10 Splurge-Worthy Beauty Products We Tried, Loved, and Unfortunately Can't Stop Buying Now
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01/03/2025 06:30 AM
Kiehl's, Tatcha, Yse Beauty, and more that are worth the investment
YSE Beauty; Ulta; Sephora (2); Amazon (4)
Each year, our team of shopping editors tests thousands of beauty products, and 2024 was no exception. We conducted over a dozen tests each month, from getting salon-worthy blowouts in the PEOPLE Tested lab to dabbing eye creams in our own homes for weeks.
Time and time again, we found ourselves reaching for our trusty drugstore essentials, proving that higher prices don't always mean better quality. However, a few luxury skincare items became staples in our routines despite their price tags — and these splurges quickly turned into favorites we couldn't imagine living without.
From a pore-minimizing moisturizer to brightening eye masks from Molly Sims' skincare line, these are the luxury beauty products we're excited to restock this year.
Luxury Beauty Products PEOPLE Editors Swear by
- Chanel Hydra Beauty Camellia Water Cream, $64; ulta.com
- Biossance Squalane and Marine Algae Eye Cream, $56; amazon.com
- Tatcha Water Cream, $72; sephora.com
- Kiehl's Ultra Body Barrier Repair Cream, $49; amazon.com
- Rhode Skin Glazing Milk, $30; rhodeskin.com
- Vegamour Gro Revitalizing Shampoo, $46 (orig. $48); amazon.com
- Bobbi Brown Face Base Moisturizer and Primer, $69; sephora.com
- Yse Beauty Overachiever Brightening Eye Masks, $36; ysebeauty.com
- MDSolarSciences Daily Perfecting Moisturizer, $72 (orig. $76); amazon.com
- Allies of Skin Daily Firming Anti-Aging Trio Skincare Kit, $66; dermstore.com
Related: We Tested Thousands of Beauty Products in 2024 — These Are the 10 You Kept Buying
Chanel Hydra Beauty Camellia Water Cream
Ulta
$64
"I was gifted this Chanel moisturizer over the summer, and it has been a game-changer for my makeup application. I have super dry skin year-round, so I'm always struggling to prevent creases and flaking in my concealer and foundation. The light formula instantly hydrates my thirsty skin and gives it that glow I'm always striving for. Plus, the scent is just lovely." —Kayla Kitts, shopping editor
Biossance Squalane and Marine Algae Eye Cream
Amazon
$56
"Finding a good anti-aging eye cream has been a feat, but this one from Biossance does it all. It instantly hydrates my under-eyes and reduces puffiness and fine lines, making me look bright-eyed and awake in the mornings. I use this twice a day to reap all the benefits. The container is small, but a little goes a long way, so it lasts for months." —Kayla Kitts
Related: These Are the 10 Best Wrinkle Creams, According to Dermatologists and Our Testers
Tatcha Water Cream
Sephora
$72
"I'll never forget growing up watching beauty YouTubers circa 2014 fawn over the Tatcha Water Cream, and I vowed to myself that I'd one day own it (my teenage self balked at the $72 price). When I finally got to test this moisturizer for myself, I immediately understood its viral hype. The oil-free formula left a cooling feeling and delivered instant hydration to my skin — reviving my dry patches and caring for my sensitive complexion." —Alyssa Brascia, shopping writer
People / Jhett Thompson
Kiehl's Ultra Body Barrier Repair Cream
Amazon
$49
"I've tried boatloads of lotions to help combat my dry skin in the winter, but none have been as effective as this new Kiehl's body cream. It has a rich formula that glides onto my skin like butter, but it absorbs quickly — I never feel greasy after using it, and it doesn't stain my clothes or bed sheets. Plus, it's fragrance-free and formulated with protective ceramides that strengthen your skin barrier over time." —Clara McMahon, shopping writer
Rhode Skin Glazing Milk
rhode
$30
"When Hailey Bieber's skincare line, Rhode, dropped in 2022, several of our editors were the first to try it. Then in 2023, she launched the Glazing Milk, which is truly the star of the collection and a repeat buy of mine for the last year and a half. I can't get enough of the dewy, smooth feel of my skin post-application. Plus, a little goes a long way, so I can make the bottle last — ideal, since it's $30 and I use it daily." —Madison Yauger, shopping editor
Vegamour Gro Revitalizing Shampoo
Amazon
$48
$46
"The only bad thing we at PEOPLE Tested have to say about our favorite shampoo for thinning hair is that it's expensive — but personally, I have so many good things to say about it, starting with how my hair feels noticeably thicker in my hands each time I rinse it out. Because it's pricey, I'm super careful about using no more than the recommended quarter-size amount. I'll probably start a subscription so I can get it for a little cheaper." —Laura Gurfein, shopping director
People / Alyssa Brascia
Bobbi Brown Face Base Moisturizer and Primer
Sephora
$69
"I'm an ardent believer in drugstore products, but I haven't found a moisturizer or primer that compares to this Bobbi Brown product. It works overtime as a moisturizer and primer, acting as a smooth base that helps achieve a glowy, airbrushed finish. It also has a fragrance that I love, though those with sensitive noses might be bothered by it." —Genevieve Cepeda, shopping writer
Yse Beauty Overachiever Brightening Eye Masks
YSE Beauty
$36
"Molly Sims launched Yse Beauty in 2023, and I finally got my hands on the brand's Overachiever eye masks this year. I've tested a lot of eye masks, but these immediately brighten my under-eye area and smooth my forehead wrinkles. Plus, they don't fall off after a few minutes, like similar products. They're expensive, so I make them work double-duty: I put them on above my eyebrows after I've used them under my eyes." —Erin Johnson, associate shopping director
MDSolarSciences Daily Perfecting Moisturizer
Amazon
$76
$72
"This might be the best face moisturizer I've ever used. It gives my skin an immediate glow, and I look more radiant than I do with any other moisturizer. I also love that it doesn't clog my pores or make my skin feel greasy, which is big because I get perimenopausal acne, so I have to be really careful about what sits on my face all day. It also has SPF so it saves me a step. At $76 for a 1.7-ounce bottle, it's a splurge with a capital "S," but I really do love it so I find myself going back to the well." —Shalwah Evans, senior shopping editor
Allies of Skin Daily Firming Anti-Aging Trio Skincare Kit
Dermstore
$66
"I've tried a number of products from Allies of Skin, and each product instantly becomes a new staple in my highly-researched skincare routine. The gentle cleanser is the least stripping option I've ever tried; the multi-peptide serum instantly plumps up my fine lines; and the antioxidant moisturizer feels like a deeply nourishing hug. Yeah, it's more expensive than drugstore skincare brands — but I'm a self-proclaimed skincare snob, and these products exceed my high expectations." —Cai Cramer, shopping writer
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