La Mer Facial Winners

The Winners of the La Mer facial experiences are:

Urban Retreat, Harrods - Marlene Joergensen

The five regional winners are:

Lynne O'Neill

Christine Griffiths

Jessica

Siona McKay

You have email Ladies! Congratulations!

Thank you again La Mer. 

www.cremedelamer.co.uk

Creme de La Mer The Renewal Oil #spon

 

To celebrate the launch of their first oil, (frankly, it's about time) La Mer asked me to put together my top tips for how to use this luscious newness.

What is it?

'A highly renewing new elixir. This dual-phase elixir blends bubbles with Miracle Broth™ and sea-sourced actives, unleashing a wave of activity to infuse skin with a look of youth.'

Basically - and finally from La Mer, a highly active serum/oil that can be used on face, body or hair.

Who is it for?

Everyone, but obviously you will see more benefits from this if you are 30-40+

What’s in it?

'What isn't in it?' is more appropriate.

meadowfoam seed oil, dimethicone, caprylic triglyceride, water, trisiloxane, sweet almond oil, jojoba seed oil, polydecene, hydrogenated polydecene, butylene glycol, propanediol, glycerin, algae extract, rapeseed seed oil, sunflower seed oil, sesame seed oil, eucalyptus leaf oil, camelina sativa seed oil, cranberry seed oil, olive fruit oil, hippophae rhamnoides oil, alfalfa seed powder, sunflower seedcake, sweet almond seed meal, sodium gluconate, copper gluconate, calcium gluconate, magnesium gluconate, zinc gluconate, tocopheryl succinate, niacin, sesame seed powder, laminaria ochroleuca extract, laminaria saccharina extract, hydrolyzed algin, sea salt, chlorella vulgaris extract, salicornia herbacea extract, st. pauls' wort extract, laminaria digitata extract, rosemary leaf extract, magnolia officinalis bark extract, yeast extract, crithmum maritimum extract, commiphora mukul resin extract, lime peel extract, molasses extract, sucrose, acetyl hexapeptide-8, acetyl glucosamine, caffeine, tocopheryl acetate, phenyl trimethicone, sodium chloride, tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate, alcohol denat, fragrance, hexyl cinnamal, linalool, amyl cinnamal, geraniol, limonene, citral, benzyl benzoate, coumarin, citronellol, bht, phenoxyethanol, yellow 5 (cl 19140), yellow 6 (ci 15985), <iln41590>

How do you use it?

A multitude of ways. 

Although it can be used on the body and in the hair, frankly, this is going on my face and staying there.

• After cleansing and toning in the evening, apply a few drops of the Renewal Oil to your face, massaging in gently. Take the Serum Massage Tool and follow the angle of the chin front to back in a slow methodical fashion, moving up the face and finishing with the round end of the tool gently pressing out from the inner brow to the temple. The oil and the tool combined stimulate micro-circulation and help to reduce puffiness while you sleep.
• After cleansing, apply the Intensive Revitalising Mask all over the face. Add a thin layer of the Renewal Oil on top, sealing in the mask and it’s nutrients. Go to sleep!
• Add a couple of drops of the Renewal Oil to your morning moisturiser before you apply for a beautiful, golden sheen that lasts all day without ever looking oily.
• When flying/travelling - add a layer of the Renewal Oil between your Concentrate and Soft Cream for enhanced protection and hydration. Renewal Oil will ‘seal in’ the moisture and help prevent the dehydration that inevitably follows long-haul flights/travel.

Where to use in your routine?

In the morning, on top of serum, under moisturiser. 

In the evening, either repeat the above or use on its own.

What's good about it?

This oil is loaded, loaded with actives. I’ve always been keen on ingredients in skincare that you can take as supplements, especially magnesium and zinc, because I know they have helped my skin in the past. Equally, anything sea-related is amazing for the skin, as I’ve discussed before here.

Putting all of this into one bottle is no small feat but La Mer have done it without making a product that is too sticky, or too fragranced, something that a lot of luxury brands fall into the trap of. Strong smell does not always equal high performance chaps.

The Renewal Oil is hydrolipidic, comprising of both water and oil, meaning it gives immediate relief to a dehydrated skin, while also being the perfect companion to an added moisturizer on top.

The Crème de La Mer Renewal Oil is £155.00 for 30 ml and is available from cremedelamer.co.uk and all La Mer stockists.

To add a little extra to any purchases you can use the following codes when placing any orders through the Crème de la Mer website (you can use all three!):

HIRONS1 - Free Illuminating Eye Gel sample

HIRONS2 - Free Soft Cream sample

HIRONS3 - Free Gel Cream sample

To spread the joy of the long-awaited oil hitting the shelves, La Mer are offering readers of this blog the chance to win their own bespoke La Mer experience.

One reader will win the chance to experience the 90 minute Miracle Broth Facial which is available exclusively in the UK at Urban Retreat in Harrods.  (RRP £190.00).  The winner will have a personalised skin care consultation and there will be 'surprises' on the day. 

‘The crème de la crème of facials transforms with bespoke massage techniques and a pure infusion of our coveted Miracle Broth™. Exclusive to Crème de la Mer spa treatments, this priceless extract supports the five facets of renewal – moisture, regeneration, soothing, smoothing and radiance – helping bring skin back to its centre. A special ice sequence seals in benefits. Urban Retreat is one of the few salons in the world to offer this facial.’

As if that wasn’t enough, 6 Runners-up will also have the chance to win.

Six readers have the opportunity to win a Customized Facial, (1 hour, RRP £100, redeemable) which is available at one of the 6 flagship doors around the country. These will be performed by one of the top La Mer therapists.  Again, there will be surprises on the day.

Crème de La Mer offer the customised facial in:

John Lewis Oxford Street

Harrods

Brown Thomas Dublin  

Harvey Nichols Leeds

Fraser’s Glasgow

Howells Cardiff

Harvey Nichols Leeds

Harvey Nichols Beauty Bazaar Liverpool

  

TERMS & CONDITIONS (please read carefully):

Winner must make their own way to their chosen venue. Crème de La Mer and Caroline Hirons will not pay travel expenses.

Enter via the Rafflecopter link below.

Open to UK and Irish readers only.

One prize per winner.

Winners will be chosen in first come, first serve order. You must leave your preferred location when prompted by the Rafflecopter widget. I will work my way through randomly until each city has been chosen.

By entering this giveaway you are agreeing to being signed up to La Mer emails.

You can enter once a day.

Thank you La Mer!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

*Sponsored content in partnership with Creme de La Mer.

Favourite Facial City SPFs

By the time you read this I will be in Rome putting a few of these to the real test. With average temperatures of 37 degrees C/98 Fahrenheit I am more than a little scared of a melasma explosion and thus spare no expense when it comes to city/face SPFs. They are in the same category as serums for me. Way more important than a moisturiser. It's one of the true investments in your future face.

When I'm thinking 'no nonsense' protection, but I need/want to wear makeup, these are the four products I am never without. In alphabetical order - no favourites. Links in the titles.

Creme de La Mer The Reparative Face Sun Lotion Broad Spectrum SPF30

Obviously this is the luxury option and boy does it feel it. Absorbs beautifully, leaves a comforting 'glow' layer on the skin - softens, hydrates, contains all the usual Le Mer key ingredients including Golden Algae Ferment that is triggered by sun exposure, the sea waters etc etc. 

I literally only use this for holidays where I want my skin to glow and have the option of wearing makeup, like you keep your new or best shoes/handbags for the same reason. I reapply throughout the day no problem. If reapplying over makeup, I stick to CC creams. Particularly Lauder or Kate Somerville, which has the edge because its tints are good colours. £90.00/$130.00 for 50ml (I know I know)

SkinCeuticals Mineral Radiance UV Defense SPF50

When I'm feeling oilier/more prone to breakouts this is what I head to. Broad Spectrum, 100% mineral filters, this has a slightly mattifying effect and although it has only one colour tint, that disperses upon application and doesn't cause problems for darker skins (to the best of my knowledge and reader feedback). I love SkinCeuticals products and this is no exception. £35.00 for 50ml.
N.B. - The SkinCeuticals range is different in the USA and appears to be called Physical Fusion and is a shockingly more affordable $34.00. How rude.

Kate Somerville Daily Deflector Moisturiser SPF50+/PA+++

This one is actually my favourite feel. I love the glow and the smell of sunscreen and this has both in abundance. Broad Spectrum SPF50, this is substantial enough to use as a moisturiser without another one underneath - something regular readers will know I very rarely advocate/do.
Contains the same delivery system for the SPF ingredients as the Zelens so they both offer less chance of an allergy or dermal uptake. Genius. Also contains retinyl palmitate and Matrixyl 3000 peptide. Super.
$48.00 for 50ml (approx £31.00 plus import duties)


Zelens Daily Defence Broad Spectrum SPF30

Probably the one that I trust the most, if I had to pick, primarily because I was working with Dr Lens when he was developing this product (I'm not now, we're just mates) and know what dedication went into the formula. 

Broad Spectrum SPF30, this is loaded with all sorts of proven antioxidants including polyphenols and pycnogenol. Most importantly, it contains unique micro-encapsulated filters that prevent direct skin contact with the active ingredients. Great for sensitivity. £55.00/$85.00 for 50ml

All of these are highly, highly recommended.

Creme de La Mer - The Treatment Lotion

Here's the thing - regular readers will be aware of original and thus far, only post on CDLM (recap).

