Inspired by the fleeting moment of the golden hour in the crown of the Swiss Alps, in 2021, La Prairie sought to recreate its unique radiance and impart it to the skin with the unveiling of the Pure Gold collection. In 2022, La Prairie explores another radiant Swiss landscape.

Suspended between the majestic minerality and the vast lakes of Switzerland, there exists a singular place overlooking lac Léman where radiance reaches an apex of beauty. It is a place shaped by ancient terraced vineyards traced by stone walls. Throughout the day, the bright sun directly irradiates the mountain face while its rays are reflected off the mirror-like surface of the lake to ignite the Swiss mineral surfaces. The energy of the sun is captured and stored in these ancient stones.

When the sun sets, Swiss peaks are veiled in darkness and a calmness blankets the landscape. The replenishing energy of the sun that was captured during the day continues to seep through the mineral core in a nocturnal diffusion, allowing the vines to thrive at night.

Inspired by this nightly phenomenon, the scientists at La Prairie sought to capture its essence. 

THE GOLDEN MEAN

Nighttime is a moment of recovery and rebuilding for the skin. These nightly regenerating processes require high amounts of energy to function optimally. However, skin that is devitalised cannot supply this energy, as cellular metabolism – essential to providing energy to the cells – is slowed down. The ageing process is accelerated, and signs of ageing become more prominent. 

La Prairie has designed a formula to boost energy in devitalised skin following a two-step approach. First, the formula of Pure Gold Nocturnal Balm brings a potent energy-rich nutrient to the skin. Then, La Prairie’s exclusive Pure Gold Diffusion System amplifies the conversion of this energy-rich nutrient into energy by activating an energy sensor. This triggers the optimal use of the energy-rich nutrient to help fuel the skin’s nightly replenishing processes, which are especially energy-consuming. 

The Pure Gold Diffusion System delivers a three-peak action sequence to the skin. First comes the immediate deposition of gold on the skin’s surface to offer instant radiance. An intense infusion of replenishing ingredients follows. Finally, a steady release of the replenishing ingredients linked to the gold particles deposited on the skin’s surface completes the sequence. Night after night, skin appears strengthened and restructured. Radiance is restored. Come morning, a new radiance arises.

All of La Prairie’s creations are the result of 90 years of Swiss cellular science. Pure Gold Radiance Nocturnal Balm is infused with La Prairie’s Exclusive Cellular Complex, an active ingredient that gives new life and energy back to the skin.

A SIGNATURE GESTURE

Inspired by ancient rituals, the Pure Gold nighttime ceremony begins with a signature gesture using the Nocturnal Massage Stone, made from a single piece of sculpted marble, that accompanies the Pure Gold Radiance Nocturnal Balm. After cleansing and toning, Pure Gold Radiance Concentrate, or alternatively, a small amount of the Pure Gold Radiance Nocturnal Balm is applied to the skin as a base for the immersive ceremony. A series of specially conceived massage strokes using the cooling Nocturnal Massage Stone follow to stimulate microcirculation and lymphatic flow, allow a free flow of energy and an exchange of nutrients and oxygen in the skin, increase lymphatic drainage and soothe facial muscles by releasing the daily build-up of tension.

THE PURE GOLD NOCTURNAL RITUAL

After performing the signature gesture, Pure Gold Radiance Eye Cream is applied. Finally, the skin is cosseted with the application of the Pure Gold Radiance Nocturnal Balm. Inspired by the dawn of radiance, its rich, lustrous champagne-coloured formula envelops the skin in a comforting embrace. The signature fragrance of the Pure Gold Collection sets the tone for a resplendent experience while the skin is left feeling revitalised, replenished, enriched.

A TIMELESS APPROACH TO BEAUTY 

La Prairie’s vision of luxury is its very identity – it is luxury that is not only the height of craftsmanship, but culturally and ethically elevated. La Prairie embraces its responsibility to make the world a better, more beautiful place. Its vision redefines what it is to dream, to aspire – a pleasure today and a pleasure to transmit over generations.  

Driven by the love of the environment of its birthplace and grateful for the inspiration it provides, La Prairie is an ongoing patron of the Glaciology Section at ETH Zurich, applying a timeless vision to its commitment to support glacier-related research being conducted at Continental Europe’s number one ranked scientific university.

La Prairie perpetuates its sustainability journey by offering this new creation as a replenishable vessel, in line with the other creations of the Pure Gold Collection where each creation’s brushed metal casing and cap are designed to be kept indefinitely. Only the delicate glass vials containing the formulas, once empty, are meant to be replaced by new ones. The design of the vessel is the epitome of form and function: a sliding cover glides in an arc like the sun’s trajectory to reveal the mineral-fleck marble Nocturnal Massage Stone nestled within.

A RADIANT PURSUIT

From the Crown of the Alps to the shores of Lac Léman, La Prairie perpetuates its collaboration with Hong Kong-born artist Carla Chan. A collaboration initiated for the launch of the Pure Gold Collection, where the artist spent a week immersed into pristine Swiss summits at the Monte Rosa Hut. As time passes landscapes change, yet the undeniable beauty of Switzerland remains.

As an artist deeply concerned with the human footprint on nature and its preservation – a mission shared with La Prairie – Carla Chan was invited for an artistic residency at La Becque in Montreux to capture the early morning radiance that rises from the nightcloaked mineral landscape that cascades down to the shores of Switzerland’s most iconic lake. In this unique place that fosters artistic creativity as a means to shed light on current nature-focused preoccupations, Carla Chan developd an emotional work for La Prairie inspired by nature and elevated by her creative perspective. 

In the intimacy of her residency studio, she drew on her Swiss immersion to create an installation capturing the unique radiance that emanates from this singular place, suspended between minerality and the vast waters. 

The result is Through the Fields of Dawn, an exhibition combining digital media, augmented reality technology and sculptural mineral elements that will be revealed at Art Basel Hong Kong in March 2022 at Tai Kwun, Hong Kong’s iconic centre for heritage and arts – as part of La Prairie’s mission to foster artistic and cultural exchanges with a wide audience. After Hong Kong, Carla Chan’s work will be presented in the La Prairie Lounge at Frieze New York in May. 

This latest commission also cements La Prairie’s continuous support to female artists from different cultures, perspectives and art practices.