Kristen’s curious: I just read about La Prairie Cellular Cream Platinum Rare. It is currently the most expensive skin cream on the planet at $1,000 for 1.5 ounces and is infused with Platinum. So Beauty Brains- what’s the REAL deal with this face cream?
The Right Brain responds:
The real deal is that La Prairie’s tiny, $1,000 jar of skin cream is worth every penny! Yeah, right.
Medicinal Platinum
Platinum is a precious, gray-white transition metal used in jewelry, dentistry, automobile emissions control devices and, apparently, La Prairie skin creams. Does platinum have ANY beneficial healing properties whatsoever? Yes, as a matter of fact it does. Complexes made with platinum, like cisplatin, are well known cancer treatments and somewhat less well known for their ability to treat skin diseases that involve accelerated cell growth. Some studies even indicate that platinum complexes can be helpful in treating rheumatoid arthritis and certain allergic diseases. So in a medical context, platinum is a powerful ally in the fight against disease.
Pretty Platinum
So does this magic metal do anything in cosmetics? We tried to find out what La Prairie had to say about their Cellular Cream Platinum Rare, but their website is woefully lacking in specific information. Here’s what they have to say:
The most precious metal on earth now empowers your most precious asset: your skin. Modern science has shown platinum to be not only one of the rarest elements on earth, but most astonishing in its abilities: impervious to time, incapable of being oxidized by air, so precious, all of it that has ever been mined could fit in a single room.
When La Prairie scientists discovered that platinum had the incredible ability to bond with human skin, they knew the implications were tremendous. La Prairie’s distillation of the rarefied powers and pleasures of platinum into an extravagant anti-aging masterpiece is the most exciting advance in skin science of this decade. The result is Cellular Cream Platinum Rare, a skin-transforming formula that recharges the skin’s electrical balance with pure platinum to ensure ageless performance, protects the skin’s DNA, and replenishes moisture continuously for a look of soft splendor.
This is pure science at its best, offering unparalleled benefits; quite simply, the skin looks, feels and moves like younger skin.
While we don’t doubt that this cream can “replenish moisture” we’re very skeptical about the rest of their claims. Especially since we could find no reference in the technical literature to cosmetic benefits from topical application of platinum. Aside from the the medical applications mentioned above, all we could find was an article in W magazine written by Jane Larkworthy that featured several quotes by Jacqueline Hill, the chemist who worked on this product. According to Ms. Hill “The skin has an ionic buffer zone that holds in moisture while protecting against free radicals and other damaging forces…. When the balance between negative and positive is out of whack due to exposure to pollution, sun damage or stress, the buffer can’t do its job properly, leaving skin both dry and more vulnerable. Platinum re-established a good electrolyte balance, improving moisturization and helping protect the skin.”
We don’t doubt that the Platinum product can improve the moisture level of skin (since ANY skin cream will do that). But we’re disappointed by the lack of evidence that platinum metal can have this effect. And we’re not the only ones who aren’t convinced that platinum is worth a pretty penny when it comes to skin care. Ms Larkworthy also quotes New York dermatologist David Colbert who says “Although some precious metals are used in medicine as anti-inflammatories, they require large amounts to be effective, platinum is a very stable precious metal that can act as an antioxidant, but its use in a skin cream in nano amounts is unlikely to exert any visible effect on skin.” Requires large amounts, eh? Well since platinum currently costs about $1,500 per ounce La Prairie should raise their prices!
The Beauty Brains bottom line
Color us skeptical on this one – if La Prairie had really developed such an incredible breakthrough we’d expect to see some discussion in the technical literature on platinum. At the very least we’d expect evidence of patents in this space. Without any kind of evidence we’ll pass on La Prairie Platinum but, as always, we would be happy to review any technical literature that La Prairie would care to share with us on their behalf.
