It’s no secret by now that I’m a big fan of the famed Estee Lauder ‘little brown bottle’ that holds the elixir that is the Advanced Night Repair serum. I’d been using it off and on since I started earning my own keep and always have something good to say about it.
In 2016, Estee Lauder introduced the Advanced Night Repair Intensive Recovery Ampoules. I received a bottle back then, tested it out for a while, but couldn’t put my finger on what I thought of it, well, till now!
Ampoules are a small sealed vial or capsule, containing a one time dose of intensive serum or product. While Korean skincare has been credited in recent times for its popularity, they aren’t new in the world of skin care. Brands like Elemis and Elizabeth Arden have had, for years, products packaged in a similar fashion, and some salon brands have salon exclusive intensive products that come in glass vials. I guess they just weren’t as sexy as Korean skincare made them out to be.
Because I already use the Advanced Night Repair serum and other serums and products, how would this ANR Intensive Recovery Ampoules (“ANR Ampoules”) fit in my skincare routine?
It was a challenge, that much I’d admit.
The directions call for you to apply the ANR Ampoules after using the serum, and then using a moisturiser. It is supposed to be powerful recovery concentrate, that calms and repairs stressed skin. Used together with the ANR serum, it’s supposed to speed up the repair of skin and to strengthen the skin barrier more quickly, leaving you with calmer, smoother, better skin.
The product comes in one time use capsules, or ampoules. Each bottle contains 60 capsules, that look like soft-gel vitamin capsules.
To use, you twist off the bulb at the top, squeeze the product into the palm of your hand, and apply to your skin. At least, that’s the theory.
In practice, I found it hard to twist off the little bulb at the end, because the product isn’t very big, and I was afraid of squirting the precious elixir within all over. Instead, what I do, is use my nail to prick a hole in the neck of the ampoule, which then allows me to squeeze out the product without fear of it squirting everywhere. In the alternative, a tiny snip of nail scissors should do the trick.
The product itself has a rather oily texture to it. If you are used to using facial oil, it’s like a very light oil. If you aren’t familiar with, or used to using facial oil, you may not like the texture. It’s very light, but distinctly oily. I’m going to stick my neck out and say that it’s more suited for someone with dry skin, who would appreciate it better.
The product doesn’t seem like very much at first, but because it has a light oil texture, it’s easy to apply all over your face, and even down to your neck and décolletage.
How to use:-
Cleanse -> Acid Tone -> Mist/Hydrating Toner -> ANR Serum -> ANR Ampoules -> Moisturiser
I did notice the skin-calming effects that it claims to help you with. For this reason, I like having this with me when I travel, and after I return. As much as I enjoy travelling, I do notice the stress on my skin due to changes in climate, routine and diet, and this helps ensure that your skin looks better. When I return, I use this as a treatment.
Outside of this however, I personally do not notice much more benefits using these ANR Ampoules, that I don’t already get from the ANR serum. In fact, when I first tried it, without subjecting me or my skin to any stresses, I didn’t notice anything at all. My skin didn’t look brighter or calmer. I was disappointed, because I love the ANR serum, and I badly wanted to love these ampoules too!
But when I wasn’t feeling too good, and after I had a short trip, that’s when I noticed that my skin looked better than I felt. In cold, dry air-conditioned hotel rooms, the ANR Ampoules helped my skin feel more comfortable and you find that you wake up with skin that has a touch of glow, instead of a dull, dry surface. I usually pack 1-2 ampoules into a pill-box for travel. It’s a great way to get some intensive treatment on my skin and the capsules are very handy for travel.
You are recommended to use this for 2 weeks straight, to see any results. I went ahead for 1 week without seeing any results, and decided to save the rest. Now, I use them as an occasional treat for my skin, whenever I feel that I could do with a little TLC.
Do you need this? It’s kind of subjective. I’m going to stick my neck out and say that you don’t. If you use the regular ANR Serum, I’m going to say that you don’t need this because I don’t see much difference to my skin whether using them together or separately.
If you don’t use the ANR serum, then this is one way you can reap the benefits of the Advanced Night Repair serum in a slightly more intense formula, make it stretch, and perhaps, use a separate serum in your routine that has more retinoids or anti-aging benefits. Personally, while I do enjoy the occasional use, it’s not a product I plan to repurchase for the reason that I feel it’s a bit too pricey. That said, with careful use, you can really stretch the use out of those 60 capsules!
IN A NUTSHELL
The Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Intensive Recovery Ampoules are capsules of intensive serum that help calm and repair the skin from stress. I personally find that if my skin isn’t particularly stressed (e.g. work or life stress, travel etc) then I don’t derive much, if any benefits. But when I’m stressed, it makes my skin look brighter and more glowy and better than I personally feel. It’s also very useful for travel, if you pop them into a pill box.
