Estée Lauder vs Medik8
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
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
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Cleanser
La Roche-Posay Toleriane Hydrating Gentle Cleanser
Morning · Evening · Once a week
SAR 297.00
-
Moisturizer
Hydr8 B5 Intense
Morning · Evening · Once a week
SAR 304.00
-
SPF
d'Alba Piedmont Waterfull Mild Sunscreen
Morning
SAR 75.00
-
Pre-Cleanser
MISSHA Ultra Hyalon Cleansing Cream
Evening · Once a week
SAR 65.11
-
Cleansing Toner
Press & Glow
Evening
SAR 190.36
-
Serum or Treatment
Bakuchiol Peptides
Evening · Once a week
SAR 321.00
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Enzyme Powder
FANCL Facial Washing Powder
Once a week
SAR 130.30
-
Nourishing Mask
Mediheal Watermide Essential Mask
Once a week
SAR 234.73
-
Cleanser
Advanced Night Cleansing Gelée
Morning · Evening · Once a week
SAR 232.00
-
Hydrating Toner
Micro Essence Treatment Lotion
Morning
SAR 244.35
-
Moisturizer
Revitalizing Supreme+
Morning · Evening · Once a week
SAR 770.00
- SPF DayWear Moisturizer Morning
-
Pre-Cleanser
Take It Away Makeup Remover Lotion
Evening · Once a week
SAR 439.00
-
Cleansing Toner
ROUND LAB 1025 Dokdo Cleansing Water
Evening
SAR 72.64
- Serum or Treatment Perfectionist Pro Evening · Once a week
-
Enzyme Powder
FANCL Facial Washing Powder
Once a week
SAR 130.30
-
Nourishing Mask
Nutritious Melting Soft Creme/Mask
Once a week
SAR 297.00
Buy Medik8 routine · SAR 1,617.50 · 95% fit
Buy Estée Lauder routine · SAR 2,185.29 · 77% fitSee multi-brand routine · 96% fit
Estée Lauder vs Medik8 routines for oily skin
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Cleanser
CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser
Morning · Evening · Once a week
SAR 36.33
-
Hydrating Toner
Some By Mi Snail Truecica Miracle Repair Toner
Morning · Once a week
SAR 53.04
-
Moisturizer
Hydr8 B5 Intense
Morning · Evening · Once a week
SAR 304.00
-
SPF
CeraVe AM Facial Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30
Morning
SAR 46.95
-
Pre-Cleanser
Shu Uemura Ultime8 Sublime Beauty Cleansing Oil
Evening · Once a week
SAR 245.95
-
Cleansing Toner
Press & Glow
Evening
SAR 190.36
-
Serum or Treatment
Oxy-R Peptides
Evening · Once a week
SAR 399.70
-
Enzyme Powder
Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant
Once a week
SAR 157.51
-
Cleansing Mask
Goldfaden MD Facial Detox Mask
Once a week
SAR 328.29
-
Cleanser
Advanced Night Cleansing Gelée
Morning · Evening · Once a week
SAR 232.00
-
Hydrating Toner
Micro Essence Treatment Lotion
Morning · Once a week
SAR 244.35
-
Moisturizer
Revitalizing Supreme+
Morning · Evening · Once a week
SAR 770.00
- SPF DayWear Moisturizer Morning
-
Pre-Cleanser
Take It Away Makeup Remover Lotion
Evening · Once a week
SAR 439.00
-
Cleansing Toner
Caudalie Vinopure Purifying Toner
Evening
SAR 187.00
- Serum or Treatment Perfectionist Pro Evening · Once a week
-
Enzyme Powder
Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant
Once a week
SAR 157.51
-
Cleansing Mask
Goldfaden MD Facial Detox Mask
Once a week
SAR 328.29
Buy Medik8 routine · SAR 1,762.13 · 89% fit
Buy Estée Lauder routine · SAR 2,358.15 · 75% fitSee multi-brand routine · 97% fit
Estée Lauder vs Medik8 routines for combination skin
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Cleanser
Fresh Soy Face Cleanser
Morning · Evening · Once a week
SAR 191.00
-
Hydrating Toner
Paula's Choice Skin Balancing Pore-Reducing Toner
Morning · Once a week
SAR 166.90
-
Moisturizer
Hydr8 B5 Intense
Morning · Evening · Once a week
SAR 304.00
-
SPF
CeraVe AM Facial Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30
Morning
SAR 46.95
-
Pre-Cleanser
Shu Uemura Ultime8 Sublime Beauty Cleansing Oil
Evening · Once a week
SAR 245.95
-
Cleansing Toner
Press & Glow
Evening
SAR 190.36
-
Serum or Treatment
Oxy-R Peptides
Evening · Once a week
SAR 399.70
-
Enzyme Powder
Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant
Once a week
SAR 157.51
-
Cleansing Mask
KORA Organics Turmeric Brightening & Exfoliating Mask
Once a week
SAR 168.77
-
Cleanser
Advanced Night Cleansing Gelée
Morning · Evening · Once a week
SAR 232.00
-
Hydrating Toner
Micro Essence Treatment Lotion
Morning · Once a week
SAR 244.35
-
Moisturizer
Revitalizing Supreme+
Morning · Evening · Once a week
SAR 770.00
- SPF DayWear Moisturizer Morning
-
Pre-Cleanser
Take It Away Makeup Remover Lotion
Evening · Once a week
SAR 439.00
-
Cleansing Toner
Medicube Zero Pore Pad 2.0
Evening
SAR 64.80
-
Serum or Treatment
Advanced Night Repair
Evening · Once a week
SAR 259.20
-
Enzyme Powder
Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant
Once a week
SAR 157.51
-
Cleansing Mask
KORA Organics Turmeric Brightening & Exfoliating Mask
Once a week
SAR 168.77
Buy Medik8 routine · SAR 1,871.14 · 93% fit
Buy Estée Lauder routine · SAR 2,335.63 · 77% fitSee multi-brand routine · 97% fit
Questions and answers
Estée Lauder or Medik8: which is better?
