Is Lancome Skin Care Worth The Money

Cle de Peau Beaute, a Japanese cosmetics company, made headlines last summer when it launched La Creme: a $13,000 beauty cream in a two-ounce jar.

Only three jars of the reportedly most expensive beauty cream in the world were made. They were encased in 30 layers of crystals and housed in handmade jars designed by Crystal Saint-Louis, a French glassmaker. Each jar was topped with three platinum rings, according to reports.

The $13,000 product just might be out of the average person's budget. That's why retailer Barneys sold La Creme in a less glitzy jar for a whopping $775.

Though maybe not at that price, beauty creams are necessary in taking proper care of the face, says L.A. Burdette, a New Jersey makeup artist and esthetician at a Hand and Stone dayspa in East Windsor.

"Different creams have different benefits — there's no two creams that are the same," Burdette says. "Depending on what your skin type is … you have to find a cream that addresses your specific needs."

Such creams pledge to prevent or erase impurities or hints of aging on the face, such as wrinkles, fine lines, and enlarged pores — and consumers can pay a hefty price to make them disappear.

"When it comes to...anti-aging, or something for acne, you definitely want to splurge on something high-quality when you're looking for results," Burdette says.

When it comes to skin care, Burdette has a three-letter word for daytime products: SPF (sun protection factor). The minimum level should be 15, but 30 is even better.

"Regardless if it's sunny out, the UV rays are out there,' Burdette says. "The sun is the number one cause of aging; therefore, the number one anti-aging product is a moisturizer that has SPF."

Products with antioxidants, such as a vitamin C serum, are best used in the morning, she adds.

People in their 30s need moisturizers that repair skin and promote youthfulness. And every skin type needs a moisturizer, she says, though someone with super-oily skin should use an oil-free version.

"At nighttime, our skin actually repairs itself ... use a product that enhances that repairing process," says Burdette, citing peptides and retinol as imperative ingredients needed to encourage collagen production and fight wrinkles.

What else should people look for when buying these often-pricey creams?

"Number one, the ingredient hyaluronic acid, it's a humectant — it attracts moisture and binds it into the skin," Burdette explains. "Hyaluronic acid is the holy grail of humectants, the king of kings. It's just awesome for everybody."

Face creams in jar packaging should be avoided, L.A. Burdette says.

Burdette also advises people to steer clear of beauty creams in jars, suggesting instead those in bottles or pumps. "As soon as you open up the jar (and it hits the air), the effectiveness of the formula is decreased," she says.

Whenever possible, Burdette encourages people to buy the more-concentrated, pharmaceutical-grade beauty creams often found at spas.

"These are top-of-the-line brands that are not diluted, they are not mass-produced, and the molecular weight is small, therefore it can penetrate deeper into the skin," says Burdette. Over the counter products include synthetics and fillers, she adds.

And check the label before you buy. Less effective creams list their high-performing ingredients at the bottom of their ingredient list, meaning there's a small amount of it, Burdette explains. Pharmaceutical-grade products list their high-performing ingredients at the top.

Unfortunately, high-end retailers and recognizable brands don't always work in the customer'' best interest when they advertise skin care products, Burdette says.

"Clinique, Estee Lauder, Lancome (Paris) ... I hate to say it, but those brands, they do have a prestigious appearance, and it's all a marketing scheme," Burdette says. "...They're a little bit better than over the counter, but you're not really getting the grade."

That luxurious packaging is also what bumps up prices, she attests.

"They're spending millions of dollars on celebrity endorsements and fancy packaging," she says. "A lot of good brands are jar packaged — and there's nothing really worth writing home about. They're not results-driven, whereas pharmaceutical-grade (products) are."