JC’s Jazzy Question:
Does the Estee Lauder Clear Difference Advanced Oil-Control Hydrator for oily skin actually work? Will using it overtime reduce sebum production?
The Right Brain’s Reasonable Response:
Thanks to JC for one of the most challenging questions we’ve faced yet.
This Lauder product is a bit of a mystery – we can’t find much information to back up what it says, but neither can we find any clear evidence that it’s all just marketing B.S. But, as usual, we have some theories that you might find informative. First, here’s what Lauder says about the product:
Give your skin a clear future – at any age. This advanced lotion keeps skin perfectly hydrated inside, perfectly matte outside. Oil-controlling formula with the exclusive Estee Lauder Absorbex Complex which normalizes sebum production and instantly banishes shine. In time, it “re-programs” skin to produce measurably less oil. Future blemishes are discouraged before they can form, and redness is soothed away. Leaves skin moisturized, refreshed, naturally matte.
As you can probably guess, “Absorbex Complex” is a marketing-speak, trademarked name for some of the ingredients in the formula. There’s really no way for us to know exactly what in this complex (one can’t just waltz into their dermatolgist’s office and ask for a big gift-wrapped bottle of “Absorbex Complex”) but based on what Lauder says, it appears to be some kind of stabilized enzyme. Read on…
Lightweight hydrating formula with exclusive enzyme technology which reduces surface oil, while delivering moisture where it’s needed most. Mattes-out shine instantly, absorbs excess oil and helps unclog pores to help eliminate breakouts.
“Ahhh,” you say, “enzymes! Of course, it’s so obvious, I should have guessed!!”
“Uh, wait,” you realize a second later, “I don’t really know what an enyzme is…”
Don’t worry about it. Let’s just say that enzymes are proteins that speed up chemical reactions and that there are enzymes involved with the creation and destruction of oil and oily materials. So in theory, yes, enzymes could help control skin oil. But we’ve never this theory proven in the context of any cosmetic product.
Now, Estee Lauder is a big company with deep pockets so they very well could have comissioned a project to develop and test an enzyme to control sebum production. But we can’t find any reference to it. Color us skeptical, but open minded, on this one.
The Brain’s Bottom Line:
Sorry we can’t be more definitive on this one, but at least we’re truthful. So we’ll tell you what – to make it up to you, for no extra charge, we’ll throw in a couple of interesting sources of information on oily skin. Don’t say we never gave you anything…
Great info on sebum at dermnet.com
We found one doctor who says that enzymes don’t work but gives you some dietary advice on how to banish oily skin
Over at smartskincare. com they talk about stuff that does really work on sebum like topical vitamin A creams.
There is data to show that skin with more sebum doesn’t develop wrinkles as fast as dry skin.
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