La Mer’s Crème de la Mer is more than just an iconic skincare product - using a jar of this is a luxury experience from start to finish. After all, it’s the result of decades of research in developing the ultimate skincare ingredient! 

What Gives La Mer The Luxury Difference?

Credit: LaMer/Instagram

Something that sets La Mer apart from the rest of the luxury brands (and especially from pharmacy skincare) is their unique ‘miracle broth’ algae extract. This isn’t any ordinary botanical extract - La Mer creates this themselves, ensuring that the secret of this miracle ingredient stays exclusive to La Mer products.

How? 

Here’s the thing - while yes, it is a form of Algae Extract (as it appears on ingredient lists), there’s a huge difference in the version you’ll find in La Mer products compared to anything that claims to have the same thing. 

At La Mer, the algae extract is fermented, boosting the abilities of this extract for your skin. It’s also brewed with what the original La Mer founder called ‘lime tea’ - a blend of specially processed citrus rinds and tea extracts to provide an antioxidant boost to the miracle broth.

The final product? 

An ultra-luxurious, incredibly effective, and exclusive potent skincare ingredient that you can only find in La Mer products - including the iconic Crème de la Mer.

What’s in Crème de la Mer?

Credit: LaMer/Instagram

Crème de la Mer is no ordinary moisturiser, thanks to the unique miracle broth it contains - but what else makes this product so iconic? Here are some ingredient highlights that set Crème de la Mer firmly above the rest of the pack. 

La Mer Miracle Broth

Okay, it’s not technically called ‘miracle broth’ - but that may as well be it’s actual name. Studies have found that fermented skincare ingredients (just like this algae extract) are able to encourage skin’s natural rejuvenation processes for skin that looks and feels younger. 

Even though it has more benefits than your typical seaweed extract, La Mer’s miracle broth still has some of the original fantastic benefits of seaweed extract: anti-ageing, antioxidant, and skin brightening properties. Sign me up! 

Sesame Seed Oil

This plant-derived oil is rich in Vitamin E, one of the most effective antioxidants for our skin. However, that’s not the only thing that sesame seed oil has to offer our skin - it’s also a powerful natural anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial.

As an anti-inflammatory, sesame seed oil can calm down irritated & troubled skin, reducing redness for an even-toned glow. This also means it has the potential to soothe inflammation caused by acne, reducing the appearance of any pesky breakouts. 

However, let’s not forget it’s anti-microbial power! While this isn’t technically an anti-acne product, this ability goes a long way towards preventing any already unlikely breakouts from forming by (gently) doing away with any acne-causing bacteria. 

Niacin

I know what you’re thinking - isn’t this the same as niacinamide? They’re both derived from Vitamin B3, but have slightly different forms. It’s kind of like the difference between prescription tretinoin and over-the-counter retinol; they’ll both be effective, but in slightly different ways. Here’s how.

The thing with niacin is that it needs to first convert into niacinamide before it can have any effect on the skin. Once it’s converted, it’s exactly the same as niacinamide - and still has all the same skin-nourishing benefits for the skin. These include maintaining a healthy moisture barrier, fading hyperpigmentation, and diminishing the look of fine lines and wrinkles.

Panthenol

Panthenol is another amazing skincare ingredient that also comes out of the B Vitamin family - just like niacin. You might know it by the name provitamin B5!

It’s considered one of the gold standard ingredients, thanks to its ability to condition, soften, and heal skin. It’s one of the best ingredients that you could possibly reach for super-smooth, moisturised skin - so it’s no wonder that La Mer’s included it in their famous moisturising cream. 

Beta-Carotene

Another fantastic antioxidant, beta-carotenes are typically found in plant oils such as rosehip oil and sea buckthorn oil. Beta-carotenes help to defend the skin against oxidative stress caused by sun exposure, pollution, and even smoking. Preventing this oxidative stress goes a long way towards keeping your skin looking amazing!

Now that you know exactly what’s in Crème de la Mer, will you give this iconic moisturiser a try anytime soon? As a night cream, it's perfect for all skin types - even oily and combination skin. 

As a moisturiser, it goes a long way towards ensuring that your skin is hydrated and happy - the stepping stones to creating an amazing skincare routine.

If you’re still working on creating your perfect skincare routine, try our skincare quiz!