Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Recovery Complex II Versus La Mer The Regenerating Serum

Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Recovery Complex II Versus La Mer The Regenerating Serum

This barrier-repair serum is formulated around Bifida Ferment Lysate to strengthen the skin barrier.

This anti-aging serum is formulated around Niacinamide and Acetyl Hexapeptide-8 to soften the look of wrinkles and strengthen the skin barrier.

What's inside

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

Water

Bifida Ferment Lysate

Methyl Gluceth-20

PEG-75

Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane

Butylene Glycol

Propanediol

Cola Acuminata Seed Extract

Hydrolyzed Algin

Pantethine

Caffeine

Lecithin

Tripeptide-32

Ethylhexylglycerin

Sodium Rna

Bisabolol

Glycereth-26

Squalane

Sodium Hyaluronate

Oleth-3 Phosphate

Caprylyl Glycol

Lactobacillus Ferment

Oleth-3

Oleth-5

Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract

Faex Extract

Choleth-24

Hydrogenated Lecithin

Ceteth-24

Tocopheryl Acetate

Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate

Hexylene Glycol

Carbomer

Triethanolamine

Trisodium EDTA

BHT

Xanthan Gum

Phenoxyethanol

CI 14700

CI 19140

Water, Bifida Ferment Lysate, Methyl Gluceth-20, PEG-75, Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane, Butylene Glycol, Propanediol, Cola Acuminata Seed Extract, Hydrolyzed Algin, Pantethine, Caffeine, Lecithin, Tripeptide-32, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Rna, Bisabolol, Glycereth-26, Squalane, Sodium Hyaluronate, Oleth-3 Phosphate, Caprylyl Glycol, Lactobacillus Ferment, Oleth-3, Oleth-5, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract, Faex Extract, Choleth-24, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Ceteth-24, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Hexylene Glycol, Carbomer, Triethanolamine, Trisodium EDTA, BHT, Xanthan Gum, Phenoxyethanol, CI 14700, CI 19140

Algae Extract

Dimethicone

Hdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer

Hydrogenated Polyisobutene

Caprylic/Capric/Myristic/Stearic Triglyceride

Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer

PEG-8 Dimethicone

Triethylhexanoin

PEG-10 Dimethicone

Polysilicone-11

Macadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil

Decyl Glucoside

Glyceryl Triacetyl Ricinoleate

Glycerin

Niacinamide

Sesamum Indicum Seed Oil

Medicago Sativa Seed Powder

Helianthus Annuus Seedcake

Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Seed Meal

Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil

Sodium Gluconate

Copper Gluconate

Calcium Gluconate

Magnesium Gluconate

Zinc Gluconate

Tocopheryl Succinate

Niacin

Sesamum Indicum Seed Powder

Citrus Aurantifolia Peel Extract

Narcissus Tazetta Bulb Extract

Citrus Reticulata Peel Extract

Humulus Lupulus Extract

Mimosa Tenuiflora Bark Extract

Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract

Melilotus Officinalis Extract

Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein

Hydrolyzed Yeast Protein

Marrubium Vulgare Extract

Eryngium Maritimum Extract

Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract

Adenosine Phosphate

Acetyl Carnitine Hcl

Creatine

Cladosiphon Okamuranus Extract

Punica Granatum Fruit Juice

Nordihydroguaiaretic Acid

Whey Protein

Ethylbisiminomethylguaiacol Manganese Chloride

Linolenic Acid

Alcaligenes Polysaccharides

Gelidiella Acerosa Extract

Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate

Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract

Acetyl Hexapeptide-8

Glycine Soja Seed Extract

Gold

Hydrolyzed Soy Protein

Phenyl Trimethicone

Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Beheneth-25 Methacrylate Crosspolymer

Isododecane

Hypnea Musciformis Extract

Sigesbeckia Orientalis Extract

Dipalmitoyl Hydroxyproline

Acetyl Glucosamine

Linoleic Acid

Micrococcus Lysate

Tourmaline

Glycosaminoglycans

Soy Amino Acids

Laminaria Digitata Extract

Trisiloxane

Tartaric Acid

Tetraacetylphytosphingosine

Dextrin

Tocopherol

Pentylene Glycol

Bis-Stearyl Dimethicone

Laureth-12

Potassium Sorbate

Parfum

Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin

Maltodextrin

Cyclodextrin

Alcohol Denat.

