What are the best Estee Lauder skincare products? I used to steer clear from high-end skincare. Lancome, Chanel, & co excel at creating amazing makeup products, but their skincare offerings leave a lot to be desired. They charge you premium prices for the most basic formulas. You’re lucky if you can find one lonely antioxidant in there. And you can be sure they’ve put it in a jar to kill it off faster. 🙄
Estee Lauder is the exception. If you want to go high-end, this is the brand to check out. Unlike its rivals, Estee Lauder knows how to create skincare products that do more than just moisturize skin (seriously, for that price, a serum should make me coffee too). Sure, it has its duds too. But don’t worry, you’ll steer clear of those and go straight to the stuff that works. Here are the best Estee Lauder skincare products:
- About The Brand: Estée Lauder
- What Are The Best Estée Lauder Products?
- Estée Lauder Nutritious Airy Lotion Moisturizer ($39.00/£39.50)
- Estee Lauder Perfectionist [CP+R] Wrinkle Lifting/Firming Serum ($68.00/£94.00)
- Estee Lauder Perfectionist Pro Rapid Brightening Treatment Ferment²+ Vitamin C ($78.00/£72.00)
- Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Serum Synchronized Multi-Recovery Complex ($98.00/£65.00)
- Estée Lauder Swiss Performing Extract ($65.00/£60.00)
- Estée Lauder NutritiousRadiant Essence Treatment Lotion ($42.00/£37.00)
- Estee Lauder Advanced Night Micro Cleansing Balm ($45.00/£38.00)
- Estée Lauder Perfectionist Pro Rapid Renewal Retinol Treatment ($90.00/£73.00)
- What Are The Best Estée Lauder Products For Wrinkles?
- What Are The Best Estée Lauder Products For Acne?
- What Are The Best Estée Lauder Products For Dark Spots?
- What Are The Best Estée Lauder Products For Sensitive Skin?
- What Are The Pros Of Estée Lauder Skincare?
- What Are The Cons Of Estée Lauder Skincare?
- Is Estée Lauder Cruelty-Free?
- The Bottom Line
About The Brand: Estée Lauder
In 1946, Estée Lauder and her husband Joseph created a line of skincare products that included a Cleansing Oil, a Skin Lotion, a Super Rich All-purpose Creme, and a Creme Pack. Over the next 15 years, they expanded the range and went from selling only in New York City to the entire USA, London, and Hong Kong. Since then, the brand has grown from strength to strength, creating and acquiring multiple beauty brands, including Clinique, MAC Cosmetics, Bobbi Brown and La Mer. Today, the brand is known for its classic skincare products. Unlike most other luxury skincare lines, Estée Lauder packs their products with antioxidants and probiotics that do way more than moisturise skin. They prevent wrinkles, soothe irritations, and give that my-skin-but-better look.
What Are The Best Estée Lauder Products?
Estée Lauder Nutritious Airy Lotion Moisturizer ($39.00/£39.50)
This lightweight lotion provides a light layer of hydration that makes oily to combination skin softer and smoother. Enriched with every antioxidant under the sun, it helps prevent new winkles from forming too. But the star of the show is niacinamide, a multi-tasker that does everything. It brightens skin, fades away dark spots, soothes irritations, treats acne, and hydrates skin. Plus, the pinkish packaging looks so pretty on your vanity!
Available at: Beauty Bay, Estée Lauder, Harrods, Look Fantastic, Sephora, and Ulta
Active ingredients: Niacinamide and antioxidants.
Benefits: Hydrates and prevents wrinkles.
Cons: Not moisturising enough for dry skin.
Skin type: Normal, combination, and oily.
Fragrance-free: No.
