La Mer Skin Care: A Complete Guide for Every Season

I have very (oddly) sensitive skin and very little patience for taking care of it. After developing parathyroid tumors, I started having reactions allergic to several cleansers. This La Mer skin care routine is one of the only treatments that I’ve found that doesn’t induce an allergic reaction or burn my skin. I used to use the same routine regardless of season, but after a visit to the La Mer Spa at the Park Hyatt Paris, I learned to customize my routine based on the season.

Disclosure:  This post contains affiliate links for tours and products I love at no additional cost to you.  You can read my full disclosure policy here.

I love the way all the La Mer products smell and a little goes a long way. That is a good thing because it is expensive!  I tend to shop for skin care products during beauty events because there are additional gifts with purchase.  If I need something quick, I can pick it up locally.  I also use Ebates a lot.  (If you aren’t using it, you’re leaving a lot of money on the table.  Sign up using my link and you’ll get $10 after you spend $25.)

Post Updated in December 2022

Refining Facial // Clarisonic Mia // Cleansing Foam // Oil Absorbing Tonic //

Moisturizing Gel Cream // Mary Kay Oil-Free Eye Makeup Remover //

Mary Kay Soothing Eye Gel // La Mer Soft Fluid Foundation

La Mer Routine for Summer & Spring

La Mer Micellar Water

I don’t find that I need to use micellar water every day, but I definitely use it when I wear make up in the summer.  I like it when the temperatures are higher because it feels light and fresh, as opposed to leaving additional residue or feeling heavy.  It tends to be very gentle, but I find that I need to wash my face after using it to ensure that my face gets completely clean.

La Mer Cleansing Foam

I like the cleansing foam in the summer because it keeps my face soft and hydrated.  It foams nicely and I feel like it does a thorough job of getting my skin clean.  As I mentioned above, my skin is pretty sensitive, but I do try and use this in the morning and the evening, particularly if it’s a make-up wearing kind of day.  I keep a bottle of it in the shower.  It’s easy to wash my face while I’m conditioning my hair.

La Mer Oil Absorbing Tonic

The oil-absorbing tonic is the second consistent step in my daily La Mer skin care routine.  I use exfoliating cotton pads to apply the tonic and I will usually apply it before I brush my teeth to allow my skin enough time to absorb it before moisturizing.  My skin is generally classified as normal/combination, but with the Dallas humidity in the summer, I find that the oil absorbing tonic is most effective for keeping my skin even and smooth.

La Mer Moisturizing Gel Cream

This last step in my La Mer skin care routine has been a game changer.  Most moisturizers are too heavy for my skin and end up clogging my tiny pores, resulting in breakouts.  The moisturizing gel cream is extremely light, very soft, and, best of all, I don’t feel like I’m wearing anything on my face.  Best feeling ever, especially in the summer.  No one likes going to bed with greasy skin… or waking up with it, for that matter.  If I had to choose one product to splurge on, I would choose the gel cream.

La Mer Foundation

If it’s a make-up kind of day (and I’ll be honest – I don’t wear make up every day), I use the porcelain foundation.  It’s almost an exact match for my oddly pale-but-somehow-tan skin.  Much to my dismay, they discontinued the treatment foundation.  The first change wasn’t very good, but I’m happy to report that the soft fluid foundation is back to normal.  My skin absorbs it beautifully, and most importantly – I don’t feel like I’m wearing foundation.  I’m lazy; I don’t use a powder or setting spray, but it stays all day.

La Mer Routine for Winter & Fall

La Mer Cleansing Oil

The cleansing oil is a godsend for winter travel.  I did not love it at first, but now that we’ve started doing more winter travel in Europe, it’s a godsend.  (It takes a lot of getting used to for someone that doesn’t like stuff on their face.)  Rather than using micellar water, I use this to take off my make up and leave it on overnight.  No matter how cold and try my skin is when I go to bed, by morning, my skin feels refreshed and hydrated.  I highly recommend this if you are going to be outside for long periods of time in cold (or windy) climates.  (It is way too heavy for summer.  Stick to the micellar water for summer.)

La Mer Cleansing Gel

Like the cleansing oil, this gel cleanser is perfect for refreshing your face with the necessary vitamins and minerals that you lose in the winter.  It doesn’t foam as much as the cleansing foam, but it is just as refreshing.  (I actually prefer the way my skin feels after using it, but I know that’s just a mental thing.)  It does a great job of refreshing the moisture that you lose during cold, dry winter months.  (If you live in a humid climate, chances are that your heater is sucking the moisture out of your skin, too.  This helps re-hydrate it.)

La Mer Tonic

This was one of the biggest surprises during my La Mer facial at the La Spa.  I learned that the oil-absorbing tonic was drying out my face too much during the winter months.  When the temperatures get cooler and the air gets more try, I trade my oil-absorbing tonic for the regular La Mer tonic.  Similar to my summer skincare routine, I’ll let my skin absorb the tonic while I brush my teeth

La Mer Gel Cream Moisturizer

This step doesn’t change for me.  I use the gel cream year-round.  While I collect the trial sizes of the La Mer soft cream to use on long haul flights, I still find that the product is too heavy for me to use on a daily basis in the winter.  (La Mer cream sure makes a long haul flight feel more luxurious though!)

La Mer Soft Fluid Foundation – I don’t change my foundation in the winter either.

Optional Skin Care Recommendations

Clarisonic Mia 2

My facialist at the Crescent Hotel Spa turned me on to this nifty little gadget for an at-home facial. Although I don’t use it as often as I should, I LOVE how silky smooth my skin feels after using it. It’s shower friendly and it works well with both the La Mer foaming cleanser and refining facial.  Bonus: I’ve been carded after using it!

La Mer Revitalizing Mask

I only use this facial mask once a week or less.  If my skin is feeling particularly dry or flaky, I’ll use it to help balance it out, but it’s not an every day use for me.  Typically, I’ll put it on when I first get in the shower and rinse it off after I’ve washed my hair completely.  (I’m all about the efficiency.)  From there, I’ll start my skin care routine above depending on the season.

Bonus Skincare Product Recommendations

Mary Kay Oil-Free Eye Make Up Remover

I feel like I’ve tried a lot of eye-make up removal products, and I like Mary Kay’s best.  (I only wear waterproof mascara, so I like to make sure I get my lashes clean.)  The determining factor is that it doesn’t leave my eyes feeling oily, and, if I wear mascara, it gets it all off – even when I have my make up professionally done!

Mary Kay Soothing Eye Gel

I don’t use this often at all, but I always keep a jar of this eye gel in the fridge. It’s absolutely perfect for relieving puffy eyes from staying up too late, crying too much, or terrible headaches. I’ve been using it since college and I’m always happy to have it when I need it!  It is refreshing and doesn’t feel heavy at all.  (It can feel a little sticky – make sure you massage it in completely.)

Origins Pink Water Cream

I started using these Origins products sporadically after receiving a free trial from Influenster.  If you have sensitive skin, it is possible to overdo it with these products.  (I know from experience.)  The smell is incredibly refreshing, but more importantly, I love the second wind of energy they give me.  It’s a great routine when you just can’t get motivated and need a little self-care.  Definitely worth checking out if you enjoy at-home spa experiences!

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