Estée Lauder is just announcing the launch of a new addition to its Advanced Night Repair range : Advanced Night Micro Cleansing Balm.
Communication & Claims
This formula is claimed to be formulated for night cleansing, offers a “unique sensorial texture” and is said to create the “perfect foundation to prepare skin for the evening”, to position it properly as a complement to the existing Advanced Night Repair products.
The use instructions helps to understand the technology behind this product : “this lightweight balm melts into a silky cleansing oil as you massage over skin, then transforms with water into a milky emulsion that rinses easily for a clean, conditioned feel. It removes makeup and impurities, including pollution, as it purifies within skin’s surface to create an overall healthy look”.
Formula technology
Originated from Japan (e.g. Shu Uemura Cleansing Oils), cleansing oils are to be applied on dry skin, and turning to milking when mixed with water, which helps to rinse them off (see video below).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QVVphB-QuoU
This new product from Estée Lauder could be considered as a solid version of cleansing oil, very probably hot-poured according the photo of the product. The solid texture makes the use of such oily product easier and less messy than a classical cleansing oil, as it does not fall out of the ends when applied on face. Such type of cleanser are very efficient to remove even the most long-lasting make-ups, due to their high concentration of water, on all face including the eye area. However, the Estée Lauder Advanced Night Micro Cleansing Balm is not recommended for eye use.
It is a quasi-anhydrous formula (water if far in then end of the INCI list), made of :
- oils : Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Cathamus Tinctorius (Safflower) Seed Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Sorbeth-30 Tetraoleate
- a wax, to thicken the oils : Polyethylene
- a surfactant, to emulsify the oil when in contact with water : PEG-5 Glycercyl Triisostearate
- botanical extracts (Silybum Marianum Extract, Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract, Algae Extract, Anthemis Nobilis, Lavendula Angustifolia)
- a fragrance compound : Methyl Dihydrojasmonate, also known as Hedione, with a smell close to jasmin. The formula does not contain a frangrance composition per se (no “fragrance” in the INCI list) but is fragranced anyway with Hedione, commonly used in fragrance compositions
- water, in a low amount as not in the top of the ingredient list
- a preservative : phenoxyethanol
- BHT and Vitamin E (tocopherol) to protect the formula and especially natural oils (Safflower oil) against oxidation
Ingredient list of the Estee Lauder Advanced Night Micro Cleansing Balm :
Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Carthamus Tinctorus (Safflower) Seed Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Sorbeth-30 Tetraoleate, Polyethylene, PEG-5 Glyceryl Triisostearate, Water/Aqua/Eau, Silybum Marianum, Extract, Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract, Algae Extract, Anthemis Nobilis, Lavendula Angustifolia, Methyl dihydrojasmonate, Tocopherol, BHT, Linalool, Phenoxyethanol.
The Clinique Take the Day Off Cleansing Balm, on the market for some time now, is based on the same exact technology.
It contains the same ingredients as the Advanced Night Micro Cleansing Balm, except the botanical extracts and the Hedione. This what is called in the industry “cascading technologies between brands”. It is not uncommon at all, and allow cosmetic companies to capitalize on innovations and make them profitable.
Ingredient list of the Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm
Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Carthamus Tinctorius (Safflower) Seed Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Sorbeth-30 Tetraoleate, Polyethylene, PEG-5 Glyceryl Triisostearate, Water, Tocopherol, Phenoxyethanol.