| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Brand | La Mer |
| Product Name | Crème de la Mer — The Moisturizing Cream |
| Fragrance | Delicate, fresh, aquatic-floral with subtle citrus notes (lime, eucalyptus) |
| Primary supplement type | Not applicable (cosmetic product) |
| Unit count | 100 ml [also available in 15 ml, 30 ml, 60 ml, 500 ml] |
| Item form | Ultra-rich cream |
| Item dimensions L x W x H | Not specified by manufacturer |
| Additives | Miracle Broth™ (fermented giant sea kelp), Lime Tea, Eucalyptus Oil, Sesame Oil, Mineral Oil, Petrolatum, Glycerin, Lanolin Alcohol, Niacin, Panthenol |
| Age range (description) | Adult |
| Number of items | 1 (includes signature spatula) |
| Dosage form | Topical cream |
| Price | Approximately €590–670 / £500–560 / $385–590 USD for 100 ml |
| Country of Origin | Belgium [citations:5][9] |
| Manufacturer | Estée Lauder B.V., Nijverheidstraat 15, 2260 Oevel, Belgium |
| Shelf Life | 3 years unopened; use within 24 months of opening |
| Parameter | Information |
|---|---|
| Product type | Ultra-rich renewing moisturizer |
| Key benefit | Deeply hydrates, soothes, firms, and rejuvenates skin; visibly diminishes lines and wrinkles |
| Signature ingredient | Miracle Broth™ — fermented giant sea kelp, hand-harvested and bio-fermented for 3-4 months |
| Other key ingredients | Lime Tea (antioxidant), Eucalyptus Leaf Oil, Sesame Seed Oil, Alfalfa Seed Powder, Sunflower Seedcake, Sweet Almond Seed Meal, Mineral Oil, Petrolatum, Glycerin, Lanolin Alcohol, Niacin, Panthenol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Copper Gluconate, Calcium Gluconate, Magnesium Gluconate, Zinc Gluconate [citations:1][3][5][9] |
| Formula highlights | Fermented for 3–4 months; clinically tested anti-irritant; free from parabens and phthalates |
| Texture | Ultra-rich, thick, dense cream — requires warming between fingertips to activate |
| Skin type | All skin types — dry, normal, combination, sensitive [citations:5][7][8] |
| Key benefits (clinical results) | 93% said skin felt calmed and soothed, 94% reported skin looked smoother, 90% said skin felt renewed and rejuvenated, 87% said appearance of lines and wrinkles was minimised, 89% said skin felt energised* [8] |
| Nighttime benefits | Wake up to +25% more radiant skin*** |
| Application | Twice daily (morning and night) after cleansing, toning, and serum |
| Packaging | Signature heavy glass jar with silver lid; includes spatula for hygienic application |
| Sustainability | Refillable format available in select markets |
| Made in | Belgium (manufactured in Estée Lauder facilities) |
| SPF | No SPF — apply separate sunscreen for daytime protection |
An icon of luxury skincare — beloved by celebrities, royalty, and discerning women worldwide
Every skincare legend has a beginning. For Crème de la Mer, it started with a physicist, a laboratory accident, and a 12-year quest. Aerospace physicist Dr. Max Huber suffered severe burns in a lab accident and dedicated himself to finding a way to heal his scars. After 6,000 experiments and 12 years of research, he discovered the secret: Miracle Broth™ — a bio-fermented elixir created from giant sea kelp hand-harvested from the pristine waters of Vancouver Island .
Today, Crème de la Mer remains true to Dr. Huber’s original vision — a healing, restorative moisturiser that transcends ordinary skincare. Each batch is still fermented for 3-4 months, during which you can hear the sea kelp “burping” as it releases its life-giving energy. This meticulous process yields a potent, clinically tested anti-irritant that floods cells with energy so skin can repair and rebuild itself .
