Beauty Editor Splurges: The Products We Always Buy and Why
by Deven Hopp
Photo: Jenna Peffley
As drugstore beauty shoppers extraordinaire, we always appreciate a bargain. As beauty-obsessed product junkies, we’ve also been known to splurge on a shiny compact or two. Life is all about balance, right? Thanks to our many years of product testing, we’ve figured out what to save our pennies on and what to shell out the cold hard cash (or, rather, plastic) for. Scroll through to find out what beauty editors from coast to coast are willing to pay the big bucks for!
Shu Uemura Ultime8 Sublime Beauty Oil
“My skin is sensitive, dry, reactionary, and has even recently sent me to the ER, so I definitely have a less is more approach to skincare. Thankfully, I discovered Shu Uemura Ultime8 Sublime Beauty Oil last year, and it’s been my catchall for cleansing and makeup removal ever since. It’s gentle, it’s not overly fragranced, and it removes everything on your face with no scrubbing, leaving behind smooth, hydrated, nourished skin. I don’t think I’ll ever use anything else. I shell out $90 for the giant 15-ounce pump, which has lasted over a year and counting, but I already have a backup waiting under my sink.”
Related: The Ultimate Daily Skincare Menu for Every Skin Type
Charlotte Tilbury Full Fat Lashes Glossy Black
“Charlotte is an absolute dream to work with—she did my makeup last year when she was just launching her line in the U.S., and I felt like I could walk on a Victoria’s Secret runway afterward. The one product of hers that I will always, no matter what, run out and purchase is her mascara: Full Fat Lashes. I know so many editors will use the line “It makes your lashes look like falsies!” when referring to mascara, but I swear on my Ramirez Tran’d hair color that this mascara makes your lashes LOOK FAKE. And if anyone is going to comment on something that “looks fake” on your face, it should be your lashes. The consistency of the mascara makes your lashes thicker and longer yet not too heavy. It doesn’t flake. And the wand is a 10!”
Odin Seylon
“Let’s gloss over my expensive skincare addiction for a second (it’s an INVESTMENT, right?) and move right along to my love of perfume, shall we? I’m always down to splurge for a great fragrance—which is problematic because I’m definitely not a ‘signature scent’ kind of person, and more of a serial dater. This is why it was revolutionary when I stuck to one scent for all of last fall and winter, and that was Odin’s Seylon. It marries all of the fragrance notes I love most—vetiver, moss, smoke, and just a hint of spice—in this beautifully cozy way, like the fragrance version of your favorite sweater. When the temperatures rose again, I stored it with the rest of my winter gear, but the air almost felt crisp in New York again last week, and suddenly I was craving it again. No joke: I pulled it out of storage and sprayed it all over my sheets, and then lit the candle version I have, too. That’s true love, no?”
Related: 11 Mindblowing Facts About Perfume
Skinceuticals CE Ferulic
“I’m an absolute crazy person about skincare—especially sun and pollution protection. And after more than a decade of listening to dermatologists go on and on about the importance of antioxidants, that’s where I splurge. My go-to antioxidant serum is Skinceuticals CE Ferulic, which I put on every morning. You only need a few drops—so the cost-per-wear means this isn’t as expensive as it seems—and it neutralizes free radicals. I test just about every new sunscreen that comes across my desk, and I know that as long as I’m wearing this serum underneath, my freckles won’t get out of control.”
Biologique Rechercher Biomagic Mask
“If I could cover my entire body in the Biologique Rechercher Biomagic mask, I would. My sent-from-the-heavens facialist, Sofia at Aida Bicaj [in New York City], set me up with my entire Biologique repertoire, and it changed my skin in only one week. I use the mask three times a week, and I swear it lives up to its name. Magic. It’s worth every cent.”
Related: Multimasking: Why This New Face Mask Trend Is Actually Genius
Charlotte Tilbury Goddess Skin Clay Mask
“I consider myself quite the clay mask expert, having tried anything and everything that comes my way and promises to help clear up my oily skin and stubborn blackheads (yes, I get around). Very few of them actually do, and even when they sort of work, my skin ends up on the drier end of the spectrum and then overcompensates by producing more oil. It’s a vicious cycle, which is why I praised the heavens (or should I say, the goddesses) when I found Charlotte Tilbury’s Goddess Skin Clay Mask. The texture is super light and silky smooth, and it smells like angels and flowers and all things fragrant and nice. Whenever my skin is looking lackluster, I reach for this mask for a quick fix. I leave it on for 15 minutes, allowing the clay to soak up oils and the sweet almond and rose-hip oils to lightly moisturize. After I towel off the mask with a warm washcloth, my skin is left clean, soft, and so, so bright. One of these days, when I’m feeling particularly ambitious/bored, I want to use the mask on just half of my face to see the difference—I swear my skin is two shades brighter after every use. Some might balk at the price tag—it is, after all, something you eventually wash off your face—but I think it’s worth every penny.”
Clé de Peau Beauté Concealer
“I’d have to say that my most splurge-worthy beauty product is Clé de Peau Beauté’s Concealer. I know it sounds crazy, but the $70 price tag is worth it. Not only does it last a really long time (a little goes a long way with this cover-up—it can last you eight months or more, depending on how often you use it!), its formula melds into your skin without a trace and offers up coverage that isn’t cakey. It’s my go-to for hiding any dark circles or blemishes. I honestly feel like a well-rested, fresh-faced human after applying it, which is why you’ll also never catch me without it in my bag, because touch-ups!”
Related: The Best Under-Eye Concealers, According to the Internet
More From Byrdie:
5 Makeup Tricks That Will Take Years Off Your Face
