- Editor’s Pick: The La Mer Essence Foaming Cleanser is an InStyle team favorite for its effective, yet incredibly gentle formula. We also love La Mer Crème de la Mer. It’s restorative, hydrating, and 100 percent worth the hype.
- Best Moisturizer: Augustinus Bader’s The Cream is a year-round moisturizer we love, as it works instantly to make skin plumper and dewier, while providing long-lasting results.
- Splurge-Worthy Formulation: Luxury skin care often contains hard-to-obtain ingredients or more potent versions of ingredients that cost the brand more to keep stable, such as vitamin C. (Case in point: SkinCeutical’s C E Ferulic Serum.)
Three-digit price tags and museum-quality packaging simply aren’t enough to slap the “luxury” label on a product. These factors can (and do) become deciding details for splurging on a luxury makeup or skin care item, but our experiences and lifestyle choices will outweigh any purchase decision. According to Sarah Brown, consultant and former chief brand officer at Violet Grey, every investment purchase comes with a set of standards. “The product must be covetable—you have to want it, and you have to want to use it—and it has to not only outperform your expectations but also outperform the other products you’re currently using, and it has to improve your life,” she says.
Celebrity endorsements, famed founders, and opulent packaging lend some brands notoriety. Others are newer to the scene, but their highly effective products have garnered a stellar reputation. To find our best luxury skin brands, we researched and surveyed the InStyle team to identify their favorite products that work across a variety of skin types and concerns. Discover the brands and our favorite products we believe are truly the pinnacle of luxury skin care.
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Even for those who consider skin care an alien world, La Mer is synonymous with luxury beauty—beauty aficionados consider it the crème de la crème of skin care. And for good reason: The brand’s signature Miracle Broth, which features a fermentation of sea kelp, vitamins, and minerals that help renew and revitalize skin, took no less than 6,000 experiments and 12 years to perfect. The brand focuses on the art of fermentation—after all, its signature broth takes three to four months to reach its greatest form.
Created by physicist Dr. Max Huber to heal the appearance of the scars he suffered during a lab accident, the brand skyrocketed to fame thanks to its deeply hydrating, restorative Crème de la Mer. We’re also obsessed with La Mer’s Essence Foaming Cleanser because it’s simple, gentle, effective, and uses premium sea-based ingredients and complexes. And the jar of The Regenerating Serum is a dream—our fine lines and wrinkles are no match.
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Doctor-founded and dermatologist-loved, SkinCeuticals has been firmly committed to science- and research-backed skin care for over 25 years. It has built a reputation on a solid foundation of patents, exhaustive clinical studies, and efficacy above all else. SkinCeuticals is a brand perhaps best known for its legendary, hot dog-scented product: the C E Ferulic Serum, which is adored by the masses, big-time celebrities, and dermatologists alike. Launched in 2005, it remains our top choice as the best vitamin C serum.
Beyond our C E Ferulic with 15% L-Ascorbic Acid obsession, the berry pink Hyaluronic Acid Intensifier Multi-Glycan gel-serum plumps and hydrates for radiant skin, while the Hydrating B5 Gel replenishes moisture for a “drank-from-the-fountain-of-youth” smoothness.
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Along with numerous awards from nearly every major outlet, one walk down a red carpet, and you’ll find it full of Augustinus Bader fans—notably Hailey Bieber, Margot Robbie, and Leonardo DiCaprio. Accolades aside, the brand is grounded in science and a data-driven approach, and its clinical trials consistently yield jaw-dropping results. Augustinus Bader skin care is powered by its patented Trigger Factor Complex technology, which was inspired by over three decades of cutting-edge research on skin healing and tissue repair.
There’s not just one product that works, though. The brand offers over 20 products spanning skin, hair, and body categories. The Cream and The Rich Eye Cream is part of our team’s two-step routine for our best skin ever—it feels so light and silky going on, nourishing any dryness but still imparting a fresh dewiness that’s never oily or greasy.