What makes this cream legendary:
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🌊 Miracle Broth™ — The heart of every La Mer product; fermented giant sea kelp that helps calm, soothe, and repair skin
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💎 12 years of research — Dr. Huber’s quest to heal his own scars
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⏳ 3-4 months of fermentation — Each batch is patiently crafted, never rushed
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🏆 World-famous status — Beloved by celebrities, royalty, and skincare connoisseurs globally
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🧴 Ultra-rich texture — Indulgent, dense formula that melts onto the skin when warmed correctly
A living elixir, not just a cream
Miracle Broth™ is not a marketing name — it is the result of a painstaking, proprietary bio-fermentation process that transforms raw ingredients into something far greater than the sum of their parts .
| Step | Process | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| 1️⃣ | Hand-harvesting — Giant sea kelp is carefully hand-harvested from the cold, pristine waters of Vancouver Island | Seasonal |
| 2️⃣ | Transport — Kelp is immediately shipped frozen to the La Mer laboratory at Lindau Island, Germany | 48 hours |
| 3️⃣ | Bio-fermentation — Kelp is combined with a proprietary blend of nutrients and natural ingredients to begin a carefully controlled fermentation process | 3–4 months |
| 4️⃣ | Activation — During fermentation, the kelp visibly releases bubbles as it transforms | Throughout |
| 5️⃣ | Purification — The resulting Miracle Broth™ is extracted and incorporated into every La Mer product | — |
During those 3-4 months of meticulous fermentation, the Miracle Broth™ emerges “exploding with energy and supreme soothing. A potent, clinically tested anti-irritant, Miracle Broth™ helps keep skin looking calm in the face of daily stressors (and their ageing effects) while flooding cells with energy so skin can repair and rebuild itself” .
A symphony of sea and earth — the complete formula
While Miracle Broth™ is the heart, Crème de la Mer is enriched with a carefully selected blend of complementary ingredients that enhance its soothing, hydrating, and rejuvenating effects:
| Ingredient | Source | What It Does |
|---|---|---|
| 🌊 Miracle Broth™ | Giant Sea Kelp (bio-fermented) | Calms sensitivity, boosts cellular energy, promotes natural repair |
| 🍋 Lime Tea (Lime Peel Extract) | Hand-pressed lime peels | Potent antioxidant; protects against environmental damage |
| 🌿 Eucalyptus Leaf Oil | Australian eucalyptus | Clarifying, soothing, and refreshing; provides delicate scent [5] |
| 🌰 Sesame Seed Oil | Sesame seeds | Rich in antioxidants; softens and nourishes; provides emollient properties |
| 🌻 Sunflower Seedcake | Sunflower seeds | Natural source of vitamin E; protects and conditions |
| 🌰 Sweet Almond Seed Meal | Sweet almonds | Gently exfoliates and conditions |
| 💧 Mineral Oil & Petrolatum | Refined petroleum | Creates an occlusive barrier to lock in moisture; prevents transepidermal water loss |
| 🧴 Glycerin | Plant-derived | Powerful humectant; draws moisture into the skin |
| ✨ Lanolin Alcohol | Wool-derived | Emollient that softens and smooths; provides the rich texture |
| 💪 Niacin (Vitamin B3) | Synthetic/fermented | Supports skin barrier; improves texture and tone |
| 🌱 Panthenol (Pro-Vitamin B5) | Plant-derived | Soothes, hydrates, and supports repair |
| 🔬 Sodium Hyaluronate | Fermented | Form of hyaluronic acid; deeply hydrates and plumps |
| 🛡️ Gluconate Complex (Copper, Calcium, Magnesium, Zinc) | Minerals | Supports skin’s natural repair processes [3] |
| 🌟 Tocopheryl Succinate | Vitamin E derivative | Potent antioxidant; protects from free radicals |
What you won’t find: Parabens, phthalates, sulfates (SLS/SLES), and other common irritants .
