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Product Comparison

Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of Milk Makeup Watermelon Brightening Serum versus Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Recovery Complex II .

Last updated on October 13, 2023. Published on March 04, 2021

Overview

What they are

These products are both serums. They have a total of 13 ingredients in common

Cool Features

They both contain hyaluronic acid, peptides and Vitamin E

Suited For

They're both likely to be good for dry skin and brightening skin

Free From

They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, common allergens, parabens, silicones or sulfates

We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that need an update? Let us know.

Serum American Brand United States
Serum American Brand United States

Serum

Serums are highly concentrated with ingredients to provide skin with benefits. They should be used after cleansing and before moisturizing.

Serum

Serums are highly concentrated with ingredients to provide skin with benefits. They should be used after cleansing and before moisturizing.

Price

Shop

Buy Watermelon Brightening Serum

Starts at $36.00
Shop

Buy Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Recovery Complex II

Starts at $41.89

Ingredient Info

Click any item below to learn more and view relevant ingredients.
alcohol-free
silicon-free
fragrance-free
sulfate-free
paraben-free
oil-free
fungal-acne safe
reef-safe
eu-allergen-free
vegan
cruelty-free
alcohol-free
silicon-free
fragrance-free
sulfate-free
paraben-free
oil-free
fungal-acne safe
reef-safe
eu-allergen-free
vegan
cruelty-free

At a glance

Click on any of the items below to learn more

Notable Ingredients

Vitamin C
Vitamin E
Hyaluronic Acid
Peptides (2)

Benefits

Hydrating
Brightening (3)

Concerns

May Worsen Oily Skin
Eczema

Notable Ingredients

Vitamin E
Hyaluronic Acid
Peptides

Benefits

Hydrating (2)
Reduces Irritation
Brightening

Concerns

Irritating
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Ingredients Compared

Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.

Ingredients Side-by-side

Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.

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Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.

1
What it does: Skin Conditioning, Solvent
Community Rating: Loved

Water. 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. Talk about multi-purpose! If you see this, drink a glass of water. Stay hydrated!

Learn more about Water

Milk Makeup Watermelon Brightening Serum contains this as ingredient number 1.

Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Recovery Complex II contains this as ingredient number 1.

2
What it does: Humectant, Masking, Skin Conditioning, Solvent
Community Rating: Mixed

Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:

  • It is a solvent, meaning that it helps to dissolve other ingredients. This also enhances the absorption of the product into one's skin.
  • It is a humectant, which means that it helps attract moisture into the skin.
  • It helps improve product application.

Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient. It is unlikely to irritate skin, and works well with pretty much all other ingredients.

Milk Makeup Watermelon Brightening Serum contains this as ingredient number 2.

Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Recovery Complex II contains this as ingredient number 6.

3
What it does: Emollient, Humectant, Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Disliked

Bis-Peg-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane belongs to the siloxanes and silicones classes. It is synthetically created and has a waxy composition.

Bis-Peg-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane is a humectant and emollient, meaning it helps hydrate the skin. Humectants draw moisture to your skin, while emollients prevent moisture from escaping.

Milk Makeup Watermelon Brightening Serum contains this as ingredient number 3.

Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Recovery Complex II contains this as ingredient number 5.

4
What it does: Preservative
Community Rating: Very Disliked

Phenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent germ and microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.

It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.

Milk Makeup Watermelon Brightening Serum contains this as ingredient number 8.

Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Recovery Complex II contains this as ingredient number 38.

5
What it does: Emollient, Humectant, Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Liked

Caprylyl Glycol is a humectant and emollient, meaning it attracts and preserves moisture.

It is a common ingredient in many products, especially those designed to hydrate skin. The primary benefits are retaining moisture, skin softening, and promoting a healthy skin barrier.

Though Caprylyl Glycol is an alcohol derived from fatty acids, it is not the kind that can dry out skin.

This ingredient is also used as a preservative to extend the life of products. It has slight antimicrobial properties.

Learn more about Caprylyl Glycol

Milk Makeup Watermelon Brightening Serum contains this as ingredient number 13.

Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Recovery Complex II contains this as ingredient number 21.

6
What it does: Emulsifying, Skin Conditioning, Solvent
Community Rating: Disliked

Hexylene Glycol is a surfactant. Glycols are a class of alcohols. Hexylene Glycol is a surfactant and emulsifier.

