10 Splurge-Worthy Beauty Products We Tried, Loved, and Unfortunately Can’t Stop Buying Now

Mar. 15, 2025

Photo:YSE Beauty; Ulta; Sephora (2); Amazon (4)

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, fromgetting salon-worthy blowoutsin the PEOPLE Tested lab todabbing eye creamsin 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 fewluxury skincare itemsbecame staples in our routines despite their price tags — and these splurges quickly turned into favorites we couldn’t imagine living without.

From apore-minimizing moisturizertobrightening eye masksfromMolly Sims’ skincare line, these are the luxury beauty products we’re excited to restock this year.

Chanel Hydra Beauty Camellia Water Cream

Ulta

Buy Now for $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 at Amazon

“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

Yse Beauty Overachiever Brightening Eye Masks

YSE Beauty

$36 at Ysebeauty.com

“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 ofeye 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

Tatcha Water Cream

Sephora

$72 at Tatcha.com

“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

$49 at Amazon

“I’ve tried boatloads of lotions to helpcombat my dry skinin 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 at Rhodeskin.com

“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

$48$46 at Amazon

“The only bad thing we at PEOPLE Tested have to say about our favoriteshampoo for thinning hairis 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

$69 at Sephora

MDSolarSciences Daily Perfecting Moisturizer

$76$60 at Amazon

“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 at Dermstore

“I’ve tried a number of products fromAllies of Skin, and each product instantly becomes a new staple in my highly-researched skincare routine. Thegentle cleanseris the least stripping option I’ve ever tried; themulti-peptide seruminstantly plumps up my fine lines; and theantioxidant moisturizerfeels 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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source: people.com