Skin
Best La Prairie Products
04 • 09 • 2014
I swear I’m not on the La Prairie payroll! After seeing the ‘Before’ and ‘After’ wonders that the La Prairie Ice Crystal Cream did for my face after one application, I became an instant La Prairie convert. But how do I figure out the best La Prairie products without taking out a loan? Ever the student, I studied La Prairie product literature, scoured beauty blogs and online reviews (MakeupAlley.com, Amazon, and Saks.com have the broadest base of La Prairie reviews), and polled friends to figure out which La Prairie products people are actually using. Suddenly crowdsourcing seemed like a very obvious way to determine the best skincare regimen.
So here is what I gleaned from a handful of remarkably well-preserved La Prairie fans in their early to mid-thirties:
Most people are either using the Anti-Aging Collection (in the shiny silver packaging), or the super-luxe Skin Caviar Collection (in the blue bottles/tubs). In a nutshell, the Anti-Aging line is lower-priced and a little lighter-weight, focusing on maintenance and prevention, and probably targeting a slightly younger demographic. Skin Caviar is La Prairie’s premier, top of the line, primo-expensive line. (FYI, there is an even MORE expensive “Platinum” Caviar line, but the only person I heard from who is using the uber-pricey Platinum is the lady at the La Prairie counter. No judgment– I totally would too!)
THE ANTI-AGING COLLECTION:
One friend who has been known to spend an entire paycheck at the La Prairie counter mainly uses the Anti-Aging line. Here is her La Prairie product lineup:
Foam Cleanser ($75): My friend says she buys these four at a time and swears it is the best, most foamy cleanser and has used it for years. Honestly I’ve never heard anyone so jazzed about her cleanser. I’d always assumed it was not worth shelling out a lot of cash for a cleanser that doesn’t sit very long on your face, but maybe she’s on to something.
Anti-Aging Longevity Serum ($240): Applied before moisturizer, this serum uses natural extracts to defend and maintain skin. Serums allegedly penetrate a deeper layer of skin than your moisturizer, but I haven’t checked out the science on that.
Anti-Aging Day Cream SPF 30 ($215): One of La Prairie’s best sellers, this is a lightweight cream with SPF that also protects against pollutants.
Cellular Eye Contour Cream ($135): I notice this friend subbed in the Cellular Eye Contour Cream for the eye cream from the Anti-Aging line. According to reviews online, the SPF in the Anti-Aging Eye Cream is a little irritating to those with sensitive skin.
Anonymous Friend is also loyal to La Prairie’s Anti-Aging Foundation SPF 15 ($105).
THE SKIN CAVIAR COLLECTION:
Multiple La Prairie devotees raved about the Skin Caviar Luxe Cream ($410) and the Skin Caviar Luxe Eye Lift Cream ($310). Despite their high price points, both these items get consistently high reviews online.
Another friend who is a magazine editor and has access to the very best, priciest creams said that the Skin Caviar Luxe Cream is EVERYTHING. Also, she always uses a serum under the Skin Caviar Luxe Cream. She likes La Prairie’s Extrait of Skin Caviar Firming Complex ($150), but her favorite serum is by another brand, Cellcosmet Switzerland CellLift Serum ($460).
This friend also swears by La Prairie’s Skin Caviar Concealer + Foundation SPF 15 ($195). The concealer is not sold separately, and is housed in the cap of the foundation. She says she got addicted to this pricey foundation/concealer combo when she received a free sample, but has repurchased it multiple times. That speaks volumes considering she has many high-end creams and foundations at her disposal for FREE!
Several friends swear by the Skin Caviar Luxe Eye Lift Cream ($310)– one said it “literally took ten years off her eyes” and she has repurchased it many times. She uses it without a serum, but many use the Skin Caviar eye cream in conjunction with the Essence of Skin Caviar Eye Complex ($135). This serum is more of a depuffing, tightening gel, so you definitely need to use an eye cream on top of the serum.
What I really wanted to find out is, which is more effective– the Eye Complex serum or the Luxe Eye Lift Cream? Meaning if I could only afford one, could I get the same results by using the Essence of Skin Caviar topped with a drugstore eye cream, instead of splurging on the Luxe Eye Lift Cream? I never found my answer since most users try both together. The serum gets slightly higher ratings on MakeupAlley.com, but that could be because more people have reviewed the lower-priced serum than the eye cream.
Now don’t get all mad at me [Mom] because you think it’s ridiculous to pay $400 for face cream. I’m just reporting the results of my La Prairie research!
xoxo,
Kathleen
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