As a surfactant, Hexylene Glycol helps gather dirt and oil on your skin to be washed away.

As an emulsifier, Hexylene Glycol helps keep water and oil together. This prevents them from separating in a product. Hexylene Glycol also thins out the texture of a product by lessening viscosity.

Hexylene Glycol has a small molecular weight.

Learn more about Hexylene Glycol

Milk Makeup Watermelon Brightening Serum contains this as ingredient number 16.

Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Recovery Complex II contains this as ingredient number 32.

7
What it does: Emollient, Emulsifying, Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Disliked

Lecithin is a term for a group of substances found in plants, animals, and humans. They are made up of mixture of fatty acids. These fatty acids usually are a mixture of phosphoric acid's choline ester connected to stearic, oleic, and palmitic acids. Most lecithins are created from plant ingredients scuh as sunflower.

Lecithin is an emollient. Emollients help soften the skin and creates a barrier to keep moisture in.

As an emulsifier, it also helps prevent water and oil ingredients from separating. Lecithin can help ingredients be better absorbed by the skin. The phospholipids in Lecithin can produce liposomes. Liposomes help other ingredients get through the skin barrier.

Learn more about Lecithin

Milk Makeup Watermelon Brightening Serum contains this as ingredient number 18.

Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Recovery Complex II contains this as ingredient number 12.

8
What it does: Emulsion Stabilising, Gel Forming
Community Rating: Disliked

Carbomer is a polymer of acrylic acid. Its main role is to create gel consistency within products.

Carbomer is commonly found in many types of cosmetics products. It is found to be safe in concentrations up to 15%. However, a high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Most products contain 1% of less of carbomer.

Milk Makeup Watermelon Brightening Serum contains this as ingredient number 20.

Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Recovery Complex II contains this as ingredient number 33.

9
What it does: Antioxidant, Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Liked

Tocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.

One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.

Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.

Learn more about Tocopheryl Acetate

Milk Makeup Watermelon Brightening Serum contains this as ingredient number 22.

Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Recovery Complex II contains this as ingredient number 30.

10
What it does: Humectant, Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Loved

Sodium Hyaluronate is hyaluronic acid's salt form. It is commonly derived from the sodium salt of hyaluronic acid.

Like hyaluronic acid, it is great at holding water and acts as a humectant. This makes it a great skin hydrating ingredient.

Sodium Hyaluronate is naturally occurring in our bodies and is mostly found in eye fluid and joints.

These are some other common types of Hyaluronic Acid:

Learn more about Sodium Hyaluronate

Milk Makeup Watermelon Brightening Serum contains this as ingredient number 38.

Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Recovery Complex II contains this as ingredient number 19.

11
What it does: Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Mixed

Ethylhexylglycerin (we can't pronounce this either) is commonly used as a preservative and skin softener. It is derived from glyceryl.

You might see Ethylhexylglycerin often paired with other preservatives such as phenoxyethanol. Ethylhexylglycerin has been found to increase the effectiveness of these other preservatives.

Milk Makeup Watermelon Brightening Serum contains this as ingredient number 39.

Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Recovery Complex II contains this as ingredient number 14.

12
What it does: Emulsifying, Emulsion Stabilising, Gel Forming, Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Disliked

Xanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.

On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.

Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.

Learn more about Xanthan Gum

Milk Makeup Watermelon Brightening Serum contains this as ingredient number 40.

Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Recovery Complex II contains this as ingredient number 37.

13
What it does: Cosmetic Colorant

Ci 19140 is also known as Tartrazine. Tartrazine is a synthetic dye used in cosmetics, foods, and medicine to add a yellow color.

Tartrazine is created from petroleum and is water-soluble.

Some people may experience allergies from this dye, especially asthmatics and those with an aspirin intolerance.

Learn more about CI 19140

Milk Makeup Watermelon Brightening Serum contains this as ingredient number 44.

Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Recovery Complex II contains this as ingredient number 40.

Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these two products.

32% are loved or liked
7% have mixed ratings
34% are disliked or very disliked
27% have no rating yet
35% are loved or liked
13% have mixed ratings
23% are disliked or very disliked
30% have no rating yet

Usage

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Reviews

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Milk Makeup Watermelon Brightening Serum 44 ingredients

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Our Dupe Finder has found 50 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to Milk Makeup Watermelon Brightening Serum.

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Our Dupe Finder has found 3 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Recovery Complex II.

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