Best Products Style Beauty This Swiss Face Oil Uses Caviar-sourced Retinol — and Yes, It Really Works Welcome to the world of five-star skin care. By Kristen Shirley Kristen Shirley Instagram Twitter Website Kristen Shirley is a New York-based luxury expert, writer, and editor who covers travel, fashion, fine watches, jewelry, wine, and spirits. She is currently a contributing editor to Forbes.com and Nobleman, and a freelance writer for luxury publications including Bloomberg Businessweek, Travel + Leisure, and Robb Report. Passionate about craftsmanship, rare gemstones, and supporting independent designers, Kristen began her career at Elle in the fashion department, where she trained under former style director Kate Lanphear before becoming the associate market editor. She later went on to become the luxury editorial director at Elite Traveler, where she led the print and digital teams and spearheaded a redesign of the print edition and the website. An avid traveler and foodie, Kristen is drawn to tropical destinations where she can scuba dive, sip rosé on the beach, saber Champagne, shuck oysters, and learn about all things caviar. * 10+ years of experience covering fashion, style, fine watches, and jewelry * Received an applied jewelry professional certificate from the Gemological Institute of America * Received the level 3 award in wine from the Wine & Spirit Education Trust, which she passed with distinction * Received a bachelor's degree in French at Georgetown University * Studied abroad at Université Sorbonne Nouvelle and attended international high schools in Frankfurt and London * Speaks French * Founder of La Patiala, a luxury encyclopedia that covers travel, food, wine, spirits, style, beauty, watches, jewelry, and lifestyle Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines Published on November 27, 2021 Share Tweet Pin Email As a La Prairie devotee, my nightly skin routine involves some of the most decadent beauty products on the market. They come in stunning vessels and feature rare ingredients like caviar, gold, and even platinum. I also love to incorporate targeted treatments into my regime, especially at night. Retinol is revered among dermatologists as one of the most effective anti-aging ingredients on the market. However, retinol products can be very drying to the skin and can cause redness and flaking as the skin adjusts. I use prescription retinol from my dermatologist a few times a week. Unfortunately, during the winter months, I need to pare back my use to one or two times a week. I hate reducing my use of such a powerhouse ingredient, which is one reason why I was so excited to learn that La Prairie was releasing its first-ever product with retinol — and that it could be used every night. Courtesy of La Prairie I must confess that when I first heard that La Prairie was unveiling a product with retinol, I was a little confused. The Swiss brand is most closely associated with innovative techniques that harness the power of caviar and precious metals — how did retinol fit into the picture? However, once I discovered that the retinol was in fact a rare, natural retinol found in — what else? — caviar, it made complete sense. La Prairie's scientists devised a special extraction process to remove both retinol and lipids from caviar. They then combined these powerful ingredients with La Prairie's Exclusive Cellular Complex, marking the first time that this patented formula has been used in an oil. The result is the brand-new Skin Caviar Nighttime Oil. Courtesy of La Prairie To buy: laprairie.com, $530 Why a nighttime oil? At night, the skin enters a recovery and regeneration phase, which is why many targeted treatments should be used at night. The skin is more permeable at night, which means it is able to absorb more products — but your skin can also lose water, which explains why my skin sometimes feels dry and tight in the morning. I typically finish my double-digit nighttime skin routine by sealing in everything with an oil. Oil-based products create a natural barrier that prevents water loss and helps seal in all of your products. Adding anti-aging ingredients to an oil helps me eliminate even more steps from my skin care regimen, which I very much appreciate. I use this oil on nights when I don't use my prescription retinol, so I can experience the benefits of retinol seven days a week without any of the harsh side effects. The oil comes in a gorgeous blue glass bottle featuring La Prairie's signature cobalt blue, a color that comes from artist Niki de Saint Phalle. The jar has a unique construction: the exterior is crafted from blue glass, and inside there's a black vessel that contains the oil, protecting it from light and preserving the integrity of the formula. I've been using the Skin Caviar Nighttime Oil for several months and have noticed a visible difference. My skin is much more hydrated and appears firmer, which helps minimize the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. I love that this oil incorporates the power of retinol with none of the drawbacks. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit