Want to Invest in Luxe Skin Care? These Brands Are Worth the Splurge

If you've tried ExfoliKate, a cult-favorite exfoliator, you know the magic Kate Somerville holds. There are so many products you should get your hands on, but one standout is a new launch from 2017: Clinic Reserve ($250). This cream is perfect if you're notoriously dry, lacking bouncy skin, and want your face to feel refreshed — but not weighed down by heavy moisturizers.

Kate, who got her start in the industry to remedy her own eczema and psoriasis, opened her first clinic inside of a cosmetic surgeon's office. Now, she's turned her years of expertise into a global brand with her own clinic. Chances are the celebrities and personalities you see on TV have been touched by Kate's magic hands.

Other products to try: ExfoliKate Glow Moisturizer ($65) and Dermal Quench ($98).

Omorovicza originates in Budapest, where the largest thermal lake in the world exists. It's there that the brand pros get the Hungarian Moor Mud for the Thermal Cleansing Balm ($110), which detoxes and purifies the skin. This is easily one of my favorite makeup removers because it doesn't require a double cleanse, leaves the skin soft with sweet almond oil, and never feels greasy like many other makeup removing balms can. Also, the black color makes it a lot cooler than traditional cleansing balms, and probably why it has taken off on Instagram.

Other products to try: Miracle Face Oil ($120) and Refining Facial Polisher ($95).

If Kate Hudson loves it, I'm willing to give it a try. Goldfaden MD's Doctor's Scrub ($98) is a fine, velvety scrub that seemingly sloughs off every dead skin cell from your face in one fell swoop. Unlike many physical scrubs, this one isn't harsh, and your skin will feel as smooth as as balloon after using it.

Other products to try: Fresh-a-Peel ($85) and Bright Eyes ($55).

The thing about vitamin C is that it's at its most potent when you activate it yourself, meaning it comes in powder form and you mix it before you use it. Bakel Thio-C Revitalising Glowing Serum ($196) feels like a fun beauty lab project: you activate the Vitamin C by releasing it into the Glutothione, a powerful antioxidant. Then apply the dispenser on top and use it morning and evening within three days of activating the powder. This product is powerful enough to give you the radiance you've been lacking and to help smooth out labial folds, but also is delicate enough for areas like the eyelids and under the eyes.

Other products to try: P-Lipic Rebuilding Formula ($160) and Pure Peel ($90).

I'd consider Biologique Recherche a holy grail beauty brand. The name can be daunting to pronounce and spell, but the product are anything but. Created by a biologist, a physiotherapist, and a doctor, these products are found in the most luxurious spas in the world (like Ciel Spa at the SLS Hotel in Los Angeles) and are often found at plastic surgery recovery facilities to speed up the healing process.

The product creating the most frenzy is Lotion P50. There are several iterations of this magical lotion, which is really active if applied like a toner. It exfoliates, hydrates the skin, and balances your pH level so your skin isn't over or under-producing oil. It's one of the most potent exfoliating products on the market, and my skin has become smoother and tighter from consistent use. I'm personally a big fan of Lotion P50V ($98). Unfortunately, it's difficult to purchase these products in the U.S. — be prepared to order it directly from spas or studios that carry the line. I'd also be hesitant about ordering the product off Amazon.

Other products to try: Lotion P50 ($98) and Crème Grand Millésime ($675).

Drunk Elephant has emerged as a new power player in the beauty space. The fun name, pretty packaging, and effective products have created legions of devoted consumers.

Sukari Babyfacial ($80) as been recognized as an industry favorite because it's an alpha and beta hydroxy mask that works to clarify the skin. In fact, it contains 25 percent alpha hydroxy acid, so it's super potent without making your skin feel like it's on fire. All of the ingredients in Babyfacial complement each other, so that your pH levels are balanced and your skin is noticeably radiant after one use — like a baby's.

Other products to try: C-Firma Day Serum ($80) and Framboos Glycolic Night Serum ($134).

I'm aging myself, but this is the one product I've been using for 15 years. I used to steal Vinoperfect Radiance Serum ($79) from my mother's stash because it made acne marks visibly lighter after a week of using it. Caudalie's philosophy is based on grapes — hence Vino — and this serum gently illuminates the skin.

Other products to try: Glycolic Peel ($39) and Resveratrol Lift Night Infusion Cream ($76).

Japan is always ahead of the game when it comes to beauty innovation. Japanese brand SK-II has been using active ingredient Pitera for decades, creating one of the first potent essences on the market. The Facial Treatment Essence ($270) is made of over 90 percent Pitera, which gently exfoliates the skin with each use. It's recommended that you soak a cotton pad and press it into the skin instead of rubbing, or pour into the palm of your hand and gently press it into the skin.

Other products to try: SK-II Facial Treatment Mask ($17) and Facial Treatment Clear Lotion ($76).

One reason I love Goop is because it partnered with Juice Beauty, another holistic brand, to create the line. Gwyneth Paltrow, who created the brand and its namesake, got it right with the Exfoliating Instant Facial Masque ($125). It feels like you're slathered in a rich icing that frosts your face, which is really chock full of alpha and beta hydroxy acids to eat away dead skin. Leave it on for a few minutes, then, while rinsing, work your fingertips in circular motions and benefit from the cellulose beads to experience a physical exfoliation.

Other products to try: Enriching Face Oil ($110) and Goop Glow Morning Skin Super Powder ($60).

This is another product I've used for over a decade: Fresh Black Tea Instant Perfecting Mask ($92). It's whipped consistency goes on the skin and cools it down, while the black tea helps to give your skin a little pick-me-up. Not to mention it smells like an aromatic tea, which is calming and delightful.

Other products to try: Soy Face Cleanser ($38) and Cannabis Santal Eau de Parfum ($90).

Skin feeling deflated? Sisley Paris Black Rose Skin Infusion Cream ($195) is here to plump. You. UP! This cream is the skin care equivalent of Arnold Schwarzenegger: it does the heavy lifting and it's so popular, it could run for office. You will notice an immediate difference in the texture of your skin, and over time, the luminosity of your skin will be completely revamped thanks to — wait for this doozy — Alkekengi calyx extract. Yeah. I struggled pronouncing it too, but it's the key to the plumping effect the cream has.

Other products to try: Eye Contour Mask ($145) and Energizing Foaming Body Exfoliator ($132).