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Estée Lauder vs Medik8

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

Estée Lauder and Medik8 are established skincare brands offering comprehensive ranges of moisturizers, serums, eye products, cleansers, and more. The American brand is beloved for formulations with hydrating hyaluronic acid and glycerin that suit acne-prone skin and mature skin best, with standout solutions including the Micro Essence Treatment Lotion, DayWear Moisturizer, and Futurist Peptide-Power Serum Primer. Meanwhile, the British brand builds its products around hyaluronic acid to fit dry skin and dry sensitive skin best, while featuring top-rated options like the Surface Radiance Cleanse, Oxy-R Peptides, and Total Moisture Daily Facial Cream. While both brands harness hyaluronic acid to lengthen the effect of botulinum toxin, they differ in their heritage, founding years, ownership, and specific hero formulations.

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

en.wikipedia.orgelcompanies.com

Medik8 is a British skincare brand founded in 2009 and owned by L'Oréal Groupe since 2025.

loreal.commedik8.comtracxn.com

This page compares some of the most popular Estée Lauder and Medik8 products; for every product of both brands, with a fit score for your own skin, use the Lovi app.

Popular Estée Lauder vs Medik8 products

People Say

Estée LauderMedik8
  • 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”
    • “Restores moisture — Medik8 Liquid Peptides”
  • Skin texture improvement and smoothing Often MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “absorbed effortlessly — Medik8 Total Moisture Daily Facial Cream”
    • “My skin was smoother, my skin texture felt more resurfaced. — Medik8 Sleep Glycolic”
    • “Absorbs fast — Medik8 Liquid Peptides”
    • “Absorbs quickly into the skin — Estée Lauder Revitalizing Supreme+”
  • Gentle and non-drying formula Often MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “zero irritation or peeling — Medik8 CRYSTAL RETINAL 3”
    • “only Vitamin C my sensitive skin can tolerate — Medik8 C-Tetra Serum”
    • “Best retinol replacement — Medik8 Bakuchiol Peptides”
    • “doesn't strip the skin — Estée Lauder Advanced Night Cleansing Gelée”
  • Radiance, glow and brightening Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “I wake up glowing. It adds back that youthful bloom that I've lost. — Medik8 Sleep Glycolic”
    • “unlocked a serious glow — Medik8 C-Tetra Serum”
    • “immediate glow — Medik8 Super C Ferulic”
    • “gives me that glass skin look — Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair”
  • Effective cleansing and makeup removal Sometimes NotedRarely Noted
    • “removes all my makeup effortlessly — Estée Lauder Advanced Night Cleansing Gelée”
    • “Melts away Double Wear foundation instantly — Estée Lauder Take It Away Makeup Remover Lotion”
    • “Leaves my skin very clean — Estée Lauder Soft Clean Moisture Rich Foaming Cleanser”
    • “pores feel cleaner — Medik8 Surface Radiance Cleanse”
  • Pleasant scent Sometimes NotedRarely Noted
    • “pleasant cucumber fragrance — Estée Lauder DayWear Moisturizer”
    • “Smells luxurious and expensive — Estée Lauder Revitalizing Supreme+”
    • “Smells fresh and clean — Estée Lauder Take It Away Makeup Remover Lotion”
    • “smell is gorgeous — Medik8 C-Tetra Serum”
  • High price point Mostly MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “Expensive per bottle — Medik8 Liquid Peptides”
    • “very expensive for amount — Medik8 CRYSTAL RETINAL 3”
    • “hefty price tag — Medik8 C-Tetra Serum”
    • “way too expensive for the size — Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair”
  • Lack of results or effectiveness Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “didn't notice any difference — Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair”
    • “just expensive water — Estée Lauder Micro Essence Treatment Lotion”
    • “Not as effective as retinol — Medik8 Bakuchiol Peptides”
    • “no difference — Medik8 Oxy-R Peptides”
  • Packaging issues and bulky design Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “lid is hard to open — Estée Lauder Advanced Night Cleansing Gelée”
    • “Please make a jar or refill that is not as big and heavy. — Estée Lauder Re-Nutriv”
    • “Glass bottle breaks easily — Medik8 Liquid Peptides”
    • “hard to get last bit — Medik8 CRYSTAL RETINAL 3”
  • Scent and fragrance complaints Often MentionedRarely Noted
    • “metallic scent — Medik8 Super C Ferulic”
    • “Scent is too overpowering — Estée Lauder Revitalizing Supreme+”

