Reviewed: Estée Lauder’s Advanced Night Repair Serum

4.8

Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Multi-Recovery Complex

night repair bottle
What We Like
  • Hydrating

  • Lightweight

  • Ingredients (including hyaluronic acid, peptides and fermented extracts)

  • Contains a patented Chronolux technology

  • 7 serums in 1

What We Don't Like
  • Not for all skin types


There’s no denying the hydrating and restorative powers of Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Multi-Recovery Complex. This serum is a great option for those looking to treat skin that feels tight, dull, or dry.

4.8

Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Multi-Recovery Complex

night repair bottle

We put Estée Lauder's Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Multi-Recovery Complex to the test after receiving a complimentary sample from the brand. Keep reading for our full product review.

I might just be the only beauty journalist in the country, even the world, who hasn’t tried Advanced Night Repair (or ANR, as it is affectionately referred to). I don’t know why this is, to be honest. I believe a bottle did pass through my beauty cabinet once, but I was suffering a bout of acne at the time and probably got spooked by its youth-generating powers. (I wanted away with youth and its associated oiliness at the time). 

But here I am, a few years later wondering how I haven’t gotten to this point in my career sooner. For one, every beauty editor I know raves about it (dry, balanced, combination skin type, or otherwise). ANR also contains a stack of ingredients I’m sure my skin would enjoy—hyaluronic acid, squalane, peptides, and fermented extracts among them. And lastly, it recently underwent a little revamp (including the introduction of Adansonia digitata seed extract to boost skin cell turnover and help promote collagen formation). 

So finally, I opened up that iconic brown glass bottle and got to work, documenting the experience for you all to enjoy.

Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Multi-Recovery Complex

Best for: Dull, dry, dehydrated skin types or those looking to improve visible signs of aging. 

Uses: As a treatment serum after cleansing and before moisturizing. While touted as a nighttime product, you can also use Advanced Night Repair to hydrate the skin during the day. 

Star Rating: 4.5/5

Potential Allergens: Anthemis Nobilis (Chamomile), FD&C Yellow 5

Active Ingredients: Hyaluronic Acid, Bifida ferment, tripeptide-32, yeast extract, chamomile, jojoba esters, and squalane

Price: $105

About the brand: Estée Lauder is one of the biggest and most well-known beauty brands of all time. Estée Lauder herself started out selling skincare and makeup in beauty salons, demonstrating her products on women while they sat under hair dryers. In 1946, she and her husband, Joseph Lauder, officially launched the company, and a year later, they got their first major order from Saks Fifth Avenue. Now, Estée Lauder is one of the biggest sellers of makeup, skincare, and fragrance around the world.

About My Skin: Balanced and breakout-prone

My skin is mostly balanced but prone to breakouts, dehydration, and uneven tone (joy). I’m also noticing a few fine lines and wrinkles I’d like to soften (but not erase, because lines are signs of a life well-lived), so I am actively chasing any product that will smooth and prevent without congestion. 

That brings me to Advanced Night Repair, a hydrating, firming, nourishing serum that shouldn’t—based on my ingredients listing analysis—over-stimulate my skin. Let’s see, shall we? 

The Feel: Lightweight serum

Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair

Emily Algar

Advanced Night Repair is formulated with dry, dull, lined skin in mind. It’s not an intensely active serum (there are no accelerating acids or vitamins A, B, or C), but it is really nourishing and proven to gently firm and smooth the complexion. 

Because this product is a serum, it is not as heavy and doesn't leave behind a residue as moisturizing lotions do. It goes on easily under makeup in the morning—and soaks in well before your moisturizer at night.

The Ingredients: Patented technology

I’ve always found that with Advanced Night Repair, the Estée Lauder brand seems to place emphasis on the formula as a whole as opposed to calling out singular ingredients. Of course, there’s hyaluronic acid for hydration, but a little digging tells me there’s also Bifida ferment, tripeptide-32, yeast extract, chamomile, jojoba esters, squalane, and a whole stack of other peptides.

