluronic acid into my routine - any chance I can. Laneige's Water Bank serum is a potent, stand-out.

It's brimming with the brands signature blue hyaluronic acid. The patented ingredient is a micro-sized delivery of Hyaluronic Acid, designed for faster delivery and deeper hydration. It's made by fermenting deep sea algae and undergoing a 10-step microfiltration process, resulting in molecules 2,000 times smaller than traditional hyaluronic acid. Impressive stuff.

The formula is further bolstered with a concoction of powerful botanicals, like green tea and quinoa, to help soothe and nourish.

What I love about this serum is how lightweight and fast-absorbing it is. Its silky, gel-like texture seeps into the skin for immediate smoothness and plumping.

After using it for a couple of weeks, I noticed that my skin felt way more hydrated (no flaking!) and had a smoother texture overall. The fine lines across my forehead (whilst completely normal) have seemed to soften a little too.... not an awful caveat. TLDR: my skin just looked more balanced and dewy.

The perfect compliment to a hydration-fuelled routine. This humble and hardworking cleanser heroes the brand's signature blue hyaluronic acid, which works it's magic to hydrate your skin while it cleanses.

It's paired with plant-based ingredients like saponin (extracted from quinoa), which is an anti-inflammatory to help remove impurities and balance your skin’s natural moisture levels.

It's creamy, smooth and lathers like-a-dream to effectively cleanse skin (removing makeup, impurities ect.) without stripping or tautness. The fragrance-free formula (tick from me, here!) is gentle and particularly great for sensitive or dry skin types.

"You know how Cleopatra (allegedly) took all those skin-enhancing milk baths? This is basically the modern version of that.

Although I don’t have the queenly resources to fill up a bath with this stuff, I definitely would if I were ever given the opportunity.

Cream skin is divine. I’ve been blessed (side eye) with a dry, reactive complexion that’s also prone to breakouts. It’s hard to find products that are nourishing enough to combat dryness without also causing my skin to freak out. 

Cream Skin is a super silky toner that almost works like a serum. It’s packed with ceramides and glycerin (alongside other skin-supporting ingredients), and it truly locks in the moisture.

The formula layered well under makeup, and I didn’t experience as much of the dreaded end-of-day flakiness (lovely side effect of the dry skin x retinol use combo). This will make you glow, people will ask what you’re doing differently, your aura will be cleansed, your vibes will be hydrated – basically, it’s a win from me. Bonus points on the eco-conscious front, this one also comes in a refill packet "

Back to my aforementioned seasonal skin freak-out. Hydration! every! step!

I like to think of this product as the perfect in-between. It's richer than a typical moisturiser (this wouldn't be my first choice for under makeup) but not quite sleeping-mask level thick. For nights where I want slug, I'll still reach for the OG Water Sleeping Mask (side note: if you haven't already, this is one to try!).

The HA Intensive cream however, is my goldilocks' perfect bed. It's lavishly rich and deeply hydrating. My parched skin, particularly right now, laps it up.

The unique balm-to-cream texture absorbs into skin quickly, however doesn't dry down completely. It feels like a light film coating which makes sense given it's occlusive nature.

FYI: An occlusive formula means the product creates a protective barrier on the skin's surface to prevent water loss and retain moisture. Now feels like a good time to mention, this particular formula also shields against external skin aggressors like, ahem, low humidity and dryness.

Boasting a hefty amount of the signature blue hyaluronic acid ingredient (hello, hydration), the cream is enriched with an O-mega PeptideCore complex (Omega Oil and Peptide). The complex works to increase skin elasticity, firmness and strengthen the skin’s defensive ability. It's the gold-standard in barrier repair with independent studies for the brand surmising a 95% improvement in damaged barrier in just 3 days. Yes, please to that!

Ceramides, Madecassic Acid and the Blue HA garner serious moisturising power, with the brand reporting 120 hours of moisture retention, down to the 15th layer of skin.

I've already observed a difference in my skin's texture whilst trialling (in conjunction with my beloved Water Bank Blue Hyaluronic Serum).

My skin dons a smoother, bouncier form and feels notably more hydrated. This moisturiser is a solid pick if you’re after deep hydration sans the heavy, mask-like feeling.

"If you’ve had a late night and you know you need to look alert the next morning – this is your guy. It has a bouncy, gel-like texture and a formula packed with peptides, caffeine and hyaluronic acid to breathe life into those tired peepers.

It’s not too rich, which could make it suitable for anyone who’s prone to milia, but still wanting to use eye-area treatments. It’s fragrance free and alcohol free (I have sensitive skin so I love fragrance-free skincare) and it didn’t cause any stinging.

I’ve been using it for a few weeks, and have noticed the crinkles around my eyes (sign of a life well lived) are looking more hydrated and plump. I know packaging shouldn’t matter, but the pink jar is very cute. "

"Moisturising, not sticky, packed with fatty acids and vitamins to lock in hydration? Count me IN!

This glossy balm has a slight pink tint (barely noticeable while wearing) and provides similar sheen to the iconic overnight lip masks. I love the lip masks, but don’t love dipping my fingers into them while I’m out and about (I know they come with a lip spatula but I lost it about 0.4 seconds in) so these balms are the perfect in between. "