I’ve been fascinated by Creme de la Mer for a while now. Even the story of how this cream came to fruition sounds like something out of a science fiction story. It has been touted as a miracle cream and was developed by a NASA scientist, Dr. Max Huber, who suffered a terrible accident when a routine experiment exploded in his face, resulting in severe chemical burns. Ouch! When nothing else worked, Dr. Huber created his own face cream. In 1996, Estee Lauder bought it.
The secret of Creme de la Mer is the Miracle Broth. There is nothing unusual about its ingredients—a blend of sea kelp, vitamins and minerals. It’s the way Huber distilled them that made the difference between a good moisturizer and a small miracle, borrowing from the ancient science of fermentation. This intensive, 3 to 4 month process released vital energies, transforming the ingredients into a whole far greater than the sum of its parts.
Creme de la Mer even requires a few tricks in order to be properly experienced. The creme itself is very thick with a light, floral scent. To properly use the creme, place 1-2 pea-sized drops in the palm of your hand. Next, you vigorously rub the palms of your hands together. The creme liquifies and becomes clear and has a thick liquid consistency. When applied to your skin, you immediately feel it start to sink in. It took about 10-15 minutes for it to really sink into mine. For my schedule, I use it at night, as probably do most busy people. The time is well worth it.
Creme de la Mer is amazingly hydrating without making your skin greasy or oily. It makes your skin glow. Jennifer Lopez, who always has glowing skin, is rumored to stockpile Creme de la Mer.
As far as Creme de la Mer being an anti-aging product, it does contain several antioxidants in the formula. Also, a large part of looking younger is having properly moisturized skin. As the outer layer of the epidermis swells with moisture, it improves the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
Creme de la Mer is a strong moisturizer and I love that my skin glows when I use it. It is a great product to combat winter dryness. It is the added ingredients that make Creme de la Mer more than just a regular moisturizer and make it worth the added expense.
Available at Neiman Marcus.
$130, 1 oz.
$230, 2 oz.
$1,390, 16.5 oz.
Frugal Tip: Get a sample size to try before you buy from the cosmetic counter. Also, sample sizes of Creme de la Mer are often for sale on Ebay at a much less expensive cost than buying the jar. Paying for a sample might sound crazy, but keep in mind that my sample lasted me a month and gave me a good idea if I wanted to make the investment and buy a large jar.
