Some of you may remember that one of my favourite hydration lotions is the luxury branded La Mer The Treatment Lotion. I still enjoy using it, and a few people who have tried it on my recommendation have reported good results with it too. It always makes me happy to know that a product I love is also enjoyed by others, and last year, it was my pick for my MWS10 Anniversary basket.
But if the price tag of that lotion made you balk, best look away now, because the Genaissance de La Mer Infused Lotion is like The Treatment Lotion, but on steroids! And that includes its price tag.
La Mer first launched its Genaissance de la mer range about 2 years ago. It started out with just the Genaissance Serum Essence. I had a bit of a slow start with it. I didn’t quite think very much of it until very recently, when I found that using the Genaissance Serum with Sunday Riley Luna oil gave me the most amazing skin – soft, smooth, and all-round good skin. People said I was crazy. I thought so too LOL! 😀 The reason is because if you thought La Mer was expensive, Genaissance sees you expensive, and raises you. We are in the realm of super-luxury here. This is not a range of skincare products that you will just pop out to buy on a whim. It must be a calculated purchase.
By way of refresher, the Genaissance de La Mer range uses Crystal Miracle Broth™, an essence obtained from the discovery of pure crystals forming in La Mer’s trademark Miracle Broth formula. It also contains the Genaissance Ferment, which is said to be a pure concentration of the Miracle Broth made by using a fermentation built around the Pom Pom Red Algae and combined with wavelengths of natural light.
In late 2017, they expanded the Genaissance range with The Infused Lotion and the Eye and Expression Cream. I love the packaging of the latter (the magnetic metal eye massaging tool is genius!), but the product itself doesn’t wow me. But much to my surprise, I fell head over heels for the Genaissance de La Mer Infused Lotion.
The Genaissance de La Mer Infused Lotion is like a hydrating, boosting lotion that you are supposed to use after cleansing and toning, but before your serum and moisturiser. It comes in a very large, heavy glass bottle, that is beautifully shaped, like a perfume flacon, or a whisky or brandy bottle, but impossibly hard to hold.
In my small hands, you can see just how awkward it can be. It is very large and bulky, and heavy. So, I am always in fear of dropping it. Not because it might break, but because I might break a toe if this fell on it! 😛
Aesthetically however, it is pleasing, with rose-gold metal touches, and a beautiful amber bottle that houses the precious contents within.
If you look at the first picture I have above, you will notice that the product comes in a bi-phase formula. The water phase (the clear portion) contains the Crystal Miracle Broth and a new ProBio Ferment. This ferment is a nourishing supplement for your skin. On top, is a light cream.
To use, you must shake up the bottle to blend the product. This forces the water and cream to blend into an emulsion, that you then apply to your skin. When you leave the bottle alone after that, it will slowly separate again, back to its bi-phase status. It took me 2 days of not touching my bottle after my last use, to get the photo you see above. It was hard, because I was so used to reaching for it every day, that I’d do so automatically. That’s why it’s taken me so long to share (about 2 months!) – I could never get a picture! LOL! 😛
When blended, the resultant product is a creamy emulsion that feels much thicker than your regular hydrating lotion, and more like a light moisturiser. It has a velvety smooth finish (I attribute this to the silicones) and goes on skin very much like a light moisturiser. I can imagine that there might be some people who might even use this as a moisturiser.
Due to the texture, and the purpose for which I use it for (a hydrating lotion) I only use 2 drops each time. I kid you not! The bottle is capped with a stopper that doesn’t quite dispense product very easily. I was a little nonplussed about it, until I realised that all I really needed was 2 drops, and that was quite easy to get out. That’s about the amount you see in the picture above (which I very quickly smoothed all over my neck and decolletage – no waste!)
But what does it do? That’s what you really want to know, don’t you?
