The 10 Most Expensive Skincare Brands & 10 Cheap Alternatives
Skincare Is A Tricky Business
With all the expensive products on the market promising eternal youth and dewy skin, it can be hard to not want to fork over the cash, no matter the price tag. However, just because products are expensive, it doesn't mean they're more effective than their much cheaper counterpart. Here are the 10 most expensive skincare brands and 10 cheap alternatives.
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1. La Mer
What started as a product used to treat scars, La Mer has evolved into a hyper-luxurious skincare brand. Their flagship moisturizer derived from sea kelp is celebrated by anyone willing to fork out $600 for 100 millimeters of the stuff.
2. La Prairie
One of the most expensive skincare brands on the market, La Prairie is known for using luxuriant ingredients like caviar and gold in their products. The company's most expensive product is an anti-aging serum that retails for over $2,000 for a 24-millimeter bottle.
3. Sisley Paris
Helping Vegans not feel left out of the luxurious skincare world, Sisley Paris makes lavish plant-based products. Touted by celebrities like Emily Ratajkowski and January Jones, the brand has garnered a cult following. Products range from $200 to over $1,000.
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4. Valmont
This Swiss company has over 100 years of history catering to top celebrities including Coco Chanel and Grace Kelly. The products are unique for containing glacial water which they claim helps revitalize the skin.
5. Clé de Peau Beauté
We're sensing a theme: the more French the name, the more expensive the brand. Clé de Peau Beauté is known for using advanced anti-aging technology. Many Clé de Peau Beauté products retail for over $1,000 a bottle, making it highly exclusive.
6. Natura Bissé
Still three figures but slightly more affordable than the others mentioned so far, Natura Bissé is known for its high-performance anti-aging line. Beyoncé, Kim Kardashian, and Gwyneth Paltrow are proponents of the brand.
7. Dr. Barbara Sturm
If doctor is in the name, it must work, right? Dr. Barbara Sturm is one of the biggest names in medical skincare. The products which range from $100 to over $1,000 claim to be based on over 25 years of scientific research tackling problems like adult acne, aging, and hyper-pigmentation.
8. 111SKIN
111SKIN is a doctor-driven skincare brand that aims to bridge the gap between skincare and surgery. Celebrities like Victoria Beckham and Hailey Bieber swear by the products which are in the $200 to $1,000 range.
9. SkinCeuticals
Adorning the shelves of beauty clinics everywhere, this brand is one of the most popular picks for estheticians. The products are known for their science-backed formulas and high concentration of active ingredients but they come at a high price with most of their products in the three-figure range.
10. Tata Harper
Tata Harper is a trailblazer in the farm-to-face beauty industry, making non-toxic, green products derived from natural ingredients, crafted in small batches. Despite all those fancy-sounding things, this brand is the most reasonably priced on this side of our list, with most products retailing in the $100 range.
Now that we've covered some of the most exorbitantly priced skincare brands, let's talk about the ones that are more accessible to those of us that aren't millionaire celebrities.
1. The Ordinary
The Ordinary is everyone's favorite no-frills beauty brand. Their products have all those science-backed ingredients for a fraction of the price in minimalist packaging.
2. CeraVe
For the amazing price of $5 to $10, you can get a variety of dermatologist-developed products that contain ingredients like ceramides and hyaluronic acid. CeraVe has everything from moisturizers to eye creams and face washes that are very effective and available all over the world.
3. Paula's Choice
A little on the pricier side but still pretty affordable considering the quality, Paula's Choice is an award-winning skincare brand. Remember that $600 La Mer moisturizer? Well, Paula's Choice has one with similar ingredients for $50.
4. Olay
Everyone who uses Olay swears by it. The company is particularly known for its moisturizers and anti-aging products that come at reasonable prices.
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5. La Roche-Posay
While some La Roche-Posay products come at a higher price range, most of them are still quite reasonable considering how effective they are. The company is known for its science-backed formulas, and concentrated ingredients, and some of its products are even medical grade.
6. Avène
With most of their products in the $10-$20 range, Avène is a great choice for budget skincare hunters. Their products are tailored to sensitive skin and are made from thermal spring water, sourced from the Cévennes Mountains in France.
7. Revolution Skincare
Revolution Skincare focuses on creating copycats of high-end products for extremely reasonable prices. Their products contain all the latest trending skincare ingredients like peptides, retinol, and squaline for as low as $5.
8. Cetaphil
Another super simple skincare brand that is both affordable and effective is Cetaphil. All Cetaphil products are non-irritating and are formulated to restore the skin's natural barrier.
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9. e.l.f. Skin
An affordable vegan skincare brand, e.l.f. Skin is a line of products catered to a younger, eco-consious audience. The products range from cleansers to serums and more advanced treatments and range from $5 to $20.
10. Inkey List
Inkey List's line focuses on single-ingredient products like caffeine eye cream and retinol serum. The brand also helps you create a personalized skincare routine but doesn't charge an arm and a leg for it.
