Full disclosure: I’m of the belief that high-quality skincare doesn’t have to set you back an absurd amount of coin. Drugstore favorites can be just as (if not more!) effective as formulas that cost upwards of $300, and my own routine consists of quite a few high-low pairings<\/u>, despite my crowded beauty closet of spendy samples.<\/p>\n
Now, this all being said, I have tested my fair share of luxury brands (it’s part of the job description!), mainly so that when people ask me if [insert wildly expensive skincare product here] is actually worth the splurge, I can confidently tell them either to invest ASAP or save their money. I’m very rarely recommending the former, TBH, but there are some all-stars that are truly irreplaceable\u2014so good that if someone were to buy one product from a luxury skincare line, it’d be foolish not to snag it. See, some beauty fans wish to follow a full routine of Augustinus Bader or La Prairie, while others have the budget for just one, fancy all-star. For those who fall in the latter camp, here are my recommendations per brand.<\/p>\n