La Prairie Cellular Swiss Ice Crystal Dry Oil wasn't the exact product that I've been hoping for the company to come up with, but it's true that I've waited many years for La Prairie to bring out their own interpretation of the face oil. I'm not someone who normally wish for a certain company to make particular product, but I guess I was just curious to see what they were capable of as they are in the front row of cellular skincare which they are renowned for.
Scent
I was actually hoping that the dry oil didn't smell like the rest of the products in the Swiss Ice Crystal collection. It isn't that I don't like the scent or anything, but rather, I just wanted the dry oil to be more usable for sensitive skin types. They could've got rid of those artificial fragrance and some other skin allergens, but they rather chose a coherent smell for the collection. At least the dry oil doesn't have artificial colourants, which isn't a disaster. Anyway, Cellular Swiss ice Crystal Dry Oil has a powdery floral scent which I like, but I wouldn't suggest you to use near your delicate eye area as it could cause irritation. In spite of the fragrance factor, my skin hasn't got any sensitivity such as breakouts and itchiness over the past year or so.
Consistency
There are different kinds of face oils on the market, and it's indeed quite hard to imagine what the texture is like when you don't have a nearby counter where you can actually feel and test the product directly. So I will try to describe it as straightforwardly as I can. The first 3 main ingredients on the list includes sweet almond oil, sunflower seed oil and jojoba oil, which you can instantly notice as the dry oil feels very nourishing and moisturising.
However, here's what La Prairie made different from other regular face oil products that contain those nurturing oils. Most of the products on the market can go a bit too oily and sticky, which often gives you an impression of too thick. That's where La Prairie Cellular Swiss Ice Crystal Oil stands out. They made it thinner without losing the nourishing formula, and fortified it with anti-oxidants and plant stem cell extracts.
Once applied onto face, there's the usual slight face warming sensation that you can normally get from those plant oils. The dry oil absorbs pretty fast onto skin as I massaged it into my skin with warm hands. Using the warmth of the hands is very important to increase the penetration of the dry oil.
The finish of the dry oil isn't literally dry. It feels rather well-moisturised and glowy. There's no uncomfortable sticky or oily feel to skin, but it all depends on the amount that you use just like all other oils that you can find at the shop.
Benefits
MOISTURE BINDING DRYNESS RELIEF
This decadent dry oil treatment contains a combination of rare and pure oils that help seal moisture within your skin, leaving it glowing, smoother looking and protected from the first signs of aging.
A combination of the proprietary Swiss Ice Crystal complex, lightweight oils and plant extracts, this formula helps skin adapt to life's daily assaults, leaving it feeling comfortable and protected.
- Helps skin adapt to life's daily strains that can damage skin
- Helps restore skin's youthful appearance by filling in gaps in skin's moisture barrier function
- Calms, soothes and protects with anti-oxidants
Effectiveness/ Tips
I cannot deny the fact that La Prairie Cellular Swiss Ice Crystal Dry Oil is one of the best anti-aging face oils on the market by looking at the choice of ingredients and also compatibility with other skincare products. It is certainly not one of those face oils that you find on Amazon, which most of them are just a mixture of bunch of different kinds of oils. One thing that needs to be noted though, the purpose of using a face oil shouldn't be for the instant skincare benefits. The way it works is for the overall quality of skin in the long run as the skin barrier is very important for healthy skin. So take the oil like a booster or a skincare supplement.
By all means, you will not notice a dramatic transformation in your skin with Cellular Swiss Ice Crystal Dry Oil due to the general nature of the usage of oils. However, you will start noticing a difference in your skin such as dryness relief, more balanced complexion and an enhanced natural glow. If you decide to pair the dry oil with your favourite moisturiser or serum, you can also expect more boosted efficacy of the product that you use. For instance, I like to add a drop or two of the dry oil in my hydrating serum, and it gives my skin a great longevity of hydration all day long.
I do this regime more often during seasonal changes and especially in Summer when the weather is way too hot and humid to use rich and heavy anti-aging products. I know that I'm in safe hands as La Prairie Cellular Swiss Ice Crystal Dry Oil is packed with anti-aging ingredients. It doesn't contain peptides, so you won't get much wrinkle reducing/lifting benefits. However, I mix it with my hydrating serum, so I consequently get firming/anti-wrinkle benefits altogether. I haven't had skin irritation from seasonal changes, and my skin feels a lot more balanced and has become less breakout-prone from environmental aggressors. I can tell that the overall quality of my skin has improved although my man with eczema couldn't get much benefit out of it as his skin got too itchy from the scent.
Needless to say, La Prairie Cellular Swiss Ice Crystal Dry Oil enhances skin complexion gradually, but you can accelerate it by pairing with other anti-aging or hydrating products. If you are very much used to the speed of La Prairie's result delivery to skin, you may find the dry oil way too slow compared to their serums and moisturisers. However, that's the nature of face oils, and that's the main reason why it took me almost a year to review the product :). Nevertheless, it indeed has an eye watering price for a face oil, so it's up to your decision if you want to invest in. If you cannot afford it, no worries, face oils are not must-haves in the bathroom cabinet for every single individual ;).
Where to buy
- Nordstrom (Free shipping & samples)
- Saks Fifth Avenue (Free shipping & samples)
Recommendations
- La Mer The Renewal Oil (Multi-purpose anti-aging oil)
- La Prairie Cellular Swiss Ice Crystal Transforming Cream Sunscreen SPF 30
- 7 Luxury Beauty Tools that Boost Efficacy of Your Skincare & Make-up (My Beauty Secrets/ Gift Ideas)
- La Prairie Day Creams & Emulsions with SPF (Anti-Aging/ Radiance/ Swiss Ice Crystal)
- La Prairie Foam Cleanser/ Purifying Cream Cleanser/ Cellular Cleansing Water/ Cellular Eye Make-up Remover