  • Hyaluronic acid: This ingredient binds itself to the moisture in your cells and helps to plump them up. It leaves your skin moisturized and decreases the appearance of wrinkles.
  • Antioxidants: Protects against free radical damage like pollution and ozone.
  • Peptides: The brand’s patented Chronolux Power Signal technology is a micro signaling peptide molecule activator that is proven to maximize skin's natural repair mechanisms—because, say it with me, "Skincare can only improve on existing skin processes, it can’t make our skin do new things."
  • Bifida ferment: Helps protect against UV damage to the skin and helps with skin repair.
Ingredients

Overall, these ingredients will work to nourish, firm, and strengthen the skin, leaving it soft, bouncy, and youthful.

How to Apply: Early in your routine

The name makes it clear that this product is designed to repair and rejuvenate the skin overnight, but you can use this during the day as well (in fact, I love the way it makes my skin look under makeup). Because it’s a serum, I suggest patting it onto a damp face after cleansing and before moisturizers, oils, and SPF. If your skin is super thirsty, try adding a drop to your foundation, too. 

The Results: Hydrated, soft, and smooth

Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair B&A

Emily Algar/Design by Cristina Cianci

The short of it? Hydrated, soft, smooth skin. I used ANR consistently for three weeks and definitely noticed a slight difference.

Pull Quote

As is the case with all hyaluronic-based serums, the plumping effect is almost immediate.

I also found my skin felt more resilient, no doubt due to the barrier-strengthening ferments. While it doesn’t have the wow factor of an acid or retinol, I really do think this is pretty excellent in terms of hydration and giving skin a well-rested look. It’s easy to see why those who try it, love it. 

The Value: Pricey, but effective

Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair

Emily Algar

The Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair is on the higher end of the market at $105 for 1.7 ounces. It is, however, packed full of ingredients including hyaluronic acid, antioxidants, and their patented peptides that do seem to make a difference in smoothing, hydrating, and firming. If you are younger and don’t have these aging concerns, you could use a less expensive product—however, for those who are looking for an anti-aging product, this is a great choice. 

Similar Products: You have options

Neutrogena Hydro Boost Hyaluronic Acid Serum: For those who are looking for a more affordable serum, the Neutrogena Hydro Boost contains hyaluronic acid like Estée Lauder’s Advanced Night Repair, and won’t break the bank at $24. It doesn’t contain the firming peptides, however, the high moisture content will plump and moisturize your skin.

Beauty Bio The Nightly Retinol + Peptide Anti-Aging Serum: Similarly priced at $95, this serum contains peptides and hyaluronic acid like the Advanced Night Repair—but also contains retinol for those who want increased cell turnover to further help with texture. 

Final Verdict

I finally get the hype. As far as hydrating, skin smoothing serums go, this is gold class. Admittedly, I’m not the perfect Advanced Night Repair target market, but I am very prone to dehydration and am actively trying to treat some burgeoning fine lines, and I definitely believe this product will help. And as far as textures go, it’s divine—really lush, hydrating, and bouncy. I would empty and repurchase this product for that reason alone.

Specs

  • Product Name Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Multi-Recovery Complex
  • Product Brand Estée Lauder
  • Price $105.00
  • Full Ingredient List Water\Aqua\Eau, Bifida Ferment Lysate, Peg-8, Propanediol, Bis-Peg-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane, Methyl Gluceth-20, Glycereth-26, Peg-75, Butylene Glycol, Adansonia Digitata Seed Extract, Tripeptide-32, Sodium Hyaluronate, Yeast Extract\Faex\Extrait De Levure, Lactobacillus Ferment, Cola Acuminata (Kola) Seed Extract, Anthemis Nobilis (Chamomile) Flower Extract, Hydrolyzed Algin, Pantethine, Caffeine, Lecithin, Sodium Rna, Bisabolol, Squalane, Glycerin, Oleth-3 Phosphate, Caprylyl Glycol, Oleth-3, Oleth-5, Choleth-24, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Jojoba Wax Peg-120 Esters, Ceteth-24, Tocopheryl Acetate, Carbomer, Triethanolamine, Tetrasodium Edta, Bht, Xanthan Gum, Potassium Sorbate, Disodium Edta, Phenoxyethanol, Red 4 (Ci 14700), Yellow 5 (Ci 19140)
Article Sources
Byrdie takes every opportunity to use high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial guidelines to learn more about how we keep our content accurate, reliable and trustworthy.
  1. EWG. “EWG Skin Deep. 2018. Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Recovery Complex.

  2. EWG. (n.d.) EWG Skin Deep-What Is BIFIDA FERMENT LYSATE.

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