While men prefer a quick, all-in-one formula, women like to have a collection of skincare products, layering each item and taking more time to complete their beauty ritual. But why all the fuss?
Yaovaanong Chanawongse, La Mer’s GM.
“To truly get the most out of your skincare, it’s optimal to use multiple products from a range that specifically targets your skin’s needs. This kind of focused approach treats issues from different angles and at various layers of the skin to ensure the most comprehensive result,’’ said Yaovaanong Chanawongse, general manager of La Mer, whose Creme de La Mer moisturiser was developed half-a-century ago.
The brand’s product line extensions have included cleansers, toners, serums, eye creams and masks, with additions in 2014 being Lifting Contour Serum and the Lifting and Firming Mask.
“With a liquid-like consistency, the new Lifting Contour Serum deeply delivers the ingredients through the skin,’’ Yaovaanong said. “The mask offers another way to deliver potent formulations deep within the skin. Masks are best applied at night, as skin goes into overnight rest and recovery mode, making regeneration that much better.’’
After cleansing, the skin is primed with a watery lotion before the application of the lifting formulas and moisturising with Creme de La Mer. Skincare layering is simply based on product texture, from thin to thick.
“If you’re using multiple steps in your regimen and aren’t quite sure of the order to use them in, follow this easy guide — use your thinnest, most liquid products first and slowly build up to the thickest products, finishing with your moisturiser,’’ Yaovaanong said.
La Mer believes in the sea’s beauty secrets, discovered by Dr Max Huber, whose bio-fermentation of kelp resulted in the brand’s signature Miracle Broth, which was used to transform his scarred skin after a laboratory accident.
It took 12 years for the Dr Huber to perfect the Miracle Broth, which requires hand-harvesting and fermentation of brown algae — a process involving pulsating sound and light to make it feel as though it was under the deep blue sea.
A rare blue algae is put through La Mer’s meticulous bio-fermentation process for the Lifting Contour Serum, whereas a bio-fermentation of brown algae, marine peptides and plant stem cells result in the Concentrated Lifting Ferment for the new cream mask.
Used weekly, the mask is massaged onto the face and left for ten minutes before applying moisturiser.
Yaovaanong emphasised that even the best skincare routine will yield limited results if not applied regularly.
“Like most things in life, the key to successful skincare is consistency,’’ she said. “Establishing a ritual can reap both outer and inner beauty rewards. Your skin will not only look and feel its best when regularly treated with nutritive ingredients, but taking the moment to pamper yourself will also help calm and rejuvenate your senses.’’
Mask of youth
With concentrated ingredients, a face mask serves as a quick fix to instantly give the skin a fresh and firm appearance.
Korean brand Belif sees masks as first aid, with seven pots of First Aid formulas targeting different concerns. With a gel texture, the Anti-Hangover Soothing Mask delivers calming chamomile wheras the pudding-like Overnight Anti-Wrinkle & Firming Mask contains yarrow herbs used during the Trojan War to treat soldiers’ wounds.
Other anti-ageing options include Jeunesse’s peel-off Luminesce Ultimate Lifting Masque, Murad’s rinse-off Age-Diffusing Firming Mask and Yves Saint Laurent’s refreshing Forever Youth Liberator Intensive Mask.
La Prairie’s overnight treatment Skin Caviar Luxe Sleep Mask comes with a brush for an even application of the luxurious formula that contains caviar extract.
Skincare companies compete to develop innovative texture as much as finding signature ingredients, and Shu Uemura claims to offer the first carbon-injected mousse mask inspired by Japanese hot springs. Based on the science that carbon dioxide enhances micro-circulation, the product development led to Brightseal Whitening Carbonated Mask loaded with a vitamin C derivative, salicylic acid, prune and sohakuhi (root bark of mulberry) extracts.
