I've noticed that many people seem to get lost in the maze that is finding the right La Mer serum. I wouldn't be surprised if one might contemplate for long to see which of their serums might be the right fit for him or her. Over the past a decade or so, it was personally very intriguing to find that the majority of their serums share similar ingredients including algae extracts and essential oils and have a heavy focus on skin regeneration due to the nature of the brand, at least from my perspective based on my observations. In other words, you won't miss out on the bottom line of their core skincare benefits by using any of their serums, despite having different textures and names.
For those who are on a budget or have young skin that doesn't have any particular concern, you could check out my previous post on their first treatment essence lotions (aka boosting essences) instead. They are also great ones to pair with any of those serums that I'll be dealing with on this post, so it may be worthwhile to check if you have ongoing skin dehydration issues.
Having said that, I intentionally exempted some of the rather optional/additional treatments such as their The Brilliance Brightening Essence and The Lifting Intensifier from this post per the main purpose of this post. Like my other comparison posts, these are my own opinions, so the tips that I share may not work in exactly in the same way as how the company has been advertising or the general information that you get from official La Mer counters. And please note that I hope the post will clear some of your confusions in regards to La Mer serum searching :).
The Concentrate | The Regenerating | The Lifting Contour | The Revitalizing Hydrating | Genaissance de La Mer | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Expected outcomes | • Soothing • Healing • Regenerating • Protected • Strengthening |
• Regenerating • Soothing • Healing |
• Firming • Contouring • Regenerating |
• Boosting • Balancing |
• Smoothing • Regenerating • Detoxifying • Balancing |
Scent | Soothing herbal scent | La Mer’s signature soothing essential oil scent | La Mer’s signature soothing essential oil scent | Overpowering mature scent with alcohol smell | Spicy version of La Mer moisturisers |
Texture | Thick, dense, gel cream-like | Lightweight gel emulsion-like | Running lightweight | Lightweight watery gel-like | Non-heavy runny gel |
Absorption | Requires warmth & a bit of massage for the best penetration | Fast | Fast | Fast | Fast |
Finish | Transition from momentarily oil infused serum to satiny smooth | Soft & smooth | Mild firming & cooling sensation | Near & refreshing | Silky smooth |
Oiliness/stickiness | Depends on the amount applied | No | No | No | No |
Hydration | ★★★★★ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★☆☆☆ | ★★☆☆☆ | ★★★★☆ |
Compatibility with other products (layerability) | Can be tricky | Easy | Easy | Easy | Easy |
Recommended skin types | Dry/dehydrated/sensitive | Any | Oily/normal/combination | Any except for dry/dehydrated/sensitive | Any except dry/sensitive |
Recommended climate | Cold/dry | Any | Any | Any/humid | Any |
Price (excl. tax) | USD $360+ | USD $335+ | USD 335+ | USD $195+ | USD $630+ |
Review | Review | Review | Review | Review |
Where to buy
- Nordstrom (Free shipping & samples)
- Saks Fifth Avenue (Free shipping & samples)
Recommendations
comments powered by Disqus
- La Mer Treatment Masks (The Lifting and Firming/ The Brilliance Brightening/ The Hydrating Facial/ The Intensive Revitalizing Mask)
- La Mer The Concentrate VS Genaissance de La Mer
- 111SKIN Y Theorem Repair Serum (Alternative to La Mer The Concentrate & The Regenerating Serum)
- 7 Luxury Beauty Tools that Boost Efficacy of Your Skincare & Make-up (My Beauty Secrets/ Gift Ideas)
- Luxury Skincare Guide (La Mer VS La Prairie VS Swiss Perfection VS Sisley VS Guerlain)