When it comes to beauty, I use a variety of products at different price points within my routine. And from the CeraVe Cleansers I swear by to the Palmer’s Cocoa Butter that holds precedence over most other body creams in my cupboard, I love an inexpensive product pick as much as a splurge. I really do have to love a pricey product for it to keep a place in my routine and for me to rave and recommend it when there are so many excellent skincare products with less-hefty price tags.
So I promise you, reader, these are the best expensive picks that I have in my skincare stash, the products that I would immediately repurchase if they disappeared from my bathroom. You will not regret a penny spent on these wonderbuys.
1. Liha Orinrin Cleansing Balm
The texture of this balm is so dreamy. It lifts off makeup and grime, leaving skin feeling super soft. With most cleansing balms, I have to use another cleanser after to get rid of oil residue, but on particularly cold, dry nights, I will use this as my second cleanser and follow with a night cream for comfortable, hydrated skin.
2. Sunday Riley Good Genes Gycolic Acid Treatment
I use this glycolic acid treatment a couple of times a week to exfoliate dead skin and unblock pores. It isn’t too harsh, either, so if you want to use it more frequently, it's safe to use up to daily.
3. Kate Somerville Kateceuticals Total Repair Cream
If you have overdone it on exfoliation, chemical or physical, this cream is so soothing and helps to repair your damaged skin barrier. It contains squalane, hyaluronic acid, vitamin E and a peptide-infused ceramide complex, which my skin just laps up. My face feels so much calmer after use.
4. Allies of Skin Peptides Antioxidants Firming Daily Treatment
This daily wonder treatment contains a concoction of active ingredients to brighten, firm and refine skin. It kind of works in the way an overnight mask does, but the texture is lighter and can be worn under makeup.
5. Venn Advanced Multi-Perfecting Red Oil Serum
This oil-serum hybrid is inspired by a traditional Korean herbal ointment that is used to firm up the skin. It’s fermented for 150 hours to make the formula super effective.
6. Sunday Riley Luna Sleeping Night Oil
I love a night oil, and I’m learning to love retinol, too, so this oil is a dream to wear and combines two steps of my night-time routine. The blue tansy and chamomile in the formula help to soothe the skin as the actives work away.
7. FaceGym Youth Reformer Firming Vitamin C + Nootropic Oil-in Serum
My favourite of the FaceGym at-home range. I love to use this with my gua sha to give myself a tension-relieving massage. Plus, the antioxidants in the formula really boost radiance.
8. SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic Antioxidant Vitamin c Serum for Normal/Dry Skin
I have previously written about vitamin C being the core part of my skincare routine, and this is up there with my favourites. I honestly think it works pretty instantly to even skin tone and add luminosity.
Next up, the best simple skincare routine.
