Deep diving into the bargain bins for cheap beauty thrills at the local CVS is regular midweek practice here at The Cov HQ, that much you already know. Plus, after our month-long breakdown of the best drugstore scores by way of our Cov-alums, we’ve stalked up on our fair share of Neutrogena and Cetaphil (like, enough to last a whole effing year). But as much as we love our budget finds and the extra cash in our bank accounts, we’re also suckers for the La Mers and La Prairies, that are, well, :money_with_wings:. But sorting through the plethora of splurge-worthy creams, cleansers and serums is damn overwhelming—which ones are actually worth your hard-earned dollars? But guys, as always, we got you. Because we’ve seen the stacked beauty cabinets and we’ve drilled the top makeup artists and beauty editors who actually know what the luxe products that are worth the investment. Now, all you have to do is just wait for payday.
Cleansers
“I use La Mer Crème cleanser followed with La Mer concentrate serum.”- Kahlana Barfield, Editor-at-Large, Fashion & Beauty, InStyle.
"In the morning I begin by washing my face with a good cleanser by Dr. Murad or Kate Somerville.”- Deena Abdulaziz, Co-Founder and Creative Director, D'NA.
“I splurge on La Mer products. I was totally a nonbeliever in the stuff for a while, but after I started using it I was convinced. I use the La Mer cleansing foam usually in the morning (and sometimes at night) If I’m trying to make the stuff last I will use Fresh Lotus Youth Preserve Face Cream. I also use a Clarisonic when I wash my face, usually just in the shower at night.” - Bethany Cosentino, Musician, Best Coast
“At night I use One Love Organics Skin Savior to remove makeup and Nourish Organic Cucumber + Watercress Face Cleanser.” - Rachael Wang, Freelance Stylist
“In the mornings I cleanse (at the moment with La Mer’s The Cleansing Lotion) then every second or third day I use my Clarisonic.” - Carmen Hamilton “I love Mario Badescu’s Cucumber Cleansing Lotion and wear it twice a day.”- Amalia Spinardi, Founder, Jo De Mer
“To clean my face, I always use Bioderma products.”- Sofie Valkiers, Blogger; Fashionista; Stylist; Author
“I wash my face with [Bobbi Brown] Soothing Cleansing Oil and sometimes I mix Buffing Grains with Extra Balm Rinse if I want to exfoliate.”- Bobbi Brown, Beauty Mogul; Founder and CCO, Bobbi Brown Costmetics; EIC, Yahoo Beauty
“Give me a La Prairie foam cleanser and a big jar of Crème de la Mer and I am good to go.” - Byrdie Bell, Actor & Model
“Le Mieux is my go-to brand for skin care. They have the most incredible under eye pads that really work. I also use Dr. Lancer products.”- Gillian Jacobs, Actor
"In the morning I do the whole Somme Institute 5-Step program (well, 6 steps for me including the eye treatment).”- Jayne Min, Designer; Creative Consultant
Moisturizers & Serums
“At night I wash with charcoal soap and moisturize with La Mer or Rodin Olio Lusso depending on how my skin feels. I always moisturize my body with Mountain Ocean Skin Trip.”- Jayne Min
“For skincare, I love Santa Maria Novella from Florence, Mila Moursi Paris, and La Prairie product from my favorite spa at the Bel Air Hotel, which I always travel with.”- Erica Polesini, Stylist; Designer
"In the evening before bed, I use MAC’s makeup wipes before washing my face, and finish off with Estee Lauder’s Advanced Night Repair Serum."- Deena Abdulaziz
“At the moment I'm obsessed with serums, Dr Sebagh Serum Repair, Rodial Glamoxy, Lancome Genifique. I also think face masks are the unsung hero of the beauty world! I use one almost everyday, Bliss Triple Oxygen, Sisley Radiance, Origins Drink Up, Creme de la Mer. Moisturizers; Sisley All Day All Year, Philosophy Hope in a Jar, Creme de la Mer, the classic one." - Angela Scanlon, Television Presenter
“Clinique exfoliant, Mario Badescu toner, Dr Jart Ceramidin cream and liquid”- Amy Rose Spiegel, Story Editor, Rookie; Author, Action
“My morning and nightly beauty routine are similar—cream cleanser, Rose Water Spray, Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Serum, La Mer Cream in winter and Dr. Haushka Rose Day Cream in summer.”- Carolyn Murphy, Women's Design Directon, Shinola; Model
“For face cream, I use Crème de la Mer in the winter and Sisley hydra-global in the summer. When I have a party, I start by applying Estee Lauder’s night repair, which gives me a perfect complexion just in a few days.”- Amalia Spinardi
