Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Synchronised Recovery Complex II Review

A little while ago I wrote a post which you can find here, all about the product that is Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Synchronised Recovery Complex II, the worlds first ever repair serum. For the purpose of this review, I will refer to said brown bottle of goodness as simply ANR, as that lengthy title is a pain in the ass! I said in that blog post that I would report back after using the product thoroughly and testing it out. I'm halfway through my second bottle, so I thought now was the perfect time to give you a little run down of my thoughts! (I would go back to that blog post and read it if you haven't already, as I explain the science behind the product and tell you about what it claims to do for the skin.)

Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Recovery Complex II - £48 - 30ml, £65 - 50ml.

Advanced Night Repair has become a firm staple in my skincare routine and has been for quite a while now. While I loved the previous formula also, the new formula is nothing short of fantastic.

I love it for it's ability to hydrate the skin, and it reminds me a lot of one of my favourite products Hydraluron. It's great at binding moisture to the skin, and I still wake up every morning after using it with plump, soft skin that glows, and I never had that constantly before using this. I think this product is so popular because it's so easy to use and incorporate into anyones skincare routine, it also is very gentle and lightweight so it's great for sensitive skins and under make-up. The gentle qualities of it also mean that it's nice to use when my skin is breaking out or if I have a blemish or two as it doesn't irritate the skin. It helps to nourish the blemish and keep the skin calm and hydrated due to the Hyaluronic Acid, natures moisture magnet. This hydration creates the perfect environment for healthy skin that can successfully repair itself, and that's why I really enjoy using this product and believe in the benefits that it provides for my skin.

ANR is also for anti-ageing as we all know, but considering I don't have much 'anti-ageing' to do, I simply love it for the insurance factor. By insurance I mean, starting early and looking after my skin, infusing it with hydration and keeping it in good shape. ANR helps get the skins circadian rhythm in sync which helps my skin cells to repair. I find that my skin doesn't scar as badly and for as long since I started using this, for example with blemishes, the marks tend to fade a lot quicker and a lot better. It also purifies the skin which means that Catabolysis takes place and cellular debris that causes ageing in the skin is removed. These two technologies together have been branded ChronoluxCB™ and make for a very powerful duo. 

As for evening out the skin tone, I'd say my skin was fairly even before I started using this product, however I hope that by using it, it will keep my skin even in the future also. Advanced Night Repair has really made a difference to the texture and suppleness of my skin, it keeps my skin looking plump and healthy and I love that it's working in ways that I can't see with my eyes, but know that it's keeping my skin in the best shape possible for the future. 

If you want a product that keeps the skin hydrated and supple, helps to repair the skin and remove the gunk that causes skin to age while also keeping the skin protected from environmental damage, then this is a truly perfect product.

Have you tried the new formula of Advanced Night Repair?

My Skincare Steps for Clean, Clear and Healthy Skin

I thought I would pen a post dedicated to the steps I take to keep my skin in a condition that I'm really happy with, and that I have lived by for quite some time now. I tend to switch up the products that I use quite a lot, but the general routine stays the same.

I'd just like to say before I get into it, that these steps work really well for me. They might not work as well for anyone else as everyone has different skin, different concerns and different skin behaviour. Keeping this in mind, I would recommend these steps as they have worked wonders for my skin, just remember that every one is different and personal preference/skin type plays a huge role in any skincare routine!

-

1.  Double Cleanse:

Every morning and every night, I always, always double cleanse. Now this might seem unnecessary to some, but after much observation over the sink with a white flannel, it has become apparent to me that my skin can't get completely clean with one wash. I always, always have more make-up and more dirt and residue on my flannel after a second cleanse and especially if you are a make-up wearer, I feel this step is essential.  At night, I normally use a cream cleanser to get of the majority of make-up and grime from the day, and the same goes for in the morning when removing all the dirt and sweat that happens at night when you sleep. I then use a cleansing balm as a second cleanse to make sure all dirt and make-up is gone and my skin is completely clean and fresh. (I always use my cleansers dry for massaging in the product and dissolving the make-up and grime, and add a wet flannel to 'rinse'). 

This step has really, really shown a difference in my skin as I used to have quite congested skin, especially in my t-zone area. Lots of blackheads and build up in the nose and micro-bumps on my forehead. Also if I just so happen to fall asleep without removing my make-up (which is very, very rare) I always wake up in the morning with a spot - I kid you not. Which signals to me just how important it is to make sure that the skin is clean at all times, and by clean I don't mean stripped and squeaky clean by using foaming cleansers or acne face washes, no no no, I stay away from those. By using a creamy cleanser and a balm, it makes sure than my make-up has been dissolved thoroughly and broken down, while providing comfort and moisture for my skin with hydrating and nourishing ingredients that these types of cleansers have. 

