101 GUIDE TO LA PRAIRIE
Swiss caviar, rare platinum and pure gold… There’s only one beauty brand that could take these prestigious ingredients and turn them into everyday skin care solutions.
Enter: La Prairie
Transforming rare ingredients into potent potions that firm, lift and restore elasticity, La Prairie’s collection offers an abundance of luxury while boosting your complexion’s health, vitality and overall radiance. Paying homage to the Swiss phenomenon, we caught up with the brand’s Global Director of Strategic Innovation and Science, Dr Jacqueline Hill, to get a taste of La Prairie’s opulent creations.
IN THIS ARTICLE
- The making of La Prairie
- La Prairie's leap into luxury
- The science behind La Prairie's formulas
- La Prairie's bestselling collections
- What's next for La Prairie
THE MAKING OF LA PRAIRIE
A brand that needs no introduction, La Prairie was founded in 1931 by esteemed surgeon Dr Paul Niehans during his time at the Swiss wellness institution, Clinique La Prairie.
“Questions on the life of the living body, spirit and soul inspired Dr Paul Niehans to use fresh cells to regenerate damaged organs and revitalise the human body. His vision was to restore vigour and vitality using fresh cells heralding the birth of cellular therapy” says Dr Jacqueline Hill. After being called to the Vatican and spending eight weeks treating Pope Pius XII, Dr Niehans was named a member of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences, and his practice became a go-to for public figures and celebrities alike. “From Pablo Picasso and Miles Davis to Marilyn Monroe and Greta Garbo, Clinique La Prairie became an elite hub for those in the know – marking the dawn of a new era for rejuvenating therapies. One of Dr Niehans’s last developments before his death, in 1971, was a topical cream offered to guests upon their departure from the clinic, to continue the rejuvenating experience at home. A complete skin care regimen followed in 1978 and from there the skin care house of La Prairie was born.”
LA PRAIRIE’S LEAP INTO LUXURY
Backed by 90 years of Swiss cellular science and enriched with rare and efficacious active ingredients, La Prairie is renowned as one of the world’s most luxurious skin care brands. “La Prairie magnifies every moment with life. Building on a bold scientific heritage, the house’s future-forward science infuses skin with new life.”
Fusing Swiss excellence and precision with rare and precious ingredients (we’re talking caviar, platinum and gold), La Prairie specialises in cutting-edge scientific innovation to develop high-performance skin care. “Built on a heritage of excellence and the home of cutting edge, cellular science-infused skincare, La Prairie shares a uniquely Swiss vision of beauty with the world, combining audacious innovation with Swiss precision. We look to tomorrow with fresh eyes, constantly seeking out ways to combine dynamic growth with ethical, entrepreneurial, accountable business practices.”
THE SCIENCE BEHIND LA PRAIRIE’S FORMULAS
“La Prairie’s research focuses not only on developing new powerful active ingredients but also on the sophisticated technologies that deliver active ingredients beyond the skin barrier. Such technologies include the encapsulation of active ingredients to help them pass the skin barrier, using penetration enhancers in high-tech devices that use physical principles – such as ultrasound or needling.”
Powered by La Prairie’s patent Exclusive Cellular Complex, each of the brand’s formulas are “made of a plethora of biomolecules. Like no other active ingredient, they infuse skin cells with new life by re-setting skin cells activities to those seen in young cells. Plus, they protect skin stem cells and mitochondria against external stress factors such as free radicals, pollution and solar radiation, promotes cell renewal and strengthens the skin barrier and extracellular matrix.”
LA PRAIRIE’S BESTSELLING COLLECTIONS BROKEN DOWN…
SKIN CAVIAR
Debuting in 1987, the Skin Caviar collection was the first-ever range of beauty products to seal active ingredients in an encapsulated packaging. La Prairie’s mastery of caviar science has allowed the brand to develop high performing caviar-derived active ingredients, which work on our skin’s structure to lift, firm, smooth and volumise its appearance. Each product is infused with a form of caviar – from caviar absolute (a mix of water soluble and lipidic components obtained by a proprietary extraction) to caviar retinol (an oily fraction of caviar containing natural retinol).
£350.00
£370.00
£610.00
£645.00
£485.00
£695.00
£205.00
WHITE CAVIAR
An extension of the original Skin Caviar range, La Prairie’s White Caviar selection is expertly formulated to illuminate and lift the appearance of your complexion. Each product is enriched with golden caviar extract and Lumidose – a skin-brightening molecule that works hard to maintain an even skin tone and reduce the appearance of dark spots. Firming textures and improving elasticity, the collection’s covetable creams and serums allow complexions to reflect light better for a brighter finish.
£685.00
£365.00
£615.00
PLATINUM RARE
Based around La Prairie’s Science of Haute-Rejuvenation (which seeks to reactivate the skin’s natural renewal system), the Platinum Rare range smooths the appearance of fine lines and waves goodbye to the look of dark spots. Utilising the powers of (you guessed it) platinum, the luxury line up preserves skin health while revealing an all-over glow. Going beyond its call of duty to help the activation of collagen, the collection also helps to protect the skin barrier and improve its moisture balance.
£1,205.00
£635.00
£900.00
PURE GOLD
Inspired by the golden hour of the Swiss Alps, La Prairie’s Pure Gold collection unveils real radiance. Aptly named, each product is enriched with gold to naturally create a gleam through the reflection of the material’s yellow and warm tones. Brightening and firming complexions, the three-step routine consists of the Pure Gold Radiance concentrate serum, cream and eye cream. Working together, the trio revitalises skin while promoting intense hydration. Oh, and did we mention they’re housed in refillable pots too? So, you never need to be without your liquid gold.
£840.00
£760.00
£555.00
WHAT’S NEXT FOR LA PRAIRIE
“Moving into the future, we will continue to strive to create products which truly serve our skin. Products based on science and the latest insights in skin, cellular and molecular biology. Products which provide outstanding skin care benefits, empowering the skin to protect and rejuvenate itself. Products which are unique, audacious, reflecting the DNA of the brand.”
Watch this space!
Cult Beauty’s Senior SEO Copywriter, Trifonia started out in the industry when bold brows were just becoming a ‘thing’, and shares a passion for all things fashion and beauty. Currently embracing her curly girl journey (after endless years of straightening her strands), she is finally reverting to her natural ways! When Triffy isn’t busy testing out the latest curl-saving solutions, you’ll find her binging the latest reality TV show or on a long walk listening to her ever-evolving country music playlist.
