La Prairie Cellular Refining Lotion Versus La Mer The Resurfacing Treatment
Updated on February 12, 2025
Overview
Suited For
They're both likely to be good for dry skin, brightening skin, scar healing and better texture
Free From
They both do not contain any silicones or sulfates
What's Inside
They both contain common allergens, fragrances and oils
We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that needs an update? Let us know.
Ingredient Info
La Prairie Cellular Refining Lotion 36 ingredients
La Mer The Resurfacing Treatment 63 ingredients
What's inside (and what isn't)
What's inside (and what isn't)
At a glance
Click on any of the items below to learn more
La Prairie Cellular Refining Lotion 36 ingredients
La Mer The Resurfacing Treatment 63 ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningOleth-20
CleansingPEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate
Emulsifying
Algae Extract
Emollient
Glycoproteins
Skin Conditioning
Panax Ginseng Root Extract
Emollient
Equisetum Arvense Extract
AstringentCucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
EmollientAnthemis Nobilis Flower Extract
Masking
Lactobacillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningUrea
Buffering
Saccharide Hydrolysate
HumectantMagnesium Aspartate
Skin ConditioningGlycine
Buffering
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Benzophenone-4
UV Absorber
Alanine
MaskingCreatine
Skin ConditioningPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Citric Acid
Buffering
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSaccharomyces Cerevisiae Extract
Skin ConditioningTetrasodium EDTA
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningParfum
Masking
Citronellol
Perfuming
Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Methylparaben
Preservative
Sodium Dehydroacetate
Preservative
CI 60730
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Propylene Glycol, Glycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Oleth-20, PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Algae Extract, Glycoproteins, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Equisetum Arvense Extract, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract, Lactobacillus Ferment, Urea, Saccharide Hydrolysate, Magnesium Aspartate, Glycine, Butylene Glycol, Benzophenone-4, Alanine, Creatine, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Allantoin, Citric Acid, Xanthan Gum, Saccharomyces Cerevisiae Extract, Tetrasodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Parfum, Citronellol, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Geraniol, Phenoxyethanol, Methylparaben, Sodium Dehydroacetate, CI 60730
Water
Skin ConditioningAlcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Yeast Extract
Skin Conditioning
Lactobacillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningGlycolic Acid
Buffering
Propanediol
SolventGlycerin
Humectant
Sodium Citrate
BufferingButylene Glycol
Humectant
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Algae Extract
Emollient
Sesamum Indicum Seed Oil
Emollient
Medicago Sativa Seed Powder
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seedcake
Abrasive
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Seed Meal
Abrasive
Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil
Perfuming
Sodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningCopper Gluconate
Skin ConditioningCalcium Gluconate
HumectantMagnesium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningZinc Gluconate
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Succinate
Antioxidant
Niacin
Smoothing
Sesamum Indicum Seed Powder
Skin ConditioningSigesbeckia Orientalis Extract
Skin ConditioningTrametes Versicolor Extract
Castanea Sativa Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Rice Extract
Skin ConditioningPisum Sativum Extract
Skin ConditioningBambusa Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningLaminaria Digitata Extract
Skin ProtectingPrunus Mume Fruit Extract
HumectantLaminaria Saccharina Extract
Skin ProtectingEugenia Caryophyllus Flower Extract
AstringentThermus Thermophillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningCaffeine
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
Humectant
Camphor
Masking
Menthyl Lactate
MaskingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningLecithin
EmollientPPG-5-Ceteth-20
EmulsifyingPoloxamer 407
EmulsifyingPolysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingParfum
Masking
Linalool
Perfuming
Benzyl Salicylate
Perfuming
Eugenol
Perfuming
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Tartaric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingGlucosamine Hcl
Phytic Acid
Disodium EDTA
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Caramel
Cosmetic ColorantCI 14700
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Alcohol Denat., Yeast Extract, Lactobacillus Ferment, Glycolic Acid, Propanediol, Glycerin, Sodium Citrate, Butylene Glycol, Gluconolactone, Algae Extract, Sesamum Indicum Seed Oil, Medicago Sativa Seed Powder, Helianthus Annuus Seedcake, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Seed Meal, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil, Sodium Gluconate, Copper Gluconate, Calcium Gluconate, Magnesium Gluconate, Zinc Gluconate, Tocopheryl Succinate, Niacin, Sesamum Indicum Seed Powder, Sigesbeckia Orientalis Extract, Trametes Versicolor Extract, Castanea Sativa Seed Extract, Hydrolyzed Rice Extract, Pisum Sativum Extract, Bambusa Vulgaris Extract, Laminaria Digitata Extract, Prunus Mume Fruit Extract, Laminaria Saccharina Extract, Eugenia Caryophyllus Flower Extract, Thermus Thermophillus Ferment, Caffeine, Sodium Hyaluronate, Lactic Acid, Salicylic Acid, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Camphor, Menthyl Lactate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Lecithin, PPG-5-Ceteth-20, Poloxamer 407, Polysorbate 20, Xanthan Gum, Parfum, Linalool, Benzyl Salicylate, Eugenol, Hexyl Cinnamal, Limonene, Tartaric Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Glucosamine Hcl, Phytic Acid, Disodium EDTA, Potassium Sorbate, Phenoxyethanol, Caramel, CI 14700
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Water. It's the most common cosmetic ingredient of all. You'll usually see it at the top of ingredient lists, meaning that it makes up the largest part of the product.