Medik8 is generally better for sensitive, dry, and acne-prone skin, offering superior routine fits and skin texture improvements compared to Estée Lauder. Both brands share key ingredients like hyaluronic acid, which helps hydrate the skin.
Journal of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2015Drug Delivery, 2017
Estée Lauder or Medik8 for dry skin?
For dry skin, Medik8 is a Superior fit while Estée Lauder is High. Both brands feature deep hydration, but Medik8 uses key ingredients like hyaluronic acid to support skin health.
Journal of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2015Dermatologic Therapy, 2022
Estée Lauder or Medik8: which cleanser is better?
Both Estée Lauder and Medik8 offer well-regarded cleansers on this page, with Estée Lauder featuring options like the Advanced Night Cleansing Gelée that reviewers find effective for deep cleansing and makeup removal. Meanwhile, Medik8 provides the Surface Radiance Cleanse, which achieves a Superior fit level for acne-prone skin and skin with dark spots.
Which is more affordable, Estée Lauder or Medik8?
Both Estée Lauder and Medik8 feature a high price point among the products on this page, so neither brand is more affordable.
How do Estée Lauder and Medik8 compare for treating skin with dark spots?
For treating skin with dark spots, Medik8 fits better with a High level, whereas Estée Lauder achieves an Average level on the products on this page. Topical hyaluronic acid, found across both brands, helps support skin hydration.
Dermatologic Therapy, 2022Journal of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2015
Which brand has more fragrance-free products, Estée Lauder or Medik8?
Estée Lauder has more fragrance-free products on this page, with 12 out of 14 products listing no fragrance compared to 11 out of 12 for Medik8.
Estée Lauder or Medik8 for oily skin?
Both Estée Lauder and Medik8 fit oily skin well, as the products on this page achieve a High Lovi fit level for this skin type. Reviewers often mention deep hydration for Estée Lauder and gentle serums for Medik8.
Journal of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2015Dermatologic Therapy, 2022
Estée Lauder or Medik8: which moisturizer is better?
Medik8 is generally better for moisturizers on this page, as its routine fit for dry skin is Superior compared to Estée Lauder's High fit level. Both brands feature hyaluronic acid across their products, which helps provide deep hydration.
Journal of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2015Dermatologic Therapy, 2022
Estée Lauder or Medik8 for sensitive skin?
Medik8 provides a Superior routine fit for sensitive skin, whereas Estée Lauder achieves a High fit level on the products on this page.
Estée Lauder or Medik8 for acne-prone skin?
Both brands offer products with a Superior fit for acne-prone skin on the products on this page, but Medik8 is noted more for gentle and non-irritating serums while Estée Lauder stands out for effective cleansing and deep hydration.
Research behind their key ingredients
Topical anti-inflammatory effects of isorhamnetin glycosides isolated from Opuntia ficus-indica
Chrysin protects epidermal keratinocytes from UVA- and UVB-induced damage
Vitamin C-squalene bioconjugate promotes epidermal thickening and collagen production in human skin
Effects of glyceryl glucoside on AQP3 expression, barrier function and hydration of human skin
Reduction in the appearance of facial hyperpigmentation by topical N-acetyl glucosamine
Another Reason for Using Caffeine in Dermocosmetics: Sunscreen Adjuvant
A comparative study of gluconolactone versus benzoyl peroxide in the treatment of acne
Evaluation of moisturizing and irritation potential of sacha inchi oil
Nanostructured Lipid Carrier for Topical Application of N-Acetyl Glucosamine
Skin recovery by Lavandula angustifolia leaf callus extract: Redox control of Nrf2 signaling
The anti wrinkle efficacy of synthetic hexapeptide (Argireline) in Chinese Subjects
Functional properties and skin care effects of sodium trehalose sulfate
Targeting Circadian Rhythm for the Regulation of Skin Collagen Metabolism
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.
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Co-founder, Medical Director
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer
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Co-founder, CEO and CTO
PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
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Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
Medical Board
Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
-

Medical Board
Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
-

Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member
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Medical Board, Medical Advisor
Dermatology MD
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Elina Nazarenko, MD
Medical Board
Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
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Victoria Derkova, MS
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
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