See more flawless, luminous, even toned skin—instantly. Estée Lauder invents the first ever EE Creme!

Estée Lauder's EE Cream aka Enlighten Even Effect Skintone Corrector SPF 30

WHAT IT IS:

EE Cream stands for Even Effect and is designed to create a flawless, luminous and even-toned skin. This cream is actually a tinted moisturizer with sunscreen protection.

This cream falls within the new Estée Lauder "whitening" line, i.e. skin brightening and  skin tone correcting line. This new line consists of a serum (read my review HERE), a cream (review coming soon), and this EE cream (subject of the present review).

WHAT ESTEE LAUDER CLAIMS IT DOES:

"This ultra-sheer skin-transformer gives a hint of healthy color and creates an overall even effect. It instantly creates a glowing, more even toned look. It immediately helps minimize the look of dark spots, sun spots, post acne marks, redness and pores. Delivers high-level SPF 30 and powerful anti-oxidants to help minimize damage that can lead to hyperpigmentation."

PACKAGING: 

The cream comes in a 30mL opaque squeeze tube. The package is perfect to keep the antioxidants of the cream stable.

HOW IT LOOKS/FEELS/SMELLS:

It is a lightweight tinted moisturizer in a cream formula. It is rather sheer and easy to apply. It blends very nicely with the skin and it doesn't look as you're wearing any makeup at all. It gives a very natural look with a dewy finish. It has a very subtle scent (I'm not sure what it is, maybe a light "sunscreen scent"...).

l-r: out of the tube, spreading, blended. The shade I have is "light". You can click on the pictures to see them in larger format.

l-r: out of the tube, spreading, blended.

As it's rather sheer it won't help covering any dark spots, scars or redness you may have to a large extent. However it works differently: Because it provides broad-spectrum sun protection, it will prevent the apparition of new dark spots. You can see in the infographic below that the sun is one of the main factors of skin aging. Therefore if you use a sunscreen (i.e., Estée Lauder EE Cream) you will prevent sun-related skin damage!

HOW TO USE IT:

Apply AM as a last step in your skincare regimen. Wear alone or under foundation.

The Enlighten Even Effect Skintone Corrector exists in 3 shades (light, medium, and deep/dark).

KEY INGREDIENTS: 

Suncreen protection, emollients, and different plan extract with antioxidant properties.

KEY INGREDIENTS:
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INGREDIENT LIST:  

Aqua, Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate (film-forming agent, skin-conditioning agent and thickener), Homosalate (chemical sunscreen (anti-UVB)), Ethylhexyl Salicylate (chemical sunscreen (anti-UVB)),  Butyloctyl Salicylate (photostabilizing effect, enhances the function of sunscreens), Benzophenone-3 (Oxybenzone) (chemical sunscreen (esp anti-UVB, anti-UVA2)), Aleurites Moluccana (Kukui) Seed Oil (anti-infllammtory), Octocrylene (chemical sunscreen (anti-UVB, anti-UVA2)), Lauryl Peg-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone (thickener/emulsifier), Peg-100 Stearate (emollient), Butylene Glycol (humectant), Methyl Trimethicone (emollient), Titanium Dioxide (sunscreen (anti-UVB,-UVA/coloring agent), Glyceryl Stearate (emollient), Dipentaerythrityl Tri-Polyhydroxystearate (emollient), Synthetic Fluorphlogopite (viscosity control), Cladosiphon Okamuranus Extract (prevention/treatment of photoaging), Laminaria Ochroleuca Extract (anti-inflammatory), Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract (antioxidant), Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root Extract (whitening/lightening dark spots), Narcissus Tazetta Bulb Extract (antioxidant), Hordeum Vulgare Extract (Extrait D’orge) (antioxidant), Lactis Protein\Proteine Du Petit-Lait (tightening and smoothening skin), Cucumis Sativus (Cucumber) Fruit Extract (antioxidant), Extrait De Levure, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seedcake, Cholesterol, Oryzanol, Sorbitol, Propylene Glycol Dicaprate, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Dextrin, Cetyl Alcohol, Vp/Eicosene Copolymer, Saccharide Isomerate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Lecithin, Caffeine, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Dehydroxanthan Gum, Stearic Acid, Silica, Citric Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Alumina, Fragrance (Parfum), Tin Oxide, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Disodium Edta, Bht, Phenoxyethanol,  [+/- Titanium Dioxide (Ci 77891), Iron Oxides (Ci 77492), Iron Oxides (Ci 77491), Iron Oxides (Ci 77499), Mica (ILN40894).

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As you can see from the ingredient list, there are many sunscreen agents and they are listed at the top of the list, which means they are present in high concentrations. There are anti-UVA and anti-UVB sunscreens (=> broad-spectrum sunscreen).