My favourite cleansers that I tend to rotate and re-purchase are:

Emma Hardie Moringa Cleansing Balm (review),

Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish Hot Cloth Cleasner (review),

Una Brennan Rose Hydrate Creamy Cleanser,
Fushi Extra Virgin Organic Coconut Oil,
Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm,

and Balance ME Pure Skin Face Wash.

2. Double Toner: 

Yep that's right, another double! I like to use two different types of toner - one that is exfolating and resurfacing called a 'chemical exfoliant', followed by a softening toner that is hydrating and plumping. I am currently using Biologique Recherche Lotion P50 as my chemical exfoliant and it is fantastic. For my softening toner I am currently using an all time favourite of mine which is the Lancome Tonique Douceur which I will again be repurchasing soon as it is nearing the end. I use the exfoliating one first to resurface my skin and help to break down any dead skin cells and create environment where spots and blemishes can't occur, the P50 in particular feels quite tingly when applied and is very concentrated, over time it has left my skin feeling smooth, supple and refined. The softening toner comes after as this helps to soften and smooth the skin ready for make-up by hydrating and calming the skin after the chemical exfoliant. This softening step is important for me as it creates a great base for moisturiser to go on top and ensures that my skin is soothed and soft ready for my make-up. I usually use both in the morning and at night, but since the weather has gotten a bit warmer in the UK, I have only been using the Lotion P50 at night as the chemical exfoliants can sensitise the skin to sun damage. I always make sure I use an SPF daily anyway, but by taking this extra precaution in the summer I am being sure that I am protecting my skin from harm. 

Other softening toners I enjoy using are:

Liz Earle Instant Boost Skin Tonic (DI-VINE!!),

and Clarins Toning Lotion with Iris.

3. Treatment/Serum: 

After I have cleansed and toned, I make sure I follow with a treatment/serum to inject a little extra repair into my skin. Serums work from the bottom of the skin up, while moisturisers work from the top of the skin down. By using both I am making sure that my skin is getting maximum replenishment and repair. In the daytime, I use a pore minimising serum which is the Estee Lauder Idealist Pore Minimising Skin Refinisher serum and it is seriously, seriously good. This makes my skin feel silky smooth and has lots of retexturizing and hydrating benefits which help to keep my make-up looking fresh all day and my skin looking smooth in texture. I sometimes use my Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Synchronised Recovery Complex II  (post) in the morning also, but I have mostly been using it as my night time treatment. These treatments work to target concerns that I may have with my skin, which mainly include texture, even tone and hydration. Serums and treatments should be chosen suited on your particular skincare concerns so that you get the results that you want. Of course, I always follow these with a moisturiser. Other serums I really love are:

Hydraluron Serum by Indeed Labs (review here),

and Lancome Genefique Serum.

  4. Eye Cream:

I always use an eye cream, every day, every morning and night. As the eye area is 40% thinner than the rest of the face, it is important to use eye creams as they are specifically designed for that delicate area. I find this step essential for helping me look awake and hydrated under my eyes and help to diminish fine lines and darkness. I especially make sure I have eye cream on if I am wearing make-up, particularly concealer as it tends to look dry and scaly under the eye if the area isn't properly moisturised and hydrated.

My favourites include:

Emu Oil Well Moisturising Eye Cream,
Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Eye,
Estee Lauder Advanced Time Zone Eye Cream,

and Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Eye Serum Infusion.

5. Lip Balm:

I always apply lip balm in the morning when I am doing my morning routine, during the day liberally and at night time too. Hydrated lips are really important, and I make sure that if I'm out in the sun, I'm using one that has an SPF in as lips can burn too and are prone to sun damage like the rest of the skin. It's important not to neglect the lips and regular application of a hydrating lip product can keep them from looking chapped and feeling dry resulting in lovely soft and smooth lips... mmmm :-)

Lip balms that I use are:

Blistex MedPlus Balm,

Blistex Intensive Moisturiser,
Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream,

and Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Lip Protectant Stick SPF 15.

6. SPF:

On the daily, I tended to use my foundation as an SPF and my Estee Lauder Double Wear foundation has an SPF of 10. I am also a fan of Clinique City Block Sheer SPF 25 as it goes on really nice under make-up and doesn't leave my skin feeling greasy. However recently, I picked up No7 Anti-Dark Spot Sun Protection in SPF50 (for face), predominantly for my holiday at the end of this month, but I have been using it daily under make-up and I must say I am very impressed. I always have some kind of SPF on my face, every day. (I shall review the No7 soon).

