Creme De La Mer - "Miracle Cream" and my Neiman Marcus Bill
Written: Jun 07 '05 (Updated Jun 08 '05)
Product Rating:
Pros: Versatile for many different skin types.
Cons: Ridiculously expensive and overhyped.
The Bottom Line: I recommend it for those who already spend a lot on their skincare regimen and are looking for something to replace their night cream.
zzJulia's Full Review: La Mer : Creme de 250ml/8.5oz
I'm really a lotion girl, but I've been buying Creme de la Mer for years. I mean, I've been buying it for so long that it used to "only" be $90 per oz. instead of the whopping $110 per oz it is today.
WHAT THE HECK IS IT FOR?
The website claims that it is virtually for everyone's skin issues:
"In a short time, skin becomes softer, firmer, looks virtually creaseless. Aging lines and pores are noticeably less visible. Even the driest of complexions are healed. Sensitivities are soothed."
I used to think it was for older skin, so I started out buy buying it as a gift for my mom and my mother-in-law. That was seven years ago. To this day, both of them are still hooked. I even went out on a limb and bought it for my sister-in-law who had typical combination skin with dry cheeks and an oily T-zone.
She was skeptical, but had read so much about it magazines that she was eager to try it out. To her surprise and her husband's dismay, she loved it!
It has no SPF, so I consider it more of a night cream treatment. I was afraid to try it myself due to my break outs and oily T-zone, but since I had been buying to so much of it, the counter girls had been giving me generous samples and I found myself in possession of multiple little travel size jars that ended up equally a couple oz. Wow! I was sitting on a goldmine. I sold some on eBay but caved and used the rest.
To my surprise, it did not cause my skin to be oilier or break out.
WHAT'S IN IT?
Well, it's basically seaweed and plant thickener, so why so dern pricey? The claim is also on the website:
"THE SECRET
Crème de la Mer's Miracle Broth™ is suspended within its extraordinary formula. To activate the broth and release its key ingredients, warm a small amount between your fingertips. As you pat onto clean, dry skin, you will instantly feel the soothing effects of the broth. Smooth over your face, neck, even under the fragile eye area."
Ok, it all sounds like blue smoke woo-woo to me, but usually plant thickeners make my skin go nuts, and La Mer doesn't. It also works on all the women in my family which seems insane since we all have incredibly different skin types.
WHY DO YOU NEED IT?
Ok, nobody needs a cream like this over something important, like food, shelter, clothing or sunscreen. However, if you can wangle one as a gift or a deluxe travel size off eBay, I would say it's worth trying out for a night cream.
When I was having my crazy skin issues, the products I was using 12% AHA, 2% BHA, and/or the benzoyl peroxide would leave me with some pretty abused skin afterwards. I used this in between treatments overnight to give my skin a break and get some soothing in. I also used it in the winter time as well. During the day, I stuck with my Clinique Moisture Surge and sunscreen on top.
It did not produce extra oil, and my skin lost it's flaky appearance very quickly.
If you have wrinkles, this product will likely soften that up and give your skin a plumper appearance since that is why my MIL loves it so much.
The Application
Definitely go to the counter and let the rep give you the whole song and dance about using a spatula, and just a tiny dab of the product and warming it up in your hands to soften up the cream. The cream is extremely thick, has a cool spa fragrance (not seaweedy/oceany at all) and does not actually go on very smoothly if you skip that warming up step!
What if you have oily skin?
Ok, here's my secret indulgence. I now use the Creme sparingly in the winter. My big indulgence is that I have switched to the Serum. Yes, the serum is 50% more expensive. It's ridiculous, but it seems to actually keep my skin more matte, but still moisturized. I don't use it every day because I can't afford to, but once a week.
More ways to blow your cash
Yes, they recommend you use your serum under the cream for the full effect. I tried it once and felt no difference than just using the cream overnight. When my skin is oilier, the serum works well for daytime under my sunscreen and powder. I have also tried the toner, gel nettoyant cleanser, and the foundation. All were lovely but not anything that I would repeat purchase. Clearly, the creme and the serum are the workhouses of this product line, which is owned by Estee Lauder.
Where to Buy
It used to be that I could only find it at Neiman Marcus. Now I see it at Nordstrom and Bloomingdale's too. Test it out there, but buy it for less on eBay.
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