So you want a milky toner. The Laneige Cream Skin Refiner (known as Cream Skin Toner & Moisturizer in the US market) and the I’m From Rice Toner both get a lot of hype, and are basically the market leaders in this category, but how similar are they? Well, let’s get overly pedantic and discuss.
Laneige Cream Skin
Cream Skin is labeled as both a toner and moisturizer due to its relatively high oil content (for a toner, anyway), which gives it good body.
The brand considers the hero ingredient of this product to be camellia sinensis leaf extract. This is generally referred to as green tea extract, but in this case it’s actually white tea extract. Why does that matter? White tea is less processed, which ostensibly means it retains more of its antioxidant goodness.
Another hero ingredient, though less often touted, is the limnanthes alba seed oil, or meadowfoam seed oil. This plant oil is one of my personal favorites, though I’ve never seen it marketed as a stand-alone facial oil. Meadowfoam is very emollient, rather than occlusive, which makes it work in products at any part of your skincare routine. Like jojoba, its fatty acids are quite similar to those in sebum, so it moisturizes without feeling greasy.
I’m From Rice
I’m From doesn’t leave you guessing on the hero ingredient of this toner — it’s rice, and in no small quantity. The first ingredient of this is rice extract, which it has at over 75%, and there’s rice bran extract farther down the list as well.
The internet doesn’t seem to have particularly good documentation on the differences between the two for your skin, but think of it functionally as the difference between white and brown rice, which it is — brown rice has the bran and is more nutritious. Regardless, between the two you get a lot of amino acids, ferulic acid, vitamin E, a whole host of B vitamins and other minerals. Not stopping there, this toner also includes some extra niacinamide, as well as purslane extract (a source of vitamin a and c), elm bark extract (a skin soother) and amaranthus caudatus seed extract (another antioxidant, and peptide source).
Across its ingredient are a whole host of brighteners, which is why this toner is considered a great option for slowly fighting back post-inflammatory marks, as well as sun damage. It’s also a skin soothing toner, and makes a light film on the skin to protect it.
The Face Off: When To Use Which
Alright cool, so we know inci lists. But we also know that skincare is a whole lot more than an inci list. So when should you slather which on your face?
What you’ll get from either: hydration, skin soothing, and skin softening. Being toners, these definitely give a good dose of hydration to the skin. They’ll also comfort irritated skin (though not as much a centella asiatica or aloe might).
What you’ll get from Laneige Cream Skin: a nice hug to your face to protect an irritated or compromised skin barrier. This one was great during the Colorado winter, especially during the loooong routines that I tended to do — I used it both during my toner step, and then again right after serums but before my retinol. The body of this, which you can faintly tell from the picture, makes it so you can’t do seven skins with it, but you can slap it on wherever you need it in your routine.
What you’ll get from I’m From Rice: subtle brightening benefits and increased layerability. This is significantly more watery, so you can layer it up as much as you want to increase hydration and plumpness. You’re not apt to see any dramatic reduction in pigmentation and sun damage, but this will reduce dullness and generally improve your complexion over time.
So, which one you should pick? It really depends on your skin concerns. For my part, I’m glad I’m transitioning from Laneige to I’m From when I am — I no longer need that extra moisturization, but I AM starting to get a lot more sun exposure, so extra help fighting pigmentation is always welcome.
Lisa Loves Skincare 
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