Instead of posting just a short review on Estée Lauder's Resilience Lift, I think this post would probably be more useful if I do a comparison between this and another similar product from Estée Lauder, the Advanced Time Zone. When I was trying to decide which one to buy, I couldn't find any useful information comparing the two.
I ended up purchasing the Advanced Time Zone SPF 15. I later received this half-size (15mL) Resilience Lift SPF15 as part of a gift set. (Spoiler alert) I am glad that I didn't buy it - the Advanced Time Zone was much better suited to my skin.
Claims
Resilience Lift for day is powered by our exclusive Photo-Activated Lift Complex. Immediately, skin looks more radiantly alive. As you use it, facial contours appear more sculpted and defined. Lines and wrinkles look more smoothed out and lifted away. You'll see a remarkably younger, revitalised look.
As usual Estée Lauder makes big claims about its products. I am not so sure what that "Photo-Activated Lift Complex" is meant to be, nor how a face cream can contour and sculpt. What I can say though is that this cream is pretty jam packed with plant extracts, antioxidants other moisturising factors, which (together with sunscreen) are always beneficial to the skin.
My experience
Fragrance. From the very first use I was hit by this supposedly-pleasant floral fragrance every single time, which really turned me off. It was strong - way too strong. I could smell it all morning even I put a primer and a foundation over it. This was the main reason that I had not been using this consistently after the first two weeks. I was so turned off by the fragrance that it took me many more months than usual to finish the little jar.
Texture and feel. This day cream is seriously thick, even though I have the "normal/combination skin" version. I can't imagine how thick the "dry skin" version would be. On some days it's just a matter of time before absorption would eventually happen; on other days (especially when I have used my usual facial oil before moisturiser) my skin would feel so greasy that the makeup wouldn't stay on.
Results. The immediate results were all very similar to Advanced Time Zone (read here) - except that I couldn't persist wearing this after 2 weeks. Looking at the ingredients list, I would probably get similar long term results if I persisted.
Advanced Time Zone SPF 15 vs. Resilience Lift SPF 15
Advanced Time Zone
Lightweight and silky
Subtle fragrance, next to none
Perfect under makeup
Suitable for combination, normal or slightly drier skin types
$110/50mL
Resilience Lift
Heavy and rich
Strong fragrance
Takes time to fully absorb
Suitable for dry and very dry skin types
$140/50mL
About me
Makeup artist and hair stylist based in Sydney. Founder of the well-known award-winning bridal specialist team Faces Makeup & Hair. Beauty junkie with an obsession for skincare.