LA MER & My HG D/S Mascara

I'm kind of late to jump on the LA MER train, but I have my suspicions about the efficacy of their products. C'mon, a hefty $130 for one ounce of their moisturizer?

But I've caved. I was able to try their Creme de la Mer, received a sample of their Gel de la Mer, and purchased the SPF 18 Fluid Tint (or Fluide de la Mer if you so wish).

Fluide de la Mer

I've never tried tinted moisturizers. I considered Dior's tint after Nessa's review, but was turned off by the scent, and since LA MER's TM is so popular on MUA (even coveted by scoffers of their Creme de la Mer) I figured I'd take the plunge. I've only tried it once, but I'm very impressed with how it just melts into my skin and blended away imperfections. My face is left glowy, not matte, which worries me since I'm oily-complexioned. It doesn't feel heavy and has SPF, though it's just 18. Unfortunately, their color selection is pretty limited (light, medium, and dark), but it's sheer enough to blend right in. The scent is light and unoffensive. $65 is a lot to drop for a TM (you get 1.7 fl. oz.), but I really didn't want the hassle of hunting for the "perfect" one. Fuzkittie's and Pink's reviews also helped shove me in this direction. I don't buy into bloggers' hauls and reviews anymore, because it's so bad for my wallet and I just end up accumulating a lot of crap. This was an exception. ;)

Gel de la Mer

If there's any wonder why LA MER products cost so much, here's another answer: Pretty packaging for free samples. How cute is that jar? Surprisingly, I really liked this gel. I already knew that Creme de la Mer would be too rich for my oily skin, so I asked for the gel. A little goes a very long way, because it spreads so easily. Absorption is great--my skin just drank this up. The smell is light and citrus-y. Still, it's expensive and I'm not sure if I'm sold on its value just yet.

Funny TMI story: When I made it known to SO that a 2 oz. jar would cost over $200, he eagerly tried it... In an area it wasn't meant for. Why, you ask?

Because it's the most important part.

Creme de la Mer v. Nivea

I don't have pictures of the Creme since I only tried it at the counter, but I do have a tin of Nivea Creme ($2 at my local discount store. Made in Thailand).




Gel de la Mer (left), Nivea Creme (right).

The Nivea Creme is very rich and very greasy looking. Once on the skin on my body, it sinks in and just feels silky--not slime-y, not sticky, and not oily. On my face, it feels like a mask and I probably won't be using it there.

Why is a $2 drugstore moisturizer compared to a $130 department store creme? Both contain the same basic ingredients, though probably in different proportions. It's debatable whether or not the German-made Nivea Creme is any better than the Mexican- or Thai-made versions (it's also made in Poland). Most significantly, the German version is missing two specific preservatives that may have adverse effects on the skin (Methylchloroisothiazolinone and Methylisothiazolinone) and does not contain petrolatum. It's also believed that the German-made version most mimics Creme de la Mer. Or is it the other way around and Creme de la Mer most mimics the German Nivea? Whatever it is, I'm not going to find out. There's no way I'm going to order German Nivea, but anyone else is free to give that a shot. Do I believe it'd be different? I think the only difference the absence of preservatives make will be a shorter shelf life and a slimmer chance of skin irritation. Just to throw something else into the mix: CDLM also contains methylchloroisothiazolinone, methylisothiazolinone, and petrolatum.

So is Nivea (non-German) exactly the same as Creme de la Mer? No. At first, they seem to be. Both are thick cremes that are hard to spread if you try to smooth it on straight out of the container. The difference shows up when you rub CDLM in your hands to warm it up. This has the effect of emulsifying the creme, making it easier to pat on. Nivea Creme, when I warm it up in my hands, becomes a greasy mess. It doesn't have that liquidfying effect and I'm just lotioning my palms as a result. CDLM also has the benefit of added antioxidant ingredients. Nivea does not. However, this doesn't mean Nivea is no good! Many of its users claim similar results to CDLM. Its smell even closely resembles the smell of LA MER's. If you don't want to pay for the LA MER brand, but still need a good, heavy-duty moisturizer for the winter, Nivea is a terrific choice. It does a damn good job at curing flakey skin. Hey, they've been around for over 100 years; I think they've done something right! You can also purchase sea kelp extract online and mix it into your Nivea. I don't intend to do that, but that's an idea that's floating around online.

Is CDLM CDLCrap? No. It works for many folks, doesn't it? In the end, I think if you have the cash to burn and have tried and really like CDLM, go for it! It's definitely an unecessary luxury, but there's nothing wrong with pampering yourself if you can afford to. Its cost is so much more than most moisturizers on the market, and the money's probably going towards maintenance of those expensive saltwater aquariums in their stores. Personally, CDLM is not for me--it's too rich (for my skin :p).

CDLM is popular for a reason. Max Huber Labs has an incredible marketing machine working for them. Though LA MER has gotten in trouble for advertising unbacked scientific details of their CDLM in the past; the UK Advertising Standards Authority challenged claims made in their leaflets in '02. What the fuck is "Deconstructed Waters" supposed to mean to ME!?!

