"Expensive" has such negative connotations, don't you think? But just because something is pricey doesn't mean you should automatically write it off. Certain spendy things, like these 28 Best of Beauty Award-winning splurges (we like that word so much more than expensive), are absolutely worthy of artfully shuffling around your budget a bit. And so are you.
This year's most meritorious splurges include some familiar (read: repeat-winner) names. (We see you, Dyson, and SK-II.) But you'll also find lots of first-timers among these luxurious picks, like the most sumptuous clay mask you'll ever spread on your skin, a foundation with IRL filtering power, and a hairspray that will never let you or your updo down.
Our editors know how lucky they are to get to test out tons of the most luxurious skin-care, hair-care, body-care, and makeup products, and they know you're not about to jeopardize a rent payment over a tool that may not fulfill its promises. That's why you can trust these winners to wow you the first and every time you use them, with zero buyer's remorse.
Best of Beauty Awards 2024: Splurges
Shop your favorite category or keep scrolling for the year's best high-priced beauty picks.
- Best Splurge Skin Care
- Best Splurge Hair Care & Accessories
- Best Splurge Makeup
- Best Splurge Body Products
Best Splurge Skin Care
Why It Won: The dream of K-beauty is alive and well in Sulwhasoo Gentle Cleansing Oil. Remarkably light, it exits the pump ready to remove makeup and sunscreen, and the moisture it imparts lasts long past the second step of your double cleanse (and its refreshing herbal scent will make you want to circle back around to step one).
Tester Feedback: "This cleanser gives a generous amount of product with just one pump, melting off all my makeup—including mascara—without leaving raccoon eyes or smudges," says associate manager of special projects Talia Gutierrez.
Why It Won: As a thick, golden dollop of Monika Blunder Beauty Melt Down Cleansing Balm morphs from salve to emulsion, its rosehip and sweet almond oils easily sweep away everything that shouldn't follow your face to bed. Arnica keeps skin calm, while squalane softens so much that your pillow might think it's resting on you.
Tester Feedback: "I really love the consistency. It's thick but breaks down into this pudding-like lather," says associate beauty director Sarah Kinonen. "All you need is a dime-size dab to wipe away mascara and grease—a little goes such a long way!"
Why It Won: It's hard to think of many things that came into existence in 1980, essentially haven't changed since their inception, yet remain the gold standard in their category, but that's exactly the case with SK-II Facial Treatment Essence. Big in Japan—and many Allure editors' medicine cabinets—the famous yeast ferment formula improves skin's texture and tone, helping it produce more of its own hyaluronic acid for a visibly hydrated, less-lined look.
Tester Feedback: "This is a luxurious go-to for me," says associate director of special projects Hunter Lacey. "Every time I decide to live a little at the expense of my wallet, I am reminded I should probably just put aside an SK-II fund for future purchases."
Why It Won: It's a bold name, for sure, but our testers found that the fermented ingredients (like kombucha black tea) in Orveda The Omnipotent Concentrate do indeed have the power to address the way damage has manifested on the skin (redness, dullness) while imparting an instant silky glow. Peptides also play an important role in its anti-inflammatory formula, which leaves skin beaming.
Tester Feedback: "Orveda is pretty new to the luxury skin-care scene, and they already knocked it out of the park with this gorgeous serum," says executive beauty director Jenny Bailly. “I didn't realize how good it was until I ran out—my first bottle lasted about four months—and my skin was noticeably less glowy, my makeup more draggy (I had been using it every morning). And two big thumbs up for the scent, fresh and green and—not always the case with fancy skin care—very light.”
Why It Won: Profoundly luxurious, Chanel Le Lift Pro Crème Volume elevates the experience of applying face cream to a sumptuous ritual. As you follow the brand's recommended massage technique—yes, we are that fancy—its honey smooths and supports skin, giving it a more contoured, radiant appearance.
Tester Feedback: "Even though I'm only 28, my biggest fear is getting wrinkles, so I'll try anything that claims to prevent or treat them," says shopping market editor Angela Trakoshis. "In addition to my regular retinol use, I've also been giving myself the full Chanel facial-massage treatment with this cream at night. I wake up looking like I just had a facial."
Why It Won: SkinCeuticals H.A. Intensifier Multi-Glycan doesn't just include hyaluronic acid on its ingredient list. It also uses licorice root and purple rice extract to help increase and sustain higher levels of the humectant naturally found in your dermis. The result is skin so hydrated that lines look softened, skin looks bouncier, and fillers—if that's your jam—get a little extra help from the outside.
