As La Mer arrives on MR PORTER, we round-up three of the brand’s best products.

In the world of skincare, La Mer is something of a celebrity. When its superlative creams first came to wide public attention in the mid-1990s, it grabbed headlines for their incredible efficacy, as well as their seemingly extravagant price points. More than a decade later, the landscape is rather different – many more brands have emerged in the ultra-high end of the grooming and beauty market – but La Mer has managed to retain a multitude of truly devoted customers (see the glowing reviews on its website for proof) as well as a reputation for offering products that are, quite simply, the best of the best.

Perhaps its staying power is down, in some part, to its excellent backstory: most La Mer products are based on a fermented nutrient-rich sea kelp formulation the brand calls Miracle Broth™, which was invented in the mid-20th century by aerospace physicist Dr Max Huber as a means of treating burns he had suffered in a laboratory accident. Equally effective on normal skin, this exclusive ingredient is what gives all the brand’s creams and serums their rejuvenating potency and anti-ageing qualities. If you’re looking for a product to bring you transformative, and fast, results, La Mer is the brand for you. The only difficulty is figuring out just which pot you need to pick up. Scroll down for some guidance on this matter.

All good skincare regimes start with a bit of prep – you can’t expect results if you just dive in with the moisturiser straight away – and in this department, two La Mer products are worth your while, depending on how many stages you can face in the morning. The Cleansing Gel is an excellent basic face wash, that will leave normal to combination skin fresh and clean without tightness or dryness. To add a bit more pep to your prep, follow it up with La Mer’s Treatment Lotion – this is a super hydrating treatment that will help your skin to retain moisture and improve its overall tone.

La Mer’s moisturising cream – Crème de la Mer is its flagship product, the subject of many gushing testimonials and, by all accounts, a real miracle-worker for all different types of skin and concerns, from ageing to dryness to irritation. Though it’s fundamentally a versatile product, it has been refined over the years to accommodate different skin types, which explains the presence, today of both a cream and gel version. If your skin tends to be on the dry side, opt for the moisturising cream, which is rich in texture and will leave your skin with a slightly more moist and dewy finish. (This really has quite a substantial texture – you should warm it up by working it in your fingers before applying). If you have normal or oily skin (or just are in a little bit more of a rush in the morning) you’ll probably want to opt for the moisturising gel, which has an ultra-light, velvety finish. Either way, prepare to be taken aback by the results.

La Mer’s key ingredient, the Miracle Broth™ was invented to treat burns. It’s not entirely surprising, then, that several of its products offer targeted solutions for particular skin concerns. On MR PORTER currently, we’re carrying two such items, the first being La Mer’s Illuminating Eye Gel. If you’re burning the candle at both ends, or simply working too hard, applying this to the skin around your eyes (following the curve of the socket with your finger) will brighten the area, reducing wrinkles and eliminating dark circles. The Concentrate, meanwhile, is a serum with particularly potent dose of the Miracle Broth™ that works fast to soothe irritated skin. This should be applied to the affected area before your moisturiser.