The story: a physicist, an accident, a ferment
According to the brand, in the 1950s Max Huber, an aerospace physicist with a lab in California, was burned in a lab accident and set out to find a formula for his own skin. Developing a fermentation process for giant sea kelp took, the group says, twelve years and about six thousand experiments. The result was the Miracle Broth, which gave rise to Crème de la Mer. In 1995 Estée Lauder acquired the brand together with the original recipe.
The lines we carry
Moisturizers
The brand's original cream is Crème de la Mer, rich and enveloping, which we carry in a gift set with The Concentrate. If your skin is normal, dry or combination, you can choose the Moisturizing Soft Cream, which the brand recommends specifically for these skin types, while the Moisturizing Fresh Creme leaves skin feeling fresh. For nighttime there's The Rejuvenating Night Cream, with MRA-3, which the brand presents as a marine alternative to retinol.
Lotions, serums and oils
The first step after cleansing is The Treatment Lotion, a watery lotion that preps skin for what comes next. Among the serums, The Concentrate focuses on the skin barrier and on skin stressed by pollution and environmental aggressors. For firmness there's The Lifting Firming Serum, and for hydration The Revitalizing Hydrating Serum. The brand also offers The Regenerating Serum, which supports the skin's natural renewal and visibly reduces wrinkles and expression lines, and The Essence, which according to La Mer is made in small batches. Rounding out the line are The Renewal Oil, a multi-use two-phase oil that hydrates and brightens, and The Revitalizing Mist, a spray with marine botanical extracts that instantly refreshes and revives skin.
Genaissance de la Mer
This is the line the brand dedicates to skin renewal. It includes The Infused Lotion, a creamy lotion with a marine ferment, The Eye and Expression Cream for the eye area and expression lines, and the Night Balm, an overnight balm in ampoules.
Eye, lip and neck
For the eye area there's The Eye Concentrate, with a concentrated version of the Broth for fine lines and dark circles. The Eye Balm Intense targets puffiness, and The Lifting Eye Serum is a precision serum for the eye and brow area. For lips there are three products: The Lip Balm repairs chapping, The Lip Polish exfoliates with sugar and seaweed, and The Lip Volumizer gives a fuller look. Finally, the Neck and Décolleté Concentrate is a balm dedicated to the neck and chest.
How to choose
If you prefer light textures, you can start with The Hydrating Infused Emulsion, an emulsion the brand describes as weightless. For dull skin or visible pores there's The Renewal Oil Exfoliator, with sugar crystals and sea salt, and The Deep Purifying Mask. For cleansing, La Mer offers The Energizing Gel Cleanser, a foaming gel that also removes excess oil, or The Calming Lotion Cleanser if you also want to remove eye makeup.
Makeup, body and sun protection
The Broth also appears in two foundations: The Soft Fluid Foundation SPF 20, fluid and lightweight, and the Cushion Compact Foundation, a compact with buildable coverage and a refill included. The Radiant Skin Tint SPF 30 is a tinted cream for a luminous, sheer complexion. To apply them there are The Foundation Brush and The Powder Brush. Daily facial protection comes from The SPF 50 UV Protecting Fluid, a lightweight fluid. For the body, the brand offers The Reparative Body Lotion and The Renewal Body Oil Balm, a balm that turns to oil on contact with skin, and The Hand Treatment is a silky hand treatment that creates an emollient barrier and visibly reduces age spots. If you'd like to try Crème de la Mer together with the serum, The Soothing Strength Collection pairs The Concentrate with the cream.
Frequently asked questions
What is La Mer's Miracle Broth?
The Miracle Broth is the giant sea kelp ferment that Max Huber developed and that goes into every La Mer formula. According to the brand, arriving at this fermentation process took twelve years and about six thousand experiments.
Which La Mer mask should I choose?
It depends on what you're looking for. The Deep Purifying Mask deep cleans and minimizes the look of pores, while The Lifting Firming Mask is a leave-on treatment that plumps and leaves skin feeling firmer. The brand also offers The Intensive Revitalizing Mask, a refreshing cream mask, to revitalize and firm.
Which La Mer moisturizer is best for combination skin?
For combination skin, La Mer recommends the Moisturizing Soft Cream, designed for normal, dry and combination skin. According to the brand, it renews the skin barrier, strengthens it and helps protect it from environmental aggressors, with an infusion of Miracle Broth that gives it a radiant vitality.
What does La Mer The Treatment Lotion do?
The Treatment Lotion preps skin for the treatments that follow and is the first step after cleansing your face. The brand describes it as a true burst of liquid energy, with a fresh, watery texture, to be used right after cleansing the skin.
Which La Mer eye cream should I choose?
For fine lines and dark circles there's The Eye Concentrate, with a concentrated version of the Miracle Broth. The Eye Balm Intense targets puffiness, and The Lifting Eye Serum visibly lifts the eye and brow area. From the Genaissance line, The Eye and Expression Cream also works on expression lines on the forehead and around the eyes.
What is the Genaissance de la Mer line?
Genaissance de la Mer is the La Mer line dedicated to skin renewal. It includes The Infused Lotion, a creamy lotion with a marine ferment, The Eye and Expression Cream for the eye area and expression lines, and the Night Balm, an overnight balm in ampoules that supports the skin while you sleep.
Does La Mer make foundation?
Yes, La Mer has a line of treatment foundations with the Miracle Broth. There's The Soft Fluid Foundation SPF 20, fluid and lightweight, and the Cushion Compact Foundation, compact and buildable, with a refill. The Radiant Skin Tint SPF 30 is a luminous tinted cream. To apply them, the brand offers The Foundation Brush and The Powder Brush.
Which La Mer product is best for dry lips?
For dry lips, La Mer offers The Lip Balm, a repairing balm for chapped lips. There's also The Lip Polish, an exfoliator with sugar fibers and sea algae, and The Lip Volumizer, designed to give lips a fuller, more defined look, even with lipstick.
