The 15 best La Mer products actually worth your money
The beauty industry is home to everything from affordable, science-backed serums to “miracle creams” and millennial-friendly clean formulas. But few newcomers rival the best La Mer products. The luxury skin-care brand's offerings consistently top the wish lists of editors, celebs, and general skin-care enthusiasts alike.
Its limited selection and near-constant sold-out status give the brand a certain mystique, and La Mer's origin story is as infamous as the price tags attached to its best-selling beauty products. Invented by aerospace physicist Dr. Max Huber to treat burns he sustained after a lab accident, he supposedly stumbled upon the cure for everyday skin-care concerns like puffiness, irritation, and redness. That magic elixir is the brand's proprietary “Miracle Broth” — a top-secret formula featuring naturally healing ingredients created through the fermentation process, such as sea kelp, plant extracts, vitamins, and minerals. What’s more, it’s gentle enough for all skin types, including sensitive skin. Now, every La Mer skin-care product is infused with La Mer’s Miracle Broth — and that hardworking combo of nutrients within it.
But with some prices starting in the three digits, it's not every day you decide to add a little La Mer to cart. You want to know what's actually good before swiping your credit card. So to answer one of the most frequently searched beauty questions of the Google era — “Is La Mer really worth your money?” — we had Glamour editors put some of the brand's hero products to the test. Read on for our honest reviews of the best La Mer products.
**This story originally appeared on GLAMOUR US. **
Before you scroll past this looking for reviews of the Crème de la Mer and the Crème de la Mer only, hear me out. I've been using a clear, unscented gel cleanser for the last few months, so I was surprised by how much I liked this creamy option. It lathers a ton without drying out skin upon rinsing—and, holds for pause, it's blue. Or really, it's pearlescent. I squeezed out a penny-sized amount, but a pea size would have been more than enough. The fragrance reminds me of the soaps my Nonna used to keep her in bathroom—clean, fresh, light. Your ideal scent might not be that of an Italian grandmother, but it would be if you saw her porcelain skin! I feel like I've stumbled upon a hidden La Mer gem—I'm excited to keep using this. —Talia Abbas, senior commerce editor
Good news if you don't love classic toner: This formula feels more like a face essence than a deep-cleansing toner, with more heft, bounciness, and moisture than water. I patted it on after cleansing and loved how it instantly softened and calmed my skin—which, if I were to guess, was probably the work of key ingredients like hyaluronic acid and botanical oils. —Deanna Pai, contributing commerce editor
The hype around the La Mer moisturizing cream is no joke. So much so that as soon as I started using it, I decided to hit pause on all my other moisturizers and devote my skin solely to this face cream. The texture is definitely on the thick side (best suited for the cold winter months, IMO), and since I have tiny keratosis pilaris bumps on my jawline, I use the least amount possible—a dime-size dollop suffices to avoid irritation. My perennially dry skin soaks this rich cream up immediately, and my face looks instantly dewy and glowy thanks to the Miracle Broth and antioxidant-rich lime tea concentrate, which work in tandem to soothe dryness and brighten skin. I hate to admit it, but the cream is good as the price tag would make you believe. —T.A.
The texture of this moisturizer is unbeatable. It's the softest, most pillowy cream you could put on your face, period. Once you get past the added fragrance (why, La Mer, why?), this formula will quickly become the one you reach for day in and day out. Thanks to the brand's proprietary Miracle Broth formulation, your face feels firm (but not tight!) and hydrated (but not oily!) after applying. It's a simultaneously velvety yet lightweight formula, and though the price tag will give you heart palpitations, a little goes such a long way—one jar will last you twice as long as your other moisturizers. If you've tried the original Crème de La Mer moisturizer and like it but want something a little less suffocating on the skin (I personally felt like it was too heavy on my eczema and T-zone), this is the one.
When I think of luxury skin care, La Mer will always be top of mind. It's the O.G., the GOAT, the holy grail—whatever terminology you prefer to use—and this hydrating serum is proof. My skin literally drinks it up, owing to the brand's signature “miracle broth” that uses sea-sourced ferments along with kelp, soy, and lime concentrate to deeply hydrate. It immediately soothes redness and irritation, leaving my complexion plump and smooth, and even helps the rest of my products absorb. I slather this stuff on morning and night and went through my first bottle in a month. Obsessed is an understatement.
