Estée Lauder Micro Essence Treatment Lotion With Bio-Ferment Versus Estée Lauder Perfectly Clean Multi-Action Toning Lotion/Refiner
This barrier-repair essence is formulated around Bifida Ferment Lysate and Lactobacillus Ferment to strengthen the skin barrier and hydrate skin.
This oil-control toner is formulated around Zinc PCA and Citric Acid to balance excess oil.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningBifida Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Propanediol
Solvent
PEG-75
HumectantLactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
Humectant
Acetyl Glucosamine
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract
Masking
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Rice Extract
Skin Conditioning
Betaine
Humectant
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingCitric Acid
Buffering
Trehalose
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
PPG-5-Ceteth-20
EmulsifyingPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Disodium EDTA
Sodium Citrate
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Water, Bifida Ferment Lysate, Propanediol, PEG-75, Lactobacillus Ferment, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Acetyl Glucosamine, Sodium Hyaluronate, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract, Caffeine, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Hydrolyzed Rice Extract, Betaine, Maltodextrin, Carbomer, Tromethamine, Citric Acid, Trehalose, Butylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, PPG-5-Ceteth-20, Pentylene Glycol, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Citrate, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate
Water
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
Emollient
Isododecane
EmollientHamamelis Virginiana Water
Astringent
Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate
CleansingSucrose
Humectant
PEG-32
HumectantGentiana Lutea Root Extract
Skin ConditioningSilybum Marianum Extract
Skin Conditioning
Algae Extract
EmollientZinc PCA
Humectant
Sorbitol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
PPG-26-Buteth-26
Skin ConditioningPEG-4 Dilaurate
Emulsifying
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Hexylene Glycol
Emulsifying1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
PEG-6
HumectantCitric Acid
Buffering
Lauramidopropyl Betaine
CleansingParfum
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Dimethicone, Isododecane, Hamamelis Virginiana Water, Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate, Sucrose, PEG-32, Gentiana Lutea Root Extract, Silybum Marianum Extract, Algae Extract, Zinc PCA, Sorbitol, Glycerin, Caffeine, PPG-26-Buteth-26, PEG-4 Dilaurate, Caprylyl Glycol, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Hexylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, PEG-6, Citric Acid, Lauramidopropyl Betaine, Parfum, Phenoxyethanol
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Caffeine is a naturally occurring plant compound found in coffee beans, tea leaves, cocoa pods, and guarana.
As an antioxidant, caffeine protects your skin from free radical damage caused by UV exposure and envionrmnetal stressors.
Early research also shows that caffeine can help calm redness, soothe irritated skin, and support hair growth by stimulating microcirculation in the scalp.
You might have seen eye creams marketing caffeine as a depuffing ingredient. This is because it is a vasoconstrictor meaning it can temporarily constrict blood vessels, though clinical evidence for this specific use is still limited.
Most skincare products contain this ingredient at concentrations between 1-6%. It is able to penetrate skin easily regardless of skin type or thickness.
Just so you know, a very small number of case reports describe caffeine-induced allergy. This ingredient is generally well-tolerated, non-irritating, and non-sensitizing for the majority of people.
Learn more about CaffeineCaprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolCitric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidPhenoxyethanol is one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!).
It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome.
On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive.
Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10).
You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own.
Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU.
Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages.
Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon.
Learn more about PhenoxyethanolWater. It's the most common cosmetic ingredient of all. You'll usually see it at the top of ingredient lists, meaning that it makes up the largest part of the product.
So why is it so popular? Water most often acts as a solvent - this means that it helps dissolve other ingredients into the formulation.
You'll also recognize water as that liquid we all need to stay alive. If you see this, drink a glass of water. Remember to stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water
