{"id":17365,"date":"2017-05-08T08:30:27","date_gmt":"2017-05-08T00:30:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.mywomenstuff.com\/?p=17365"},"modified":"2018-08-04T14:53:01","modified_gmt":"2018-08-04T06:53:01","slug":"estee-lauder-advanced-night-micro-cleansing-balm","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mywomenstuff.com\/2017\/05\/estee-lauder-advanced-night-micro-cleansing-balm\/","title":{"rendered":"The Estee Lauder Advanced Night Micro Cleansing Balm is good stuff but something about it bugged me"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair serum is iconic. It is also a favourite of mine<\/a>, partly for sentimental reasons (I know that’s a weird reason to like a product, but it worked for me for many years when I was younger) and because I still find it effective at giving my skin the glowy boost it needs when my skin is tired. It works for me that way.<\/p>\n

The Advanced Night Repair serum stood out on its own, in its little brown bottle in the Estee Lauder stable. But it’s now the core of a brand new range, with the introduction of the Ampoules<\/a>, a Mask in Oil and also, strangely enough, a cleansing balm!<\/p>\n

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The Estee Lauder Advanced Night Micro Cleansing Balm<\/strong> comes in a jar with a shiny golden cover, bearing the iconic stripes along the edge, that brings it within the Advanced Night range of products.<\/p>\n

There was a lot of rave about this, and I had quite a few people telling me I had to give it a go, because everyone knows I love cleansing balms and this was a good one to add to my repository<\/a>. I’d had it with me for a while, and I’m going to tell you that it’s good. I will not deny it.<\/p>\n

Yet, something bothered me about it. There was a niggling feeling at the back of my mind that I could not quite ignore, and just a few days ago, the penny dropped. Now, I’m ready to tell you what I think! \ud83d\ude00<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

The Estee Lauder Advanced Night Micro Cleansing Balm is a lightweight balm that cleanses skin, and is easily removed by emulsifying with water. In many ways, this is like a solid cleansing oil, and is perfect for those who are transitioning from using cleansing oil to a cleansing balm.<\/p>\n

The product comes in a flat jar, and you can scoop out its contents with any spatula you have on hand, if you’re the sqeamish sort, or use your fingers like I do, if you aren’t. You don’t need very much because once you warm it up between your palms, it softens and turns into a texture approximating a thick oil.<\/p>\n

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I have found it useful for removing light makeup if you’re feeling lazy. Light makeup for me is a tinted base (e.g. a tinted moisturiser, cushion foundation, BB or CC cream), brows and maybe blush. For days when I have on more makeup or a foundation, I always cleanse first with a micellar water to remove the worst of the makeup, and then move on to this as my cleanse, before finishing off with a cream cleanser. I have tried removing makeup with it. It can work, if you use a face cloth<\/a> to remove, but I otherwise don’t feel that it’s sufficient.<\/p>\n

Like a cleansing oil, remember to use it on dry skin and dry hands. This is because, like a cleansing oil, this one will emulsify on contact with water, and you can then rinse it off as you do a cleansing oil. Remember to keep emulsifying as you go, massaging all over your skin, not merely splash it off. These tips still apply<\/a>.<\/p>\n

What this Estee Lauder Advanced Night Micro Cleansing Balm is then, is your first cleanse. Follow up with a second cleanse for a proper cleanse of your skin, especially in the evening.<\/p>\n

What I like about it? It’s effective. It’s easy to use, and it doesn’t irritate my skin. It cleans my skin and does not strip it, so my skin feels comfortable and clean. When I use my acid toner after that, there is no residue on my cotton pad. You do not need very much. I scoop out some with a finger, and massage it over my face to make sure it picks up the grime. I like it very much. There is little to no scent in the balm.<\/p>\n

But remember that niggling feeling that I had that wouldn’t let me rest? I worked out what it was.<\/p>\n

\"estee<\/p>\n

The Estee Lauder Advanced Night Micro Cleansing Balm is a DEADRINGER for the Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm! I absolutely kid you not.<\/strong><\/p>\n