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When I visited London, the entire city felt like one giant love letter to Medik8. From advertisements on the sides of taxis to stunning, museum-lit displays in Selfridges—even the conversations I had with locals involved casual Medik8 name drops, which truly speaks to this brand’s quality. Luckily, you don’t have to cross the pond to try its clinically backed, dermatologist-recommended, and B-Corp certified products. It seems every beauty outlet (and InStyle editors!) consistently highly rate its Crystal Retinal 3, which I can confirm is fantastic for beginners who want to tackle serious issues, such as dark spots, fine lines, and acne scars, without aggravating reactive skin. And, no matter how many products I try, I always return to its Total Moisture Daily Cream. This four-season-friendly hydrator firms my skin and makes it appear so radiant that I can skip makeup while using it consistently.
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Family-owned French brand Sisley-Paris offerings encompass everything from hydrating lipsticks and hair care to floral perfumes; all the products primarily focus on plant-based beauty, drawing inspiration from plants’ capacity for regeneration and adaptation. Sisley also uses a self-appointed phrase to encapsulate its work: phyto-cosmetology, which, according to the brand, involves infusing “the vital energy of plants, their adaptive and regenerative potential, as well as their protective systems” into beauty products.
With skin care, makeup, fragrance (like the L’Eau Rêvée d’Alma Eau de Toilette), hair care, and more, there’s something for everyone to fall in love with. The Velvet Sleeping Mask is another must-have that feels like a warm hug at night after washing your face. For makeup, the Phyto-Rouge Shine Lipstick is velvety and lush, with a wonderful, subtle vanilla scent that’s truly lovely.
Alastin
You’re likely familiar with Alastin because it might line the shelves in your dermatologist’s office. It is known for its unique TriHex Technology, a special skin complex of peptides and active botanicals that supports skin renewal.
Every product from the brand feels like it’s actually working on your skin—not just sitting on the surface. While our team’s favorite product—the Restorative Skin Complex with TriHex Technology—feels incredibly hydrating and makes the skin feel firmer, we love to layer it with the eye cream and moisturizer (especially during winter months) to elevate our entire skincare routine. We’d be remiss not to acknowledge the HydraTint Pro Mineral Broad Spectrum Sunscreen SPF 36, too. It gives the perfect amount of glow on days we don’t want to wear foundation. In addition to these favorites, here are more top-rated Alastin products to shop.
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If you can’t snag an appointment at top dermatologist Dr. Dennis Gross’ 5th Avenue clinic in New York, trying his famous, results-driven skin care line is a close second. The entire line addresses skin concerns that often lead many of us to the dermatologist’s office in the first place: hyperpigmentation, skin laxity, thinning lips, and more. Products are results-driven and multifunctional, thanks to highly concentrated, high-performance ingredients.
We’re big fans of the Advanced Retinol + Ferulic Intense Wrinkle Cream—it’s a whipped, soft buttery cream that absorbs quickly, minimizes fine lines, and plumps our skin in all the right places. And don’t miss the red and blue light mask. It’s one of our LED face masks, which uses red light to stimulate collagen and blue light to target blemishes, all from the comfort of your own home.
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Developed by Mathilde and Bertrand Thomas in 1995 in the vineyards of Bordeaux, Caudalie makes skin care powered by resveratrol and other potent antioxidants found in grapes. The family-owned company is the ultimate French-girl beauty secret—it can be found on the shelves of French pharmacies as well as luxury department stores. Each collection is comprised of clinically proven treatments rich in natural active ingredients that effectively renew and refresh all skin types.
We can’t get enough of their incredible Resveratrol-Lift line, but in particular the Instant Firming Serum—it’s like the milk of the heavens for sensitive skin. We are also obsessed with the Beauty Elixir refreshing spritz and Daily Mineral Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 50 Lotion—both work incredibly for sensitive, dry skin.