Related: How To Strengthen Your Skin’s Protective Barrier (And Why It Matters)
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Estee Lauder Perfectionist [CP+R] Wrinkle Lifting/Firming Serum ($68.00/£94.00)
Estee Lauder Perfectionist [CP+R] Wrinkle Lifting/Firming Serum is one of the most popular products from the brand – and for a good reason. The silicones (they don’t suffocate skin!) smooth out wrinkles in the long term so you look instantly younger. In the long term, the generous amount of antioxidants helps prevent new ones from forming too soon. The texture’s lightweight and suitable for all skin types.
Available at: Boots, Estée Lauder, Harrods, and Sephora
Active ingredients: Silicones and antioxidants.
Benefits: Smoothes out imperfections and helps prevent wrinkles.
Cons: It doesn’t reduce wrinkles you already have.
Skin type: All skin types bar sensitive skin.
Fragrance-free: No.
Related: Are Silicones Bad For Skin?
Estee Lauder Perfectionist Pro Rapid Brightening Treatment Ferment²+ Vitamin C ($78.00/£72.00)
Estee Lauder Perfectionist Pro Rapid Brightening Treatment Ferment²+ Vitamin C takes an unusual approach to brightening skin. It uses a double-ferment combining a high concentration of Yeast Ferment with a brightening Molasses Ferment plus a derivative of Vitamin C (Ascorbyl Glucoside). Science-ways, it’s not the most effective way to brighten skin, but I still dig the serum because it’s loaded with antioxidants that help you prevent premature aging. If your dark spots are fairly new, give this one a try. Just don’t go overboard. If you use too much, it can feel tacky on the skin.
Available at: Blue Mercury, Boots, Brown Thomas, Estee Lauder, and Sephora
Active ingredients: Yeast ferment, molasses ferment, Ascorbyl Glucoside, and antioxidants.
Benefits: Helps to brighten skin and prevent wrinkles.
Cons: Not the most effective treatment for dark spots.
Skin type: All skin types bar sensitive skin.
Fragrance-free: No.
Related: How To Care For Combination Skin
Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Serum Synchronized Multi-Recovery Complex ($98.00/£65.00)
If you have sensitive skin that gets triggered easily, try it Advanced Night Repair Serum Synchronized Multi-Recovery Complex. What makes it so special? The lactobacillus base. It helps strengthens your skin’s protective barrier and soothe irritations while the antioxidants fight off free radicals before they give you wrinkles. Plus, it’s loaded with soothing ingredients to further reduce redness and irritations. It dries a little tacky, but if you’re cool with that, you’ll like this.
Available at: Boots, Dermstore, Estée Lauder, Sephora, and Ulta
Active ingredients: Probiotics.
Benefits: Soothes irritations and redness, hydrates skin, and helps prevent premature aging.
Cons: It doesn’t reduce wrinkles and dries a little tacky.
Skin type: All skin types can use it, but it’s particularly suitable for sensitive skin.
Fragrance-free: Yes.
Related: What’s The Deal With Bacteria In My Skincare?
Estée Lauder Swiss Performing Extract ($65.00/£60.00)
Forget about the Swiss Performing Extract. That doesn’t do much of anything. Brands like to highlight these extracts because they make for a good marketing story. Instead, this moisturiser has an oil base that strengthens your protective barrier, protects your delicate complexion from environmental aggressors, and banishes dryness. Ideal for dry skin that often feels too tight (oily skin will find it too heavy). It’s a more basic formula compared to other moisturisers from the brand, but it does the job and the luxurious texture is a pleasure to apply. I just wish the fragrance weren’t so intense!
Available at: Estée Lauder, Harrods, and Nordstrom
Active ingredients: Natural plant oil.
Benefits: Moisturises skin and strengthens its protective barrier.
Cons: May cause acne in oily skin.
Skin type: Dry skin.
Fragrance-free: No.
Estée Lauder NutritiousRadiant Essence Treatment Lotion ($42.00/£37.00)
I’m not the biggest fan of toners (most of them do nothing). But if you have sensitive skin that needs extra soothing and hydration, you’ll love this. It’s enriched with soothing probiotics to calm down redness and irritations, while niacinamide hydrates skin, brightens the complexion, and keeps your skin functioning at its best. Plus, it also has a sprinkle of antioxidants to prevent premature aging. It’s lightweight, fast-absorbing, and doesn’t leave a tacky residue behind.