So why is it so popular? Water most often acts as a solvent - this means that it helps dissolve other ingredients into the formulation.
You'll also recognize water as that liquid we all need to stay alive. If you see this, drink a glass of water. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about WaterGlycerin is already naturally found in your skin. It helps moisturize and protect your skin.
A study from 2016 found glycerin to be more effective as a humectant than AHAs and hyaluronic acid.
As a humectant, it helps the skin stay hydrated by pulling moisture to your skin. The low molecular weight of glycerin allows it to pull moisture into the deeper layers of your skin.
Hydrated skin improves your skin barrier; Your skin barrier helps protect against irritants and bacteria.
Glycerin has also been found to have antimicrobial and antiviral properties. Due to these properties, glycerin is often used in wound and burn treatments.
In cosmetics, glycerin is usually derived from plants such as soybean or palm. However, it can also be sourced from animals, such as tallow or animal fat.
This ingredient is organic, colorless, odorless, and non-toxic.
Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
Learn more about GlycerinAlgae Extract is a confusing name. This is because algae is an informal term for a group of 30,000 aquatic organisms that can photosynthesize.
The term 'algae extract' can refer to any one, or a blend of, the 30,000 types.
Algae is rich in antioxidants. Antioxidants help fight free-radicals. Free-radicals are molecules that may damage your skin cells, such as pollution.
Algae can also help with soothing and hydrating skin.
Many different types of algae have different benefits.
Learn more about Algae ExtractLactobacillus Ferment is created by fermenting the Lactobacillus bacteria. It helps keep our skin's natural barrier and microbiome healthy.
Studies show lactobacillus ferment to be effective at repairing the skin barrier. Having a healthy skin barrier helps keep your skin healthy and hydrated. It also protects against bad bacteria.
As a probiotic/prebiotic/postbiotic, Lactobacillus ferment can help regular our natural biome. In fact, one study found a lack of diversity in our natural skin biome can trigger acne.
Learn more about Lactobacillus FermentButylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
- It is a solvent, meaning that it helps to dissolve other ingredients. This also enhances the absorption of the product into one's skin.
- It is a humectant, which means that it helps attract moisture into the skin.
- It helps improve product application.
- It has mild preservative properties.
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Xanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan GumEthylhexylglycerin (we can't pronounce this either) is commonly used as a preservative and skin softener. It is derived from glyceryl.
You might see Ethylhexylglycerin often paired with other preservatives such as phenoxyethanol. Ethylhexylglycerin has been found to increase the effectiveness of these other preservatives.
Parfum is a catch-all term for an ingredient or more that is used to give a scent to products.
Also called "fragrance", this ingredient can be a blend of hundreds of chemicals or plant oils. This means every product with "fragrance" or "parfum" in the ingredients list is a different mixture.
For instance, Habanolide is a proprietary trade name for a specific aroma chemical. When used as a fragrance ingredient in cosmetics, most aroma chemicals fall under the broad labeling category of “FRAGRANCE” or “PARFUM” according to EU and US regulations.
The term 'parfum' or 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term.
For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance by INCI standards.
One example is Calendula flower extract. Calendula is an essential oil that still imparts a scent or 'fragrance'.
Depending on the blend, the ingredients in the mixture can cause allergies and sensitivities on the skin. Some ingredients that are known EU allergens include linalool and citronellol.
Parfum can also be used to mask or cover an unpleasant scent.
The bottom line is: not all fragrances/parfum/ingredients are created equally. If you are worried about fragrances, we recommend taking a closer look at an ingredient. And of course, we always recommend speaking with a professional.
Learn more about ParfumPhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
Ingredient Ratings
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When to use
La Prairie Cellular Refining Lotion 36 ingredients
La Mer The Resurfacing Treatment 63 ingredients
Reviews
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