Expensive beauty products: Are they worth it?

Beauty is not only pain, but can cost an arm and a leg too. Sure, lunchtime manicures, monthly laser appointments and seasonal foundation updates add up to more than we’d ever like to admit, but it’s the splurges on expensive beauty products that can really break the bank.
So we thought it would be fun to ask, what’s the most you’ve ever spent on a beauty product IN ONE GO? Maybe you saved your pennies for months on end, maybe it was a spur of the moment, spontaneous decision and perhaps you regretted everything as soon as you used it.
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Personally, the most I’ve ever spent was on 1mL of Juvederm Plus to enhance my lips. At $550 a pop, the money would have perhaps been better put towards the deposit for a small studio apartment, but try tell that to my super juicy, super plump pout.
*Believe it or not, this is not actually me, but you get the idea.
Now it’s over to you (and the rest of the bh staff)…
“TATCHA™ Dewy Skin Mist – Kim Kardashian uses it and her skin is like God’s gift of glowing skin. It was about $AU100 when I ordered it from the states, which is a LOT for a face mist but I don't care as I absolutely love it and save it for special occasions.” – bh’s Kelly
“I bought a jar of Crème de la Mer when I was 20. It was $US195. Please don’t ask me why a 20-year-old would buy or use Crème de la Mer! Clearly I have no idea if it was worth it because I was 20 and my skin was perfect already. But I do remember that it was great for my eye area as well as my face.” – bh member Lucrecia629
“My old beauty therapist got me onto Thalgo Collagen Cream at the ripe age of 14. It was the first beauty product I had ever bought with my own money, and while $84 isn’t in the triple digits or anything, it was well beyond my Maccas pay-grade at the time! It was probably my natural youthfulness, but I got a lot of ‘glowing skin’ compliments when I used it.” – bh’s Ally
“The most expensive beauty tool I’ve bought was an IPL machine about five years ago. It was about $500 with postage from overseas as there were not many options available on the market in Australia at the time. It does work with consistent use and I have had no issues at all. I use it on the highest setting and my skin tone is super fair with dark hair so I am an ideal candidate for these types of treatments.” – bh member Miss Margaret
“Estée Lauder’s Advanced Night Repair ($185) sets me back every time but I’m currently exploring a Korean dupe: Missha Time Revolution Night Repair Activator Ampoule ($US49).” – bh member Ethelinde
"The most I've ever spent on a beauty product was $254 for perfume – La Tulipe by BYREDO. Yes, it's a lot of money for a bottle of fragranced water, but it's my signature scent and I can't get enough." – bh’s Diana
“I can't recall my most expensive beauty product, but as far as make-up goes it's $120 on Tom Ford Traceless Foundation Stick. I love the texture, the coverage and the Bisque shade is my perfect foundation colour match!” – bh’s Michelle
“Clinique Smart Custom-Repair Serum ($80) … I like this product, it lasts a long time and I don’t spend a lot of money on anything else so I don’t mind spending it on this when it works for me.” – bh member Hayley644
“The most I’ve ever spent on a beauty product was $305 on a fragrance by revived brand Atkinsons. Oud Save the Queen is one of the most expensive fragrances in the range and of course it’s the one I fell in love with! I had never smelt anything so sexy, strong and seductive as this before so I absolutely had to make it mine.” – bh’s Sophia
“I have spent a lot of money on beauty products over the years, but one purchase that still stings is the whopping $86 for the Tom Ford Eye Defining Pen. What makes it even worse is that I have fallen in love with the eyeliner, so to say I'm dreading the day it's dried up is an understatement.” – bh’s Aja
"Personally I tend to splurge more on beauty treatments, but the most I've ever spent on a product was $90 for a Diptyque Jasmin Candle I bought in Paris five years ago for my mum. She still hasn't lit it to this day because she thinks it's too precious (ridiculous, I know) – at this rate it'll be sitting on her bedside table for at least another five years, so I suppose in a way it was worth it for the longevity!" – bh's Beth
What’s the most money you’ve ever spent on a beauty product? Was it worth it?
Have you tried any of the products mentioned above?
Review them now to earn points that you can swap for free beauty products in RewardsRoom.
78 Member Comments
Recently splurged on a gadget, just because it looks fun. NuFAce
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I try my hardest not to splurge. My biggest beauty spend is getting my hair done.
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Would have to be the La Mer Concentrate. 3-4 years ago I developed severely reactive skin and sun allergy, like lupus. No more. During that time this La Mer serum was very soothing and comforting. I am getting the last out of the bottle by adding my usual moisturiser. Id like to be able to still use it just around the eyes during spring.
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Alot of the cosmeceutical skincare is expensive. Not so bad when you just need one creme but when you need a whole heap of products it adds up pretty quickly.
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I don't think I've ever bought something really expensive, I have however been lucky enough to win one or two expensive products.
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I've rained in my spending in the last few years and now spend on an as needs basis, rather than an as wants basis. I bought hair extensions a couple of years ago that were a couple of hundred dollars or more, but are fabulous and still in A1 condition.
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My most expensive products are my GHD, Estee Lauder ANR and my favourite perfume J'Adore by Christian Dior. I think they are all worth it and not purchases that I make often, so I would definitely repurchase them.
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I think it was GHD, but it lasted so many years it works out to be $20 a year!
Or having laser treatment done at $99 per session. I have had over 20 sessions but all my unsightly hair is now gone, permenantly. Best investment ever.
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The highest amount I've spent was on a hair straightner for $69.95 when there were much cheaper one's at the time & since last year when I got it I still haven't used it still to this day but I will soon I just like that one in practicular more so then the other's but as long as you are happy with whatever you buy/choose that's the only thing that matter's.
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The most I've ever spent on a beauty product would be perfume at around $130
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Estée Lauder gets me every time! I can't live without their ANR as well as double wear foundation and mascara plus bronzer goddess. So I try to go at gwp times ! Also religiously get Medik8 eye cream. Plus now that I love Juliette Armand caviar cream! Dammit ... I saw it is 94 dollars . Help! Hopefully by the time I run out they have gwp too!
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My mum always used expensive skincare and cosmetics, and I seem to have inherited her taste!
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Not so much on products but hair tools and facials/treatments would be my biggest spends.
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My latest splurge is Tom Ford haul over 300 bucks. Yup, I am done for the year =D
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Tom Ford is always money well spent Yohanna! Enjoy!
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So true! Was in love with their lippies for years back, and some other goodies. For me it is not a big splurge as they last me for so long (I wear makeup only rarely, but when I do... hehe...)
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It would be moisturiser nearly $80 and I thought that was very expensive, I know you could spend more. I would love to try others. Keep smiling
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The most expensive thing I've ever spent on was facials: fraxel.
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My birthday is coming up and I've just put in an order with Mr. Dilettante for a GHD hairdryer. It is my birthday after all.
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Im going to buy a $150 moisturiser. It is worth it 110% I have tried it multiple times as a sample and it is amazing. It's the Chantecaile flower cream. Usually I get oily on my forehead but after using this product I no longer do. It is always soft but not oily.
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Oh its ghd hair straightener which was expensive but definitely worth it.
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Nice. Want to try some of these!
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Hmm not sure what my most expensive product purchase is, but these days there's so many cheaper alternatives
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Thalgo. Decleor. Kora. And Aveda.
These are all my favourites, and I switch between them. But these brands are ultra expensive. But you are paying for the top ingredients they source and whether it's organic or not too.
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