Something New: Estee Lauder Micro Essence Skin Activating Treatment Lotion

Estee Lauder, one of the few brands that works for my skin, came up with Micro Essence Skin Activating Treatment Lotion, sounds great right?  But seriously, what is a lotion?  What does it do for our skin and what's the difference with serums and creams?

Thankfully, there was a Q&A with Dr. Nadine Pernodet, Ph D., Executive Director of Skin Biology, Research & Development from The Estee Lauder Companies that can help clarify skin-related questions that has been bugging YOU and ME.

1. Can you explain the difference between a treatment lotion, a serum and an essence?
A treatment lotion is a "watery" lotion that delivers skincare benefits and is typically the first step in a skincare regimen, after cleansing.
The terms essence and serum are often used interchangeably—they both refer to lightweight, concentrated formulas that penetrate quickly into skin and typically deliver powerful benefits to address skincare concerns such as visible signs of including anti-aging benefits. They are typically followed by a moisturizer.


2. How does Micro Essence differ from other treatment lotions?
Estée Lauder‘s Micro Essence is a first of its kind, high performance "essence-in-lotion." This means that while it is a treatment lotion—it is much more. For the first time, we are able to deliver "traditional" serum-like properties in a watery lotion to address the look of multiple signs of aging. The micro-targeted, micro-nourishing and micro-active formula helps to create a healthy micro environment for skin. Micro Essence transforms the look of skin from the inside out by helping to create a stronger, more resistant skin foundation for long term benefits.

3. Should I still use a “traditional” serum if Micro Essence delivers serum-like properties?
Micro Essence does not replace your repair serum – it is intended to partner with it. Our "essence-in-lotion" is the perfect first step to prepare skin for your repair serum. For example, for additional benefits, pair Micro Essence with Advanced Night Repair – when used together, these two breakthrough formulas penetrate skin faster and deeper for even more moisture benefits1 to strengthen and repair skin. Micro Essence can also be paired with any of Estée Lauder‘s other targeted repair serums.
 
4. How and when should I use this product?
Following cleansing, every morning and evening Micro Essence Skin Activating Treatment Lotion should be the first step in your treatment regimen and should be followed by a repair serum. It can be applied using a cotton pad or with hands. To apply, start from the chin and gently press into the skin moving upwards to cheeks and forehead.

5. What age do you recommend women start using this product (or age range)?
Every woman can benefit from a stronger skin foundation, so all women can use this product, but the younger a woman starts using Micro Essence the better. Asian women tend to have a thinner moisture barrier than Caucasian women and are therefore more prone to moisture loss, so it is particularly important for Asian women to keep their skin foundation strong from an early age. A woman in her 20s might start using Micro Essence alone and then add targeted treatment serums to her regimen as she gets older looks to address more specific skin concerns.
6. How soon will I see results?
From the very first use, skin will be more hydrated and radiant, with enhanced clarity. Within four weeks, Micro Essence is clinically proven to deliver a stronger skin foundation as well as additional key visible skin benefits that lead to a healthy, beautiful angelic glow overtime.

7. What are the key visible benefits I can expect to see?
Used day after day, Micro Essence will result in skin that is stronger at its foundation and more resistant to signs of aging, which will ultimately result in a more youthful look and feel. Skin will appear healthy and emanate a glow from deep within. In fact, this multi-benefit formula is so high-performance it improves on multiple characteristics of a youthful, angelic glow, including: hydrated skin; reduced fine, dry lines; calmed irritation; stronger barrier; smooth, supple and silky, with refined texture; more even-toned, youthful radiance and clear, translucent skin.

8. How would you describe an “angelic” glow? How does Micro Essence deliver this?
An angelic glow is the ultimate result of the multiple benefits achieved when using Micro Essence. Day after day, our "essence-in-lotion" helps strengthen and transform skin‘s foundation. With a stronger, more resistant foundation, skin‘s imperfections appear reduced. Skin looks healthy from the inside out, revealing a youthful angelic glow.

9. How does Micro Essence address different signs of aging?
Micro Essence Skin Activating Treatment Lotion addresses different signs of aging by activating skin‘s pro-youth functions to help skin resist the signs of aging. The high-performance "essence-in-lotion" is formulated with Estée Lauder‘s exclusive Micro-Nutrient Bio-Ferment to help transform and strengthen skin at its foundation. When skin has a strong foundation and is intensely hydrated, skin‘s surface imperfections appear reduced and skin emanates a glow from deep within.

10. What are Asian women saying about the product?
Tested on Asian women in Asia, after just two weeks 95% of women agreed skin felt hydrated, looked refreshed, comfortable and healthier. After four weeks:

• 96% of women agreed skin looked more supple, resilient and translucent with a refined texture
• 94% of women agreed skin looked healthier and more beautiful
• 91% of women agreed skin looked more even toned

11. What type of testing did you conduct on this product? 
Dedicated to delivering high-performing products and helping women feel beautiful, Estée Lauder extensively tested Micro Essence on over 600 Asian women in Asia, including clinical, sensory and of course safety. In particular, we invited women in China, Japan and Korea to evaluate product based on a total of 35 attributes such as performance rating, product application characteristics, product texture, after-feel and scent.

What excites me about this product is that it is meant to help clear and hydrate skin making skin calm, supple and silky to touch.  It also helps to reduce fine and dry lines which I think I really need considering I"m in my mid-30s. 

 Estee Lauder Micro Essence is housed in a glass bottle and what I like is that I can easily dispense the product at the palm of my hands, and gently massage the product all over my skin with circular strokes!  I have used this product in just a week, I can't seem to see any "obvious" results as of the moment but I definitely enjoy the light scent, the ability to get absorbed into my "dry" skin in no time and my skin definitely feels soft the next morning!

As for fine and dry lines, I guess I have YOU to ask when I turn 40 :)

If you read the Q&A portion, it was said that the Micro Essence is best followed by a Repair Serum, so I immediately thought of Estee Lauder's Advanced Night Repair (ANR) Synchronized Recovery Complex II which I reviewed before. 

Micro Essence Skin Activating Treatment Lotion is available locally at Rustan's Makati, Shangri-la, Alabang, Gateway, Cebu & Essences Rockwell priced at Php4,500.00 (approx $100.00).  Quite pricey but if it works for you, it definitely is worth saving up for!  I personally believe in splurging on skincare products that works for you! :)

Have you injected serums/essences/lotions in your daily regimen?
Which particular brand are you currently using?

Keep smilin'

Stay happy!