The original cream, whilst very good for my eldest son's eczema when he was a baby (the benefits of free sample pots when you work the counter next to them at launch), is in such a thick mineral oil base that it was never going to be something I would personally use, no matter the hype.

So late last year when Creme de La Mer's PR department contacted me I was cautious to say the least, but I do like a: a challenge and b: when a PR contacts me and says 'Erm NO Lady, you WILL try this and I guarantee you are missing out on something.' She also likes metal music so you know.. #winning.

As a consequence, if you follow my Instagram (and may I just say, if you're not on Instagram, WHY NOT? It's by far my favourite app/social media activity) you will have seen some CDLM products popping up ever since.

This is the one I have liked the most for my face so far *hints at further reviews*. 

What is it?

I quote:

'a miraculous source of vitality, the essential step toward transforming the look of skin. Like "liquid energy," this rich and silky hydrator awakens the complexion and drives moisture into the skin to improve visible texture and even the appearance of skintone.'

Or in the Hirons world: a Stage 2 toner/pre-serum or moisturiser.

What's in it?

Well obviously in my excitement I threw away the box and thus had no ingredients to show you. And you'd have more chance of finding Elvis alive and well at the Co-op than finding CDLM ingredients listed anywhere online (see rant from the weekend), so, dear reader, desperate times call for desperate measures. Here's a photo taken on the sly at an undisclosed location:

You'll just have to make do, I could hardly set up lights and a tripod. Nor light a candle.

What isn't in it?

Parabens (again, if you care about these things)

Who is it for?

The CDLM website needs some work. I've talked about Lauder websites numerous times in the past. It's as if corporate see that most of their revenue still comes from bricks, not clicks, so they don't need to offer anything other than the briefest of info. If they made their numerous online worlds more enticing they would rake it in. It's 2015. Beef it up a tad chaps. I digress. 

This product page is extremely brief with instructions, directions - pretty much just a general description and a video that is best watched with a glass of wine. *eyebrow*

Personally, I would say it is for an older or reddened skin or an acnaic skin, or a skin that is devitalised, for example smokers/swimmers/sun worshippers - anyone whose skin is compromised and struggles to retain moisture, for whatever reason.

What's good/bad about it?

I'm combining these two categories for this review because it's not that simple, so let's just have a conversation..

A big thing throughout the La Mer range is declustered water - which put simply is water that has been processed into single molecules that are allegedly better absorbed by the skin. 

Varying types of funky water have been around in the industry for a while, Chantecaille for example, use positively charged water (skin being negatively charged hence opposites attract comes into play - stay with me) throughout their foundations, one of the reasons, they say, they are so good to apply and wear. They are definitely that - so I personally have never had a major problem with water 'claims', although I doubt it's easy to prove scientifically. This definitely not only absorbs beautifully, but makes whatever you use on top do exactly the same thing.

What this does contain that my skin has always been extremely happy with are all the 'sea' ingredients namely: algae, laminara, sea salt and plankton and minerals such as copper, calcium, magnesium, zinc and tourmaline. I personally like skincare that contains a lot of ingredients that I supplement with - and the sea ingredients are proven - and tried and tested by your truly - to be beyond amazing for skin. Sea salt in particular - if you suffer eczema/psoriasis I highly recommend a trip to the Dead Sea. So far all good.

You may notice eucalyptus seven rows down and fragrance second row from the bottom. Despite me talking about essential oils and eucalyptus/stronger oils being used unnecessarily in products, my skin is perfectly fine with this particular formulation. I suspect it's because it's a liquid, therefore more diluted... the odd thing is that this has no particular smell at all - it's slightly sea-ish (so a word!), but not hardcore salty sea water bath - if you know what I mean. This actually helped the redness from my reaction to subside, proving once again that everything needs to be tested on the skin wherever possible, as one ingredient does not a product make/ruin.

How do you use it?

Erm, Not in the way they show in the video *eyebrow*. I do one of two things depending on my skin, how much time I have and what I'm using it as. If I intend to use it as a toner, I apply it with a cotton pad after my acids. Do NOT saturate the pad and do NOT use cotton balls (ever) - they absorb everything and waste your well-spent money. This stuff is not cheap. If I'm using this as my serum/treatment lotion I put 3/4 drops into my palm, do the therapist's swipe (yes, video coming) and stick it straight to my face. Think when a comedian 'pies' someone. That's what you do with this. Place it. Get it on there. There is no room for manoeuvre. Apply your moisturiser or oil on top. Or better yet, moisturiser, then oil, then go to bed.

So after all that, do you need it? I would say if you have the type of skin I described, absolutely check it out, your skin will notice the benefits the most.

If you are young and on a budget, no. Don't splurge on this stage, splurge on serums.

Creme de La Mer The Treatment Lotion is £85.00 and available from all stockists including online: 

www.cremedelamer.co.uk