🇮🇪Ireland

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 · 98% 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 · 95% fit

Questions and answers

Estée Lauder or Simple: which is better?

Simple is better for value and sensitive skin, whereas Estée Lauder provides deeper hydration and anti-aging benefits through ingredients like hyaluronic acid. Simple offers a more affordable routine, though the products on this page may occasionally cause breakouts.

Journal of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2015Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

What is the difference between Estée Lauder and Simple?

Estée Lauder offers luxury skincare known for deep hydration and active formulas featuring hyaluronic acid, whereas Simple provides affordable, fragrance-free products focused on gentle, sensitive-skin care using niacinamide. Lovi rates Estée Lauder as High for mature skin routines, while Simple achieves a High fit level for dry, combination, sensitive, and acne-prone skin routines.

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

Estée Lauder or Simple for dry skin?

Simple is the better choice for dry skin, as Lovi rates its routine fit as High compared to Average for Estée Lauder. The products on this page for both brands feature glycerin, while Estée Lauder adds hyaluronic acid, which helps improve skin hydration.

Journal of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2015Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

Estée Lauder or Simple: which cleanser is better?

Both Estée Lauder and Simple offer quality cleansers, with Estée Lauder providing options like the Advanced Night Cleansing Gelée that helps deliver deep hydration while maintaining a gentle feel. Simple features the Refreshing Facial Wash, which is designed to provide a non-drying formula that helps cleanse sensitive skin effectively.

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 Simple is noted for providing affordable value.

Which brand has products with fragrance, Estée Lauder or Simple?

Estée Lauder has products with fragrance, whereas every Simple product on this page lists no fragrance in its ingredients.

Estée Lauder or Simple for oily skin?

Both Estée Lauder and Simple offer an equal level of fit for oily skin, with Lovi rating them as High. Estée Lauder products on this page help deliver deep hydration, while Simple products on this page are noted for their lightweight feel and affordable value.

Estée Lauder or Simple: which moisturizer is better?

Simple offers more affordable, lightweight moisturizers that reviewers often note for providing a budget-friendly value. Estée Lauder provides deeper hydration across its products on this page, utilizing key ingredients like hyaluronic acid.

Journal of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2015Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

Estée Lauder or Simple for sensitive skin?

Simple helps sensitive skin with a High routine fit level, offering fragrance-free products on this page and formulas known for being gentle and sensitive-skin-friendly. Estée Lauder also achieves a High routine fit level for sensitive skin, though 2 of its 14 products on this page list fragrance.

Estée Lauder or Simple for acne-prone skin?

Both Estée Lauder and Simple are a High fit for acne-prone skin according to Lovi. Estée Lauder products on this page feature key ingredients like hyaluronic acid, which helps with wound healing, while Simple products utilize niacinamide, which may help control skin issues.

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

Estée Lauder or Simple for mature skin?

For mature skin, Lovi rates both Estée Lauder and Simple as High for routine fit. Estée Lauder products on this page feature hyaluronic acid for skin quality and signs of aging.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

Estée Lauder or Simple for skin with dark spots?

Simple does better for skin with dark spots, with Lovi rating its routine fit as High compared to Average for Estée Lauder. Simple features niacinamide across its products, which helps reduce cutaneous pigmentation.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Antioxidants, 2021

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?

Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.

QR code: get the Lovi app
Download on theApp Store Get it onGoogle Play