Having been a beauty journalist for almost a decade, I’ve tried my fair share of luxe products, but the price tag of the Dior L’Or De Vie La Cure – 2018 Vintage had me gasping.
Don’t get wrong, I love me some luxe skincare. One of my favourite products is the Cle de Peau Beaute Synactif Cream, which costs a cool $1,800 for a 40ml tub. While my wallet always feels significantly lighter whenever I treat my skin with it, the moisturiser is totally worth it. It instantly soothes, hydrates and softens the complexion. The best thing about it, a little goes a long way. Just a pea-sized amount is enough for the whole face.
But despite my weakness for expensive skincare, I have to admit that my first thought when I heard that the Dior L’Or De Vie La Cure – 2018 Vintage was going for $3,400 was “is it actually worth it?” After all, it’s not like it’s a bag or a piece of jewellery that I could keep for years.
Plus a serum over $3k is almost unheard of. Even La Mer’s priciest product, The Genaissance de la Mer The Serum Essence, costs significantly “less” at $1,050. And its price is largely due to the high concentration of the brand’s iconic Miracle Broth. The serum uses the ingredient in its most potent crystalised form.
So why exactly is the Dior L’Or De Vie La Cure – 2018 Vintage so expensive, and exclusive? To understand that, let’s first break down what exactly it is.
This treatment has taken more than 30 years of research to create. The key ingredient in the serum is the Yquem Marc, extracted using high-tech subcritical water eco-extraction technology from grapes from the Chateau d’Yquem vineyard in Bordeaux, France.
I won’t bore you with the exact details but trust me when I say that the entire process is long and difficult, and involves words like cryogrinding, ultrasound, spinning technology, amongst others.
When I reached out to Dior to ask why exactly the serum is so pricey, I was told that it’s because of the limited quantity of the grapes. This is also why there are so few sets available for purchase.
Every year, winemakers only have five days to pick the Chateau d’Yquem grapes at its most concentrated form. And the harvest is often uncertain, which is why Dior can never predict how many quantities of La Cure they will be able to produce each year (there are only 15 pieces available in Singapore this year).
The Dior L’Or De Vie La Cure – 2018 Vintage, named after the year the grapes were harvested, is promised to be even more potent than its predecessors as it is twice as concentrated in antioxidant polyphenols and actives molecules, which is key to preventing skin ageing.
The serum also helps to treat and improve lines, pigmentation, firmness, dullness, hydration levels and overall skin quality, while also strengthening the skin against external attacks. Basically everything you would want in a skincare. The results are supposed to last for up to six month after you’ve completed the three-month regime.
Each limited edition set comes with three vials (each one lasts for about a month), as well as two teardrop-shaped massagers to help boost the efficacy of the treatment. And like any exclusive product, each case is even numbered. And the serum feels like a dream. Creamy, rich yet still lightweight, it melts into skin and leaves a silky veil.
If you were to ask me if the product is worth it, I would probably say if you had the extra cash, then yes, go for it (trust me, if I won the lottery tomorrow, this would be the first thing on my shopping list). After all, aesthetic treatments sometimes can cost just as much.
However, like most extravagant products, it is definitely a want and not a need. And there are also many other products in the market that might not be as luxurious, but give great results. But if you’re in the mood to splurge, then you better get yourself down to a Dior Beauty boutique to get yourself on the list before the L’Or De Vie La Cure – 2018 Vintage drops on December 1 2019.