“I always follow my cleanser with an antioxidant-packed eye cream (I use Estelle & Thild Antioxidant Eye Cream) and a great moisturizer (Dr Jart Ceramidin Cream is literally the best ever).”- Carmen Hamilton, Editor, The Chronicles of Her; Blogger, Vogue Australia
“For moisturizer, I use Rodin face oil, which is kind of the splurge of my beauty routine. Depending on the day, I’ll use an SPF 30 from Dermatologica. At night, I use this REN Glycolic thick mask that exfoliates. It’s really great. I use it three times a week and it gets rid of any dead skin and it’s gentle and it doesn’t make your skin bright red.”- Annina Mislin, Stylist
“[In the] morning I do Kiehl's Eye Cream and a moisturizer from La Prairie. I also do their [La Prairie] eye cream, and then that’s really it for my morning routine. At night, I use my Clarisonic, which is so awesome it completely gets everything off your face." - Ashley Benson, Actor
"My beauty routine is an explosion. I stick by my daily scrub of Dermalogica Skin Prep Scrub, Dior Hydra Life SPF moisturizer and Sodashi Rose Water spray to stay fresh. My favorite is La Mer Moisturizing Crème." - Bambi Northwood
"I have very sensitive dry skin and Chanel’s Sublimage La Crème has done wonders for me.”- Bettina Prentice
“I love the Jurlique Moisturizing Oil, it’s super hydrating. I’m also a huge fan of the Herbal Recovery Gel.”- Claiborne Swanson Frank
“I love all La Mer and Dr. Colbert [skincare] products.”- Julia Von Boehm
“Mostly I’ll coat my face again with almond oil before bed or when it’s really dry I’ll pat on Josie Maran Argan Infinity Cream.”- Rachael Wang
“My go-to daily products are the GM Collins Face Wash and the Actinia Face Moisturizer with SPF. Twice a week I’ll use my Clarisonic and I also have regular light therapy sessions.”- Camilla Charriere
“I use a lot of Fresh oils lately. I’ve always been a Dr. Hauschka girl: I used to have really bad acne, so it’s good for my skin.”- Candice Huffine
"Every morning I spray my skin with Eau Florale by Sisley. I then put on Crème De La Mer as a moisturizer and a Clarins sunscreen with a light SPF to protect my skin from sun and pollution.”- Camille Seydoux
“I could survive easily with just my Dr. Hauschka’s Rose Cream”- Romy Frydman
“ I use Cosmedix Affirm Serum, Results RX Eye Doctor eye gel, and I always use Actinica SPF 50+ sunscreen during the day, even in winter.”- Rebecca Caratti
“I use [Estelle & Thild’s] BioDefense Multi-Action Youth Serum and Oil.” - Sofie Valkiers
“I moisturize with [Bobbi Brown] Extra Repair Moisturizing Balm and will sometimes layer the Extra Repair Serum on top, especially during the winter months when my skin tends to be dry.”- Bobbie Brown
“For skincare, I like the Black Tea line from Fresh, and Crème de La Mer, which I have used for many years.”- Lucia Liu
“Favorite products by Kiehl's are the Rosa Arctica Eye Cream and the Super Multi-Corrective Cream for the face.” - Beatrix Ost
“I use the whole MV organic skincare range: the cleanser, face mask, skin oil.”- Bip Ling
“On rare nights home my absolute favorite mask is Omorovicza’s blue diamond peel. My skin feels completely lifted and rejuvenated after… it’s an insanely good mask."- Casey Fremont Crowe
“I start with Takami Doctor’s skin peels which is like booster, then use all the key items from SK-II.” - Maiko Shibata
“My skin is a little dry so I love oils. I’m only happy when I look a little bit shiny. I’ve been using Clinique ‘take the day off’ since I was in tenth grade. Renee Rouleau’s triple berry smoothing peel is amazing. And I think the Clarisonic is excellent.”- Erika Bearman
“At night I use Kate Somerville face wash (love all their products) and then use Isun Ohyto Infusion Serum, DNA Photo Collagen moisturizer and Weleda wild rose moisturizer.” - Erin Foster
“I use Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair serum, which makes the texture of my skin feel like velvet. In the morning I use Estée Lauder’s Hydrationist moisturizer which has some SPF in it.”- Hilary Rhoda
“Dr.Colbert for a triad is a must at least every three months. I never have time, but having a facial at Joelle Ciocco in Paris, is really incredible, she works and massages your skin inside out.”- Irene Chung
"[I like the] anti-aging serum (that’s actually an oil) from Intelligent Nutrients, John Masters Organics SPF40 and Skinceuticals Phloretin CF antioxidant gel."- Jean Godfrey-June