7. Face Masks:

I always like to have a couple of face masks on the go to use once or twice a week to give my skin a little treat or a boost. My favourite face masks to use are by Lush and are always a pleasure to use. They give great results and contain natural ingredients which help the skin in different ways depending on which one you go for. I tend to always go for Brazened Honey which I have reviewed here, although I had been enjoying Ayesha a month or so ago.. Another face mask I really enjoy using is the Alba Botanica Papaya Enzyme Facial Mask which contains Papaya to eat away at dead skin and leave a smooth surface without impurities.

-

So those are the steps that I take to keep my skin looking clear and healthy, and I hope/think that in the long run it will keep my skin looking tip top even when I'm 90 *fingers crossed*.

There is a quote by the famous and beautiful Coco Chanel that has always stayed with me, and that is:

"Nature gives you the face you have at twenty; it is up to you to merit the face you have to fifty"

Did you find this post helpful? 

What do you do to look after your skin?

Bedtime Beauty - Night Time Skincare Picks

So last night while I was getting ready for bed, I thought I'd post a quick snapshot to Instagram of what skincare I used after cleansing and the products I've been enjoying the most for bedtime recently.

I started off by double cleansing, as I always do. I might write about some of my skincare tips that help me keep clear, even skin as there are things I do all the time that are part of my routine which I believe work wonders. To cleanse, I used my Superfacialist by Una Brennan Rose Hydrate Calming Creamy Cleanser and my Emma Hardie Moringa Cleansing Balm afterwards. I really like these both for night time as they are really nourishing. 

Clean skin ready, I then went in with my Lancôme Tonique Doucer which is probably my favourite toner of all time. It's really softening and hydrating on the skin and is great as make-up prep too. I then follow at night time with my Biologique Recherché Lotion P50 which is quite a strong toner/pre-moisturiser prep product. It has lots of acids and chemical exfoliants in that help to really really smooth the skin and get the best from your moisturiser. This product has helped my skin so much with micro bumps between my eyebrows which were quite bad before I started using this. I've been avoiding this for daytime use since the weather has been much hotter in the UK as it can make your skin much more sensitive to the harmful rays of the sun, so I am just using this in the evenings. 

I then followed those two toners (I always tend to double tone too) with my Emu Oil Well Moisturising Eye Cream which I have reviewed here and still love. I then used Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Recovery Complex II serum which is beautiful for night time nourishment.

Lastly as I was feeling special I doubled up on moisturiser - I used a sample of Chanel Sublimage La Creme which I am thoroughly enjoying and has a beautiful texture - it feels really nourishing and hydrating but not heavy or too rich. I also used a sachet sample of Estée Lauder Re-Nutrive Intensive Renewal Creme which is also very nourishing like the Chanel but sinks in really nicely and leaves my skin feeling plump. 

As a final finishing touch I used my lip balm of choice Nûxe Reve de Miel Lip Balm in the stick form, not the jar. I love this lip balm as it actually hydrates long term and I've not had dry lips since using this, previous to using it I used to get very dry, flaky lips - result! 

Excessive as it may seem, that was my night time skincare all done and I felt oh so good for it too. My skin has been looking particularly smooth in texture and very clear in tone and redness which has been great. 

I will do a post soon on the skincare tips that work for me and I hope that they will help others too if they decide to try any. 

What are your current favourite products for bedtime? 

New! Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Recovery Complex II - Review Coming Soon...

Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Recovery Complex II* - £48 - 30ml, £65 - 50ml.

As you may have heard, the iconic Advanced Night Repair by Estée Lauder has again been reformulated and is said to be even better than ever. Working for Estée Lauder myself, I was very familiar with the old formula and the strong Lauder mantra 'The one serum beautiful skin shouldn't be without' - which is pretty much burned in my brain for eternity.  

I was so excited when I found out that it was being reformulated, and even more excited when I read and learnt about the science and technologies behind the fantastic new formula. 

I've had my bottle for less than a week, which is no where near enough time to trial and test it so that I can write a review on my results. So I will be doing a review in about a months time, but until then I thought I would dedicate this post to the history and science behind the 'little brown bottle' that is Advanced Night Repair, as it is an amazing product with a lot of incredible research, popularity and years behind it.

Night Repair advertisement from 1982.

ANR actually started out as Night Repair Cellular Recovery Complex in 1982 and was the worlds first ever repair serum. The famous brown bottle with the dropper was inspired by pharmaceuticals and designed to look medical, everything about it was groundbreaking and new, from the formula, to the texture, to the research. Estée Lauder were the first cosmetic company to understand the impact that DNA damage had on the skin, causing it to age. They also brought about the concept of 'night-time repair' and were innovators in terms of brands following suit with their own alternatives. They invented a serum and then the repair category, turning skin care into repair. They also studied the impact of environmental assaults on the skin as well as identifying the importance of skins 24-hour circadian rhythm and how clock genes help skin cells repair at exactly the right time.

