This iconic, down-right fancy, face cream is still the only product I go to for dry, sensitive periods and I just picked it up for £40 less
One of beauty's most beloved icons
When I think of legendary skincare products, I can't help but go straight to La Mer Moisturising Cream. The product is perhaps the best known face cream to ever exist, and it dates back to the 1960s, making it a historic one too.
My first memory of the cream is from 2015, when I was an intern at a well-known newspaper and was asked to call a sample in to review. It was my first beauty sample that I got to take home and keep - it that always stuck with me. Over the years, I've always returned to it for varying reasons; here's why I think it's worth the hype (and the money).
La Mer has one of those famed beauty histories that centres around creator Max Huber, who developed the cream after experiencing burns on his face from a lab explosion (for context, he was an aerospace physicist). Huber used sea kelp from San Diego to form the product's famed 'miracle broth'. It did however take him an incredible 12 years to create the cream we have come to know and love.
The company was later sold to Estée Lauder in the '90s, and continued to grow in popularity, gaining celebrity fans such as Jennifer Lopez and Nicole Kidman. As well as its key ingredient (the aforementioned miracle broth), the formula also contains vitamin E, glycerin and sesame seed oil. Its benefits include deep nourishment, protection of the moisture barrier, the ability to firm and lift, and its healing properties.
The original Moisturising Cream is known for its ultra-rich texture, which can feel a little heavy when you first experience it. However, there's a knack here and application is key. Instead of putting it straight on, you need to warm the product within your fingers, which in turn transforms it into more of a clear, spreadable lotion.
This is a product more suited to dry skin types, though. For those with oily-combination skin, this may feel a little intense or even greasy. That said, I tend to sit on the oilier side, and always have a pot of this on my shelf. That's because I truly vouch for its healing properties, which come in so handy whenever I experience sensitivity or dryness. While most creams irritate my skin further when I go through these periods, La Mer actively soothes, calms and moisturises.
Take for example my recent retinol purge; my skin needed an occlusive moisturiser to re-invigorate my moisture barrier, while also tending to the flaky, sore areas. This was one of the only things that did the trick, and hence why I will always be loyal to it.
Marie Claire Newsletter
Celebrity news, beauty, fashion advice, and fascinating features, delivered straight to your inbox!
For those who love to glow, the cream can definitely work all-over, however. Because of its texture, it makes skin look gorgeously plumped and hydrated, making it perfect for priming before make-up.
If you do however find it to be a little heavy, there are a number of other iterations in La Mer's range worth trying. I love the Soft Cream, which has a lighter texture but still feels comforting, as well as the Fresh Cream, which is specifically designed for oilier skin and is more like a traditional gel moisturiser. Whichever you choose, I think this is a brand that has luxury skincare down (and is worth the investment).
Also something to think about is that La Mer offer small travel friendly 15ml pots of all of its creams. This makes a more affordable way to try the cream without investing too much. And right now, as it's Cyber Weekend, you can pick up one of those smaller tubs for £63.75 at Space NK.
Rebecca is a freelance beauty journalist and contributor to Marie Claire. She has written for titles including Refinery29, The Independent, Grazia, Coveteur, Dazed, Stylist, and Glamour. She is also a brand consultant and has worked with the likes of The Inkey List on campaign messaging and branded copy. She’s obsessed with skincare, nail art and fragrance, and outside of beauty, Rebecca likes to travel, watch true crime docs, pet sausage dogs and drink coffee. Rebecca is also passionate about American politics and mental health awareness.
-
Bianca Censori’s naked Grammys stunt looks like clear exploitation
The model and Ye muse’s latest outfit is more unsettling than sexy
By Mischa Anouk Smith
-
Justin Baldoni has released a statement, allegedly 'requested' by Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds
By Jenny Proudfoot
-
The Grammys 2025: All the must see looks from the red carpet
We’re not worthy
By Jazzria Harris
-
My house is so cold in the winter that I always skip body lotion, but these 6 shower oils keep my skin soft and nourished
My low-maintenance body care hack
By Mica Ricketts
-
Make-up artist-founded brands play home to some of the best products on the market—here are 11 of the greats
In MUAs we trust
By Lucy Abbersteen
-
Controversially I think this Le Labo perfume is 10x cooler than the iconic Santal 33—here's why
My go-to evening scent now
By Rebecca Fearn
-
Want to improve your hair health *and* transform your styles? Add one of the 9 best hair serums to your routine
Shiny and smooth
By Mica Ricketts
-
My body regimen is just as important to me as my skincare routine and these are my two essential products
Say hello to beautifully soft skin
By Lollie King
-
It's been a busy start to the year—these are the only 8 beauty products worthy of your attention right now
We're off to a good start
By Katie Thomas
-
I have suffered from breakouts and scarring for a decade—these two products have helped me through
Goodbye stubborn red marks
By Amelia Yeomans
-
What causes skin inflammation? A consultant dermatologist reveals the triggers and the treatments
Causes, prevention and products
By Tori Crowther