Elizabeth Arden vs Lancome (The Definitive Guide)

Famed for their luxurious skincare products packed with efficacious actives, both Elizabeth Arden and Lancome are more than worthy of occupying some shelf space in your bathroom.

Come with us as we compare their best-selling anti-aging products side-by-side to help you decide which is best for you and your skincare routine. Enjoy!

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Elizabeth Arden vs Lancome

As many of you already know, anti-aging is serious business. It’s a cardinal rule to start “young” (AKA in your 20s) and change up your routine with each decade to address different skin concerns. More importantly, though, is picking the right products to get the job done.

Sure, your drug store buys are better than no skincare routine at all, but investing a bit more in better quality brands will make a considerable difference. (Trust us.) And even better than finding a skincare lineup for each decade would be finding one that’s strong, yet gentle enough for every decade. (Yes, this does exist.)

To spare you from hours of personal research, we’ve examined two renowned brands for your consideration: Elizabeth Arden and Lancôme.

Elizabeth Arden’s threesome leans heavily on ceramides to maintain or achieve younger-looking skin. Their Advanced Ceramide Capsules Daily Youth Restoring Serum, Advanced Ceramide Lift Day Cream, and Advanced Ceramide Lift Night Cream are a majorly stellar anti-aging trio (which we’ll expand on next).

Let’s start with the Ceramide Capsules. These small but mighty spheres contain a ceramide-rich serum that aims to minimize signs of aging by replenishing the skin’s lipid barrier. In doing so, this solution also improves skin texture, radiance, and hydration while supporting skin’s natural collagen for a firmer, smoother look. It’s no wonder that this has a 4.6-star rating and over 2,000 reviews!

Next, the Advanced Ceramide Lift Day Cream SPF 15 is described as a “fast-absorbing gel cream” that’s jam-packed with ceramides to re-up your skin’s supply (which diminishes greatly over time). Aside from ceramides, it’s complemented by the presence of tetrapeptides, edelweiss extract, Vitamin E, and red algae to tighten the skin for visibly lifted and more defined facial contours. (So, basically a facial workout in a jar.) Oh, and we can’t forget to nod to SPF, which obviously provides protection against harmful sun rays.

The Advanced Ceramide Lift Night Cream is a silky formula that works similarly to the day cream as their ingredients are basically identical (minus SPF, of course). The day cream earned a 4.2-star rating and 94 reviews thus far, while the night cream has an impressive 4.7 stars with 867 reviews.

Now, onto Lancôme. The Advanced Genifique Serum, Renergie Lift Multi-Action Ultra Face Cream SPF 30, and Renergie Lift Multi-Action Night Cream rely on an array of complex ingredients to optimize results.

Created with Bifidus prebiotic 10%, hyaluronic acid, and Vitamin C, Lancôme’s Advanced Genifique Face Serum is ideal for dry, oil, and sensitive skin types. Its ingredients work in tandem to lock in hydration and defend against external aggressors that cause signs of aging. So, you can expect a plump, evenly toned dermis. What’s more is that a 4.8-star rating and over 6,000 reviews sing the praises of this formula.

The Renergie Lift Multi-Action Ultra Face Cream SPF 30 is made with jojoba oil, a hyaluronic acid derivative, an LHA derivative, and linseed extract to correct sagging, uneven skin tone, dryness, and reduce the appearance of dark spots. Additionally, its SPF 30 formulation carries the SCF seal of approval as a broad-spectrum sunscreen.

The day cream’s nighttime counterpart offers similar results but puts a larger emphasis on overall hydration. That said, a mix of hyaluronic acid, shea butter, apricot kernel oil, and black tea will leave you with radiant, deeply nourished skin all night long.

On Ulta.com, Elizabeth Arden’s serum capsules are $54 for 30ct., $92 for 60ct., and $114 for 90ct. The day and night cream are $89 for a 1.7oz. jar. Moreover, you’ll need to shell out $115 for the standard 1.7oz bottle of Lancôme’s serum. Then, the day and night cream are just as pricey at $135 for 1.7oz and $120 for 2.6oz, respectively.

So, it appears you can’t go wrong with either brand. But, given that plenty of skincare aficionados (us included) are concerned about animal testing, sustainability, and philanthropic efforts, we’d be remiss to not acknowledge each company’s business ethics.

Elizabeth Arden is not cruelty-free. Per their website, they typically don’t test on animals except for instances where it is required by law. They’re also not 100% vegan, but they do have some vegan options. With concerns for their eco-friendly and humanitarian actions, it doesn’t appear that they have anything established just yet. Their website states that they are working towards supporting programs that will reduce their carbon footprint and they hope to work with causes that benefit women (i.e., promoting self-confidence, educational opportunities for young people).

According to Cruelty-Free Kitty, Lancôme isn’t cruelty-free. Further, they may test on animals either themselves or through a third party. They also don’t market themselves as offering vegan-friendly options. However, regarding charitable initiatives, Lancôme funds their “Write Her Future” program, which partners with the NAACP to provide mentorship, workshops, and scholarships to young, college-bound women of color.

Sustainability-wise, they allow refilling and recycling of Lancôme products within their stores. They’re also in the process of committing to greener chemistry when formulating their products, including implementing regenerative agricultural practices, sustainable sourcing, and improving their packaging.

While we usually like to wrap up our comparisons with a definitive conclusion, in this instance it's obvious that despite both brands having their pros and cons, you can rely on either for your skincare routine.