Educational guide
Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Intense Reset Concentrate Versus Medik8 Advanced Night Restore
Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Intense Reset Concentrate Versus Medik8 Advanced Night Restore This calming serum is formulated around Lactobacillus Ferment and Resveratrol to calm redness and strengthen the skin barrier. This barrier-repair night moisturiz
This guide cannot diagnose a condition or recommend a personal treatment plan. Discuss medical questions with a qualified professional.
Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Intense Reset Concentrate Versus Medik8 Advanced Night Restore
This calming serum is formulated around Lactobacillus Ferment and Resveratrol to calm redness and strengthen the skin barrier.
This barrier-repair night moisturizer is formulated around Squalane and Ceramide NP to strengthen the skin barrier and hydrate skin.
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Dimethicone
Glycerin
Methyl Trimethicone
Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane
Butylene Glycol
Isopropyl Isostearate
PPG-15 Stearyl Ether
PEG-10 Dimethicone
Faex Extract
Tripeptide-32
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Sodium Hyaluronate
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Hydrolyzed Algin
Lactobacillus Ferment
Adansonia Digitata Seed Extract
Soy Amino Acids
Aminopropyl Ascorbyl Phosphate
Resveratrol
Algae Extract
Salicylic Acid
Ergothioneine
Tocopheryl Acetate
Whey Protein
Avena Sativa Kernel Extract
Citrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract
Laminaria Digitata Extract
Lens Esculenta Fruit Extract
Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Caffeine
Sodium PCA
Propylene Glycol Caprylate
Triticum Vulgare Germ Extract
Lavandula Angustifolia Oil
Hordeum Vulgare Extract
Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract
Isohexadecane
Polysilicone-11
Methyldihydrojasmonate
Sodium Lactate
Disteardimonium Hectorite
Isododecane
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Squalane
Polyethylene
Propylene Carbonate
Pentylene Glycol
Disodium EDTA
BHT
Potassium Sorbate
Sodium Benzoate
Phenoxyethanol
Linalool
CI 14700
CI 19140
Water, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Methyl Trimethicone, Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane, Butylene Glycol, Isopropyl Isostearate, PPG-15 Stearyl Ether, PEG-10 Dimethicone, Faex Extract, Tripeptide-32, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Algin, Lactobacillus Ferment, Adansonia Digitata Seed Extract, Soy Amino Acids, Aminopropyl Ascorbyl Phosphate, Resveratrol, Algae Extract, Salicylic Acid, Ergothioneine, Tocopheryl Acetate, Whey Protein, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Citrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract, Laminaria Digitata Extract, Lens Esculenta Fruit Extract, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Caffeine, Sodium PCA, Propylene Glycol Caprylate, Triticum Vulgare Germ Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Hordeum Vulgare Extract, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract, Isohexadecane, Polysilicone-11, Methyldihydrojasmonate, Sodium Lactate, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Isododecane, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Squalane, Polyethylene, Propylene Carbonate, Pentylene Glycol, Disodium EDTA, BHT, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Phenoxyethanol, Linalool, CI 14700, CI 19140
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Stearic Acid
Phytosterols
Propylene Glycol
C12-16 Alcohols
Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Cetearyl Alcohol
Palmitic Acid
Ceramide NP
Cetearyl Olivate
Linoleic Acid
Behenyl Alcohol
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Sorbitan Olivate
Benzyl Alcohol
Amelanchier Alnifolia Fruit Extract
Ethylhexylglycerin
Acetyl Glucosamine
Citric Acid
Sorbitol
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil
Citrus Aurantium Amara Flower Oil
Lavandula Angustifolia Herb Oil
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
Hylocereus Undatus Fruit Extract
Dehydroacetic Acid
Tremella Fuciformis Extract
Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate
Anthemis Nobilis Flower Oil
Pogostemon Cablin Leaf Oil
Vetiveria Zizanoides Root Oil
Ascorbic Acid
Ceramide AP
Ceteareth-25
Phytosphingosine
Cholesterol
Xanthan Gum
Carbomer
Cetyl Alcohol
Behenic Acid
Ceramide Ns
Ferric Hexapeptide-35
Ceramide EOP
Ceramide Eos
Caprooyl Phytosphingosine
Caprooyl Sphingosine
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Tocopherol
Geraniol
Limonene
Water, Squalane, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Stearic Acid, Phytosterols, Propylene Glycol, C12-16 Alcohols, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Cetearyl Alcohol, Palmitic Acid, Ceramide NP, Cetearyl Olivate, Linoleic Acid, Behenyl Alcohol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sorbitan Olivate, Phenoxyethanol, Benzyl Alcohol, Amelanchier Alnifolia Fruit Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Acetyl Glucosamine, Citric Acid, Sorbitol, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil, Citrus Aurantium Amara Flower Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia Herb Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Hylocereus Undatus Fruit Extract, Dehydroacetic Acid, Tremella Fuciformis Extract, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Oil, Pogostemon Cablin Leaf Oil, Vetiveria Zizanoides Root Oil, Ascorbic Acid, Disodium EDTA, Ceramide AP, Ceteareth-25, Phytosphingosine, Cholesterol, Xanthan Gum, Carbomer, Cetyl Alcohol, Behenic Acid, Ceramide Ns, Ferric Hexapeptide-35, Ceramide EOP, Ceramide Eos, Caprooyl Phytosphingosine, Caprooyl Sphingosine, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Tocopherol, Geraniol, Limonene, Linalool
Reviews
Alternatives
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Dimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz. It is also known as polydimethylsiloxane.
