Are Laneige’s Viral & Celeb-Loved Bestsellers Worth the Hype? 6 Editors Weigh In (2025)

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With countless beauty brands flooding the market, only a few manage to stand out—and Laneige is one of them. The South Korean cosmetics company has built a loyal following, thanks in part to its cult-favorite Lip Sleeping Mask, a must-have for stars like Bella Hadid, Sofia Richie, Kaia Gerber, Kate Hudson, Sydney Sweeney, Kendall Jenner, and Chrissy Teigen. The tiny but mighty product delivers intense, long-lasting moisture in a lightweight, cushiony formula. For many, including myself, this mask serves as a gateway into the Laneige hype, offering the first glimpse into the brand’s expertise in hydration.

But Laneige’s legacy in skincare runs much deeper than its viral lip product. The brand has been around since 1994, long before K-beauty took over the mainstream, with one goal in mind: hydrated, bouncy skin. Its formulas are rooted in “water science,” meaning every product is designed to replenish and lock in moisture. Before the Lip Sleeping Mask had everyone hooked, there was the Water Sleeping Mask, a lightweight overnight treatment that became a global bestseller after its 2002 launch. It set the tone for what Laneige does best—making skin look and feel extra plum, dewy, and fresh with minimal effort.

Laneige’s Bestsellers and Buzzy New Products at a Glance

• Lip Sleeping Mask, $24
• Lip Glowy Balm, $19
• Water Bank Cleanser, $29
• Neo Blurring Powder, $25
• Glaze Craze Tinted Lip Serum, $22

Today, Laneige continues to build on its hydration-first philosophy with an expansive range of skincare essentials. The Water Bank line, featuring a hydrating cleanser, toner, serums, and moisturizers, remains a staple for those seeking plump, supple skin. But the brand has also ventured into makeup, bringing its skincare expertise into formulas like the Neo Essential Blurring Finish Powder and the new Glaze Craze Tinted Lip Serum. Whether you’re after deep hydration, a radiant complexion, or weightless coverage, Laneige has something to offer.But, is everything really worth the hype?

To get a well-rounded take, I tapped a few of my fellow editors and writers to test some of Laneige’s fan favorites. Below, we’re sharing our honest thoughts—praise, critiques, and everything in between—on the brand’s new and most-shopped products.

Editor Reviews

Lip Sleeping Mask

“I’ve used Laneige’s Lip Sleeping Mask many, many times, so I’m a little biased, but it’s one of the brand’s most popular products for a reason. The balm is smooth and buttery to the touch and locks in moisture in your lips like no other. A little bit goes a long way. I slather a tiny bit on before I go to sleep, and I wake up with the softest and smoothest lips. I also use it as an everyday lip balm, putting some on in the morning and going about my day knowing my lips won’t dry out in a couple hours like with other balms.” —Jason Pham, Entertainment Director

“I was heavily influenced to buy this lip mask when I saw that BTS promoted it during their Permission to Dance concerts in L.A. I wanted to have very plump and soft lips and this lip mask didn’t disappoint at all. I applied it every night for two weeks and saw that my lips were more moist than usual, and I woke up with no dryness. It’s been a constant staple in my bedside drawer as someone who loves to put on lip color every day with dry matte lipsticks.” —Lea Veloso, Entertainment Writer

Lip Glowy Balm

“This lip balm has single-handedly saved my dry, cracked lips in the recent cold weather. The formula is ultra-nourishing and glides on like a charm. Most impressively, the product has staying power (even after drinking beverages!) and I don’t have to reapply very often. It also keeps my lips soft for hours, even after the product has faded off my lips. I also love this lip balm’s glowiness. For the last few weeks, I’ve been using this lip balm on top of lip liner and it gives the perfect glossy look without any of the stickiness. Another plus–it smells like mango candy, but it’s not overly sweet where it feels uncomfortable to wear on a daily basis. I would totally buy this again! For $19, you get a great product, and although the size might pale compared to other brands of lip balm, a little goes a long way here. I can see why this lip balm has been hyped so much on TikTok. (The hype is real!!) I would definitely be curious to try out the other flavors, too.” —Jennifer Shiori Adams, Lifestyle Writer

