First up, I buy this über-expensive cream on eBay for a fraction of the price.
My skin: mid 30s, many years of sun exposure in the Mediterranean, Mediterranean light-olive complexion, enlarged pores, slightly oily and a tendency to break out occasionally.
I used almost every über-hyped, über-priced skincare under the sun, La Prairie, Chantecaille, Sisley, CDLM, Perricone, Elemis, etc etc... The last I was using was Perricone, which more or less ruined my skin in 4 weeks. I ended up with severely dehydrated, irritated, dull, unhappy skin that actually looked older.
This is an astonishingly good product. I started with very unhappy skin, which literally transformed into healthy, young skin again in a matter of days. I also noticed that my skin, which lapped up copious amounts in the first weeks now requires less and less of it. I don't know how it does it but, I wake up with smooth, glowy skin.
There is no justification of the price but it is absolutely worth the splurge if you can get a good deal on eBay. I stocked up on this and the day cream, which is also amazing.

I always wanted to try this night cream but was put off by the price and mediocre packaging but I finally got it a few days ago at the duty free. The cream feels very light going on which is very unlike the day cream. The day cream is rich and a bit greasy for my young skin which is the reason why I only got the night cream. The cream contains all the lipids we need for our skin and some good antioxidants. The key ingredient in Re-Creation is Padina. After doing a bit of research seems that this seaweed extract is great for anti-aging, increasing moisture and collagen in our skin. BTW the real hidden main ingredient that Estee Lauder don't want you know is Nordihydroguaiaretic Acid. This is the active that open mineral channels in your skin. All in all I love this cream so far and my skin is getting better and better everyday; it is starting to get very radiant and plump now and that is after washing my face in the morning. Recent advances in skincare means anti-aging creams are not as heavy as it used to be because the more biocompatible the cream is to your skin the faster it gets absorbed which is a big bonus for my skin.
Ingredients: Water (Aqua Purificata) Purified,C12-20 Acid PEG-8 Ester, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Butylene Glycol, Dimethicone, Cetyl Ricinoleate, Cetyl Alcohol, Glycerin,Yeast Extract (Faex), Padina Pavonica (Seaweed) Extract, Microccus Lysate, Cladosiphon Okamurnus Extract,Glycine Soja (Soybean) Protein, PEG-100 Stearate, Enteromorpha Compressa Extract, Oryza Sativa (Rice) Bran Extract, Decarboxy Carnosine HCL, Nordihydroguaiaretic Acid, Adenosine Phosphate, Sodium Chondroitin Sulfate,
Calcium Carbonate, Ferulic Acid, Aminopropyl Ascorbyl Phosphate, Ethlybisiminomethylguaiacol Manganese Chloride, Tocopheryl Acetate, Lecithin,
Caffeine, Betula Alba (Birch) Extract, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Cholestrol, Potasium Cetyl Phosphate, Creatine, Disodium NADH, Sodium RNA, Acetyl Carnitine HCL, Sodium Hyaluronate, Pentylene Gylcol, Cyclodextrin, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Laureth-8, Dextrin, Tromethamine, Xanthan Gum, Carbomer, Hexylene Glycol, Fagrance (Parfum), Potassium Sulfate, Disodium EDTA,Carprylyl Glycol, Phenoxyethanol

What can I say? Other than I must be mad to spend this kind of money? I am such a sucker for high-end creams!!! Well, I went along to EL after having drooled over this day-night set for so long. They wouldn't give samples, so I ended up buying just the one cream - the night cream, in case I broke out everywhere. The texture is a little sticky at first, you had to pat it on rather than rub it. I was amazed, though, at how it sank it completely. For the first time since forever, I have gone to bed with my skin feeling like skin (moisturised, yet dry to the touch) and was very, very happy at the thought that my pillow slip wouldn't be absorbing it all, as happens with ALL my other night creams, even though I apply them early in the evening. I also loved having a normal, matt skin through the evening, I hated that shiny look. I have been through 100's of top-end samples looking for the perfect matt cream, and now I've found it. Has it changed my skin? Well, I've been using it for 2 weeks now, along with the day cream for the past week, and I have to say that I am truly happy with my 43yr old skin. No, I haven't miraculously got 10 years younger, my skin just simply looks good - matt and peachy. Previously my crows feet lines were joining with my laughter lines, giving me these really dry looking lines on my cheeks. Now, these lines no longer meet, and my cheeks look smooth and hydrated, but never greasy. Yes, I am happy with this, and if I can afford it, I will repurchase. Even though it is hideously expensive and I could probably fund a small country with the money... *guilt*