🇳🇱Netherlands

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 brands offering distinct approaches to daily care, with the American label founded in 1946 and the British one in 1960. The former is beloved for comprehensive moisturizers, serums, eye products, and cleansers formulated with hydrating hyaluronic acid and glycerin, suiting acne-prone and mature skin best. Conversely, the latter is treasured for gentle moisturizers, makeup removers, cleansers, and toners crafted with niacinamide and glycerin to care for acne-prone skin and skin with dark spots. Ultimately, both differ through their unique ingredient profiles and target skin types, providing specialized options like the Micro Essence Treatment Lotion and the Kind to Skin Soothing Facial Toner.

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 · 95% fit

Estée Lauder vs Simple routines for combination skin

See multi-brand routine · 94% fit

Questions and answers

Estée Lauder or Simple: which is better?

Simple is better for oily and combination skin with a High routine fit compared to Estée Lauder's Average fit, while both brands offer High routine fit levels for dry, sensitive, acne-prone, and mature skin. Simple features key ingredients like niacinamide and glycerin without any fragrance across the products on this page, whereas Estée Lauder centers on hyaluronic acid and glycerin with a higher price point.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Antioxidants, 2021

What is the difference between Estée Lauder and Simple?

Estée Lauder offers deeper hydration and targets mature skin with key ingredients like hyaluronic acid, while Simple provides more affordable, fragrance-free products that are often better suited for oily skin and dark spots.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002

Estée Lauder or Simple for dry skin?

Both Estée Lauder and Simple are a High fit for dry skin on the products on this page. Estée Lauder leans towards deep hydration, while Simple offers value-friendly moisturizers.

Estée Lauder or Simple: which moisturizer is better?

When comparing moisturizers, Estée Lauder is noted on the page for providing deep hydration and moisturization, whereas Simple is known for lightweight, value-friendly moisturizers and better makeup compatibility. Both brands feature key hydrating ingredients like glycerin across their products.

Which is more affordable, Estée Lauder or Simple?

Simple is more affordable, as reviewers often mention its lightweight, value-friendly moisturizers.

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

Simple offers fragrance-free products across its entire range on this page, whereas Estée Lauder features fragrance in two of its fourteen products. Key ingredients like hyaluronic acid help provide deep hydration for Estée Lauder, while niacinamide helps control pigmentation for Simple.

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

Estée Lauder or Simple for oily skin?

Simple is the better choice for oily skin, as it achieves a High routine fit compared to Estée Lauder's Average fit on this page. Reviewers note that Simple offers lightweight, value-friendly moisturizers.

Estée Lauder or Simple for sensitive skin?

Both Estée Lauder and Simple are well suited for sensitive skin, achieving a High routine fit level on this page. Reviewers note that Estée Lauder offers deep hydration, while Simple is recognized for providing gentle, sensitive-skin-friendly makeup removers.

Estée Lauder or Simple for acne-prone skin?

Both Estée Lauder and Simple are a High fit for acne-prone skin on the products on this page. Estée Lauder features key ingredients like hyaluronic acid, which helps with skin quality and aging.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

Estée Lauder or Simple for skin with dark spots?

Simple tends to be a better fit for skin with dark spots, achieving a High routine fit level compared to Estée Lauder's Average level. Simple products feature niacinamide, which helps reduce cutaneous pigmentation.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Antioxidants, 2021

Estée Lauder or Simple for oily acne-prone skin?

Simple offers a High routine fit for oily acne-prone skin, while Estée Lauder reaches a High level on this page. Reviewers report that Simple provides lightweight, value-friendly moisturizers and gentle makeup removers.

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