La Mer

This bottle lasted an extremely long time, despite how small the bottle looks. I appreciate the fact that it’s a no frills, thin and light bottle, unlike most high-end products where you feel like you are just paying for the fancy, heavy glass packaging. It is a thin milky fluid that doesn’t feel thick to the touch and doesn’t glide on the skin easily. Once my skin absorbed the liquid, my skin felt extremely moisturized and continued to feel so through the day. There are days when I only slap this on after washing my face for a quick trip to the market and I felt like it was enough of a skincare product on its own. It definitely felt like there was a layer of protection on my skin. I love the small size of this squeezable tube with twist off cap and a narrow tip that dispenses the product with control, but limits the amount if air exposure and stays clean. I did find myself feeling tired of using this fluid though. Even though it’s a high-end product at $95/1.7 oz, it didn’t really add a high-end feel on my skin.

This new Body Oil Balm was introduced in the US in late 2019. Having very dry skin on parts of my body, especially my legs, I was quite excited to try this product and have been using it for a few weeks now. I used it after trying the Retrouvé Baume Ultime, see my separate review if interested, which is also a balm I have enjoyed using, but it is distinctly different in its use from the LaMer. The good: - formulation is elegant - balm applies well and spreads easily on damp skin after shower or bath, as well as on dry skin - soft floral scent that does not linger long or clash with any perfumes that I have applied afterward - packaged in a tube, (not a jar) I always prefer that - my skin feels well cared for and calm after using this balm - used in the evening, the hydrating effect lasts through the next day The bad: - steep price tag $195 + tax for 6.7oz/ 200 ml, which is to be expected it being from LaMer. Especially since the brand recommends using this balm underneath the equally expensive Body Creme so if you follow their advice you end up spending around $400 for this duo of body care. - I have to mention the packaging - While I appreciate the fact that a tube was used, instead of a jar, for obvious hygienic reasons as well as convenience, I find this particular tube material very subpar. While LaMer used a white tube just as for the Body Creme, the material of this Renewal Oil Balm tube is somewhat thinner and therefore much more prone to dents and bulges which are frankly quite unsightly. After the first use, the material was already deformed and it has continued to deteriorate further now that I used it for a few weeks, Yes, no question, that is a nitpicky detail, but in luxury brands and at this price point I feel that packaging does matter. Also, I immediately noticed what EvaVic points out in her review: the print of the labeling is not at all in line with the rest of LaMer in terms of coloring and background so it simply looks somewhat inelegant. I keep the two tubes of the Body Creme and this new Body Renewal Body Oil Balm side by side on my vanity and the difference is quite obvious. Overall verdict: Four solid stars for the balm which I will repurchase, but sorry, LaMer, only two stars for the packaging.

Product is nice and hydrating. Absorbs quickly into the skin leaving a flattering sheen (without the oily feeling). It would be an excellent product, was it not for the packaging. It is clear that there have not been put much effort into it. The white plastic is grayish and cheep-looking, the background behind the logo is grayish rather than the fresh apricot colour. The Green fonts of the lettering is a much brighter green than on other La Mer tubes. I believe that La Mer (EL Co.) can do way better than this especially for the price one is charged. Disappointing. Ingredient Listing: Glycine Soja (Soybean) Oil, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Dimethicone, Limnanthes Alba (Meadowfoam) Seed Oil, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Dextrin Palmitate, Trisiloxane, Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil, Algae (Seaweed) Extract, Sesamum Indicum (Sesame) Seed Oil, Medicago Sativa (Alfalfa) Seed Powder, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seedcake, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Seed Meal, Eucalyptus Globulus (Eucalyptus) Leaf Oil, Sodium Gluconate, Copper Gluconate, Calcium Gluconate, Magnesium Gluconate, Zinc Gluconate, Tocopheryl Succinate, Niacin, Sesamum Indicum (Sesame) Seed Powder, Water\Aqua\Eau, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil, Brassica Campestris (Rapeseed) Seed Oil, Oxycoccus Palustris (Cranberry) Seed Oil, Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil, Citrus Aurantifolia (Lime) Peel Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract, Triticum Vulgare (Wheat) Germ Oil, Vegetable Oil\Olus\Huile Vegetale, Prunus Armeniaca (Apricot) Kernel Oil, Hippophae Rhamnoides Oil, Oenothera Biennis (Evening Primrose) Oil, Rosa Canina (Rose) Fruit Oil, Tocopherol, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Oil, Camelina Sativa Seed Oil, SimmondsiaChinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Glycerin, Polysorbate 80, Caprylyl Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Silica, Fragrance (Parfum), Bht, Limonene, Linalool, Benzyl Benzoate, Coumarin, Citronellol, Geraniol, Hydroxycitronellal, Citral, Alcohol Denat