Beauty worth splurging on.
Most premium beauty products aren't worth the premium. Eight that are. The ones editors buy with their own money.
| Rank | Product | Best for | Score | Price | Shop |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Omnilux Contour FaceOmnilux · LED mask | Best device | 9.3/10 | AU$595 | CurrentBody → |
| 02 | SkinCeuticals C E FerulicSkinCeuticals · Vitamin C | Best vitamin C | 9.4/10 | AU$215 | Adore Beauty → |
| 03 | Loving Tan 2HR Express Deluxe MousseLoving Tan · Mousse | Best tan | 9.2/10 | AU$65 | Adore Beauty → |
| 04 | Kiehl's Midnight Recovery ConcentrateKiehl's · Serum | Best night oil | 8.9/10 | AU$88 | Adore Beauty → |
| 05 | Alpha-H Vitamin A SerumAlpha-H · Retinol | Best retinol | 9.1/10 | AU$79 | Adore Beauty → |
| 06 | Pat McGrath Skin Fetish: Sublime Skin FoundationPat McGrath Labs · Foundation | Best foundation | 9.0/10 | AU$120 | Mecca → |
| 07 | NuFACE TrinityNuFACE · Microcurrent | Best microcurrent | 9.0/10 | AU$495 | Adore Beauty → |
| 08 | Davines OI OilDavines · Oil | Best hair oil | 9.1/10 | AU$78 | Adore Beauty → |
Omnilux Contour Face
Omnilux Contour Face at $595 is the single most genuine premium-earning beauty product on the market. Clinical-grade LED, real research, real results. Every year it's on, amortised to ~$50/month for daily treatment.
The Ranking
From 8 testedContour Face
FDA-cleared, dermatologist-recommended at-home LED mask. Red + near-infrared, 10-minute sessions, clinically studied.
C E Ferulic
The benchmark vitamin C. 15% L-ascorbic acid + vitamin E + ferulic. Stabilised, clinically studied, expensive.
2HR Express Deluxe Mousse
Pro-intensity mousse, most-requested in Australian salons. Two hours for an evening tan, eight for holiday-dark. Three shades.
Midnight Recovery Concentrate
Lavender-scented night oil with squalane. Applied last in PM routine; repairs overnight.
Vitamin A Serum
The Aussie retinol serum that built a cult. Encapsulated for overnight use, kind enough for daily.
Pat McGrath Skin Fetish: Sublime Skin Foundation
Editorial-grade foundation from the most-cited makeup artist on earth. Luminous medium-full coverage.
Trinity
The microcurrent device that started the category. Tones facial muscles, visible lift over 60 days.
OI Oil
Italian hair oil with roucou oil. Weightless shine, heat protection, detangling. Salon-grade.
Affiliate disclosure: Glow earns commission from qualifying purchases through these links. It never changes our rankings. How this works.
"I'd been buying the wrong self-tan for three years. I found Glow, followed the Best Self Tan ranking, and the third one I tried was the one. Saved me weeks of guessing."
Common questions
When is premium beauty worth it?
Devices (LED, microcurrent) genuinely outperform cheaper alternatives. Foundation, skincare premium is sometimes worth it, sometimes marketing.
What's not worth splurging on?
Moisturiser, cleanser, basic shampoo, body lotion. Diminishing returns above $50.
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