admin Revolutionary skincare doesn’t happen overnight — and that’s especially true when it comes to La Mer’s Crème de la Mer. When you think of Crème de la Mer, you might picture its iconic white jar, or its luxurious formula, or maybe its enveloping citrus and eucalyptus scent. But behind the legendary anti-aging cream is a wealth of science: a moisturizer that does more than just hydrate, but treats dryness and energizes your skin at the same time.
La Mer founder Dr. Max Huber didn’t set out to create a skincare brand. By the time he began working on a formula in the 1960s, Huber had already led a lettered career as an aerospace physicist. But when a lab explosion left him with severe burns on his face, he had two choices: accept the new state of his appearance, or concoct an anti-inflammatory elixir that could hopefully revive and rejuvenate his skin.
Being a scientist and a visionary, Huber chose the latter, and spent the next 12 years of his life researching, testing, and creating the gold-standard in youth-regenerating moisturizers: Crème de la Mer — aka the crème that started it all.
The miracle behind the formula
Huber ended up conducting 6,000 experiments before he discovered a fermentation process capable of creating a truly transformative, cell-renewing elixir that we know today as Miracle Broth. In a study presented at the 25th World Congress of Dermatology in July 2023, the broth, which is a fermented mixture of sea kelp, vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients, was shown to decrease the visible effects of irritation and signs of aging, while promoting moisture and strengthening the skin barrier.
In the same study, women found that skin irritation went down almost immediately, while in the long-term, those who used Crème de la Mer regularly saw an increase in collagen production and firmness. After 16 weeks, it had even improved the appearance of lines, wrinkles, hyperpigmentation, texture, and more.
It’s famous for a reason
Crème de la Mer is packed with micronutrient-dense ingredients that help to strengthen and energize your skin. Along with the Miracle Broth found in the formula, the meticulously crafted moisturizer also contains Huber’s Lime Tea concentrate, an antioxidant-rich, slow-extracted cocktail that helps protect skin from the damaging effects of environmental stressors. Essentially, Crème de la Mer is an irritation-soothing, age-fighting powerhouse that, as anyone can attest, feels like a sensorial treat to apply.
In an ideal world — Huber’s world — you’d slather the moisturizer all over your body twice a day to reap the revitalizing benefits. But if you don’t have an endless supply, just scoop out a small amount of cream with the included spatula, warm it between your fingertips, then gently press and massage it into your face and neck twice a day.
How its legacy transcends time
Unlike other luxury products whose cult-favorite formulas no longer bear resemblance to their original, today’s Crème de la Mer is a direct descendant from the first Crème de la Mer hand-mixed by Huber himself. Each time a new batch of broth is made, a few drops from the previous batch are added in. It’s in this technique that Huber’s original and groundbreaking formula continues to invigorate skin today, helping to connect the past with the present and future.