Well, for me, this product is quite transformative. It quite literally boosts my skin’s hydration, and plumps it up, so it feels very supple and hydrated, and if my skin is going through a dry patch, eradicates dryness and almost seems to “heal” the skin. This one is definitely a boon for those with dry skin, because I found that with regular use, it seemed to regulate my skin, so it wasn’t so dry all the time. If you use thickish hydrating lotions like I do, like the Hada Labo Premium Hydrating Lotion, or the La Mer Treatment Lotion, or even the Bobbi Brown Extra Treatment Lotion, imagine how your skin feels with that. Then, multiply that by at least a factor of 5. Because that’s how my skin feels. Intensely boosted, and incredibly comfortable and comforted.
For this reason, I described this to a friend as “The La Mer Treatment Lotion, but on steroids” because it feels that way. Everything I love in the Treatment Lotion, but so much better, because of the lotion feel that feels much more nourishing to my skin than merely leaving it hydrated.
I tend to use the Genaissance de La Mer Infused Lotion after my serums and before my moisturiser. My reasoning is because I firstly want my serums and active products closer to my skin. Secondly, the texture of this Infused Lotion is a little thicker than that of most hydrating lotions I’ve used, so I felt that it served a better result going on after a lighter textured serum. For me therefore, this serves as a pre-moisturiser and it also allows me to not have to use such a heavy cream in the evening, if I don’t want to.
I have been incredibly blessed to have the opportunity to try this product, and because I only use 2 drops each time, it has and will last me quite a while. But realistically, repurchasing will be a challenge because the price tag is quite prohibitive 🙁
IN A NUTSHELL
The Genaissance de La Mer Infused Lotion is a bi-phase lotion. This lotion hydrates, soothes and boosts my skin’s hydration making it feel more soft and supple. It not only hydrates, the way the La Mer Treatment Lotion does, but seems to also moisturise and make dry skin feel so comfortable and look and feel smoother, and almost “healed”. I only use about 2 drops each time, 3 drops if my skin is feeling particularly dry. It is, for me, quite transformative. Just like the Treatment Lotion which I already enjoy, but on steroids.
PROS: Lightweight creamy lotion texture absorbs well into my skin, Skin feels hydrated and moisturised, Dry skin feels transformed and much less dry, Easily layered under a moisturiser, Not heavy on skin at all, Very little product is needed each time (2-3 drops max)
CONS: Very costly, Packaging is bulky and heavy and not portable, Fragranced
WHO WILL LIKE THIS: Anyone with dry skin, Anyone who can afford this
PRICE: RM1,030 | US$245 for 150ml
WHERE TO BUY: La Mer counters and spas, Neiman Marcus, Harrods, Nordstrom
Here is the ingredient list for the Genaissance de La Mer Infused Lotion.
Water\Aqua\Eau, Dimethicone, Methyl Trimethicone, Isododecane, Phenyl Trimethicone, Polysilicone-11, Squalane, Glycerin, Glycereth-26, Propanediol, 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, Sapindus Mukorossi Fruit Extract, Linoleic Acid, Garcinia Mangostana Peel Extract, Citrus Aurantifolia (Lime) Peel Extract, Helichrysum Arenarium (Everlasting) Extract, Laminaria Digitata Extract, Vaccinium Macrocarpon (Cranberry) Fruit Extract, Vaccinium Angustifolium (Blueberry) Fruit Extract, Lycium Chinense (Wolfberry) Fruit Extract, Whey Protein\Lactis Protein\Proteine Du Petit-Lait, Jania Rubens Extract, Yeast Extract\Faex\Extrait De Levure, Citrus Reticulata (Tangerine) Peel Extract, Cladosiphon Okamuranus Extract, Sucrose, Bis-Stearyl Dimethicone, Cetyl Dimethicone, Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil, Caffeine, Chondrus Crispus (Carrageenan), Lactobacillus Ferment, Yeast Polysaccharides, Sodium Hyaluronate, Trehalose, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Isononyl Isononanoate, Acetyl Glucosamine, Phospholipids, Triolein, Phytosteryl Canola Glycerides, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Caesalpinia Spinosa Gum, Tourmaline, Peg-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Gold, Peg-75, Butylene Glycol, Ethylhexyl Isononanoate, Caprylyl Glycol, Saccharide Isomerate, Peg-7m, Dextrin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Citric Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Maltodextrin, Hexylene Glycol, Oleic Acid, Palmitic Acid, Stearic Acid, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Alcohol Denat., Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer, Fragrance (Parfum), Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Disodium Edta, Bht, Sodium Benzoate, Chlorphenesin, Phenoxyethanol, Linalool, Citronellol, Geraniol, Hydroxycitronellal, Limonene, Red 4 (Ci 14700).