Clinically proven results — from real women, real skin
| Benefit | Clinical Result | Timeframe |
|---|---|---|
| 😌 Calms and soothes | 93% of women said skin felt calmed* | 2 weeks [8] |
| ✨ Smoother skin | 94% reported skin looked smoother* | 2 weeks |
| 💪 Renewed and rejuvenated feel | 90% said skin felt renewed* | 2 weeks [6][8] |
| ⚡ Energised feel | 89% reported skin felt energised* | 2 weeks |
| 😟 Lines and wrinkles diminished | 87% saw minimised appearance* | 2 weeks |
| 💧 Dryness disappears | Immediately noticeable | First touch |
| 🌟 Radiant skin | +25% more radiant upon waking*** | Overnight |
| 🔄 Firmer feel | Within hours** | Hours |
Additional benefits consumers report:
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Improved skin elasticity with continued use
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Reduction in the look of forehead fine lines
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Diminished appearance of glabellar wrinkles (between brows)
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Healthier, more uplifted-looking skin
An ultra-rich cream that rewards patience and ritual
Crème de la Mer has a signature texture that sets it apart from any other moisturiser on the market. Unlike lightweight lotions that can be applied directly, La Mer’s ultra-rich cream requires a specific application ritual to unlock its full potential .
| Aspect | Experience |
|---|---|
| 👀 Visual | Dense, opaque white cream with a thick, balm-like consistency |
| ✋ Before warming | Firm, solid texture that does not spread easily on cold skin |
| ✨ After warming | Transforms into a silky, translucent oil that glides effortlessly |
| 👃 Fragrance | Delicate, fresh aquatic-floral scent — light and uplifting, with subtle notes of lime, eucalyptus, and marine botanicals; never overpowering; fades quickly after application [5] |
| 💧 Absorption | Slowly and deeply — this cream is designed to be massaged into the skin, not just wiped on |
| ✨ Finish | A protective, silky veil — skin feels deeply nourished, soft, and comfortable, never greasy despite the rich texture |
| ⏳ Longevity | Hydration and comfort last throughout the day |
Why the texture matters: The ultra-rich formulation is not a design flaw — it is intentional. The dense, occlusive nature of Crème de la Mer creates a protective barrier that locks in moisture and active ingredients, allowing them to work deep within the skin for hours after application.
The correct application method is essential — follow these steps exactly
Crème de la Mer is unique: it must be warmed and activated between your fingertips before application. Applying it cold will result in suboptimal absorption and results .
| Time | Step | Action |
|---|---|---|
| ☀️ Morning & Night | 1 — Prepare | Cleanse and tone your skin thoroughly. Apply your La Mer lotion, treatment lotion, and serum if using |
| ☀️ Morning & Night | 2 — Scoop | Using the included spatula, scoop a small, pearl-sized amount of Crème de la Mer (about the size of a small pea) |
| ☀️ Morning & Night | 3 — Warm | Place the cream between your fingertips (both hands). Gently warm by pressing your fingertips together 5-10 times. Do NOT rub vigorously between palms — use gentle warmth only |
| ☀️ Morning & Night | 4 — Activate | As you warm the cream, you will feel it transform from a dense solid into a soft, silky, translucent oil. This is the activation of Miracle Broth™ |
| ☀️ Morning & Night | 5 — Apply | Gently press and pat the activated cream onto your face, neck, and décolleté in light, pressing motions — do not rub or drag |
| ☀️ Morning & Night | 6 — Massage | Using your fingertips, gently massage any remaining cream into the skin with upward, circular strokes |
| ☀️ Morning | 7 — Protect | For daytime, follow with a separate broad-spectrum sunscreen (SPF 30 or higher) |
Pro tips for best results:
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🤏 A little goes a long way — You need far less than you think. A pearl-sized amount is sufficient for the entire face and neck
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🥶 Do not apply cold — Applying La Mer without warming it first will result in a white, streaky film that does not absorb properly
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✋ Use gentle pressure — The eye area and delicate parts of the face respond best to patting and pressing, not pulling
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🧴 Layer correctly — Crème de la Mer is an occlusive moisturiser, which means it should be the final step in your routine, applied after all lighter serums and treatments
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🌙 Nighttime use — For the most dramatic results, use Crème de la Mer as your overnight treatment; wake up to skin that looks +25% more radiant