Tester Feedback: "This product is serious," says creative director Amber Venerable. "It feels substantial but not heavy and gives instant hydration to the skin."
Why It Won: A boon for battling discoloration, SkinMedica Even & Correct Advanced Brightening Treatment brings together a coterie of ingredients with their sights set on spots. In addition to evening tone and lessening the look of hyperpigmentation, lotus sprout extract, tranexamic acid, and niacinamide boost overall brightening and dark-spot fading moving forward.
Tester Feedback: "This really makes an impact on my skin, with just enough hydration," says senior audience development director Lexi Herrick.
Why It Won: The universal hue—no, really—of Dr. Few Tinted Mineral Sunscreen SPF 30 means you may feel like skipping foundation after it sets. But we'd suggest giving it a chance to impress you as a moisturizing makeup primer too. Most importantly, though, it's a lightweight yet formidable sunscreen (like, 25% zinc oxide formidable) that defends skin against UVA and UVB rays.
Tester Feedback: "Everything about this well-packaged sunscreen feels expensive," says associate entertainment director Eugene Shevertalov. "It goes on light and dries quickly."
Why It Won: Brush on this gorgeously green, creamy concoction any time your pores feel congested and your skin is stuck in a rut. La Mer The Deep Purifying Mask's bentonite and kaolin clays play well with its witch hazel, algae, and an array of gently exfoliating acids that hit reset on your complexion.
Tester Feedback: "This glided onto my skin like butter," says Shevertalov. "While I waited for it to dry, my face tingled a bit (but that's how you know it's working, right?). When I rinsed it away after 10 minutes, my skin was visibly smoother, glowier, and my pores were minimized to a place where I could barely see them."
Best Splurge Hair Care & Accessories
Why It Won: Whether their hair is wispy or super-thick, testers raved about the stunning La Bonne Brosse N.01 The Universal Brush. Its keratin-rich boar bristles untangle knots, smooth strands, and distribute your scalp oils through its lengths without risking breakage. And with its colorful, swirled design, it's so aesthetically pleasing that you'll want to keep it on your coffee table.
Tester Feedback: "This sturdy and gorgeous brush truly penetrates the hair and does the job quickly," says senior visuals editor Lauren Brown. "This glides right through my 3C/4A curls."
Why It Won: Yes, Sisley Paris The Invisible Hold Hairspray is a three-figure hairspray. And no, you will not regret it. The formula truly feels like nothing in your hair and holds the soft curves of a great blowout for days (correct, that's plural). It also acts like a daily multivitamin for your hair, protecting and softening with vitamin E acetate and provitamin B5.
Tester Feedback: "This is my Goldilocks of hairsprays," says commerce writer Jennifer Hussein. "Its ultrafine mist doesn't leave a crunchy texture behind, but it is somehow strong enough to hold my frizziest strands and flyaways in place. Sure, it's pricey, but considering that I have no notes on this formula, it's well worth the investment."
Why It Won: It's almost shocking how much power this slim, lightweight (10.4 ounces!) dryer can muster, but that's just a fraction of GAMA Italy Professional iQ3's wow factor. It is engineered to pay attention, so to speak, so it automatically turns off when placed on its "smart pad." It also has a setting memory, so it can jump right to your favorite temperature and speed.
Tester Feedback: "This hair-dryer is the definition of small but mighty," says Herrick. "It's incredibly lightweight and easy to use, but also provides an outstanding amount of power, precision, and heat. I have long, thick hair, and the dryer has effectively cut my hair-drying time in half."
Why It Won: It's about time claw clips got a dressy upgrade. The Jennifer Behr Agatha Jaw Clip is enveloped in shiny satin ribbons, so your casually hoisted hair is buoyed between lavish bows. It's so easy to incorporate into any outfit, you may find it becoming your signature accessory.
Tester Feedback: "The clip is actually very sturdy, so it's not just for the coquette vibes," says McGrath.
Why It Won: Neither a traditional scalp scrub nor a conventional shampoo, Anablue Scalp Cleanser is a tingly, lathering formula that exfoliates without scouring. Made with argan oil, minerals from Himalayan pink salt, and glycerin, it gets skin gently tingling as it hydrates, letting you know your roots are refreshed.
Tester Feedback: "It actually feels scrubby while foaming up and cleansing my hair as well as a regular shampoo," says content director Kara McGrath.