Homosalate is considered a non-sensitizing, and non-toxic sunscreen. It primarily provides UVB protection with a narrow UVA protection range. Oxybenzone also primarily protects from the sun’s UVB rays, and some, but not all, UVA rays. There is some controversy surrounding oxybenzone but it was concluded that it is "safe for topical application to humans in the present practices of use and concentration in cosmetics” (learn more  here). Octocrylene is a very common compound found in sunscreens. I found one study (Free Radical Biology and Medicine, Sunscreen enhancement of UV-induced reactive oxygen species in the skin, 41:1205-1212 (2006)) that showed that octocrylene can increase skin’s photosensitivity to the sun, increasing free radicals. To what extent and in which conditions is unknown. It is nevertheless accepted by the authorities and considered safe. Titanium Dioxide (a "physical"/mineral suncreen) protects skin from UVA and UVB radiation and is considered to have no risk of skin irritation. It is a safe suncreen.


Sunrays produce free radicals that damage cells. In the EE Cream, the addition of antioxidants will also help fight the free radicals and prevent cell damage.

Among the antioxidants, we have Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Narcissus Tazetta Bulb Extract, Hordeum Vulgare Extract, and Cucumber Fruit Extract.

Scientific literature: JMCC, Extract from Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi Attenuates Oxidant Stress in Cardiomyocytes, 31:1885-1895 (1999) / Patent : Method to Treat Skin Conditions with Narcissus Tazetta Bulb Extract, US 20080175935 A1 / - J. Agric. Food Chem, Antioxidant Effects of Water Extracts from Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) Prepared under Different Roasting Temperatures, 49:1455-1463 (2001) / Archives of Dermatological Research, Cucumis sativus fruit-potential antioxidant, anti-hyaluronidase, and anti-elastase agent, 303:247-252 (2011).

Aleurites Moluccana (Kukui) is traditionally used to treat ulcers and skin rash. It has been shown to have anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and antibacterial activies.

Scientific literature: Pharmaceutical Biology, Medicinal Plants of Mauritius, 28:297-308 (1990), Journal of Ethnopharmacology, Antinociceptive, anti-inflammatory and wound healing features in animal models treated with a semisolid herbal medicine based on Aleurites moluccana L. Willd. Euforbiaceae standardized leaf extract: Semisolid Herbal, 143:355-362 (2012).

Cladosiphon Okamuranus is a Japanese seaweed. I haven't found published literature about the extract of this seaweed but UBE industries (a Japanese company) claim that the extract promotes the softness and moisture of hair and skin and that it inhibits oxidative degeneration of collagen and hyluronic acid, which in turns can help to smooth out wrinkles and fine lines. I did more research and found articles about fucoidan though. Fucoidan is a sulfated polysaccharide found in this algae. It was demonstrated that fucoidan can inhibit UVB-induced enzymes responsible for the degradation or synthesis inhibition of collagenous extracellular matrix in connective tissues, causing skin photoaging. It was concluded that therefore fucoidan might be used as a potential agent for the prevention and treatment of skin photoaging.

Scientific literature: Biological and Pharmaceutical Bulletin Fucoidan Inhibits UVB-Induced MMP-1 Expression in Human Skin Fibroblasts, 31:284-289 (2008), Archives of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Fucoidan a sulfated polysaccharide from brown algae is a potent modulator of connective tissue proteolysis, 445:56-64 (2006).

Laminaria Ochroleuca is another algae. It has anti-inflammatory properties.

Scientific literature: Journal of the European Academy of Dermatolofy and Venereology, Laminaria ochroleuca extract reduces skin inflammation, 21:1124-1125 (2007).

THOUGHTS:

I must say I was a bit clueless but excited at the same time when I heard about this EE Cream.What is an EE Creme? Is it a new kind of BB cream? Is it different from a CC cream? I think Estée Lauder had a very clever marketing approach with this name because it creates interset in the product!

Estée Lauder's EE Cream is mainly a tinted moisturizer with broad-spectrum sun protection. 

This cream is advertised as a skintone corrector that helps minimize the look of dark spots. As I said it will not per se conceal every skin imperfection you might have because it's rather sheer but it will bring you sun protection. And if you protect your skin from the harmful rays of the sun (UVA and UVB), you will automatically improve the appareance of your skin as you will prevent the formation of sun spots and the breakdown of collagen.

Of course, if you want high sun protection, you should use a rather "large" amount of scuncreen, i.e, approximately ¼ teaspoon for the face and usually with tinted moisturizers you use less. But still it's much better than nothing, right? Personally, I use a mineral suncreen underneath the EE Cream (because I'm a bit paranoid :p ). Normally I don't like chemical sunscreens but I didn't get any irritation when using the EE Cream so it's alright. I've been using it everyday since last October ;)

Finally, despiste being sheer, I think it still evens out my skintone nicely and gives my skin a natural, glowy, and healthy look!

Purchase info 

Estée Lauder products can be purchased from autorized retailers (Nordstrom, Selfridges, Marionnaud, Douglas, Manor, Globus). For Switzerland, you can find a list of them here. 

*PR Samples*

AHOW IT LOOKS/FEELS/SMELLS:
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HOW IT LOOKS/FEELS/SMELLS:
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