Sodium Hydroxide

Silica

Citric Acid

Glutathione

Polymethylsilsesquioxane

Disodium EDTA

Limonene

Linalool

Hydroxycitronellal

Citronellol

Geraniol

CI 61570

Water, Algae Extract, Dimethicone, Hdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Caprylic/Capric/Myristic/Stearic Triglyceride, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, PEG-8 Dimethicone, Triethylhexanoin, PEG-10 Dimethicone, Polysilicone-11, Macadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil, Decyl Glucoside, Glyceryl Triacetyl Ricinoleate, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Sesamum Indicum Seed Oil, Medicago Sativa Seed Powder, Helianthus Annuus Seedcake, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Seed Meal, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil, Sodium Gluconate, Copper Gluconate, Calcium Gluconate, Magnesium Gluconate, Zinc Gluconate, Tocopheryl Succinate, Niacin, Sesamum Indicum Seed Powder, Citrus Aurantifolia Peel Extract, Narcissus Tazetta Bulb Extract, Citrus Reticulata Peel Extract, Humulus Lupulus Extract, Mimosa Tenuiflora Bark Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Melilotus Officinalis Extract, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Hydrolyzed Yeast Protein, Marrubium Vulgare Extract, Eryngium Maritimum Extract, Bifida Ferment Lysate, Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract, Adenosine Phosphate, Acetyl Carnitine Hcl, Creatine, Cladosiphon Okamuranus Extract, Punica Granatum Fruit Juice, Nordihydroguaiaretic Acid, Whey Protein, Ethylbisiminomethylguaiacol Manganese Chloride, Linolenic Acid, Caffeine, Alcaligenes Polysaccharides, Gelidiella Acerosa Extract, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Glycine Soja Seed Extract, Gold, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Phenyl Trimethicone, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Beheneth-25 Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Isododecane, Hypnea Musciformis Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sigesbeckia Orientalis Extract, Dipalmitoyl Hydroxyproline, Acetyl Glucosamine, Linoleic Acid, Micrococcus Lysate, Tourmaline, Glycosaminoglycans, Soy Amino Acids, Butylene Glycol, Laminaria Digitata Extract, Faex Extract, Trisiloxane, Tartaric Acid, Tetraacetylphytosphingosine, Dextrin, Tocopherol, Pentylene Glycol, Bis-Stearyl Dimethicone, Laureth-12, Potassium Sorbate, Parfum, Caprylyl Glycol, Lecithin, Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin, Maltodextrin, Cyclodextrin, Alcohol Denat., Sodium Hydroxide, Xanthan Gum, Silica, Citric Acid, Glutathione, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Disodium EDTA, BHT, Phenoxyethanol, Limonene, Linalool, Hydroxycitronellal, Citronellol, Geraniol, CI 61570

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Alternatives

Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.

BHT is a synthetic antioxidant and preservative.

As an antioxidant, it helps your body fight off free-radicals. Free-radicals are molecules that may damage your skin cells.

As a preservative, it is used to stabilize products and prevent them from degrading. Specifically, BHT prevents degradation from oxidation.

The concerns related to BHT come from oral studies; this ingredient is currently allowed for use by both the FDA and EU.

However, it was recently restricted for use in the UK as of April 2024.

Bifida Ferment Lysate is a postbiotic ingredient made by fermenting Bifidobacterium to extract a nutrient-rich mix of peptides, amino acids, vitamins, organic acids, and polysaccharides.

These components are basically the building blocks that your skin already uses to stay hydrated, repair itself, and maintain its barrier. That's why this ingredient helps your skin hold onto moisture and stay resilient against irritation.

One in-vitro study found that this ingredient tells your skin cells to produce more of the proteins (filaggrin, loricrin, and involucrin) for building a strong and healthy barrier. This study also found this ingredient to be a solid antioxidant that helped neutralize damage against UV and pollution.

A study with people from 2010 found that sensitive, reactive skin using a cream with 10% of this ingredient for a month became noticeably less dry, less reactive, and harder to irritate compared to the group using a plain cream.

In short, this ingredient is a well-tolerated ingredient that can help with barrier repair, antioxidant protection, and calming reactive skin.

This ingredient is generally considered fungal acne (Malassezia) safe; Bifidobacterium is a bacterium, not a yeast or fungus.

The fungal acne concern with fermented ingredients mainly applies to yeast-derived ferments like Saccharomyces and Galactomyces, because those are in the same kingdom as Malassezia and could theoretically contain residual compounds that feed it.

Bifida is a completely different organism, so on its own it doesn't provide a food source for the Malassezia yeast that causes fungal acne.

Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:

Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.

Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.

Caffeine is a naturally occurring plant compound found in coffee beans, tea leaves, cocoa pods, and guarana.

As an antioxidant, caffeine protects your skin from free radical damage caused by UV exposure and envionrmnetal stressors.

Early research also shows that caffeine can help calm redness, soothe irritated skin, and support hair growth by stimulating microcirculation in the scalp.

You might have seen eye creams marketing caffeine as a depuffing ingredient. This is because it is a vasoconstrictor meaning it can temporarily constrict blood vessels, though clinical evidence for this specific use is still limited.

Most skincare products contain this ingredient at concentrations between 1-6%. It is able to penetrate skin easily regardless of skin type or thickness.

Just so you know, a very small number of case reports describe caffeine-induced allergy. This ingredient is generally well-tolerated, non-irritating, and non-sensitizing for the majority of people.

Caprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.

Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.

Because it is not a free-fatty acid, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).

We don't have a description for Faex Extract yet.

Hydrogenated Lecithin is a more stable version of lecithin.

It's made by taking lecithin (a phospholipid commonly found in soybeans and egg yolks) and hydrogenating it. This just means the unsaturated fatty acids are turned into saturated ones so they don't go bad as easily.

This ingredient is an emollient, emulsifier, and penetration enhancer. As an emollient, it helps soften and hydrate skin by trapping moisture within. As an emulsifier, it prevents oil and water ingredients from separating.

Hydrogenated Lecithin can form tiny spherical structures made of phospholipid bilayers called liposomes. These liposomes are able to capture compounds inside their structure and deliver them through the skin barrier.

Because phospholipids are a natural component of our cell membranes, this ingredient is inherently compatible with skin.

A 2021 study found lecithin-based surfactants were less harsh and more tolerable comared to Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS).

Lecithin is a term for a group of substances found in the cell membranes of plants, animals, and humans. They are made up of phospholipids.

Thanks to its amphiphilic structure (water-loving head and oil-loving tail), it is a true multitasker:

It plays well with most ingredients and is typically used at 0.1-1%. However, concentrations up to 50% have been reported in moisturizers.

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.

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!

Xanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.

On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.

Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.

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