Available at: Beauty Bay, Estee Lauder, Harrods, and Ulta
Active ingredients: Probiotics and niacinamide.
Benefits: Hydrates and soothes.
Cons: You don’t need a toner.
Skin type: All skin types, particularly sensitive.
Fragrance-free: Yes.
Estee Lauder Advanced Night Micro Cleansing Balm ($45.00/£38.00)
Struggling to remove stubborn makeup? Get yourself a jar of Estee Lauder Advanced Night Micro Cleansing Balm. The oily base (safflower and coconut) melt away all traces of long-lasting foundation, makeup and other impurities without drying out your skin. If you’ve got oily skin, it may be a little too thick and greasy for you, but then that’s a problem your skin type has with all balm cleansers. The real con is that it includes fragrance but hey, at least it doesn’t stay on the skin long.
Available at: Estée Lauder
Active ingredients: Safflower oil.
Benefits: Removes makeup while moisturising skin.
Cons: Too greasy for oily skin.
Skin type: Dry and normal skin.
Fragrance-free: Yes.
Related: How To Choose The Best Type Of Cleanser For Your Skin Type
Estée Lauder Perfectionist Pro Rapid Renewal Retinol Treatment ($90.00/£73.00)
Retinol is the only thing that can reduce the wrinkles you already have – and it prevents new ones from forming. It works in three ways: it fights free radicals, boosts the skin’s natural exfoliation process for a flawless complexion, and boosts collagen production. While it’s at it, it also helps treat acne and fade away dark spots. The catch? Retinol can be drying and irritating. This treatment has an oily base that moisturises skin and counteracts its drying effects. Results? Softer, smoother, younger-looking skin.
Available at: Blue Mercury, Boots, Estée Lauder, Harrods, and Sephora
Active ingredients: Retinol and natural oils.
Benefits: Prevents and reduces wrinkles.
Cons: If you’re a beginner, it can be drying and irritating.
Skin type: Dry skin.
Fragrance-free: No.
What Are The Best Estée Lauder Products For Wrinkles?
- Estée Lauder Perfectionist Pro Rapid Renewal Retinol Treatment ($90.00/£73.00): A gentle retinol treatment in moisturising base to reduce wrinkles without drying out skin (unless you abuse it). Best suitable for dry skin. Available at Blue Mercury, Boots, Estée Lauder, Harrods, and Sephora
What Are The Best Estée Lauder Products For Acne?
Estée Lauder doesn’t have any products that are specifically designed to treat acne.
What Are The Best Estée Lauder Products For Dark Spots?
- Estee Lauder Perfectionist Pro Rapid Brightening Treatment Ferment²+ Vitamin C ($78.00/£72.00): It uses a derivative of Vitamin C and molasses ferment to brighter new dark spots just forming, but may not work as well with older dark spots. Available at Blue Mercury, Boots, Brown Thomas, Estee Lauder, and Sephora
- Estée Lauder Perfectionist Pro Rapid Renewal Retinol Treatment ($90.00/£73.00): Although designed to treat wrinkles, retinol also reduces dark spots by speeding up cellular turnover. Available at Blue Mercury, Boots, Estée Lauder, Harrods, and Sephora
What Are The Best Estée Lauder Products For Sensitive Skin?
- Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Serum Synchronized Multi-Recovery Complex ($98.00/£65.00): Loaded with probiotics, it strengthens your skin’s protective barrier, soothes irritations, and prevents wrinkles. Available at Boots, Dermstore, Estée Lauder, Sephora, and Ulta
- Estée Lauder NutritiousRadiant Essence Treatment Lotion ($42.00/£37.00): A hydrating toner loaded with soothing agents to reduce redness and irritations. Available at Beauty Bay, Estee Lauder, Harrods, and Ulta
What Are The Pros Of Estée Lauder Skincare?