Why It Won: It's no surprise that the Dyson Airwrap continues racking up Allure awards. The already iconic gadget changed the game by harnessing a high-powered airflow to dry, smooth, curl, and more without the heat damage that's all but inevitable with conventional heat-styling tools. The $600 price tag may seem outrageous, but the six attachments make it outrageously easy to achieve salon-level style.
Tester Feedback: "If you just can't seem to nail the round brush and blow-dryer combo for at-home blowouts, let me introduce you to the Dyson Airwrap," says social director Kassidy Silva. "After dedicating nearly an entire Pinterest board to blowout hair inspo, I took the plunge on this $600 tool and never looked back."
Best Splurge Makeup
Why It Won: Lip oils typically include, as you might have guessed, moisturizing oils—like the sunflower seed oil in Guerlain KissKiss Bee Glow Oil. But what sets this sheer, significantly shiny tint apart from other lip oils is the contribution from bees: a blend of comforting honey, smoothing propolis, and plumping royal jelly that makes it a skin-care product as much as makeup.
Tester Feedback: "A lip oil is only as good as its applicator, and this doe foot is the perfect size to coat my lips in a single pass," says associate features director Dianna Mazzone Singh. "The glossy but not greasy formula hydrates all day. I like the shade Rose, which provides a perfectly subtle wash of pink."
Why It Won: You can actually see the soft feel of Westman Atelier Lip Suede Matte Lipstick in its 10 stunningly vibrant shades. With no dryness or feathering in sight, the creamy, vitamin E-enriched bullet is free to engulf lips in unsurpassed color saturation.
Tester Feedback: "This lipstick feels as soft as silk when applied, and has such a bold array of gorgeous colors," says Herrick. "The quality is unmatched, with a magnetic lid and cute little hearts carved into the lipstick itself. And you're never left with a ring around your mouth—it fades evenly into a light tint with a sweet, soft color as well."
Why It Won: Makeup artist Pat McGrath's legendary fashion month tool kit includes rhinestones, lace, and rubber—but above all, she is a master at manipulating light. Her Pat McGrath Labs Skin Fetish: Sublime Perfection Foundation delivers a runway-ready luminosity that fine-tunes skin for 12 dazzling hours. The smoothed look isn't just an illusion either—ceramides and hyaluronic acid empower this foundation to actually improve skin.
Tester Feedback: "This is the foundation I can rely on to deliver a natural yet flawless finish every single time," says associate content manager Hannah Brower.
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Why It Won: Sometimes you have to pay more to get less. What makes the KS&CO Microfeathering Brow Pen such a find is how easy it is to create extraordinarily delicate hairlike strokes with its dainty brush-tip applicator.
Tester Feedback: "This product is the key to getting the perfect, natural feathery strokes," says Kinonen. "It's so easy for a quick fill-in—just a few flicks and I'm ready to go."
Why It Won: Hourglass Unreal Liquid Blush eliminates one of the biggest challenges of liquid blush with an innovative dropper that dispenses exactly the right amount. Once that ideal dose is applied, cheeks wake up with hydrating, plumping, yet weightless color full of luminous, buildable pigment.
Tester Feedback: "This gorgeous blush lasts all day, and its lightweight formula blends seamlessly into the skin for a healthy glow," says Brower.
Why It Won: No matter how you decide to do your makeup, if it includes Victoria Beckham Vast Lash Mascara, your eyelashes are going to get noticed. What won't be seen, however, are smudges, because even though the ingenious formula comes off with some warm water, it withstands even the most oppressive humidity all day long.
Tester Feedback: "This mascara looks and feels so luxe," says senior business director Eilish Morley. "I love how it makes my lashes look: long and full."
Why It Won: Even without shade names like Diesel, Belt, Motor, and Sweat, it seems that the Isamaya Industrial Colour Pigments Eyeshadow Palette is inspired by a grunge-meets-punk verve. Rust red, avocado green, midnight blue… The 14 shimmering colors may seem to clash, but they blend seamlessly to create eye shadow looks from edgy to everyday.
Tester Feedback: "If I could save only one thing from my makeup collection in a fire, it would be this palette," says commerce producer Sarah Hoffmann. “The sculpted component is a work of art so it sets your expectations extremely high for the shadows inside, and they do not disappoint. It's the palette avant-garde, editorial makeup dreams are made of—pigmented shimmers and glitters in a sexy, muted color palette, plus a creamy matte-black shade that grounds the whole thing.”
Best Splurge Body Products
Why It Won: D.S.& Durga developed I Don't Know What as a way to enhance a fragrance you already love with notes of iso e super and vetiver acetate. Now, this aromatic takes on a compelling new role as a hydrating body soap that brings out the beautiful scent of your own skin. And that certain, as the French would say, "I don't know what" demands a new bathing category: the special occasion shower.
