Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Recovery Complex II Versus Allies of Skin Multi Hyaluronic Antioxidant Hydration Serum

Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Recovery Complex II Versus Allies of Skin Multi Hyaluronic Antioxidant Hydration Serum

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

This hydrating serum is formulated around Superoxide Dismutase and Niacinamide to hydrate skin and soften the look of wrinkles.

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

Triethyl Citrate

Glycerin

Polysorbate 20

Superoxide Dismutase

Ethyl Macadamiate

Cetearyl Alcohol

Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil

C10-18 Triglycerides

PPG-3 Benzyl Ether Myristate

Dimethyl Isosorbide

Pichia/Resveratrol Ferment Extract

Niacinamide

Hyaluronic Acid

Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer-3

Panthenol

Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract

Fragaria Vesca Fruit Extract

Candelilla/Jojoba/Rice Bran Polyglyceryl-3 Esters

Mel

Phospholipids

Cassia Angustifolia Seed Polysaccharide

Adenosine

Sphingolipids

Epigallocatechin Gallate

Astaxanthin

Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38

Glyceryl Stearate

Sclerotium Gum

Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil

Pelargonium Graveolens Oil

Tocopherol

Ascorbic Acid

Corn Starch Modified

Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin

O-Cymen-5-Ol

Sodium Gluconate

Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate

Sodium Polygamma-Glutamate

Polysorbate 60

Hydroxyethylcellulose

Sorbic Acid

Malic Acid

Citral

Limonene

Citronellol

Geraniol

Linalool

Water, Triethyl Citrate, Glycerin, Polysorbate 20, Tocopheryl Acetate, Superoxide Dismutase, Ethyl Macadamiate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Bisabolol, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, C10-18 Triglycerides, PPG-3 Benzyl Ether Myristate, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Pichia/Resveratrol Ferment Extract, Niacinamide, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer-3, Panthenol, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Fragaria Vesca Fruit Extract, Candelilla/Jojoba/Rice Bran Polyglyceryl-3 Esters, Mel, Phospholipids, Cassia Angustifolia Seed Polysaccharide, Adenosine, Sphingolipids, Epigallocatechin Gallate, Astaxanthin, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38, Glyceryl Stearate, Sclerotium Gum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Xanthan Gum, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens Oil, Tocopherol, Ascorbic Acid, Corn Starch Modified, Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin, O-Cymen-5-Ol, Sodium Gluconate, Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate, Sodium Polygamma-Glutamate, Polysorbate 60, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Sorbic Acid, Malic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Citral, Limonene, Citronellol, Geraniol, Linalool

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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.

Bisabolol is a gentle skin conditioner, antioxidant, and soothing ingredient.

It's primary claim to fame is soothing and research shows topically applied bisabolol can quiet the chemical messengers that cause your skin to become inflamed, helping to sooth any irritation.

A clinical study found that applying 0.5% bisabolol daily for 8 weeks produced an average 9% decrease in skin pigmentation. Researchers found it can also suppress the process that leads to excess melanin production in skin.

In vitro studies found that bisabolol combined with propylene glycol significantly increased skin permeability by increasing lipid fluidity in the stratum corneum.

You'll likely see use concentrations quite low, usually 0.1-0.2%.

Overall, this is a well-tolerated ingredient that works well in formulas designed for sensitive, reactive, or post-procedure skin.

Ethylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:

The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.

Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.

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.

Sodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.

In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.

Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:

Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.

Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.

You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.

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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