Danucera
You can find Danucera products on the shelves at the gorgeous Rescue Spa in Union Square, which, I can confirm, is renowned for offering some of the best facials in NYC. Danuta Mieloch, the spa’s owner and aesthetician to celebrities such as Naomi Campbell and Pat McGrath, founded Danucera on the “less is more” mindset. It’s a perfect line to try if you want to incorporate just one or two luxury skin care products into your routine, as each one is highly effective. (I’m not lying when I say even its cotton rounds feel far superior to my usual grocery-store branded ones.)
I carried my post-facial glow with me after introducing the D22 Tonic Exfoliating Face Toner and Cerabalm into my routine, leaving me less sad when the high of a truly exceptional facial wore off. After using the products for several months, my skin is totally free from summer congestion, looks much more even, and redness has dissipated significantly.
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When a clinical, dermatologist-loved brand also has luxurious textures, powerful ingredients, and incredible results, we’re invested. Founded in 1989 in London, Elemis was created with one goal: to develop skin care products with natural ingredients that combat daily aggressors, promote collagen health, and support the skin’s unique microflora for a healthier skin barrier.
We love how the Pro-Collagen Makeup Melting Cleansing Balm deeply hydrates skin and makes it feel so luxurious—it’s like experiencing a spa facial every night before bed (minus the effort and time). Another team favorite is the Dynamic Resurfacing Facial Pads—a swipe-and-go exfoliator featuring gentle AHAs (alpha-hydroxy acids) for your glowiest, glassiest skin yet.
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Powered by plants, nature, and cutting-edge science, Farmacy is a “cleanical” beauty brand with responsibly farm-sourced ingredients at the center of its formulas. The brand continues making strides toward cleaner beauty by using earth-conscious packaging and offering products free from artificial fragrances, parabens, sulfates, phthalates, mineral oil, formaldehyde, and other potentially harmful ingredients. The brand is Leaping Bunny Certified and has partnerships with Feeding America and Second Harvest, enabling it to give back to the community by donating millions of meals each year to help fight and end hunger.
There are many products to choose from, but our team religiously uses the Honey Halo Ceramide Face Moisturizer—a little goes a long way. The jar comes with a small spoon for precise application, ensuring you get the perfect amount of moisturizer without wasting a drop.
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Former award-winning TV news anchor Jamie Kern Lima cofounded It Cosmetics when she couldn’t find makeup that worked with her hereditary rosacea and hyperpigmentation. She enlisted the help of plastic surgeons and dermatologists to create a line of products made with skin-friendly ingredients that provide seamless, full coverage.
We love the brand so much that we have several products in constant rotation. The CC+ Cream Illumination Full Coverage Foundation with SPF 50+ is so good that one editor has actually used it for over five years. And we couldn’t not mention the Bye Bye Redness Concentrated Derma Serum. This skin-calming formula instantly reduces redness with a blend of green pigments and helps minimize it over time.
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Starting as an apothecary by pharmacist John Kiehl in New York City in 1851 (the original flagship store is still there), Kiehl’s is one of America’s great legacy skin care brands. With its historic contributions to what we know as a pharmacy today, Kiehl’s was at the forefront of customer service, ingredient transparency (it was among the first to list its ingredients on a label—even before government mandates), and powerful formulas. For decades, the line has continued to innovate, drawing on contributions from chemists, pharmacists, dermatologists, and scientific researchers to create potent formulas.
One InStyle editor first became obsessed with the Midnight Recovery Concentrate Moisturizing Face Oil Serum after trying it on a girls’ trip and was instantly hooked. The oil instantly absorbs into the complexion, and you can expect to wake up with baby-soft skin.
Our Testing Process
To find out the best luxury skin care brands for 2025, we surveyed our InStyle team and asked them to dote on their favorite luxury skin care brands and products. In the survey, we asked the team for detailed information on their skin type and concerns, how long they had been using the recommended product, how often they purchased products from the brand, and what they loved about it. After collecting survey results, we narrowed it down to these 13 brands.