References:
“W” magazine article by Jane LarkworthyThe Japanese Journal of Pharmacology Vol.15 , No.2(1965)pp.131-134 EFFECTS OF GOLD AND PLATINUM ON NECROTIZING FACTOR, SKIN SENSITIZING ANTIBODY, AND COMPLEMENT YUTAKA MIZUSHIMA1) and HIROSHI OKUMURA1)
{ 26 comments… read them below or add one }
It makes me a bit angry that people can over charge and make incredible claims like this and provide nothing to back it up.
“so precious, all of it that has ever been mined could fit in a single room.”
Well surely that depends on the size of the room? All the trees in the world could fit in one room if that room were big enough?
It seems to me that this product is all about extravagance. It’s like people who spend $90,000 on a Steinway piano as decoration- they don’t play, but they want the best and can afford it. This skin cream doesn’t really have to work better than other creams, what they’re buying is the satisfaction of attaining something so opulent.
Its amazing to me how there are millions of starving children, and yet someone can spend so much on a face cream…
Does platinum have ANY beneficial healing
properties whatsoever?
Sure — if you’re filthy-rich enough to afford this nonsense, you probably have the best healthcare in the world.
Junk like this really torques me. I mena, there’s nothing wrong with making money, but you know what, there’s something very, very wrong with WASTING IT.
Zzzzz….. So what. There are stupid people buying into stupid marketing. Nothing new.
‘Junk like this really torques me. I mena, there’s nothing wrong with making money, but you know what, there’s something very, very wrong with WASTING IT.’
Oh I agree Janis (not that you’re waiting for me or anything ^_~) but that’s a dangerous path you’re looking at. It’s sort of like, when I’m driving. I have a nice, though older, sports car. I don’t speed because gas is pricey (and I have moisturiser to buy) but people rip their arms out of socket in their haste to zip around me in their fancy new unidentifiable cars. I imagine they’re on their way to get platinum lotion, but you know, the stress is going to wrinkle them faster than the platinum can fix them.
If nothing else, we pragmatic types can wait for the trickle down technology. ^_^
anactoria, people definitely have the “right” to do what theyw ant with their money, just as they have the right to buy a refrigerator of food and then shovel it into the bin. It’s still such waste. You can ask where I draw the line, but in the end, I draw it where I want it, just as everyone else does. *shrug*
I found this blog by using Google because today I recieved a package. About the size of a shoe box within this box a beautiful gift box wrapped in Halls of Kansas signature gold bow. (halls is like saks)And I’m thinking is this a late birthday gift? Turns out to be a .07 sample of this cream. Now I do like the cavivar line and get many compliments on my 42 year old face. But I think thats because of my clean diet.
So I think to myself; this has to be at least 800 a jar… Wow a grand?! So I will use this sample and let you know at the end of a week if I think it’s worth it. I have a wrinkle from frowning and if takes it away…..I will be amazed and beg for a nother sample :0)
PLEASE let us know what you think!!!!!!
Sorry Janis, I wasn’t trying to force you into a moral imperative! Just suggesting that those of use who think with reason–not status–might eventually benefit from both the upper crust’s excess and a more altruistic lifestyle. In other words, we’re the lucky ones who don’t /need/ to spend $1500 (seriously, wow, omg, that’s insane) on facial cream.
I read all the comments and am wondering why some people always have to rubbish anything really they can’t afford? I’ve tried that cream and it is brilliant. It gives you a healthy glow and minimises wrinkles. And that’s what we want. How can any cream get rid of wrinkles? Impossible. It’s like ripping a piece of paper, you can stick it back together, but you always see where the damage has been done.
If you got the money to pay for the cream it is money well spend. If you don’t please let other people enjoy it.
Cheers
Wow, this stuff makes Creme de la Mer seem cheap by comparison. Either way, both products are out of my league. I’d rather have a product that’s economical and actually does what it claims.