PROS: Convenient one time use capsules, Easy to use, Light oil texture absorbs easily into the skin, Makes skin feel and look better and less dull when you’re undergoing a stressful period
CONS: Pricey, The top of the capsule is hard to twist off, I didn’t notice any results when not undergoing any stresses
WHO WILL LIKE THIS: Anyone who travels often, Anyone who has stressed skin
WILL I REPURCHASE? Not likely. I’ll stick with the serum
PRICE: RM480 | US$110 for a bottle with 60 capsules
WHERE TO BUY: Estee Lauder counters and online at Nordstrom, Selfridges, Sephora, Saks Fifth Avenue
Here is the ingredient list for the Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Intensive Recovery Ampoules:
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Squalane, Aleurites Moluccana (Kukui) Seed Oil, Prunus Armeniaca (Apricot) Kernel Oil, Bisabolol, Garcinia Mangostana Peel Extract, Salicornia Herbacea Extract, Magnolia Officinalis Bark Extract, Salvia Hispanica Seed Extract, Anthemis Nobilis (Chamomile) Flower Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract, Coffea Arabica (Coffee) Seed Extract, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Camelina Satvia Seed Oil, Vaccinum Myrtillus Seed Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate, Cholesterol, Linoleic Acid, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, BHT
I sat down and worked out that at today’s prices, each capsule works out to RM8 or US$1.83 each. That’s actually a lot of money to spend on something you use only ONCE! So, it remains a treat for my skin, and you can bet I snapped at my friend for stealing one… or maybe two from me :P
Did you try the ANR Ampoules? Have you tried any other ampoules from other brands?
I wish they’d sell this in a smaller bottle. Maybe 20 or 30 capsules, because then I’d be more willing to keep some on hand for those stressful times. As it stands, I find it too pricey to justify the occasional use, as I’d prefer to splurge on something I can use more often, and reap better results, as opposed to the occasional treat. Let me know if you’ve tried it!
Paris B
That’s exactly how i used them! Popped them in a tiny box for my recent travel. And I used them when i returned as well. It helped keep my skin calm so they’re now a travel staple. I’m a stresshead when it comes to travelling. Queues. Packing. Security checks. Hate them. I actually hate flying. Not fear but hate because I hate being in a confined space for any period of time. So these little capsules help for sure!
Flying business helps! ;) But I agree, these are amazing for travel especially because I also tend to not sleep well when I travel. Strange bed or room or whatever, so I console myself with the fact that I might feel like horse manure but at least my skin isn’t reflecting that :P
I’m intrigued at the ingredient list. Squalene is listed in some of the more expensive brand of serums and supposedly very good. Perhaps I should do a little bit of research on this.
Squalane is a popular emollient hence it helps to keep skin feeling moist and hydrated. I believe quite a lot of skincare have started to incorporate it :)
Why on earth they stopped the advanced night repair concentrate recovery boosting? I believe, one serum is enough. Estee Lauder is the epitome of marketing (so many products who all claim they are excellent) and charging
Oh now that you mention it, I remember that. It came in a smaller bottle than the usual ANR serum didn’t it? Perhaps it was due to the cost? I remember it was quite expensive. So, putting it into this form might make it more acceptable? Just speculating :) But you’re right, they change things around too much and I was surprised that just within a year or so, they went from just 1 ANR product, the serum, to a whole range of products. I’m not quite sure it’s a good thing.
i did try … for 1st week, couldnt see drastic changes or improvement on my skin except more moist .. but on 2nd week, my skin starts to looks clear … indeed, its very pricey .. after the 2 weeks regime, i used it once a while for a treat to my skin
Glad it worked for you Iza, it would have been expensive otherwise! :) I don’t think it’s a bad product per se, just rather too pricey. I’d be more willing to buy again if they sold them in smaller quantities at a lower price since I use them less frequently
Thank you for this thorough, down-to-earth review. I always use a face oil (in a bottle), so these are mainly for traveling.
Glad you found it useful Maja :) I too enjoy using facial oils – do you have a favourite?
I keep these for after I travel. I used these after my trips to Hong Kong and Singapore, and both times, they saved my skin. I’ll be travelling to Australia and Korea this year, so I’m saving them for after those trips! So pricey though…
Sounds like an exciting travel year ahead Lily! :D These will come in so useful. I carry a couple when I’m away and then I treat when I get back. At least it helps me get rid of the post-holiday skin blahs :)
Regarding how pricey this product is…
I found the Estee Lauder Intensive Recovery Ampoules at my local TJ Maxx store.
Their “regular price” was on $69.99, and the package/contents were exactly the same as product I purchased from Lauder website.
If you are lucky maybe you can find them too.