Buyer beware! La Mer is one of the most expensive department store lines out there. Here's what you'll pay for the basics:

Original Creme de La Mer: 1 oz. jar $85 (considered a travel size), 2 oz. jar $155, 16 oz. jar $1,000!
Cleansing Gel & Lotion $65 each for 6.7 oz bottles
Tonic & Oil Absorbing Tonic $60 each for 6.7 oz bottles
Moisturizing or Oil Absorbing Lotions $135 each for 1.7 oz bottles

There's also a Face Serum for $175 (1 oz.) and a new Face Mist for $75 (6.7 oz. bottle). Here's what I've tried:

My first experience with the original Creme came via some sample packettes I received with a catalog order from Bliss Spa. The texture of the creme is very rich and moisturizing - too much for my oily/combination skin. I took the plunge and tried the Oil Absorbing Lotion instead. Used along with a favorite cleanser from another line, the lotion proved to be a good fit for me. It gave me needed moisture and managed to keep me shine free practically all day. I was hooked.

From there, I decided to try the Cleansing Gel and Oil Absorbing Tonic. I was excited about these products because they are packaged in sturdy plastic bottles that travel well (an important feature for me when I purchased them). What I discovered upon using them was that, for their prices, there was really nothing special about them.

La Mer's Cleansing Gel is almost identical to Origins' Mint Wash - a perennial favorite of mine. Don't get me wrong, it smells great and does a fantastic job cleaning my face of dirt, oil and make-up. But, for those of us who are not multimillionaires, a cleanser of this caliber can be had for a much cheaper price. Save your money on this one!

I was equally disappointed in the Oil Absorbing Tonic. I really should have known better. This is an irritating, alcohol-based concoction that you have to shake up in order to incorporate the powder settled at the bottom of the bottle. It burned my skin and was not soothing as it claimed. Any good cleanser will clean your skin sufficiently of dirt and make-up, making the use of a toner an unnecessary step. If you must use a toner, stick with something alcohol-free and less expensive.

The most surprising La Mer product is their Face Serum. I received a generous sample at Saks Fifth Avenue, when I purchased the Cleansing Gel and Oil Absorbing Tonic. The sales associate instructed me to use 3-4 drops after the Tonic and before the Oil Absorbing Lotion. Used in conjunction with the Oil Absorbing Lotion, the Serum did wonders for me. Used at night, I would wake up smooth, even toned, and noticeably less oily. After siphoning out every last drop of the sample vials I was given, I had no qualms about spending the $175 for the full size bottle of the Face Serum. That and the Oil Absorbing Lotion have become my skin care staples.

You can purchase La Mer products via mail order, from Bliss Spa, or, at Neiman Marcus, Bergdorf Goodman and Saks Fifth Avenue stores. As an aside, it is baffling to me that some branches of Neiman's and Saks choose to display the products in a jumble on tables instead of behind counters as with other cosmetic/skin care lines. Given the prices, I should think they'd want them kept under lock and key.

Happy shopping!