“As someone who has loved gloss since they were little, this product provides hydration and the perfect shine like a gloss would. I have this balm in nearly every color, dispersed among my many handbags. The coverage lasts for hours and is buildable, meaning I can pair it with color cosmetics like lipsticks and lip oils. I love the different scents and bright girly colors. It makes my lips feel soft and supple without leaving a heavy, pasty residue. I will say, I like this color more than Gummy Bear because I find that Gummy Bear leaves a slightly gray color.” —Robyn Merrett, Style & Beauty Editor

Water Bank Cleanser

“I’m extremely picky when it comes to cleansers and don’t often deviate from what I like. Most are too harsh and drying and give my skin that tight, squeaky-clean feeling that I hate. I was skeptical when I tried Laneige’s Water Bank Gentle Gel Cleanser, but I can confidently say that it lives up to its name. This is, by far, one of the most gentle cleansers I’ve used and it makes my skin feel clean and refreshed without feeling like I rinsed off every last drop of my natural oils. Cleansers are the unsung heroes of skincare routines and often don’t get as much hype as other products, but after using this cleanser twice a day for about a month, I noticed my other skincare products sinking in better and an overall brightness to my skin.” —Jason Pham, Entertainment Director

“I’m really particular about what cleansers I use because I have dry, sensitive skin—especially during the winter. The areas around my eyes and nose are also prone to eczema and redness. I’ve been a fan of Laniege’s lip products for some time, so wasn’t too apprehensive about trying the Water Bank Gentle Gel Cleanser. The product itself is lightweight, soft, and gooey. I applied it first to my hand and it went on so smooth, just like water. I then moved to my face, lathering my forehead, cheeks, chin with the product until it felt slightly foamy. It was instantly hydrating and made my skin feel fresh and clean—without stripping. After rinsing and patting my skin dry, I still felt the product’s moisture. My skin felt supple and bouncy.” —Robyn Merrett, Style & Beauty Editor

Water Sleeping Mask

“As someone who has pretty normal skin, this water mask helped my skin right after putting on my oil cleanser. It had a very refreshing feeling after application and once it dried off, it helped my face recover after a long day of work. Would definitely keep it in my skincare routine,” —Lea Veloso, Entertainment Writer

Neo Blurring Powder

“I can’t take a picture using the flash without the North Star reflecting back on my forehead to save my life. I’ve struggled with an oily T-zone all my life, so I thought I’d have to apply multiple rounds of the Neo Blurring Powder. I was wrong. In my demo video on TikTok, you can literally see a difference after 2-3 dabs of the product in each area. I was shocked! My one negative, though, is that as someone with oily skin whose forehead pores tend to clog more easily, I woke up the next morning with 3 tiny white heads (or comedones?). If I’m going out and know definitely be used. On a day-to-day, I think I’ll pass—but for $25, I’m very impressed!” —Kaili JiMei, Social Media Editor

Glaze Craze Tinted Lip Serum

“I hate to say it, but I’m not a fan of Laneige’s cult-fave Lip Sleeping Mask or Lip Glowy Balm. Everyone else in my life raves over these two lippies, but I find them to be too thick, heavy, and at times, drying. So it makes sense why I was skeptical about testing the brand’s new Glaze Craze Tinted Lip Serum. Was I going to have beef with yet another Laneige lip product or would this be the one to finally break the curse? I’m happy to report that it’s the latter. This formula is fairly thick but not heavy, and I like the amount of slip and shine it offers. The product felt comfortable on my lips and appeared to make my pout look plumper than usual. I paired the Glaze Craze Tinted Lip Serum with rhode’s Peptide Lip Shape in Lunge and will definitely be repeating this combo. Not to mention, the shade I’m wearing in the photo, Sugar Glaze (nude beige), has the most drool-worthy, lip-licking, delectable flavor. I knew to expect a sweet taste and scent because of the launch’s name, but WOW. Sugar Glaze truly does taste like a classic glazed donut. If you’re wondering how the unique, donut-shaped applicator works, same. I initially thought it’d cause a mess, but to my surprise, application was smooth and I didn’t have to clean up any product with a Q-tip. Although I don’t think this tinted lip serum will become my everyday lippie, I would say anyone who loves Laneige’s lip products or has been wanting to try them, should give this launch a go. It’s fun, innovative, and oh-so-tasty. Plus, it’d be a good gift for the beauty-obsessed friend. After trying one of the four donut-inspired shades, I’m curious to see how the others look and taste. And I’m so glad I can finally say I’m a fan of one of Laneige’s buzzy lip products!” —Katie Decker-Jacoby, Associate E-commerce Editor