Estée Lauder vs Medik8 routines for dry skin

See multi-brand routine · 98% fit

Estée Lauder vs Medik8 routines for oily skin

See multi-brand routine · 95% fit

Estée Lauder vs Medik8 routines for combination skin

See multi-brand routine · 94% fit

Questions and answers

Estée Lauder or Medik8: which is better?

Medik8 is better suited for dry, sensitive, and combination skin types, offering superior routine fits and effective texture improvements compared to Estée Lauder. Both brands share a high fit for acne-prone and mature skin, but Medik8 generally helps with deep hydration and brightening with a lower risk of strong fragrance. Topical hyaluronic acid, featured across the products on this page, helps improve skin quality and signs of aging.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022Drug Delivery, 2017

What is the difference between Estée Lauder and Medik8?

Medik8 stands out for skin texture improvement, brightening, and gentle formulas, while Estée Lauder offers deep hydration and effective cleansing among the products on this page. For routine fit, Medik8 achieves a superior rating for dry, combination, sensitive, and dry sensitive skin, whereas Estée Lauder fits best for acne-prone skin, mature skin, and oily acne-prone skin.

Estée Lauder or Medik8 for dry skin?

Medik8 is a better fit for dry skin, offering a superior routine compared to Estée Lauder. The products on this page from Medik8 help deliver deep hydration and plumping.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

Estée Lauder or Medik8: which cleanser is better?

Both brands offer strong options, but the products on this page show Estée Lauder is well-suited for effective cleansing and makeup removal. Medik8 is often noted for gentle, non-drying formulas, with its Surface Radiance Cleanse achieving a Superior Lovi fit level for acne-prone skin.

Which is more affordable, Estée Lauder or Medik8?

Both Estée Lauder and Medik8 face reviewer complaints about a high price point. The products on this page do not provide specific pricing data to determine which brand is more affordable.

Estée Lauder or Medik8: which brand has more fragrance-free products?

Medik8 has 11 of 12 products on this page that list no fragrance, while Estée Lauder has 12 of 14 products on this page that list no fragrance.

Estée Lauder or Medik8 for oily skin?

Medik8 is a better choice for oily skin, as the products on this page achieve a High routine fit compared to Estée Lauder's Average fit. Medik8's formulas help provide deep hydration and targeted texture improvement without feeling heavy.

Estée Lauder or Medik8: which moisturizer is better?

Medik8 is generally better for moisturization, as its routine fit for dry skin is superior compared to Estée Lauder's high fit. Furthermore, Medik8 helps provide deep hydration and plumping with products like Total Moisture Daily Facial Cream.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

Estée Lauder or Medik8 for sensitive skin?

Medik8 is a superior choice compared to Estée Lauder for sensitive skin. The products on this page help provide deep hydration and gentle care.

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

Estée Lauder or Medik8: which serum is better?

Both Estée Lauder and Medik8 offer great serums on this page, with Estée Lauder featuring advanced hydration and Medik8 focusing on gentle texture improvement and brightening. For instance, Estée Lauder uses hyaluronic acid, which helps with skin moisture and hydration, while Medik8 provides popular options like Crystal Retinal for anti-aging and skin smoothing.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

Estée Lauder or Medik8 for acne-prone skin?

Both Estée Lauder and Medik8 offer high routine fit levels for acne-prone skin based on the products on this page. Medik8 helps deliver gentle and non-irritating serums, while Estée Lauder features effective cleansing options such as the Advanced Night Cleansing Gelée with a High Lovi fit for acne-prone skin.

Estée Lauder or Medik8 for skin with dark spots?

Medik8 is a better fit for skin with dark spots, achieving a High routine fit compared to Estée Lauder's Average level. Medik8 features specialized products on this page like Oxy-R Peptides and CRYSTAL RETINAL 3 that target pigmentation effectively.

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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