Beauty // Lifestyle
How It’s Made: La Mer Miracle Broth
Photo by Kris Krug
Sea Kelp, photo by Jer Crowle
The beauty-savvy know that when the La Mer team calls with “big news,” you should come right away. So we headed to Vancouver, BC to get the first look at their newest launch, The Moisturizing Soft Cream, and see firsthand where they harvest the sea kelp used in the Miracle Broth, the signature formula used in all Crème de la Mer products.
La Mer Moisturizing Soft Cream
Moisturizing Soft Cream or Creme Soyeuse is La Mer’s fifth formulation of its legendary Crème de la Mer. Like the original, Soft Cream contains the powerful Miracle Broth and Lime Tea Extracts that leave skin feeling healthier, firmer, smoother, and more hydrated. The difference is in its texture.
“The goal was to make something that felt really rich on the skin, and yet was weightless,” explains VP of Research and Development Andy Bevacqua. The brains behind La Mer’s beauty, Bevacqua utilized advanced absorption technologies to ensure the new cream is not only light and luxurious, but effectively delivers the Miracle Broth’s nutrients and antioxidants. How does it work? Skin-mimicking lipids are layered between hydrating emollients to create multilayered spheres that can be easily absorbed by your skin. (Simple, right?)
Researcher Andy Bevacqua
Bevacqua and his team worked on Soft Cream for over two years, but the research behind why it works goes back decades further. In the 1960s, aerospace physicist Dr. Max Huber began seeking a cure for the scars he suffered in a lab accident. He began a series of wildly creative experiments, and 12 years later, he had created a golden colored liquid he dubbed the Miracle Broth—and a cult-classic was born. The research continues. ”We’re still learning new things about the Miracle Broth,” says Bevacqua.
We accompanied their team on a behind-the-scenes excursion to see where Miracle Broth gets it start.
Howe Sound, photo by Jer Crowle
Glassy waters. Photo by Jer Crowle
First by helicopter and then by boat, we travelled to an isolated area off the coast of Vancouver Island. There, we found a small boat harvesting sea kelp from the cold, pristine waters. In this region of the Pacific Northwest, giant sea kelp thrives and enjoys the distinction of being the world’s fastest growing organism. (During peak seasons, it can grow up to two feet per day.)
Sea kelp visible on the water's surface.
Twice annually—in the Spring and Fall—members of Canada’s First Nations slice the thick, green fronds from the surface of the water. (This process of sustainably harvesting the kelp by hand ensures the underwater ecosystem will not be disturbed.) Immediately after being pulled from the water, the kelp is packed on ice and overnighted to the La Mer laboratories in New York. There it is macerated into a pulp and combined with citrus oils, Vitamins C, E, and B12, and other natural ingredients.
Harvesting by hand.
Photo by Jer Crowle
Then, through a unique process of bio-fermentation that takes almost four months, this mixture is transformed into Miracle Broth. A small bottle of this nutrient-packed liquid is worth nearly $8,000. And while you won’t be able to purchase the broth straight, it’s the key component found in every La Mer product, including the cult-classic Crème de la Mer.
“It acts like an energy source for the skin, helping it hydrate and heal itself,” says Bevacqua. We’re happily on board with that.
Happy beauty editors and Team La Mer, photo by Jer Crowle
