Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Recovery Complex II review

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New year, new serum

Estee Lauder is part of the reason I grew up to be the beauty fanatic I am today. When I was a child, my mom used all kinds of Estee Lauder treasures, like a sea-shell shaped powder compact and an eyeshadow palette with mermaid-hued colors. As a result, the brand has always seemed to be the pinnacle of grown-up luxury to me.

But I didn’t really know anything about the woman herself until I did a little research for this post. Born Josephine Esther Mentzer in Queens, NY, Estée (a fancy version of her nickname, Esty) had a Hungarian uncle who formulated skin creams in the family’s home. Estee starting out selling skin care and makeup to women in beauty salons; then, in 1946, she and husband Joseph Lauder officially launched their own company. A year later, Saks Fifth Avenue ordered $800 worth of products; this doesn’t seem like much, but in today’s terms, that’s a little over $8,700! Estee Lauder, the company, was on its way.

Estee was a marketing pioneer who built an empire. She was witty, too– one of her quotes was “Telephone, Telegraph, Tell-a Woman,” describing the power of word of mouth advertising.

All these years later, women are still talking… and I’m here to tell you about Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Recovery Complex II (1 fl. oz. $62). When I opened the box, I immediately sensed that there was something powerful inside. With its sleek, heavy bottle, this serum looks like serious business.

When I read the clinical test findings, I was extra-intrigued:
• More than 75% of women felt their skin looked younger in 4 weeks, with smoother, stronger, hydrated skin
• 82% reported immediate hydration of their skin, which appeared younger, radiant and more toned
• 83% reported healthier, fresher, more rested-looking skin in 4 weeks

“Wake up to more beautiful skin every day” is the company’s tag line, and I couldn’t wait to see if it was true. I did this recommended serum ritual every night for three weeks:
1. Use the dropper to apply a tiny drop on each fingertip of one hand.
2. Touch fingertips of hands together.
3. Massage serum over face and neck, starting at the center, outward.

The incredibly rich (yet oil free) night serum is a fragrance free mixture of vitamin- and plant-based antioxidants. It sinks in immediately, almost disappearing. While the company recommends using the serum underneath moisturizer, there were many nights when I just used the serum alone. Despite its lightweight formula, it seems to lock moisture in.

So what about the claim that with regular use, lines and wrinkles will look significantly reduced? While my lines and wrinkles are not too terribly pronounced, they definitely look better after three weeks of using Advanced Night Repair. Overall, my skin does look plumper and smoother, and the winter dryness that I dread is nowhere to be seen.

I love serums in general, and Advanced Night Repair is as nice as any I’ve used. Because it’s concentrated, it’s a good value, too. After three weeks, I’ve only used about a fifth of the bottle. The world of Estee Lauder skincare is uncharted territory for me, and based on the serum’s performance, I’m so excited to explore more options from this classic line.

we heartsters – do you have a favorite Estee Lauder product? Share it in the comments.

Melissa loves road trips, bargain shopping, drive-in movies, lip gloss and rock ‘n’ roll. She lives in Baltimore with her precious pups Zeus and Bellarina.
skin tone: NC25
skin type: dry to normal
favorite beauty product: skincare