While most high-end brands are basic moisturising concoctions with an outrageous price tag, Estée Lauder skincare goes the extra mile. Pretty much all of their products are enriched with antioxidants to help prevent wrinkles. Plus, they’re one of the first brands to use soothing probiotics in their skincare. They calm down irritations and keep sensitive skin happy. Plus, everything is super moisturising and feels luxurious.
What Are The Cons Of Estée Lauder Skincare?
Estée Lauder may be one of the best skincare line at the department store, but that doesn’t mean it’s without faults. There are 2 I can think about. First off, a lot of their moisturisers come in jars. They’re beautiful and practical, but expose the antioxidants inside to light and air, which makes them spoil faster. Two, the brand uses fragrance in a lot of their products. It makes their lotions and potions smell good, but it can also irritate sensitive skin.
Is Estée Lauder Cruelty-Free?
Estée Lauder is NOT cruelty-free. The brand tests on animals, either directly or through a third party.
The Bottom Line
If you like to get your skincare at the drugstore and are into products that are beautifully packaged, feel luxurious, and do what they say on the tin, Estée Lauder is your best bet. Their multi-tasking products are loaded with antioxidants and soothing ingredients that moisturise skin, prevent wrinkles, and calm down irritations.
I haven’t tried any of these yet but have tried the Advanced Night Repair and hated its dropper and my skin hated the product itself. the Hydrationist Lotion came in a lovely pump bottle, smelled lovely but my skin hated it and broke out in protest. i’m off to try the Daywear now that I’ve read this. Here’s hoping (smile).
Robin, oh no! I guess that’s proof that even the best products won’t work for everyone. *sighs* Hope Daywear is working much better for you.
Did you know Shiseido seriously deceives their customers with their claims about their sunscreen? You know,about how “the UVA protection increases when wet for 30 minutes”? Then they have the audacity to charge over $40 for body sunscreen?
https://www.yahoo.com/realestate/news/claim-check-shiseido-wetforce-sunscreen-100000025.html?ref=gs
http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/news/2015/08/claim-check-shiseido-wetforce-sunscreen/index.htm
Hannah, thanks for sharing this. It’s absolutely appalling! We are all used to companies making exaggerated and unrealistic claims, but this one is potentially very dangerous. Shame on them.
Totally. This company should be sued for customer endangerment after a problem was found out and made known, yet they don’t try to make it right. What’s even more crazy than the $40 they charge for body sunscreen, they charge $36(?) for 1 oz. of face sunscreen and I believe that the ingredients probably are the same between the face and body, too! Makes me think that if I had enough money to buy from this brand, and did, I’d probably start boycotting their products because now I’ve lost my trust in them. It’s too bad, because I’ve heard that Shinsheido is a “good” brand.
Hannah, it’s a good brand for makeup, but their skincare stuff leaves a lot to be desired. And, I agree on both counts.. After something like this, you lose trust in a brand. And, most importantly, the authorities should do something about it. In the meantime, the best we can do is warn everyone we know.
Yep. If I had a blog,I’d write an article about this brand and how their sunscreen’s marketing claims are shady.
You should totally start one. You have a lot to say, so I’m sure it’d be an interesting and helpful read.
Ahhhh! Thanks! 😉 I have a lot of fun browsing yours.
You’re welcome, and oh, thank you! 🙂
I love my advanced night repair ll works well for my skin. I’ve seen great improvement within my fine lines within a month. 🙂
Tawny, that’s great. So glad it’s working well for you.
I have the ADVANCED NIGHT REPAIR SYNCHRONIZED RECOVERY COMPLEX II , do I have to put it after the SKIN RECOVERY Super Antioxidant Concentrate Serum with Retinol and the Hyaluronic Acid but before the cream or before everything?
You can put it on it between retinol and the hyaluronic acid.
thanks!
My pleasure!