Are you intrigued by the Genaissance de La Mer Infused Lotion?
This is not for everyone, I’d be the first to admit. But if your pockets reach deep, this one I particularly enjoyed using for keeping my skin feeling extra hydrated and supple. Otherwise, I’m still a big proponent of the Hada Labo Premium Hydrating Lotion, for those on a budget, or the La Mer Treatment Lotion if you’re feeling spendy. Both very good products 🙂
Paris B
My eyes nearly popped out at the price tag. Hahahaha. But if your skin is hydrated 5 times better after usage, it must be a marvelous product. On a side note, have you tried Melvita’s Argan Oil? I have been using a 5 ml sample every night for 2 weeks where I start with double cleansing, Caudalie spray, Argan Oil, Caudalie spray again and Melvita’s Apiscoma and my skin really looks good. The Melvita sales person actually told me to use a spray toner after application of the Argan oil and then only set in with a moisturiser as she said oil should be set in again with a spray toner for better effect on the skin. I find this extra step interesting though and wonder if it is actually necessary. Any thoughts?
Oh yes, the price tag is eye popping! LOL! But what isn’t in the luxury brand tiers eh? 😉 As for the Melvita Argan oil, I have tried it but many years ago when they first came in. I couldn’t use it then, because it would break me out. No matter how hard I try, argan oil products always do, so I’ve since abandoned it LOL! But misting after an oil is also good practice, to help it absorb better but it depends on your preferences. I sometimes do, and sometimes don’t because I like the feeling of oil on my skin. Or if you want to be really much easier, drop the oil into the palm of your hand, and spray your mist into your palm, or use a hydrating lotion and mix and apply to your skin. Same thing, but done in one step 😀
Thank you for the review. Been waiting for it.
Hope you found it useful!
Hi Paris,
Haha to be honest, I was expecting the price to be eye popping at RM1k for maybe only 30ml’s worth. But surprisingly it is for 150ml!
If comparing by the quantity, Antipodes Worship Serum is around RM164 (after the 20% discount) for only 30ml, to buy 5 bottles of Antipodes is already RM820. Add another RM210 can buy La Mer!
It’s the initial outlay that is very ouch! ?
Yep, the volume is impressive, primarily because this is a lotion/toner step. It’s just that it’s so thick and moisturising you don’t need very much! In that sense, it differs from Antipodes Worship, which is more akin to the Genaissance Serum Essence that retails at over RM2300 for 30ml haha! So, comparing apples to apples, Antipodes is still more affordable 😀
The price tag is the reason why my 5ml sample lasts so long, only using it when my skin play a drama. As usual, my skin love this. But not my bank account.
Haha join the club girl! I’m stretching this to last as long as it can! 😛
Swooon . This sounds so tempting . Hard to resist but unfortunately out of my reach . I would love to buy and try this beauty one day 🙂 .
I’m very lucky to be able to try this. Normally, I’d try to beg a sample, but to splurge so much would be a challenge!
The bottle looks really exquisite. For a 150ml, this price is actually not too bad since most beauty products come in 30ml or 50ml. However, I think it will be easier to swallow if they give us less for a pro-rated price. Ahh…very tempted. 🙂
Yup, but this is a lotion, which usually comes in 150-200 ml bottles haha! So, really it is still very expensive! But I’m with you – a smaller bottle at a pro-rated price will make it much more attractive!