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Estée Lauder vs Simple

Rated by Lovi · Unbiased, science-based skincare AI trained on real user outcomes · How the Fit score works

Estée Lauder and Simple are heritage skincare brands, with the former founded in America in 1946 and the latter established in Britain in 1960. The American brand is beloved for its thoughtful array of moisturizers, serums, eye products, cleansers, and more, all formulated with hydrating elements like hyaluronic acid and glycerin to suit mature skin and sensitive skin best. Conversely, the British brand is deeply loved for its gentle moisturizers, makeup removers, cleansers, and toners that incorporate niacinamide and glycerin to suit oily skin and acne-prone skin best. These offerings differ fundamentally in their targeted complexions and active formulations, providing tailored pathways for distinct skincare needs.

Estée Lauder is an American skincare brand founded in 1946 and owned by The Estée Lauder Companies Inc..

en.wikipedia.orgelcompanies.com

Simple is a British skincare brand founded in 1960 and owned by Unilever PLC since 2011.

en.wikipedia.orgsec.govprnewswire.comsimple.co.uk

This page compares some of the most popular Estée Lauder and Simple products; for every product of both brands, with a fit score for your own skin, use the Lovi app.

Popular Estée Lauder vs Simple products

People Say

Estée LauderSimple
  • Calms redness and irritation Sometimes NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “Does not cause any form of irritation on the skin which I love. — Simple Micellar Cleansing Water”
    • “The only cleanser that doesn't turn my face red. — Simple Micellar Water”
    • “no artificial perfume — Simple Hydrating Light Moisturiser”
    • “doesn't strip the skin — Estée Lauder Advanced Night Cleansing Gelée”
  • Deep hydration and moisturization Mostly MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “skin drinks it up immediately — Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair”
    • “The formula is incredibly hydrating and leaves my skin feeling smooth. — Estée Lauder Re-Nutriv”
    • “texture is dreamy — Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Eye Supercharged Gel-Creme”
    • “banished dryness within days — Simple Replenishing Rich Moisturiser”
  • Non-drying formula Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “Instantly boosts skin's hydration... face doesn't feel dry and tight. — Simple Micellar Cleansing Water”
    • “Leaves my face feeling soft, not tight. — Simple Micellar Water”
    • “Skin feels soft not dry — Simple Refreshing Facial Wash”
    • “Doesn't strip my skin — Estée Lauder Soft Clean Moisture Rich Foaming Cleanser”
  • Lightweight feel Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “Absorbs quickly into the skin — Estée Lauder Revitalizing Supreme+”
    • “watery — Estée Lauder Micro Essence Treatment Lotion”
    • “sinks in instantly — Simple Water Boost Hydrating Gel Cream”
    • “absorbs very quickly — Simple Hydrating Light Moisturiser”
  • Affordable value Not notedOften Mentioned
    • “great value for money — Simple Kind to Skin Soothing Facial Toner”
    • “super affordable — Simple Hydrating Light Moisturiser”
    • “Can't beat the price for the quality. — Simple Micellar Water”
  • Makeup compatibility and base Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “makeup lays well — Simple Hydrating Light Moisturiser”
    • “works well under foundation — Simple Replenishing Rich Moisturiser”
    • “foundation sits beautifully on top — Simple Water Boost Hydrating Gel Cream”
    • “doesn't pill — Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Eye Supercharged Gel-Creme”
  • High price point and expense Mostly MentionedNot noted
    • “way too expensive for the size — Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair”
  • Strong fragrance and scent complaints Often MentionedRarely Noted
    • “Smells like chemicals — Simple Refreshing Facial Wash”
    • “Scent is too overpowering — Estée Lauder Revitalizing Supreme+”
  • Bulky or poor packaging Sometimes NotedRarely Noted
    • “Worried about the snap top bottle leaking when travelling. — Simple Micellar Cleansing Water”
    • “The cap broke off immediately. — Simple Micellar Water”
    • “hard to get last bit out — Simple Replenishing Rich Moisturiser”
    • “lid is hard to open — Estée Lauder Advanced Night Cleansing Gelée”

Estée Lauder vs Simple routines for dry skin

See multi-brand routine · 99% fit

Estée Lauder vs Simple routines for oily skin

See multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Estée Lauder vs Simple routines for combination skin

See multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Questions and answers

Estée Lauder or Simple: which is better?

