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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 established skincare lines offering thoughtful daily care for diverse complexions. The American brand is widely loved for its moisturizers, serums, eye products, and cleansers formulated with hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid and glycerin, suiting mature skin and acne-prone skin best. Meanwhile, the British brand is beloved for its gentle moisturizers, makeup removers, cleansers, and toners incorporating niacinamide and glycerin, which also suit acne-prone skin and mature skin best. Both brands differ through their unique ingredient synergies, with the former featuring hyaluronic acid to lengthen botulinum toxin effects and the latter utilizing niacinamide to reduce hyperpigmentation and improve aging signs.

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 · 95% fit

Estée Lauder vs Simple routines for combination skin

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Questions and answers

Estée Lauder or Simple: which is better?

Simple offers better value, whereas Estée Lauder delivers deeper hydration and moisturization according to reviewers. For dry skin and oily skin, the routine fit is High for Simple and Average for Estée Lauder. Hyaluronic acid helps improve skin quality and signs of skin aging.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

What is the difference between Estée Lauder and Simple?

Estée Lauder offers deep hydration and anti-aging benefits with key ingredients like hyaluronic acid, whereas Simple focuses on affordable, fragrance-free hydration for sensitive skin using niacinamide. Reviewers note that Estée Lauder has a higher price point, while Simple is budget-friendly.

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

Estée Lauder or Simple for dry skin?

Simple offers a High routine fit for dry skin, while Estée Lauder has an Average fit on the products on this page. Reviewers note that Simple provides lightweight, value-friendly moisturizers, whereas Estée Lauder features key ingredients like hyaluronic acid to help deliver deep hydration.

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

Estée Lauder or Simple: which cleanser is better?

For cleansers, Estée Lauder is the better choice for deep hydration, while Simple offers a non-drying formula that calms redness and irritation. Lovi rates the routine fit for cleansers as Average for Estée Lauder and High for Simple.

Which is more affordable, Estée Lauder or Simple?

Simple is more affordable, as reviewers often mention it for providing value-friendly moisturizers compared to Estée Lauder's high price point.

Between Estée Lauder and Simple, which brand has products that contain fragrance?

Estée Lauder offers products on this page that contain fragrance, whereas every Simple product lists no fragrance. Specifically, 12 of 14 Estée Lauder products are fragrance-free, while DayWear Moisturizer and Soft Clean Moisture Rich Foaming Cleanser include fragrance.

How do the founding years and countries of origin compare between Estée Lauder and Simple?

Estée Lauder was founded in the United States in 1946, whereas Simple was founded in the United Kingdom in 1960.

Which brand performs better for deep hydration and moisturization according to reviewers?

Estée Lauder performs better for deep hydration and moisturization according to reviewers. The products on this page help deliver deep hydration as a mostly mentioned benefit.

Estée Lauder or Simple for oily skin?

Simple is the better choice for oily skin, offering a High routine fit compared to Estée Lauder's Average fit on this page. Reviewers often mention Simple for its lightweight, value-friendly moisturizers, while key ingredients like glycerin help provide balanced hydration.

Estée Lauder or Simple: which moisturizer is better?

Simple offers better-fitting moisturizers for the skin types on this page, achieving a High routine fit for dry and oily skin compared to Estée Lauder's Average fit. The products on this page from Simple are noted for lightweight and value-friendly hydration, while Estée Lauder formulas feature key ingredients like hyaluronic acid to help improve skin quality.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

Estée Lauder or Simple for sensitive skin?

For sensitive skin, both Estée Lauder and Simple achieve a High Lovi fit level across the products on this page. Reviewers note that Simple Calms redness and irritation better, while Estée Lauder helps provide deep hydration.

Estée Lauder or Simple for acne-prone skin?

Both Estée Lauder and Simple are well suited for acne-prone skin, as Lovi rates both brands as High for this skin type. Estée Lauder features key ingredients like hyaluronic acid to help support skin hydration, while Simple focuses on gentle, value-friendly formulas.

Journal of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2015

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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