Sidenote: If you plan on asking for a sample, g'luck. I was helped by a somewhat snooty lady at Neiman's who was suddenly able to find the "last" sample of the gel when I was ready to pay. All this after telling me they're usually unavailable. I can never understand what on earth makes name brand SAs think they're above anyone. They're usually working for less money than what their customers make and sometimes know less than they do, too. Spare me the haughty air, honey, and fetch me what I came here for. *chop chop* Shockingly enough, Chanel personnel have always been VERY nice in my experience, whether I'm browsing, buying, or returning an item. Kudos to them.

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Onto my drugstore hauls from the past two weeks:

Revlon Colorstay Liquid Eyeliner


I know this is HG status for quite a lot of you, but for me it's so-so. My oily lids will NOT allow this to stay on, even with a base under and powder over it. If I do use this it has to be very minimally, meaning I cannot draw thick lines for dramatic looks. It's no good for my waterline and stings when it gets in my eye. On the upside, I do like the applicator. The stiff tip gives me a lot of control and by changing the angle I hold the brush I can draw a thin line or a thicker line if I wanted. The black is also VERY black. I won't be tossing it out immediately, but I won't be repurchasing this either.

Revlon 3D Extreme Mascara & Maybelline Full 'n Soft Mascara (both waterproof)






The Revlon brush is weird. Yes, it's supposed to help give your lashes a 3D pop. No, it doesn't work. The formula is also incredibly thick and goopy, almost like you've been using it for a couple of months. It does voluminize, but clumps too much and is harder to work with than I'd like. It also flakes, and when I try to brush them off they SMEAR. Not a repurchase!

Full 'n Soft is officially my HG drugstore mascara. I prefer traditional brushes versus the new fangled rubber ones. This mascara lengthens, volumizes enough for me, and isn't crusty when it dries. My curls last all day and it's pretty easy to remove. Clumps aren't a huge problem and I can swipe a few times without my lashes sticking together. This is definitely something I'd buy again and I'll be looking out for any BOGO offers.

Lately, I'd been having trouble curling my lashes with my Shu curler. My lashes kept curling at a 90 degree angle, I would miss the corners, and it seemed like I was losing lashes. I couldn't believe it! Why is Shu failing me! Turned out, the rubber pad had cracked and I just needed to replace it. Everything's peachy keen now, but a new dilemma: Where can I find replacement pads???

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Q&A

i like that scoop neck dress..but do you wear it with or w.out a bra..i can't let my little lumps be free. haha

- Judy

With a bra, the strap JUST shows at the very bottom of the scoop. That's not a problem for me, especially if I wear a black bra. Without a bra, my ladies are too free, so I always wear it with a bra.

i like yogurtland better than pinkberry. it's self serve and a lot cheaper than overrated pinkberry.

- Ainstein

that yogurt looks just like this place we have here called yoforia...i always get the green tea too!

- Ren

I always get the green tea yogurt from Pinkberry, too. What are your fave toppings?

- Tracy

Pinkberry or not, I love fro-yo. Even better from another place, because they're cheaper! My favorite toppings are the fruits. I always get strawberry, love mango, sometime blackberries (because they look cute), and kiwi. I like seeing COLOR in my cup, so I try to get different colored fruits on a green tea backdrop.

I guess high end brands ARE worth it (: haha

I've never really been interested in Fendi though.. not a fan of the mono, like LV.

- Joey

YES. I'm a huge advocate of "you get what you pay for," especially when it comes to bags. I fall in and out of love with monogram depending upon my mood. The entire reason I fell in love with Fendi was definitely the monogram. What can I say? I love the Fs. Right now, I'm sick of my bag and want something new. lol. Monogram gets a bad rap since it's so overdone and heavily copied. But when I think about how classic something like the LV mono speedy is it's suddenly not so tacky, especially on the arms of women like Audrey Hepburn. It does attract a lot of stares and I always feel women's eyes molesting my bags when I'm out. It's really uncomfortable for me. Time to switch it up!

dude sweet wallet! i love me some new Fendi...in a big Louie like that you need to utilize it woman...like some bread rolls and shavers shovels...take note of vanessa she has a magic bag

as for costumes go to foreplay in LA...

- Pink

I don't know how Vanessa fits all that in her bag. It must be bottomless. If I put anything else in that bag, I'll never be able to find anything! I'm probably going to order my costume online... Gonna be a sailor!

may I suggest that you do more outfit of the day? I love your sense of style!

- Tao

Thank you! I'll try to include more pics of myself. Believe it or not, I'm not much of a pictures kinda person. Despite all the camwhoring I've done!

i've been lurking your blog for awhile now...borderline stalking so i decided to add you to my blog list...hope that's okay.

love your blog!!

- Mama Pham

Thanks! It's okay. I think I've done scarier stalking stuff in the past... Let me know your blog url, so I can return the add. :)