What it does:
Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:
Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.
Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.
This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.
Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.
Disodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Glycerin (or glycerol) is a compound naturally found in your skin. It's a powerhouse humectant that pulls water into the stratum corneum.
Topically, glycerin does several things at once:
Your skin makes glycerin on its own (mostly from sebaceous oil breakdown) and shuttles it to your outermost layer of skin, or your epidermis, via aquaporin-3.
Aquaporin-3 is a transporter that is essential for normal skin hydration, elasticity, and repair. Interestingly, mice lacking in AQP3 have dry and less elastic skin that can be fully corrected with glycerin.
This ingredient is non-irritating, plays well with almost every ingredient, and works across all skin types. Typical use is anywhere between 3-10% but can go up to 79% in some leave-on products.
Just know very high concentrations (>40%) can feel tacky in low humidity.
Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
Linalool is a fragrance and helps add scent to products. It's derived from common plants such as cinnamon, mint, citrus, and lavender.
Like Limonene, this ingredient oxidizes when exposed to air. Oxidized linalool can cause allergies and skin sensitivity.
This ingredient has a scent that is floral, spicy tropical, and citrus-like.
Phenoxyethanol is one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!).
It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome.
On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive.
Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10).
You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own.
Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU.
Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages.
Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon.
Squalane is the hydrogenated and shelf-stable form of squalene (a lipid that naturally occurs in human sebum).
It is an emollient and skin conditioning agent that is able to integrate seamlessly into the skin's lipid barrier without clogging pores.
This is due to how structurally similar it is to what your skin already produces.
Though it is mostly an emollient that helps soften and hydrate skin, it also has some humectant and occlusive action. Humectants help the skin retain moisture while occlusives seal it in, making squalane a triple-threat moisturizer.
Research shows it has antioxidant capabilities that help protect against stressors like UV exposure, specifically UVA induced oxidative stress. This study also found that it supports collagen biosynthesis in human dermal fibroblasts.
No clinical study has reported significant adverse effects and irritation reactions are very rare from this ingredient (even at 100% concentration).
Overall, it's a fantastic ingredient for hydration and is suitable for all skin types.
This depends on the source. Squalane can be derived from both plants and animals. Most squalane used in skincare comes from plants.
Please note: the source of squalane is only known if disclosed by the brand. We recommend reaching out to the brand if you have any questions about their squalane.
Read more about squalene with an "e".
Though squalane is often called an oil, it’s technically not one. It is a hydrocarbon, meaning it is only made of carbon and hydrogen. True oils are triglycerides and made of fatty acids and glycerol.
The term “oil-free” isn’t regulated so companies can define it however they want. Some exclude all oils, while others just avoid mineral oil or comedogenic oils.
Squalane has a comedogenic rating of 1 from the original 1972 study that tested raw ingredients under occlusion on rabbit ears. This system is not standardized or peer-reviewed, and using the raw ingredients is very different from how diluted cosmetic formulations are used on human skin.
A comedogenic rating of 1 means it is "unlikely to clog pores" according to the original rating system.
The overall formula of a product matters more than the individual ingredients on whether or not it will cause clogged pores.
Tocopheryl Acetate is a stable, shelf-friendly form of vitamin E.
Formulators love it because plain vitamin E oxidizes quickly once it hits air. This acetate version stays stable and resists going off, helping to extend a product's shelf life.
It's actually inactive on its own and works like a slow-release "storage" form; the enzymes in your skin called esterases gradually convert it into active vitamin E over time.
One in vivo study showed 5% of the acetate in the living layer of the epidermis converted to vitamin E after 5 days of application. This study also found the skin gained protection against UV damage even though the conversion was slow and small.
Once converted, vitamin E acts as a skin's main fat-soluble antioxidant that fights free radicals to protect skin from damage.
Topical vitamin E generally boosts the skin's photoprotection, and it reduced UV-damage in animal models.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
Overall, it has a pretty solid safety profile and has been found to be non-irritating and non-comedogenic. Allergic reactions may happen but stay rare due to how widely the ingredient gets used.
The concentration will vary depending on the formula; industry data shows 0.1% in baby lotions, 3% in lipsticks, and 5% in foot powders. You can also find this ingredient at 100% in a pure vitamin E oil.
Most leave-on skincare keeps it at the lower end, often between 0.5-1%.
Water. It's the most common cosmetic ingredient of all. You'll usually see it at the top of ingredient lists, meaning that it makes up the largest part of the product.
So why is it so popular? Water most often acts as a solvent - this means that it helps dissolve other ingredients into the formulation.
You'll also recognize water as that liquid we all need to stay alive. If you see this, drink a glass of water. Remember to stay hydrated!