Full disclosure: I’m of the belief that high-quality skincare doesn’t have to set you back an absurd amount of coin. Drugstore favorites can be just as (if not more!) effective as formulas that cost upwards of $300, and my own routine consists of quite a few high-low pairings, despite my crowded beauty closet of spendy samples.
Now, this all being said, I have tested my fair share of luxury brands (it’s part of the job description!), mainly so that when people ask me if [insert wildly expensive skincare product here] is actually worth the splurge, I can confidently tell them either to invest ASAP or save their money. I’m very rarely recommending the former, TBH, but there are some all-stars that are truly irreplaceable—so good that if someone were to buy one product from a luxury skincare line, it’d be foolish not to snag it. See, some beauty fans wish to follow a full routine of Augustinus Bader or La Prairie, while others have the budget for just one, fancy all-star. For those who fall in the latter camp, here are my recommendations per brand.
Augustinus Bader
Augustinus Bader
The Cream
A moisturizer so beloved you could say “The Cream,” and everyone will instantly know the formula you’re referring to. Yes, Augustinus Bader’s lightweight hydrator is worth the hype. Every time someone asks me if Bader skincare is worth the splurge, I respond with a resounding yes; though, if you’re going to drop coin on just one product, I say go with the OG MVP. Along with the brand’s patented TFC8 complex to stimulate cell renewal, it comes infused with retinyl palmitate, panthenol, and vitamin C to soften fine lines, soften skin, and brighten tone. Essentially, when it comes to skin aging concerns, The Cream addresses it all.
Sisley-Paris
Sisley-Paris
Supremÿa at Night The Supreme Anti-Aging Eye Cream
I was literally scraping the sides of the jar to get an extra morsel of this eye cream. No lie, my under-eyes have never looked plumper and more hydrated since adding it to my routine. Plenty of eye products claim to be “eight hours of sleep in a bottle,” but I swear this is the closest it comes to that skincare magic.
Yes, $420 is very steep for an eye cream, but you just need a teeny pearl-sized amount for both eyes, so it will last you a while. (For reference, my own jar lasted eight months, and I used it every single night.) Heads up: It’s also 20% off right now ($336 compared to $420) for Sisley’s Friends and Family sale, which lasts through October 7. All the more reason to bite!
La Prairie
La Prairie
The Skin Caviar Eye Lift Serum
Another worth-it eye cream: La Prairie’s Skin Caviar Eye Lift, which I used every day for five months until the very last drop. True to its name, the formula contains caviar micronutrients that help thicken the notoriously delicate skin and strengthen the tiny ligaments around the eyes that weaken with age. The result? Less fine lines and sagging in the orbital area.
Allies of Skin
Allies of Skin
Founder’s Essence 56 Ellagic & P.A.D. Light Reflecting Fluid
Two words: liquid gold. That’s really the only way I can describe this supercharged essence. The fluid itself is so featherlight you’d be surprised to discover how many potent, professional-level actives live inside the multitasking formula (56 of them, to be exact!), all of which work synergistically to reduce breakouts, fade hyperpigmentation, tighten pores, strengthen the moisture barrier, and give the skin an ethereal, light-reflecting glow. Allies of Skin founder Nicholas Travis originally created it as a personal formula (hence the name, Founders Essence), but loved it so much he wanted to share it with the world—for a limited time, while supplies last. I’d snag this one while you still can!
111Skin
111SKIN
Luxury Velvet Mask Planner
I realize $170 for a pack of face and eye masks may sound a bit… much. I can assure you, the serum-soaked hydrogels from 111Skin are 1000% worth it. In fact, 111Skin masks may just be my favorite masks of all time—there, I said it. I’m partial to the Black Diamond line, which works overtime to lift the skin and plump fine lines, but you really can’t go wrong with any of the versions. (My runner up is the Cryo De-Puffing mask, which deflates swollen eye bags in a snap.)
Rather than buying a pack of five, which will set you back $140, I’d suggest opting for this mixed bag of nine for $30 more. If you prefer to choose your own adventure, you could also create your own seven-mask kit on the brand’s website for $135. Again, each mask is pretty pricey (around $18 per eye mask and $35 per face sheet, give or take), so feel free to rely on these insider hacks.
Dr. Barbara Sturm
Dr. Barbara Sturm
Hyaluronic Serum
There’s no shortage of hyaluronic acid serums on the market, so why would you ever buy one for over $300? The truth is that no HA serum has made my skin look quite as juicy as Dr. Barbara Sturm’s. The proprietary formula contains a custom blend of long and short chain hyaluronic molecules for an immediate plumping effect with long-term hydration; plus, it features purslane—an antioxidant-rich botanical—to calm redness and inflammation. Every time I use this serum, my skin somehow looks calmer and more radiant; I was genuinely bummed when I used my last drop.
Dr. Diamond’s Metacine
Dr. Diamond’s Metacine
Instafacial Plasma Bioactive Growth Factor Serum
At this point, I’ve written about Dr. Diamond’s Plasma serum more times than I can count. Will that stop me from recommending it to everyone I know? Never! It truly makes my skin look like glass, thanks to its human identical growth factors, peptides, and hyaluronic acid. I’ve flown through two bottles already and refuse to do my nighttime skincare routine without it. That’s when you know it’s a winner!
iS Clinical
IS Clinical
Cleansing Complex
It admittedly took me a while before I gave this Cleansing Complex a whirl. I’d heard countless testimonials from practically every beauty editor, but it wasn’t until this past summer that I finally got my hands on it. Oh my god, am I kicking myself for not incorporating it into my routine earlier! This stuff is seriously magic. My sweat-clogged pores immediately cleared, and my skin looked brighter in about a week. If you have an extremely dry complexion, you might want to skip gel cleansers entirely for something with a creamy, milky consistency, but it’s been an absolute godsend for my combination skin. I now understand why it’s received so much praise and am happy to report that it’s 150% worth the hype.
U Beauty
U Beauty
The Super Hydrator
Here’s another MVP I haven’t stopped using since getting my hands on it years ago. If you have combination skin like me, you’ll fall head over heels; it’s intensely moisturizing thanks to the brand’s proprietary Hydra-Siren Capsules (which transport water into the deep layers of skin) yet surprisingly lightweight, so it doesn’t ever make my skin feel too greasy. Those ultra-hydrating properties also mean you get way more bang for your buck; I apply two small dollops on my entire face and neck, and I haven’t yet run out despite using it every single night for the past six months. Talk about cost per pump!
Eighth Day
Eighth Day
The Regenerative Serum
Allow me to list the many, many skin-loving actives brimming in this rejuvenating serum: peptides, amino acids, growth factors, niacinamide, glycolic acid, hyaluronic acid, ginger root, Manuka honey… overwhelmed yet? The formula is a true multitasker, addressing everything from fine lines, sagging, enlarged pores, texture, dehydration and more. Essentially, it’s like six different serums in one—not bad $325 when you think about it, right? My skin has already drunk up three bottles at this point, and I don’t plan on swapping the hero out any time soon.
Explore More:
