Lancome vs Estee Lauder 2024 (The Definitive Guide)

We're positive you've seen Lancome and Estee Lauder on the shelves at your local drugstore before. But which one should you choose?

Previously, we took a look at two French pharmacy titans: Avene and La Roche Posay; today, we will be comparing Lancome vs Estee Lauder to help you figure out which brand better suits you!

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Lancome vs Estee Lauder Foundation

When it comes to achieving that filterless-filter look, you need a great foundation. Something that's not too heavy, is easy to apply, has amazing coverage, and actually lasts the full span of a day (or night). Lancome and Estee Lauder overperform on all fronts, offering some of the best and most popular foundation options on the market that you *need* to start using.

There are several worthy contenders, but the most notable and sought after foundation matchup is the Lancome Teint Idole vs Estee Lauder Double Wear.

Both products are serious cult-favourites, and we'd even go as far as to say that there's a good chance that after trying these foundations you will never need to try any other. The main distinction between the two, though, is that Estee Lauder's products are generally favoured by those with oily skin, and Lancome's are superior for sensitive skin. Erring on the side of non-mutual exclusivity (i.e. oiliness being a specific skin type; sensitivity tolerance being a bonus for all skin types), we prefer the Lancome Teint Idole Ultra Wear.

Lancome vs Estee Lauder Serum

A serum is a lightweight moisturiser that penetrates deeper to deliver high concentrations of active ingredients to the skin. We've already covered what constitutes the best French serums, with Lancome making an appearance. Estee Lauder is what we would call a 'faux French' brand, though, and did not make that particular list; however, that's not to say they don't also offer an incredible range of serums!

Serums are great, but there are few like Estee Lauder's Advanced Night Repair and Lancome's Genifique Youth Activating Concentrate. These two anti-ageing products have been hailed by celebrities and influencers alike for years. But how do they differ? Is one better for you than the other? Our Lancome Genifique vs Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair comparison will help you decide.

Both serums have one common goal and purpose at the core of their designs: turning back time. They are packed with probiotics, hyaluronic acid, and a range of antioxidants that reduce the appearance of the visible signs of ageing brought about by daily life's environmental aggressors. You will see that your skin rapidly becomes smoother, less wrinkled, and more radiant, as well as more even-toned from even just the first application of either serum.

Fundamentally, though, there are a few notable differences. Estee Lauder's serum contains an entourage of microbiotics including a powerful collagen-signalling ingredient known as tripeptide-32, which ensures your skin's youthful elasticity is preserved. On the other hand, Lancome's contains prebiotics that actively support your skin's microbiome balance. The combination of pre- and pro-biotics means that the Genifique Youth Activating Concentrate is a synbiotic formula; synbiotics are incredible for keeping your skin healthy and helping you achieve that coveted radiant, healthy glow.

As connoisseurs of simple, tolerable, French and Nordic pharmaceutical skincare, we are real sticklers for avoiding harsh ingredients. Both serums are free from the usual culprits (e.g. SLS, SLES, sulfates, parabens, phthalates and comedogenic ingredients). However, Lancome's Genifique Youth Activating Concentrate is not fragrance-free, and not oil-free. While for some this might not necessarily be a deal-breaker, we would suggest to those that are unsure to opt for Estee Lauder's Advanced Night Repair serum instead.

Lancome vs Estee Lauder Moisturizer

Lancome and Estee Lauder each boast incredible collections of face creams that assist you in unveiling your natural, healthy radiance. In fact, so much so that it is almost daunting to try to figure out which collection to choose from to even begin comparing, let alone from which brand. This is a good problem to have, though; allow us to guide you through the best of the best.

A daily moisturizer should excel at two things: mitigating the effects of TEWL (trans-epidermal water loss), and protecting you from harsh environmental aggressors that we are all exposed to daily. There's no greater environmental aggressor than the sun; hence your daily moisturizer should include SPF.

The Estee Lauder Daywear SPF15 and the Lancome Bienfait Moisturizer SPF30 are two holy grail face products fulfilling these two exact requirements, but deciding between the two can be tricky.

2024 update: We have some good news and bad news. The Bienfait Multi-Vital Moisturizer has gone the way of discontinuation... BUT, there's a shiny new moisturizer from Lancome that fills the void nicely: the UV Expert Primer & Moisturizer with SPF50.

The crucial distinctions between the two are that the Bienfait Multi-vital Moisturiser has SPF30 compared with Estee Lauder's SPF15. Side note: that's not as big of a difference as it first seems; SPF30 only blocks 4% more UV rays than SPF15. The other difference is that Lancome's moisturizer includes multiple skin-nourishing vitamins that help to keep your natural moisture barrier protected and healthy. These two differences combined make the Bienfait Moisturizer our ultimate preference.

Fortunately, the comparison is just about as straight-forward as before. Of course we still love the DayWear range, but the Lancome moisturizer is a bit of a unicorn: a 3-in-1 primer, moisturizer, and sunscreen - excelling in every category. If what you're mainly looking for is a moisturizer that'll quench your parched skin, then DayWear might be the way forward. But, if you're wanting better sun protection and something that will sit beautifully under makeup, then Lancome is the one.

Estee Lauder vs Lancome Eye Cream

High-quality eye cream is the *ultimate* solution to dark circles, puffiness and visible signs of aging around the eyes. We have already touched on one such eye cream from Lancome in our Best French Eye Cream article; here, though, we will dive more in-depth, and compare it with Estee Lauder's fantastic alternative.

As continuations of their flagship ranges (Advanced Genifique vs Advanced Night Repair), Lancome and Estee Lauder boast contenders for the best eye creams available on the market. They are, of course, on the higher end of the price scale, but they are oh so worth it. Allow us to introduce the Lancome Advanced Genifique Yeux and the Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Eye creams.

Both products have skin barrier function at the very core of their focus; we love this because all too often products are designed to address symptoms as opposed to underlying causes. The upshot of this is a long-lasting, long-term, incredibly effective solution with amazing results that 1000s of people rave about globally.

Ultimately, our decision comes down to closer inspection of the ingredients. Both products are paraben and sulfate-free - which is great - but while Lancome's is fungal-acne safe (a genuine rarity for eye creams), it does contain alcohol (known to exacerbate sensitivities) and several allergens listed by the EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety. If you're confident that your skin isn't typically sensitive to allergens, we would absolutely recommend the Lancome Advanced Genifique Yeux; otherwise, our preference lies with Estee Lauder's gorgeously refreshing and allergen-free Advanced Night Repair Eye cream.

Work in progress

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This article was originally published on September 15th 2021, but it has been reviewed and updated with the latest available information on January 25th 2024 by Sara Mckay, MA.