Mrs Estée Lauder.

Celebrating their 30th year of ANR last year in 2012, Estée Lauder's most coveted serum now has over 30 years of research and innovation under it's belt as well as 25+ patents and patents pending worldwide, meaning no one can copy or re-create it, serious stuff!

I created this timeline to display the different variations of ANR throughout the years, starting in 1982 with Night Repair. 

1991 brought along Advanced Night Repair Protective Recovery Complex and was reformulated with anti-oxidant technologies. This formula helped to boost skins natural renewal process and help repair visible signs of ageing.

In 1998, Advanced Night Repair Whitening Recovery Complex was released in Asia only and targeted the concerns of Asian skin. This formula helped to restore the translucence and porcelain finish that youthful skin has. It helped to reduce un-even skin tone, pigmentation and dark spots to reveal a more uniform skin tone appearance.

2002 saw the release of Advanced Night Repair Eye Recovery Complex which saw the best-selling formula adapted into a gel-creme to treat the delicate skin around the eyes, which is 40% thinner than the rest of the face. This eye repair product targets lines, puffiness, dryness and dark circles. 

In 2007, an addition to the ANR family was made in the form of Advanced Night Repair Concentrate Recovery Boosting Treatment and is an intense treatment to be used for 21 nights every 3-4 weeks and that is sadly being discontinued. 

In 2009 the New Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Recovery Complex was born, and featured exclusive Chronolux™ technology which supports the natural synchroniztion of skins repair and protection processes at the exact right time. It also contained AGT (Alkyl Guanine Transferase) which helped to repair visible damage from smoke and pollution.

2012 featured a limited edition bottle to celebrate 30 years of Advanced Night Repair and the beginning of 2013 introduced the new Advanced Night Repair Eye Serum Infusion which reduces the look of past visible damage around the eyes and penetrates quickly due to it's serum form. This serum can be used alone or under your eye cream to maximise results. This serum again features the Chronolux™ technology. This formula is more protective of the eye area as opposed to the gel-creme alternative.

As of July 29th 2013, the previous ANR became discontinued and Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Recovery Complex II hit the shelves. I was on counter yesterday for the launch of this product and made sure that I explained the new formula to customers that used it, and to customers that were new to it also. (I'd like to stress that nothing has been taken away from the previous formula, so people who loved it before, you still will. The formula has been added to only, the smell is the same (to me) and the texture is pretty much identical.)

The new formula is based around two major discoveries - Purification and Lack of Sleep accelerates the Look of Ageing. 

Every night, skin cells go through a purification process called Catabolysis, which 

Estée Lauders scientists discovered peaks at night. This purification clears out cellular debris from the skin which optimises skins natural renewal. As we age, this natural purification slows down, which is where the development of ChronoluxCB™comes along, a combination of Purification and Synchronization. 

Still with me?

The lack of sleep aspect has been extensively researched by Estée Lauder and a leading university who showed that chronic lack of sleep can accelerate visible signs of skin ageing, in particular fine lines, dehydrated/dry skin and uneven skin tone. Estée Lauder are saying that they can't help you get a good nights sleep, but they can help you look like you did.

The new ANR II works Every Night, Every Day, and for Every Key Sign of Ageing. 

Every Night see's the Purification and Synchronization processes in action - ChronoluxCB™. 

Every Day a powerful blend of anti-oxidants help to neutralise free radicals and protect the skin from environmental assaults. High levels of Hyaluronic Acid help to lock in moisture and create the perfect environment for skins natural renewal. 

Every Key Sign of Ageing includes lines and wrinkles, dehydration and uneven skintone and it helps to make the skin feel smoother, stronger and look younger and more radiant. 

Advanced Night Repair has always been suitable for every age, skintype and ethnicity.

You can pick up the new ANR II at any Estée Lauder counter and online at esteelauder.co.uk.

As for my own opinion of the new formula, I can't say too much at the moment. I've only been using it a few days, but I will say that I've already noticed a very visible difference in my skin, not just in the way it looks but also in it's behaviour. Keep an eye out for my review to see what I really think!

Until then, I leave you with a few of my favourite photos of Mrs. Lauder, who in my opinion, was an incredible lady, and a beautiful one at that. I feel very honoured to work for such an amazing company who have brought so much to the industry.

I hope you enjoyed this post, please let me know if you liked it! 

I will also do an updated post on my job soon, but I will say I am really, really enjoying it!!

Twitter: twitter.com/chloemykel

Instagram: cocomykel

*Gifted to me complimentarily as an employee.