Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Whitening Recovery Complex Review

Hello lovely ladies,

Today’s review is on an Estee Lauder product – after a very long time. I have been using Estee Lauder skincare for about 2 years now and I have tried pretty much all their serums including the Advanced Night Repair Recovery Complex. This review is on the variant of Advanced Night Repair, launched specifically for the South East Asia market – Singapore/Thailand/Malaysia/Hong Kong belt. This wasn’t made part of the Crescent White range – which is also an Asia specific range – since the “ANR” branding has anyway got a cult following.  I will cover the product and also share bit of information on how its performance is different from the ANR II. Let us get into it.

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Product Description:
Estée Lauder Research took the patented ANR formula and advanced the technology to address the key concerns of Asian skin. ANR Whitening Recovery Complex includes an exclusive whitening complex to help restore the translucence and porcelain finish of younger-looking skin. Excessive melanin production is normalized, leaving skin with a renewed translucency and fair, even tone. The unique whitening complex helps reduce the appearance of age-spots and hyperpigmentation for improved skin color uniformity and skin tone.
Price:
INR 8125 for 50 ml.

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My Experience with Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Whitening Recovery Complex:

My skin type – I have oily to combination skin which gets dull and dehydrated very easily and that’s because I barely drink water and have horrible sleeping pattern. I know I need to rectify it at grassroots level – still working on that. Also, being on the wrong side of 30s means all signs of ageing cropping up which definitely need attention.

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When it comes to skincare, I prefer to experiment with the serum I use, rather than the moisturizers. It’s not like I don’t try different moisturizers, but I am less experimental when it comes to them. This is because, my skin can react badly if the moisturizer clogs my pores, resulting in instant breakout whereas serums are generally more lightweight and have experienced that they are less likely to clog the pores (unless you react to some ingredient in them).

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I think I have tried all of Estee Lauder serums one by one, but it took me ages to pick up the iconic ANR (Advanced Night Repair). Honestly, it was because of the price. One can have a mini vacation in the amount it costs to buy one 75 ml bottle! Anyway, I did try it and it soon became part of my nightly routine. So, when close to one of my travels, when I forgot my bottle at home, I thought I would pick one up from Duty Free or something. To my surprise, I came across this variant of the product. Initially, I thought it might just be a package change for a certain market, but on trying out the product, I realized it is indeed a different product. So, I have never been into the “whitening skincare” hype. Even when I tried a plethora of products from Estee Lauder, I never bought anything from their “Crescent White” range. However, when I saw this, I thought why not give it a try – one, the lure of trying something new from a brand I love; two – I feel that most of these whitening products actually work on “brightening” the skin rather than “whitening” it – which works for me.

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A bit about the product – The original ANR was launched in 1982 and has since gone through a number of reformulations. This particular formulation was launched in 1998 – so it was before the Crescent white line was established. As I have mentioned earlier, this version of ANR is obviously for the South East Asian market. So, while ANR Whitening promises to deliver on all that the original ANR offers, it also is supposed to work at brightening the complexion, lightening the age spots and hyperpigmentation – to restore the the youthfulness translucency of a young skin. Does it deliver? Let’s get to that after we discuss the packaging and the texture of the product.

Packaging:  The packaging of the product may seem similar to the original ANR – it’s a translucent dark brown plastic bottle with gold detailing. However, a closer look highlights the marked improvement in this packaging versus that of the original ANR. While the original ANR has a dropper dispenser, which may look neat, but at the end of the day, you are exposing the product to air every time you move the dropper out, which over time can reduce the efficacy of the product. The ANR Whitening has an efficient pump dispenser, which I so prefer over the dropper. And the pump can be locked, which is fab because you really don’t want to lose this expensive a product accidentally!

Texture: The texture of this one is distinctly different – as you can see in the swatches. The original ANR is a very lightweight and an almost translucent liquid, which absorbs into the skin extremely quickly. This not the other hand is a white serum, which is thicker in consistency than the original ANR – refer swatches. However, this too gets absorbed into he skin readily without leaving any residue behind.

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Efficacy: Does this work?? Yes, it definitely does. It does deliver on all the promises of the ANR along with the promises made towards “whitening.” Honestly, I would say the effect is more of “Brightening and Lightening” rather than “whitening,” so if you think its going to make you a shade or two lighter on some shade card – ain’t gonna happen!

It helps in counteracting sallowness and dullness of the skin – making it healthier and brighter. The hyaluronic acid obviously helps entrap moisture and keeps the skin hydrated and gives the appearance of smoothing fine lines. Your skin tone does look more even toned and radiant.

