La Mer vs Sunday Riley — side by side, no bias.
Our pick
The Treatment Lotion
8.3/10 · La Mer
| The Treatment Lotion | Pink Drink Firming Essence | |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | La Mer | Sunday Riley |
| Category | essence | essence |
| Editor Rating | 8.3/10 ★ | 7.8/10 |
| Category | essence | essence |
| Texture | Watery treatment lotion | Pink essence |
| Finish | Smooth, plumped, prepped for serum | Firming |
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| Verdict | La Mer's essence-toner — the daily-use, lower-cost entry point into the Miracle Broth line. Used as a hydrating prep step before serum and cream, this is La Mer's response to the K-beauty essence category and the most defensibly-priced product in the line ($145 vs $380 for the cream). Pat into clean, dry skin in two layers. Particularly nice as the daily prep step in a La Mer routine; works fine standalone for those who want a single splurge product without committing to the full ritual. | Sunday Riley's essence-category entry — peptide-heavy, watermelon-pink, meant to plump between cleanse and serum. |
