Most people have at least one thing they’re willing to throw any disposable income at. For some people it’s handbags. For audiophiles, maybe a new pair of headphones . Travelers save all their money for vacation . For beauty lovers like me, splurges usually come in the form of some skin-care product, lipstick, or hair styler we just can’t live without.
I totally get that when you see a super expensive cream, or a whirring gadget promising next-level results , you might think, “Is this possibly worth the money?” Well, I decided to do a little digging to see what beauty products actually are worth the money, according to the people who use them every day.
From skin-care tools you can buy on Amazon to classic lipsticks that will never go out of style, these are the beauty products and tools 9 people say are worth splurging on.
Related: 9 Cult French Pharmacy Products Available on Amazon
Vintner's Daughter Face Oil, $185
“Vintner's Daughter face oil—it's such a beauty editor favorite for a reason. It's $185, but the bottle lasts really long and it's the perfect consistency for day or night. And apparently now they have a mini version for $65!” — Janell M. Hickman , beauty writer and editor
Buy it: $185, neimanmarcus.com
MAC Retro Matte Liquid Lipstick, $22
“I don’t really spend high amounts on my beauty products in general, but I absolutely will spend the right amount for a good lipstick . My favorite one is my MAC Retro Matte Liquid lipstick. I consider a good red lip to be the perfect accessory to an outfit for a night out, so this is good to have as my staple.” — Natasha Greendyk , executive assistant
Buy it: $22, maccosmetics.com
BECCA Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed Highlighter in Pearl, $38
“The most expensive beauty product I own is my BECCA Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed Highlighter in Pearl. It’s a bit of a splurge at $38 but I love using it to highlight my cheekbones, collarbones, and shoulders. I can’t go to a special event without a little shimmer. I would 100 percent recommend it to anyone who loves a good highlight —and also for the small chested biddies out there, putting a little on your cleavage is a secret I use to making them look a little bigger without the hassle of contouring.” — Francesca DiCanio , graduate assistant
Buy it: $38, sephora.com
La Mer Créme de La Mer, $190 for 1 oz.
“Once a year I invest in my favorite skin creme, Creme La Mer. I use it when my skin gets too dry, cracked or has any irritation. It is ridiculously expensive, but nothing works better when my skin is at its worst.” — Christina Lerchen , makeup artist and beauty writer
Buy it: $190, cremedelamer.com
Related: 17 of the Best-Selling Skin-Care Products at Blue Mercury
Blackhead Remover Vacuum, $26
“I recently spent $56 on a Blackhead Vacuum and it’s amazing. It got rid of all my blackheads while keeping my pores small. Even though it’s a lot up front, it saves me a lot of trips for facials, which saves me a lot of money in the long run.” — Brian Falduto , songwriter and life coach
Buy it: $26, amazon.com
GHD Air Hairdryer, $199 and Night Pillow, $150
“Right now, [my favorite splurges are] the GHD hairdryer, $199, and the NIGHT Pillow, $150. I have thick hair and the GHD has cut my dry time down drastically. The NIGHT Pillow helps to extend my blow outs and keep my skin clear.” — Caitlin Collins , editorial freelance writer
Buy it: GHD Air Hairdryer (not shown) , $199, ghdhair.com
Buy it: Night Pillow, $150, discovernight.com
Urban Skin Rx Super C Brightening Serum, $36
“The most expensive beauty product I have is the Urban Skin Rx SuperC Brightening Serum. It retails about $58 and I’ve only been using it for about a month. In the short time, I’ve definitely been able to identify changes in my skin for the better, so it was definitely worth the ‘splurge.’” — Lauren Porter , digital editor
Buy it: $36, amazon.com
Related: Why Vitamin C Is a Dermatologist-Favorite Ingredient
Conair Oval Shaped Double-Sided Lighted Makeup Mirror, $42
“I have a lighted magnifying mirror that makes putting on makeup so much easier. It’s really the first step in putting on my makeup in the morning. I have to make sure the foundation is even, the bronzer is blended, the eyeliner is straight, etc., and I can’t do any of that if I can’t see!” — Lexi Smail , book editor
Buy it: $42, amazon.com
Anastasia Beverly Hills Modern Renaissance Eye Shadow Palette, $45
“The most expensive beauty product that I use is the Modern Renaissance eye shadow palette by Anastasia Beverly Hills. I love this palette because the red and purple tones suit my dark brown eyes and I am able to create endless looks with the shadows .” — Anna Drier, student
Buy it: $45, sephora.com
