JET-SET BEAUTY | La Mer The Concentrate

CREME DE LA MER, the equally lauded and vilified anti-ageing brand of choice among beauty slaves of a certain age and socioeconomic bracket, did not register on my personal beauty radar until early 2010. Yes, yes, I was aware of noise and ado about it all, whether it was worth the stratospheric asking price, whether it worked, blah, blah, blah. I was just not all that interested. That was until I tried The Concentrate and now, dear ladies, I sheepishly admit to you that I am hooked. Yes, that's right. Hooked. 

It has the most velvety texture and glides onto the skin more smoothly than my full English slides off a Teflon pan in the morning. It seems to quell the redness (at least for me. Sensitive skin + Rosacea, anyone?) and my skin looks remarkably smoother (hello, soft focus) post-use. And it feels soft. Like the downy fur of kittens or Tiger's resolve. I carry travel-sized vials of it with me to the gym, in case I need a top up mid-stride or after a good steam. In fact, there's always a little bottle in my purse, gym or no gym. 

Rather than being a staple, The Concentrate is like an added bonus for your skincare. Not entirely necessary but game changing, certainly. It's like the Ivy League/Oxbridge degree equivalent of skincare.

Anyway, if there's anything jet-set in this life, it's a crystal clear complexion... even if spent in a 17.2" seat.

La Mer The Concentrate 1.7 for $350.00 or 50ml for £266.00

[Editor's note: I'm still searching for a full list of ingredients (and will probably swing by a department store later today or shot the PR an email). Ingredients aside, my anecdotal, personal experience with this stuff has been great.]

Comments

[Leoni]

When you say finishing cream for your skincare routine... what exactly do you mean? At what step do you use it? I once tried a sample and thought it was to be applied before moisturiser, however I thought it made an incredible primer 'soft focus' indeed! I have been toying with the idea of buying a full size ever since...

[karen@strictlysimplestyle]

I have such sensitive skin that I'd be afraid to spend the money only to find out I was allergic. I once had what looked like chicken pocks covering my entire body for three weeks thanks Oil of Olay soap. Gratefully I didn't use it on my face or I might have scared small children.

[Beautywoome]

Hi Leoni, actually I think 'finishing cream' is misleading... what I mean is sort of that extra half an inch (thank you, Mrs. Beckham) for your skincare routine. Your skin will probably be fine without it but, wow, do I like the added smoothness (that soft-focus effect) and calming effect this stuff has on my skin. It's not a necessity like soap, but boy does it just make everything look nicer.

Karen, that's horrible! I have similar reactions to things so I would say get a sample from the counter first, if you can, before buying anything that expensive. You're right not to dive into such a skincare investment without trialling it first. I mean, you wouldn't buy a car without giving it a test drive first, so why buy the high-end car equivalent of skincare without doing the same.

[Ruth Johnston]

I am so disappointed to hear this as now I may have to try it !

[Athena]

I tried a sample of this and I loved it as well, but it really is more then I am willing to spend on one product. I would however stretch out to buy the moisturiser, only after sampling, but La Mer seem to be tight when it comes to samples - whenever I ask they say they do not have any. I only managed to get a sample of The Concentrate as there was a promotion in a magazine.