I can say that the product works and I prefer this formulation over the original ANR so much so that I had actually repurchased this and I am on my second bottle. However, over time, I have realized a couple of things:

1. The product takes time to show results. Don’t expect miracles overnight – you will see the changes, but over an extended period of time.
2. The product has to be used consistently. You stop using it, your skin will go back to looking dull and lifeless again. So, the results will be there only till the time you are using it. Meaning, it feels that the effect is more superficial – like that of a sheet mask. Not like something which is addressing concerns at a grass-root level.
3. Is this the most effective product at that price point? This is literally a million dollar question. At this price point and lower, I feel there are a plethora of products from different brands which may have better ingredients, more efficacy and literally, better and/or longer lasting results. And yet people flock this, why? How do I explain this? First and foremost – This is just MY opinion – so, please bear with me. I’ll explain to you in terms of makeup. Let’s say eyeshadows…If someone wants a high-end eyeshadow palette – which brand do people go to? Probably a Dior or Chanel or something, right? Ok, if they are a little younger and more internet savvy, they would probably go for say and Urban Decay or MAC. So far, so good? And yet, who do you think actually produces probably the best eyeshadows in the market? I’d say Viseart for Mattes and Natasha Denona for high-end shimmer/metallics…with Anastasia Beverly Hills new formulation coming extremely close! And yet, there are millions of people who spend money on high-end makeup, who have never heard of these brands or their quality. So, does this mean that Dior and Chanel, don’t make good eyeshadows. No, it doesn’t. However, at that price point of a Chanel or Dior quad, you could probably get a much better palette from say Viseart/ABH/ND. You get that? But, since people have not heard of these, but have heard of say a Chanel, Dior, Lancome – they are more likely to drift towards those. Similarly, unless you are a skincare fanatic, you would probably have not even heard of some of the top skincare products just because they are not from the “popular brand”.

Pros of Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Whitening Recovery Complex:

  • Lightweight texture.
  • Absorbs easily.
  • Skin feels hydrated, soft and supple.
  • Temporarily seems to effect the first signs of ageing – like fine lines.
  • Provides lightening of blemishes and acne spots.
  • Brightens the complexion.
  • Spreads easily.
  • Did not break me out.
  • Non-comedogenic product.
  • Helps improve skin texture and radiance.
  • Helps combat dullness of skin.
  • Pump packaging is very convenient.
  • Travel-friendly packaging.

Cons of Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Whitening Recovery Complex:

  • Works only for the duration of use.
  • Results take time to show.
  • There are better products in the market – at this price point.

IMBB Rating:
4/5

It is a good product and works well. For someone who is new to skincare and is looking only at high-end brand, this is a decent product because it delivers what it promises, even though the results are short lived. I have been using this for months since I am now halfway through my second bottle. However, now that I have done more research on skincare and now look at products from an ingredient perspective – rather than a “brand” perspective, I do not think I will be repurchasing. I would rather spend money on something more effective and which can give me longer lasting results.

Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Recovery Complex
Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Recovery Complex II
Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Eye Serum Infusion
Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Eye Synchronized Complex II
Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Protective Recovery Complex
Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Concentrate
Colorbar Hydra White Intense Whitening Hydrating Day Lotion
Colorbar Hydra White Intense Whitening Hydrating Night Creme

IMBB RECOMMENDS

13 thoughts on “Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Whitening Recovery Complex Review

    1. Sorry, Ive been travelling and missed responding to comments…

      Totally agree. In today’s age and time, when so much information is readily available online, we need to spend on ingredients rather than brand names.

  1. as ever, superb writeup. i haven’t spotted this ever here. kindly list those top skincare brands Kulpreet, which are lesser known and can save my (our) money over EL ANR and many more raved and bank breaking serums while delivering results 🙂

  2. kindly list those top skincare brands Kulpreet, which are lesser known and can save our money over EL ANR and many more raved and bank breaking serums while delivering results ?

  3. Such a detailed review KK!! how true we can have a vacation in the money spent on these high end brands :). Liked the comparison of eyeshadow palette brands.

  4. You write wonderful reviews Kulpreet. Even if i am not interested in a product, i read its review if written by you. btw.. quite jealous of ur luxurious beauty splurges 🙂

    1. Awwww…. that is really sweet of you Sunshine!! That is high praise that you actually read the review even if you aren’t interested in the product! Thanks so much for making my day!!

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