Men are said to age differently than women, and I suppose that may be true. Somewhat. I think the reality is that men are given a free pass on aging- women, especially their faces, must remain plump, taut, and dewy with the bloom of youth until they’re slotted into the crypt, while men can get as wrinkled and gnarled as a coastal Monterey Cypress and just become “distinguished.”
Well, I am fighting “distinguished” every step of the way.
For a long time Creme de la Mer was considered the gold standard of moisturizers. It supposedly contained some near-magical seaweed brew that could take that gnarled old tree back to sapling with only judicious application. I never used it because it was just too darned pricey, and (I told myself) I was far too young to need it. But last Christmas I received a gift card to Saks so I put it as a down payment on a jar.
I had also been told that Nivea was about nine-tenths as good as CdlM at about a hundredth of the price. But apparently it had to be the Nivea from Germany in the round metal tin. Since I could get that for nothing practically at e-tailers I figure I could use the Nivea as the default and the CdlM as emergency stuff.
So, is there a difference? Well, yes. Now I have been told that CdlM had long been purchased by one of the big companies and that the magic seaweed broth was no longer quite so magic and like Nivea it lists mineral oil and petrolatum (vaseline, basically) high up on the list of ingredients (CdlM lists it’s algae extract first.) I am not one of those people who automatically discount and discard an item because they contain them- I don’t think they’re absorbed into the bloodstream after all and just act as a barrier or sealant to allow your skin to replenish itself. That’s what I tell myself anyway.
How do they perform that function? Very well. I obviously use the Nivea far more often because of cost- on a blustery day when my skin gets wind-chapped (yes, even in SoCal) Nivea is excellent. If I have had too much sun the CdlM comes out, and yes, it works better. The Nivea is easier to put on- it’s a creamier consistency out of the tub, while the CdlM is a little more like paste. You use the included spatula thingy to take some out of the jar, apply it to your face and let it melt in a before rubbing it all over. Both can frankly be a bit much for my skin- on those days I will just use the moisturizer/SPF 12000 sunblock I have from La Roche Posay or Olay which I put on before going out into the sun.
Will I repurchase? The Nivea? Sure. That’s a no-brainer. It would even be more of one if I still lived where it got really cold, or snowed. The Creme de la Mer? Well, never say never. Certainly if funds were unlimited I would buy it in the 16oz ($2800) jar and apply it with a paint roller. As it is I could see another small jar in my future for those days when I am stupid and leave the top down longer than I should.
Of course if you have any dupes you would like to suggest, or have your own experiences with either, pleas share in the comments.
Nivea Cream (the “good” German stuff in the tin) can be had for under $20 for two 8oz tins. Creme de le Mer is available at various stores starting at $100 for o.5oz. I purchased my items.
Photos: My iPhone and Pexels
I also like La Roche -Posay – the. tinted mineral sunscreen is a staple. My skin can’t tolerate chemical sunscreens or mineral oil, and its surprising to me how many high end products include the later. I tried samples of both La Mer and Augustinius Bader The Cream, and both were meh. Apparently cost doesn’t equal quality!
I get a great result from La Roche-Posay Cicaplast for winter time or after too much sun. For summer I just use their regular Lipikar lotion in the pump bottle and/or their sunscreen. Since I have rosacea I have to be careful what I use and LRP works for me.