What to Keep in Mind
- High-Quality Ingredients: “Luxury skin care ingredients are often rare and highly effective—this is the reason for the higher price and why nonluxury brands don’t use these specific ingredients despite their effectiveness,” says David Razzano, beauty director at Sephora. For instance, he explains how vitamin C is highly effective yet extremely unstable. In turn, the cost for the brand to maintain stability and potency leads to an increase in what you pay at the counter. “In this case, quality is extremely important when it comes to achieving your desired results. It is important to remember that everyone’s skin is unique—what works wonders for one person may not be the best for you,” says Razzano.
- Clinical Results: “The first question I ask is, does it work for my skin?” says Autumne West, beauty director at Nordstrom. “Before I splurge, I need to know if the product has a positive impact that is worth implementing into my skin care routine, one that will show results and have me feeling good.” For solution-oriented shoppers who are bothered by a specific skin concern and are willing to spend more to resolve it, they aren’t wowed by surface-level smoke and mirrors. They want to see data-backed evidence from a clinical study or peer review, including before-and-after photos, that proves a product is worth the investment. For those willing to invest, the majority of potent formulas are developed by the world’s top physicians and researchers and typically contain a secret, proprietary blend of vitamins, antioxidants, and collagen builders. “I always think about the fact that whenever I am bringing something new into my routine, I am likely taking something else away,” says Brown. “So, I have to think: Is this better than something else I’m already using?” Luxury or not, skin care is only as useful as the result it provides.
- Packaging: “When it comes to luxury skin care, I want all the product elements to be elevated, including the feel of the packaging,” says Razzano. Gorgeous packaging should be the cherry on top, rather than the deciding factor in purchasing an expensive skin care product. Still, we can’t deny that stunning glass jars that feel weighty in our palms and look great on our shelfies attract us like a magnet. Many skin care brands are introducing new and improved packaging made from sustainable materials or featuring refillable inserts to reduce waste.
Your Questions, Answered
Do more expensive skin care products work better?
A distinguishable factor between luxury and non-luxury skin care is not only what ingredients the brand uses, but how they’re formulated. Luxury skin care brands often use patented technology and higher concentrations of potent ingredients to achieve real results.
As Razzano explains, “Imagine you’re in a grocery store and you want spinach. You can buy fresh spinach—the most flavorful and full of nutrients, or you can buy frozen—which is less costly, but also slightly less flavorful and nutrient-rich. Lastly, you can buy canned spinach, which is the least expensive, but it has very few nutrients. Well, these are all technically ‘spinach’ but, the quality of the spinach is what you pay for.”
Is expensive skin care worth it?
When you invest in luxury skin care, it’s an elevated experience. You get quality active ingredients, the product is typically not mass-produced or carelessly packaged, and ingredient lists lack things like filler and water that dilute a product’s efficacy.
Another reason you may splurge on luxury skin care is to do something special for yourself. When you use these skin care products, it’s a little luxury injected into your day or nightly routine.
How can you tell if a skin care product is luxury?
No detail is overlooked in the world of luxury skin care, says Razzano. “From the texture of the product, and of course the quality and effectiveness of the ingredients,” he says, adding that he gravitates toward skin care filled with rare, hard-to-obtain ingredients that nourish and support skin while delivering powerful results.
Why Shop With Us
Irene Richardson is an associate editor at InStyle. For this story, she tapped the InStyle team of beauty editors and writers for their favorite luxury skin care brands and products.
Brianna Peters is a beauty writer and consultant with over a decade of experience in the industry, having written for notable outlets such as Goop, Marie Claire, Brides, Vogue, and more. With sensitive skin, she’s used to carefully and exhaustively testing anything she puts on her face. For this story, she drew on her own knowledge and research of the best luxury skin care brands and compiled insights from editor surveys to update the piece with the most recent information.
InStyle spoke to the following experts to inform this story:
- Sarah Brown is the former chief brand officer at Violet Grey.
- David Razzano is the beauty director at Sephora.
- Autumne West is the beauty director at Nordstrom.