I believe in the power of a good skin oil, and this one delivers tenfold. Within one night I noticed my skin not only looked more hydrated (dry flakes around my nose have become an unfortunate pandemic parting gift) but also glowier and more plumped up. In addition to patting a few drops on my face before bed, I've also taken to adding a drop into my foundation—yes, I'm wearing makeup again—to thin it out. A skin-care splurge I'm pleased to get behind!
My acne-prone skin and I love a good exfoliator, so anything with the word peel in the name gets greenlighted for my face. With a lineup of gentle acids—salicylic, glycolic, and lactic, to be exact—alongside nourishing oils like jojoba and sweet almond oils, this is basically your entire p.m. skin-care routine in one step. I did top it with a prescription azelaic acid cream before heading to bed (hormonal acne bites!). I was impressed to find that my skin was smoother and calmer when I woke up the next morning.
I normally steer clear of eye creams because (1) I'm prone to milia, (2) my forever eczema patch sits right on my left eyelid, and (3) past formulas have only prompted me to rub at the very delicate skin I'm trying to protect. Luckily, I've been using this consistently for about a month and have had absolutely zero irritation. That's enough to write home about, but what sets this eye balm apart for me is that it really helps firm skin and reduce puffiness—definitely aided by the wand applicator's cooling metal tip, which comes with the jar. It didn't lighten my dark circles, but it has helped with some fine lines.
I have very high expectations for foundation, and a big part of me really didn't think this one would hold up to all the rave reviews I'd heard—but oh, was I wrong. It has a serum-like texture and feels like nothing on your skin, but offers solid medium coverage, especially when built up. I love the natural finish—though it got dewier as the day progressed, so oily types might want to skip it—and it stayed put during a 90-degree day. The limited shade range leaves a little to be desired, but I'll still be savoring every last drop of my bottle.
La Mer reformulated its treatment lotion this year, and while I haven't tried the original, I can't stop thinking how much I like using this one. It sits somewhere between a serum and an essence—think liquid but not watery. The brand calls it a super hydrator, which is pretty accurate since it's meant to prime your skin for whatever comes next in your regimen—(tinted) moisturizer, sunscreen, foundation. Even if you feel like your routine can't handle any more products, it's worth making room for. Who doesn't want their skin care to work harder?
Regenerating is absolutely the correct word for this dreamy serum that seemingly works overtime to refresh and hydrate sensitized skin. Within a week I noticed fine lines and pesky marks started to look a little lighter, and my skin tone looked a little less red overall—something that's been bugging me during the last year. A little goes a long way, so while yes, it's an investment, a bottle won't vanish as fast as you think. —P.S.
I'm obsessed with this silky antiaging serum, which is perfect for my stressed-out, often inflamed skin. It immediately calms any redness or breakouts and helps my moisturizer absorb more efficiently. You don't need too much to cover your skin, which is great, since I like to apply it both under my makeup in the morning and at night after my cleanser.
The lip balm has a hint of mint to it, which is perfect for the summer months, when you want a cooling sensation. It's very thick, so my lips felt super moisturized. I recommend applying the balm before you go to bed—that way you'll wake up with noticeably smoother and softer lips.
I would never call an $80 illuminator a “must-have,” but if it's in budget or you're looking for a treat, I couldn't recommend this more. It's a really beautiful product that can be used so many ways: alone for a luminous and pore-blurring base, under makeup as a primer, mixed into foundation, or on top as a highlighter. I like to use it on my cheekbones over makeup, but no matter where you apply it, you get a soft-pink shimmer that looks lit from within, not overdone. And because it's infused with the brand's signature Miracle Broth, it feels like you're giving your skin a boost of hydration too.
I know $175 for six sheet masks is a lot, but if you use them sparingly—I'll use one once a month on a Sunday morning—it gives you that fresh-from-the-spa feeling that can't be beat. The sheets are infused with almost a full ounce of the Treatment Lotion for a treatment that truly feels like you're being pampered in some relaxing resort. My dull, dry skin always feels fresh and renewed afterward.