Simple is better for calming redness and irritation, affordability, and skin with dark spots, where Lovi rates the products on this page as High. Estée Lauder is better for deep hydration and moisturization. Lovi rates the routine fit for dry skin as High for Simple and Average for Estée Lauder.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Antioxidants, 2021

What is the difference between Estée Lauder and Simple?

Estée Lauder focuses on deep hydration for mature and sensitive skin with key ingredients like hyaluronic acid, while Simple offers affordable, fragrance-free options suited for oily and acne-prone skin using niacinamide. Reviewers note that Estée Lauder provides a more radiant glow, whereas Simple is praised for being gentle and value-friendly.

Journal of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2015The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002

Estée Lauder or Simple for dry skin?

Simple fits dry skin better with a High routine level, whereas Estée Lauder has an Average routine level for dry skin. Simple also provides better non-drying formulas and affordable value for this skin type.

Estée Lauder or Simple: which cleanser is better?

Both Estée Lauder and Simple offer quality cleansers, with Estée Lauder providing options like Advanced Night Cleansing Gelée that helps deliver deep hydration while Simple focuses on gentle, sensitive-skin-friendly formulas.

Which is more affordable, Estée Lauder or Simple?

Simple is more affordable than Estée Lauder. Reviewers often mention Estée Lauder for its high price point, while they note Simple for its lightweight, value-friendly moisturizers.

Estée Lauder or Simple: which brand has a better routine fit for skin with dark spots?

Simple has a better routine fit for skin with dark spots, achieving a High rating compared to Estée Lauder's Average level. Simple products on this page often feature niacinamide, which helps reduce cutaneous pigmentation and suppress melanosome transfer.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Antioxidants, 2021

Do Estée Lauder products contain fragrance?

Most Estée Lauder products on this page do not contain fragrance, with only 12 of the 14 listing no fragrance while the DayWear Moisturizer and Soft Clean Moisture Rich Foaming Cleanser include it.

When was Simple founded and who owns it?

Simple was founded in 1960 in the United Kingdom, and it is owned by Unilever PLC.

Estée Lauder or Simple for oily skin?

Both Estée Lauder and Simple are rated High by Lovi for oily skin. Reviewers note that Estée Lauder provides deep hydration, while Simple offers lightweight, value-friendly moisturizers.

Estée Lauder or Simple: which moisturizer is better?

When comparing moisturizers, Estée Lauder provides deeper hydration and moisturization than Simple, while Simple offers more affordable value and a lightweight feel for the products on this page.

Estée Lauder or Simple for sensitive skin?

For sensitive skin, both Estée Lauder and Simple achieve a high Lovi fit level on the products on this page. Estée Lauder offers deep hydration, while Simple provides gentle, sensitive-skin-friendly makeup removers.

Estée Lauder or Simple for acne-prone skin?

Both brands fit acne-prone skin well, as Lovi rates the routines for both Estée Lauder and Simple as High for this skin type.

Research behind their key ingredients

Behind this comparison

Lovi compares products by their fit scores, calculated from the full ingredient list with brand-independent rules our dermatologists and cosmetic chemists build and review, and personalizes every pick with AI trained on the real results of millions of users. Lovi trains its fit score models on a proprietary dataset built from more than 10,000 expert-labeled products and more than 100,000 simulated examples, following an internally consistent methodology presented at Cosmoprof, AMWC, and Skin of Color Update.

  • Nadia Kapleva, MS

    Nadia Kapleva, MS

    Co-founder, Medical Director

    Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer

  • Alexey Shagraev, PhD

    Alexey Shagraev, PhD

    Co-founder, CEO and CTO

    PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex

  • Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc

    Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc

    Medical Board

    Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine

  • Aishani Shah, MD

    Aishani Shah, MD

    Medical Board

    Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD

  • Asya Zubkova, MS

    Asya Zubkova, MS

    Medical Board

    Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member

  • Hanna Kurets, MD

    Hanna Kurets, MD

    Medical Board, Medical Advisor

    Dermatology MD

  • Elina Nazarenko, MD

    Elina Nazarenko, MD

    Medical Board

    Dermatology and diagnostic consultant

  • Victoria Derkova, MS

    Victoria Derkova, MS

    Medical Board

    Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist

How does it fit your skin?

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