5 Ways La Mer's Cult-Favorite Products Improved My Skin

I went from skeptic to convert.

@ktberohn
(Image credit: @ktberohn)

When it comes to skincare products, there may not be a brand that has garnered more renown or has a bigger cult following than La Mer. At this point, the luxury brand is considered the crème de la crème of skincare, with celebrities such as Kim Kardashian, Nicole Kidman, Beyoncé, Blake Lively and more counted among its loyal following.

La Mer famously came to fruition after aerospace physicist Max Huber sustained burns in a lab accident. After 12 years and 6000 experiments, Huber finally discovered Miracle Broth, La Mer’s proprietary ingredient that’s found in all of its products. Miracle Broth is a fermentation of sea kelp, vitamins, and minerals that helps renew and revitalize skin. The result was the moisturizer that’s rocked the beauty world, Crème de la Mer.

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(Image credit: @ktberohn)

La Mer has basically been propelled to superstar status, and there’s so much noise around it that conspiracy theories have cropped up about the brand. Perhaps fueling the flames, it’s also not cheap by any means—a one-ounce jar of Crème de la Mer will cost you nearly $200. For the price tag alone, I’d never tried it before—my more affordable skincare has never steered me wrong.

For journalistic purposes, I recently decided to try a La Mer skincare routine and see if it really lives up to the hype. Spoiler alert: It did, and I’m now I'm begrudgingly a La Mer convert. Here are all the ways La Mer changed my skin for the better after using it exclusively for two weeks.

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(Image credit: @ktberohn)

1. La Mer Made My Skin Softer

I honestly thought I had pretty soft skin to begin with, but I learned that I’ve never been more wrong. After using La Mer for a week, my skin has reached baby-soft levels. You know when you shave your legs and can’t stop feeling how soft they are? It’s like that, but on my face.

2. La Mer Brightened and Evened Out My Skin Tone

I am a naturally freckled person, as you can tell. I love my freckles, but a few spots on my face were starting to get to discoloration territory. I also had some purplish under-eye circles that have plagued me my entire life. Call me crazy, but after inspecting these photos side by side, I think my skin tone looks a lot more even, and the dark circles under my eyes have become less pronounced.

3 La Mer Tightened My Skin 

Yes, I’m 25 years old and a sunscreen fanatic—wrinkles aren’t really an issue for me yet. I did notice, however, that my pores started to appear slightly smaller, and the skin on my face seemed suppler and more elastic. The biggest difference for me, though, was the skin on my neck. I work from home and have a downright terrible desk situation (again, I’m a 25-year-old living in New York City), and most days, I end up working on my couch. Much to my dismay, tech neck has become a real thing for me. I always extend my skincare products to my neck and décolleté, and the biggest difference for me is how smooth and less lined my neck looks.

4. La Mer Seemed to Speed Up My Skin’s Healing Process

As you can see in my before photo, I was battling a brand-new cystic pimple on my chin. When I get these, the spot typically remains visible on my face for weeks. This one is almost completely gone already, which was the outcome I was most surprised by.

5. La Mer Gave My Skin a Lit-From-Within Glow

This is perhaps the most obvious benefit. I mean, just look at my face! I look like I’m wearing an illuminator, but I’m not. My skin is dewy, glowy, and plump sans makeup.

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(Image credit: @ktberohn)

My La Mer Routine

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(Image credit: @ktberohn)

After detailing my specific skin concerns, a rep from the brand recommended these products for me. My main concerns were extremely dry skin, dullness, and dark circles, so these products are tailored to those concerns, but I'm recommending swaps for each product based on different skin goals.

Step 1: La Mer The New Treatment Lotion

If you have oily or acne-prone skin, swap this out for...

Step 2: La Mer Hydrating Infused Emulsion

If you'd rather use a hydrating serum instead of an emulsion, swap this out for...

Step 3: La Mer The Concentrate

If you're targeting fine lines and wrinkles, swap this out for...

Step 4: La Mer The Eye Concentrate Eye Cream

If your main concern is puffiness, swap this out for...

Step 5: La Mer Crème de la Mer Moisturizing Cream

If you prefer lighter moisturizers, swap this out for...

5 More La Mer Skincare Products to Add to Your Skincare Routine

This article was originally published on Who What Wear.

Katie Berohn
Associate Beauty Editor, Who What Wear

Katie Berohn is the New York City-based beauty editor at Who What Wear. She specializes in trend reporting, fragrance writing, and celebrity interviews, but also loves writing about all things beauty, from skincare to nails. Before working at Who What Wear, she worked at Good Housekeeping, Woman's Day, and Prevention as the beauty assistant. Prior to that, Katie graduated from the University of Colorado, Boulder, with a major in journalism and minor in technology, arts, and media, and earned her Master’s Degree at NYU’s Graduate Program of Magazine Journalism. Katie has held editorial internships at Denver Life Magazine, Yoga Journal, the Hearst Women's Lifestyle Group, and Cosmopolitan, a digital editorial internship at New York Magazine’s The Cut, a social good fellowship at Mashable, and has freelanced for HelloGiggles. When she’s not obsessing over the latest perfume launch or continuing her endless search for the perfect shade of red lipstick (which she wears every day), Katie can be found in a hot yoga class, training for her next race, trying everything on the menu at New York’s newest restaurant, or hanging out at a trendy wine bar with her friends. If she's given the chance, Katie loves exploring how beauty intersects with politics, the climate, and culture.