I will sporadically try and cut corners, finding a dupe that I hope will compare but rarely does. And it’s not just clever marketing. After twenty years of meeting with brands and seeing the research, development, ingredients and concentrations that go into high-end formulas, you can truly tell which ones are not bulked out with cheap filler ingredients. With the best skincare, spending more can make a tangible difference – but, of course, to warrant their lofty price tags, they do have to seriously impress, and my bar is set high. The ones that knock my socks off and gain my unwavering loyalty, I will happily carry on hiding the receipts for.
Reome
Three Suns Balm, £63
Unfortunately, I will still be using this on my deathbed, so devoted am I to its skin softening creme-balm magic. I only have to get halfway down a tube before I begin to panic buy my next one, lest I (horror of horrors) have to go even one day without it. Wonderfully gentle, effective but light as a feather, it doesn’t have the heaviness of a balm nor the skin-stripping qualities of a foam. This is skincare sorcery, and I am well and truly under its spell.
Byredo
Mumbai Noise, £155
Thankfully my birthday falls in September, just when I want to be switching up my summer scents for something a bit darker and cosier. Every year, this is top of my wish list – a powerful punch of coffee, leather, tonka, amber and incense. Big notes that somehow soften on skin to be deliciously warm and skin nuzzlingly addictive.
Chanel
Les Beige Healthy Glow Bronzing Cream,£50
The sheer size of this bronzing cream make my girl maths justifiable. I pick one up in Duty Free at the beginning of every summer and it’s a yearly purchase that I use every day for the rest of the year with a big swirly brush to impart just a hint of colour, and life, even in the depths of winter. Yes, there are cheaper copies, but as is often the case, the original is still the best.
Skinceuticals
CE Ferulic Acid, £169
Yes, I do wince adding this to cart, but thankfully it’s a bi-annual buy. I was given a sample when purchasing something else (that’s how they get you), and in even a few days, I was hooked. So brightening and smoothing are the effects that even in my mid-40s, I feel skin confident enough to go bare faced. Surely then the saving in make-up can off-set the price tag?!
By Terry
Rose Baume Lip Balm, £42
I appreciate that £42 for a lip balm is rather obscene, but try this, come back to me and tell me it’s not worth it. The buttery softness, the long-lasting (yet totally non-greasy) feel – it is an utter joy to use and my lips are pillowy soft, even in the depths of winter. A treat for sure, but a daily indulgence that just makes life that little bit better.
Aromatherapy Associates
Inner Strength Bath and Shower Oil, £65
This one I don’t actually buy for myself, but is probably my most gifted luxury beauty item. When friends are bereaved, separating, going through treatment, a bottle of this is duly dispatched. I used it when my own parents died and there is something quietly fortifying about it. Not a coincidence, as it was first blended by co-founder, Geraldine Howard when she was going through her own cancer treatment. The name could not be more apt.
Ilia
Super Skin Serum Tint SPF30, £42
I have never been loyal to a foundation until now. Packed with skincare benefits (hello niacinamide, squalane and hyaluronic acid), as well as SPF protection, it gives the perfect dewy finish, while being light enough not to feel cloying. Why would I look anywhere else?
Hourglass
Ambient Lighting Palette Flushed Edit, £72
The cost per wear on this palette must be pence. Another case of price tag buying you quality – in this case it’s the ‘photoluminescence technology’ cleverly diffused surrounding light that give that unmatchable lit-from-within glow in one sweep.
Merit
Clean Volume Mascara, £24
I rarely wear eyeliner or shadow, so my whole eye budget goes on a really decent mascara. This new ‘volume’ version of Merit’s Clean Lash mascara is all the things I love about the original on full volume. Great for every day, but also perfect for party season ahead.
FAQs: Investment Beauty Buys
Are expensive beauty products really worth the money?
Not always. A hefty price tag is certainly no guarantee of brilliance, but premium beauty brands can invest heavily in research, formulation, high-quality ingredients and sophisticated textures. The trick is knowing where spending more makes a noticeable difference – and where a high-street alternative will do the job perfectly well.
Which beauty products are worth investing more money in?
Products you use regularly and where formulation really matters are often the best candidates for a splurge. A hardworking serum, cleanser, foundation or fragrance that you reach for constantly can offer better value than an expensive trend-led product that languishes in the bathroom cabinet.
Is SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic worth the price?
SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic has become a cult skincare product thanks to its antioxidant formula combining vitamin C, vitamin E and ferulic acid. At £169 it is undeniably an investment, but our beauty editor rates it for the visible brightening and smoothing effect it has on her skin.
What is the best luxury bronzer?
Chanel Les Beiges Healthy Glow Bronzing Cream is a longstanding beauty favourite and one of our editor's repeat purchases. Its generous pot, sheer finish and easy-to-blend cream texture make it particularly good for adding subtle warmth rather than an obvious layer of bronzer.
What luxury beauty product makes a good gift?
Aromatherapy Associates Inner Strength Bath & Shower Oil is our editor's go-to when she wants to send someone a particularly thoughtful gift. Created by the brand's late co-founder Geraldine Howard during her own cancer treatment, its soothing aromatic blend was designed with emotional as well as physical wellbeing in mind.
How can I tell whether a luxury beauty product is worth buying?
Consider cost per use rather than price alone. A £70 palette used several times a week for two years may prove better value than a £25 lipstick worn twice. Samples and travel sizes are also useful for testing expensive skincare, fragrance and make-up before committing to the full-size version.