Ok. I have to say that I wasn’t impressed. And I do use most of the line.(I can take a photo of my pathic shelf and send it for whoever doubts my foolish habit for expensive potions) It was a miss with me. I am a La Praire lover but this is not worth a grand. I saw more results from a Lancome 5x sample I got which really plumped my wrinkle away so it wasn’t too noticable. I have spent close to 400.00 for an eye cream and am very happy with the results, but this face cream left me with no noticable difference. I think they should sell it in smaller amounts for women to try it for themselves. We all have different skins and it may be a dream come true for some. Pricey yes but if you eat well, don’t smoke, drink lots of water and get plenty of rest your skin will not need these creams.
It was fun to use it, but the color.. It’s like gray putty. Did smell nice and it left a sheen like the Tin man from Wizard of Oz until it absorbed into my skin. Had a bright shine to my face. Un-natural looking. Not the dew of youth. So it was ok but no bang for the buck for me.
Remember this is just my opinion based on my experience with the cream.
I’ve seen La Mer sold for up to $2,000…it’s all crazy if you ask me!
Platinum does have a medical benefical topically by binding to free radiacals that damage skin. However you do not need to spend $1000 for a platinum facial product.
A pharmaceutical company in Phildelphia markets a nanparticle platinum serum, lotion and mask. Thier product is called HYALOGY Platinum and is nanoparticle which penetrates the skin better than La Prairie and is far less expensive than the La Prairie. I use the serum under the eyes and the lotion after using any of the peels to remoe dead skin.
To find the product go to http://www.DermAvance.com
Hello admin, nice site you have!,
A good site, good short contents of the good work. I have loved your site :,
I used a sample of this since I work part time in a cosmetic store, as a cashier. And I dont need it since I’m still fairly “young” but it feels great on your skin and gives you a nice glow. Would I pay that much money for it if I could afford it? NO. I will indulge in free samples but never pay that much. It makes you feel good now, will it do anything for later-probably very little.
La Prairie sent me the entire jar last week–yes, the 1.5 oz. Didn’t realize it was a thousand dollars until I looked at the press materials. Here in the Philippines, it’s actually $1,193. Pricey. Good thing I got mine for FREE because I’m never spending that much on a tiny jar of gray cream!
So today is my second day of using it and… the fine lines around my eyes are GONE.
Do I look luminous? Is my face flawless? NO. But it’s just the second day. We’ll see after a month…
Oops, I got a smaller jar, the 5ml/.17oz one =D Will update when I see results!
It’s a wonderful cream.
I’m not old enough to use it (28) but have a sample of it, and it’s helping with a breakout from another skincare brand, and is helping my skin to heal. And my sample is 2 ml and in a week I have used a bit more than half, so it sure will last a long long time.
My mother uses the full size and after she started on it, her skin has become beautiful. Before it was grey, dry and a bit old to look at, and now she has the glow and freshness, that I want and her wrinkles has been softened. So it actually is worth the money. When she got the sample she said, that she would never spent that much on a cream, but after she tried it, – I don’t think she will ever change brands again.
I love the product. I have used many high end brands, top product and I have to say this one is a knock out! My skin smooth out and vibrant the next day..great product
Wow, everyone seems to really love it here!! Maybe I will try a sample and then try to get a new credit card or loan to pay for it. Thanks for the advice.
As everyone would agree, the price tag on this one is jaw dropping. For those of you who have seen spectacular results and you can afford it, then I say go for it. But unless you are seriously wealthy, how doable would it be to spend $1000 every 2-3 months on one jar of cream? I just don’t think this one is realistic for most people.
Hello..ive been thinking abt buying la prairie’s platinum serum but all the reviews are not so positive so im still pretty confused…. also unfortunately in thailand we do not get samples..is there anyways i cud pay for a small jar or a sample pack to try it out first….do let me know where can i find them..thanks
Azra.
mmm I am not sure about other people but I am currently using the Platinum serum from laprairie instead of the cream. The serum comes in half price of the cream, and not as moisturising as cream.
I find the serum is better off for me to use as moisturiser, sure it does not give me break outs as other face products. and it does make my skin look better, a lot of ppl actually complimented on my skin after 3 weeks using the products.
I read so much of la prairie platinum,is it there anyways of a sample pack to trt it?
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