Meet the Heavyweights of Hydration For the Upper Echelon
When I think of luxury skincare, my mind immediately goes to Crème de la Mer. This moisturizing cream is legendary, with a cult following of regular folk and Hollywood stars alike. Apparently it incorporates something they call “Miracle Broth,” a secret formula that no one else knows how to make… maybe that’s why it’s so f***ing expensive at $390 for 2 ounces.
But while La Mer is the old guard, there’s a new luxury skincare competitor I’m starting to see all over my TikTok feed: the clinically backed and scientifically rigorous Hanacure. Known for their All-In-One Face Mask that celebs call “Botox in a bottle,” Hanacure just rolled out a P7Pro® Cream with their own secret, cell-renewing elixir. (Not to mention for $100 less.)
And look, if I’m dropping north of $100 on a single jar of face cream, that jar better perform miracles. So, in the name of beauty journalism (and a healthy dose of vanity), I decided to try these two luxurious creams and see which one was worth the splurge.
Could Hanacure really compete with the cult legend La Mer at a fraction of the price? (Spoiler alert: yes, and then some. But we’ll get to that.)
The OG: La Mer
La Mer has long since been more of a status symbol than a skincare brand. It was born out of Dr. Max Huber’s attempt to heal burns he got from a lab accident, resulting in what’s now known as “Miracle Broth”—some type of mystical, sea-kelp infused elixir. The history behind this is pretty wild (at some point Estee Lauder hired a psychic to try and recreate it?), but I start to get pretty skeptical when things get this mysterious.
Crème de la Mer has long been the standard for what “luxury” means in skincare. But for all of its hype, La Mer seems like a brand built on legacy and legend rather than clinical innovation.
The Challenger: Hanacure
Hanacure has been around since 2017 with the mission to make skincare as simple and as effective as possible, using the highest concentrations of clinically proven ingredients to get real results, real fast. In a clinical trial, 97% of participants said their skin was tighter, firmer, and more lifted after using Hanacure’s All-In-One Facial®, the famous at-home face mask with 17,000+ reviews for 4.9 stars.
Hanacure has been featured in Vogue, Elle, Cosmopolitan, Vanity Fair… even Drew Barrymore said the mask “makes you 10 years younger.” With 11+ skincare industry awards, they’ve proven that their hypoallergenic, dermatologist-approved formulas are more than just legit, they’re borderline groundbreaking. They’re also proving that modern luxury isn’t just about prestige, it’s about performance.
So, which luxe cream will I be keeping? Without further ado, here’s how I broke it down.
Round One: Price (Hanacure)
Crème de la Mer costs $390 for a 2-ounce bottle, making it $195/ounce. Clearly, you’re paying for the legacy and the prestige. This is like the Birkin bag of moisturizers—but that doesn’t mean it’s the best value, of course.
Hanacure’s P7Pro® Cream, on the other hand, costs $288 for a 1.76-ounce bottle, making it ~$163/ounce. Loaded with a clinically dosed blend of 7 proprietary peptides, Hanacure’s cream tells you precisely what’s in it and how it’s working. No mystery here, just science-backed results.
If you ask me, I’d rather know exactly what I’m paying for if I’m shelling out this kinda cash. The P7Pro® Cream seems like the kind of smart luxury that feels indulgent without being inflated. You’re not just investing in a brand, you’re investing in results.
Round Two: First Impressions + Application (Hanacure)
I’m not gonna lie, applying Crème de la Mer felt like part of a larger ceremony. I even lit a candle. It’s definitely luxe, old-school beauty. The texture is thick, almost buttery, and while it definitely felt decadent, it also felt a little heavy for my taste—especially if I was going out and needed to apply makeup, too. It almost felt… sticky?
P7Pro® brought a more modern vibe to the experience. The luxurious glass jar is made in founder-owned labs and came in this gorgeous packaging shaped like a lotus flower (Hanacure’s symbol, signifying rebirth). The cream itself was weightless but still rich, and it absorbed quickly without that greasy finish. The texture is somewhere between a balm and a cloud, lush but breathable. I found it to be perfect for layering.
I found out that, where La Mer uses mineral oil to seal the surface, P7Pro® uses plant-derived actives and nano-encapsulation to work beneath the surface (where the real change happens). In terms of first impressions, La Mer impresses with legacy while Hanacure impresses with innovation. And, if I’m being honest, my face prefers the latter.
Round Three: Results (Hanacure)
Luxury packaging and poetic backstories are nice and all, but what really matters is how these creams actually work (or not). And after using each cream for a few weeks, I think I got a pretty good feel. Crème de la Mer gave me hydration—plumpness, softness, a bouncy texture that felt indulgent. But dramatic transformation? Not so much. My skin was definitely moisturized, but I’m not so sure I needed to drop nearly four hundred dollars for that.
P7Pro®, on the other hand, was a different story. Within days, my skin looked more sculpted. There was a visible softening of the fine lines and a subtle lift along my jawline. Hanacure’s cream lifts and refines while it’s hydrating and moisturizing thanks to the blend of peptides that work beneath the surface. At the end, the difference was clear—brighter tone, smoother texture, and that signature “Hanacure glow” that everyone talks about.
If La Mer is a facial massage (it does feel really nice), Hanacure is like a non-surgical lift. I guess those claims of “Botox in a bottle” might extend to the P7Pro® Cream, too. Ultimately, I think P7Pro® is way better suited for:
- Makeup wearers (La Mer gets greasy under foundation)
- Those with oily or sensitive skin (P7Pro® is non-comedogenic, meaning it doesn’t block pores)
- Multi-ethnic skin needs (P7Pro® is pH-balanced, hypoallergenic)
The peptides are designed to signal collagen production, reinforce elasticity, support cell renewal, and visibly firm sagging areas… all at clinically active levels. All signs point to how Hanacure has the face cream of the future, not from a fairytale.
The Verdict: Hanacure. I’m Picking Science Over Storytelling.
Crème de la Mer may have written the original script for luxury skincare, but as far as I’m concerned, Hanacure just stole the lead role. With clinical-grade performance, cutting-edge technology, and clean, transparent ingredients that deliver visible results at a fraction of the price, P7Pro® Cream proves that luxury isn’t just about the name on the jar—it’s about what’s inside it.
It’s worth mentioning that Hanacure offers free shipping and a 100% money-back guarantee. If you’re on the fence, don’t just take my word for it—you can try them both out for yourself with no risk.
Skip the mystery. Choose the science. Try Hanacure’s new and luxurious cream out for yourself and see how they’re rewriting the future of luxury skincare, one peptide at a time. Your face will thank you.