This article contains affiliate links* Laneige has updated and completely overhauled its most popular product: the Laneige Cream Skin Cerapeptide Refiner certainly is…different from its previous formula. So, let’s dive into what’s new and different in this review!
Laneige Cream Skin Refiner: A Revolutionary Skincare Product
Laneige truly revolutionised K-beauty with its Cream Skin Refiner: this liquid toner offered the same intense moisture levels as a cream, and thus was perfect for anyone with sensitive, easily overwhelmed skin that still needs high levels of nourishing care. Add to that that the og Cream Skin Refiner is alcohol- and fragrance-free, plus sinks in fast and without any stickiness, and you have the makings of a cult product.
Now, lately Laneige has started to reformulate a number of its best-known products such as the Water Bank Hyaluronic Acid Cream. So, the same thing happened to their Cream Skin Refiner!
Not only does the new Laneige Cream Skin Cerapeptide Refiner have the most stylish new packaging, the formula has also completely changed. I will say upfront that I actually never tried the old, “OG” Cream Skin Refiner, but I’ve seen and heard enough reviews about it to make me feel comfortable comparing the two. So, let’s see if the new, peptide-enriched Laneige Cream Skin is as good as its popular predecessor!
Laneige Cream Skin Cerapeptide Refiner – So, What’s New?
Laneige upgraded and updated the Cream Skin Refiner both in terms of packaging as well as ingredients/formulation. The new version is now enriched with more hydrating ingredients, ceramides and peptides.
The original Cream Skin Refiner was always praised for being a simple, minimalist formula, so I can see why this revised, new version received some backlash. However, the ingredients list for the Cream Skin Cerapeptide Refiner looks really, really yummy! Just like its predecessor, the toner is alcohol- and fragrance-free.
Here is the full list for the Laneige Cream Skin Cerapeptide Refiner:
“Water, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Limnanthes Alba (Meadowfoam) Seed Oil, Isopentyldiol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Squalane, Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Inulin Lauryl Carbamate, Glyceryl Caprylate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Propanediol, Disodium EDTA, Carbomer, Mannitol, Acrylates/Stearyl Methacrylate Copolymer, Tremella Fuciformis Sporocarp Extract, Hyaluronic Acid, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Xanthan Gum, Ceramide NP, Camellia Japonica Flower Extract, Tocopherol, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-11.”
Meadowfoam seed oil, green tea extract and glycerin were all part of the “OG” Cream Skin Refiner and remain key ingredients in the new version. Added to the formula are moisturising squalane and ceramide NP, plus hydrating hyaluronic acid. Now, the latter might disappoint a few of you, since not everyone tolerates HA well, and finding products free from it can be very difficult. The added tetrapeptides are said to help stimulate collagen production and can potentially help firm and plump up skin.
As for the packaging, Laneige really thought this through in terms of reducing their carbon footprint, while also creating something very stylish. From the use of peel-off labels to support recycling and USC certified, single-ply boards for outer packaging down to creating a refillable packaging option, this really is quite remarkable. The Cream Skin Cerapeptide Refiner bottle can be twisted open to make refilling easier. My version of the toner came in an Olive Young exclusive set with an additional refill!
Laneige Cream Skin Cerapeptide Refiner – How Does It Compare to the Previous Formula?
Since I never tried the original Laneige Cream Skin Refiner, my caption choice is maybe a bit bold. I cannot say for certain how much the new Laneige Cream Skin Cerapeptide Refiner differs from the original, but I can share with you what my experiences with this upgraded formula have been so far.
From how I understand it, the OG Cream Skin Refiner had a somewhat “oily” feel to it, a richness that people really liked, while it also still maintained a liquid, watery texture overall. The Cream Skin Cerapeptide Refiner feels more like a regular toner for dry skin – I get a bit of an oily “slip” from it when I apply it, but far less so than other cream skin type products I’ve tried, e.g. the Aromatica Reviving Rose Toner or the Dr. Ceuracle Kombucha Toner. Those two seem quite a bit richer, honestly. And I suspect this is why people might be disappointed with the Cerapeptide Cream Skin Refiner! It seems it is overall lighter, not as intensely moisturising anymore.
In all truth: I expected it to wow me more than it did. I like how soft it makes my skin feel, and how readily it absorbs, leaving no film or tacky-sticky residue. The texture is very refined and pleasantly light. As someone with mature combo skin, this works well for me, I don’t want my toners to be too oily or too intense. However, I just feel the Laneige Cream Skin Cerapeptide Refiner doesn’t have an “it factor” for me, as compared to the amazingly moisturising Aromatica toner, or the incredibly skin softening Dr. Ceuracle Kombucha Toner. Both honestly impressed me more in terms of giving my skin a perfect balance of hydration and moisture, and feeling almost more like a liquid cream than a mere toner.
The new Laneige Cream Skin Refiner is…just a toner now. A fine toner, truly, it’s quite lovely! But, the whole point of the OG Cream Skin – the first of its kind that then got copied by multiple other brands – was the idea of a “liquid moisturiser” or a “toner-moisturiser hybrid.” And I feel this concept got kind of lost in all the “improvements.” Which is a shame especially for those who have dry to very dry skin, as they really profited from the richness of the Cream Skin Refiner.
Oh, also, if you are acne-prone: this likely isn’t for you. I myself broke out from the Cream Skin Cerapeptide Refiner when I first used it, though by now my skin seems to have gotten used to the oils in the product. So, just be cautious if rich textures easily cause breakouts or overwhelm your skin.
So, final verdict: eh? It is really a fine toner, but I guess “fine” doesn’t cut it for a legacy Korean brand such as Laneige. A lot of K-beauty brands under the Amorepacific umbrella are currently revamping their holy grail products and, honestly, often making them less exciting or less unique (looking at you there, Etude!). I am not sure what the strategy is behind this – maybe trying to appeal to a broader audience? – but I worry it will cause more of our favourites to lose their original appeal.
Again, the Laneige Cream Skin Cerapeptide Refiner isn’t a bad product, and I think many people with normal to combo skin will enjoy its texture and hydrating powers. I just kind of expected a bit more, I guess. Kudos, however, to Laneige for improving the packaging and developing a refill option!
So, where can you buy the Laneige Cream Skin Cerapeptide Refiner?
You can purchase the Cream Skin Cerapeptide Refiner at Olive Young Global* as a value set with a refill pouch for currently only $35.20. I think the previous version of the Cream Skin Refiner is still widely sold in K-beauty stores, so I don’t know if they will just continue to co-exist, or if the older version will be phased out.
Let me know in the comments: What are your thoughts on this new version of the Laneige Cream Skin Refiner?
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