It is no wonder that I found the texture and formula so familiar every time I used it! Even the packaging is similar, with the Estee Lauder one looking a tad more elegant in its frosted jar and golden cover, while Clinique’s looks a little more utilitarian with it’s signature purple jar and silver cover.<\/p>\n

I haven’t replenished my Clinique TTDO Cleansing Balm for a while, so I didn’t have any on hand to compare side by side. But I’m going to stick my neck out and say that they are very very similar. In fact, based on the ingredient lists that you’ll see below, the formula is for the most part, exactly the same, with some additional ingredients in this Estee Lauder Advanced Night Micro Cleansing Balm.<\/p>\n

To be honest, I’m not surprised, as Estee Lauder and Clinique are under the same umbrella group anyway, and some sharing of technology is to be expected. Given that the two products are practically the same, and considering the price differential, I’m going to suggest that as nice as this EL cleansing balm is, just get the Clinique one, and save the difference for a lipstick \ud83d\ude09<\/p>\n

IN A NUTSHELL<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Estee Lauder Advanced Night Micro Cleansing Balm is a lightweight cleansing balm that comes in a solid texture, but softens into a thick balmy oil texture with the heat of your palms. Use dry hands and dry face to work with this, by warming up the product and massaging it all over your skin. You can emulsify to wash off, or use a face cloth, as I do. It leaves skin clean, comfortable and does not strip the oils so it doesn’t feel dry and tight. I’d use this as your first cleanse and follow up with a second cleanse after this. While it can remove light makeup, I feel that heavier makeup needs a makeup remover before hand, especially for waterproof makeup. It is good, but there is a more affordable option, within the same EL Group!<\/p>\n

PROS:<\/strong> Not scented, Lightweight balm texture makes it easy to massage into skin, Emulsifies with water for easier cleansing, Can remove light makeup, Does not strip skin and leave it feeling dry and uncomfortable, Easy to travel with<\/p>\n

CONS:\u00a0<\/strong>Pricey<\/p>\n

WHO WILL LIKE THIS:<\/strong> Anyone who likes using cleansing balms that emulsify, Anyone familiar or new to using cleansing balms<\/p>\n

PRICE:<\/strong> RM175 | US$45 for 70ml<\/p>\n

WHERE TO BUY:<\/strong>\u00a0Estee Lauder counters and boutiques, Sephora stores and online<\/a>, Ulta<\/a>, Nordstrom<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Estee Lauder Advanced Night Micro Cleansing Balm vs Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm<\/h2>\n

I don’t have the exact products, but I remember what the Clinique one is like, and it’s super similar!<\/p>\n

Estee Lauder Advanced Night Micro Cleansing Balm ingredients:<\/h3>\n

Ethylhexyl Palmitate; Carthamus Tinctorius (Safflower) Seed Oil; Caprylic\/Capric Triglyceride; Sorbeth-30 Tetraoleate; Polyethylene; Peg-5 Glyceryl Triisostearate; Water\\Aqua\\Eau;<\/strong> Silybum Marianum (Lady’s Thistle) Extract; Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract; Algae Extract; Anthemis Nobilis (Chamomile); Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender); Methyldihydrojasmonate; Tocopherol<\/strong>; Bht; Linalool; Phenoxyethanol<\/strong>\u00a0<41968><\/p>\n

Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm ingredients:<\/h3>\n

Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Carthamus Tinctorius (Safflower) Seed Oil, Caprylic \/ Capric Triglyceride, Sorbeth-30 Tetraoleate, Polyethylene, PEG-5 Glyceryl Triisostearate, Water \/ Aqua \/ Eau,<\/strong> Tocopherol, Phenoxyethanol<\/strong><\/p>\n

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This is from my earlier review of the Clinique TTDO Cleansing Balm<\/a>.<\/p>\n

I’ve highlighted in bold the common ingredients in both cleansing balms. In the Estee Lauder one, there are some additional ingredients which may or may not deliver benefits to your skin. However, as this is a cleansing product that you immediately wash off, I am not convinced that any soothing or antioxidant\u00a0ingredients, will really benefit the skin. That’s just me though, so work within your understanding and beliefs.<\/p>\n

The other thing I want to point out is the price differential which is accurate as of today in 2017.<\/p>\n