Tester Feedback: "As soon as I stepped out of the shower, my partner was obsessed with how this smelled on me," says social media manager Bianca Richards.
Why It Won: Housed in a weighty, tinted glass as lovely as the scent of the wax inside, the Diptyque Paris Les Mondes de Diptyque candle in Temple des Mousses channels a Japanese Zen garden overflowing with moss. Notes of bark, lichen, and matcha create a woody, green envelope around your space, making the urge to order a refill (at less than half the original price) impossible to resist.
Tester Feedback: "Such a pretty vessel," says senior editor Jesa Marie Calaor. "This particular scent smells earthy and fresh, and it's strong when lit."
Why It Won: When you finally get your hands on Matiere Premiere Vanilla Powder Eau de Parfum—it has a tendency to sell out—you can expect to be enthralled by the way its palo santo oil grounds a sweet, fresh blend of vanilla and coconut. As it becomes one with your skin, white musk helps it hover, gently reminding anyone who comes near you that you have great taste.
Tester Feedback: "I give this fragrance a 100,000/10," says Silva. "I received three compliments in the first two hours of wearing this scent."
Why It Won: The notes of magnolia, musk, tangerine, and Bulgarian rose that make Fenty's eau de parfum so famously sensual and nostalgic get a rich, sensory reimagining in Fenty Parfum Body Crème. The scent is delivered in a wildly moisturizing blend of oils—coconut, jojoba seed, and watermelon seed—as well as shea and mango seed butters, keeping the fragrance close and hydration closer.
Tester Feedback: "My ideal body cream," says McGrath. "Its texture is like homemade buttercream frosting, and it has a strong, pretty scent."
Why It Won: You wouldn't skip serum for your face, so it's about time you treated your body with the same esteem. Osea Hyaluronic Body Serum serves skin five courses of the water-retaining ingredient—at five different molecular weights—to immediately draw in plumping hydration, while algae replenish minerals and niacinamide smooths things over before you lock it all in with your favorite moisturizer.
Tester Feedback: "I'm usually a body lotion girlie, but this summer has been a scorcher, and there was no way I was going to mix a heavy, head-to-toe moisturizer with 70% humidity on any day of the week," says Kinonen. "Instead, I switched to this lighter, fragrance-free elixir that gives just enough hydration without leaving behind a sticky, sweaty mess. It's been such a nice change to my typical routine."
Why It Won: Skin cell turnover (a.k.a. scaly legs and crepey arms turnover) is a top priority for U Beauty Resurfacing Body Compound, and the opaque gel addresses it from several ingredient angles. The acid gang's all here—lactic, salicylic, mandelic, phytic, glycolic—with an exfoliation assist from enzymes, while peptides and retinol help brighten and smooth.
Tester Feedback: "I put this on my crusty, dusty feet with some Vaseline, and it works," says senior news editor Nicola Dall'Asen. "I like the serum-y texture; it sinks into skin nicely, and it doesn't leave a residue."
Written by Marci Robin
How we test and review products for Allure Best of Beauty
Ubiquitous with the beauty market's cream of the crop, Allure's little red Best of Beauty seal is known worldwide as being a trusted indicator of the year's top products—and we do not take that trust for granted. Each year, we painstakingly test tens of thousands (yes, really) of products across over a dozen categories, including Hair, Skin, Makeup, Nails, Fragrance, Splurges, Steals, Tools, Breakthroughs, and Sensitive. We employ a large group of testers—including editors, top industry professionals, and other experts— to ensure representation for a wide range of ages, genders, skin tones, and hair textures, as well as dermatological sensitivities and conditions.
How we determined Allure's Best of Beauty Splurge Winners
For our Best of Beauty winners in the Splurges category, we considered each product's performance across the following categories: product ingredients and efficacy, packaging, fragrance (where relevant), and product experience (including texture and wear). We tested over 7,000 products for 24 weeks on different skin and hair types with various concerns. Every product was determined to have excelled in each category by our editorial team, which is composed of in-house writers and editors as well as contributors—along with special consideration from relevant experts.
To learn more information on our reporting and testing processes, read our complete reviews process and methodology page.
Discover more 2024 Best of Beauty Winners:
- Best of Beauty 2024: Breakthrough Winners
- Allure Best of Beauty 2024: Scent Winners
- Best of Beauty 2024: Steals Winners
Watch us test our Allure 2024 Best of Beauty Splurge winners:
