Spendy Products Worth the Investment, Based on Your Main Skin Concern
Yads Cauchi is a Dermal Clinician, Nutritionist (BHSc, MSc) and Beauty Journalist. She's also a mum of four. Evidence based skin health and nutrition are her thing and she works from her own skin clinic based in Canberra - you can find her there, or on Instagram and TikTok @yadscauchiskin.
We all love a bargain and of course, there are many ways to save on your skincare routine when treating your concerns.
Although what happens when we have a little extra cash to spend?
As a Dermal Therapist, I am forever talking to clients about budgeting to suit their lifestyle, however I also believe there are certain areas in our skincare routine and products that are just worth the investment.
Skincare serums are one area where I genuinely do believe that investing a little extra can go a long way.
And for others, skincare devices (while exxy) can also be beneficial when you don’t live close enough to a clinic for regular skin treatments.
However, you do need to be using them frequently for best results.
Anyway, budget of course is not a term that can be broadly classified to suit the needs of every single person, although I do think the rules we implement when we shop for a capsule wardrobe - can also be applied when shopping for our skincare wardrobe too.
You see, purchasing a few things with purpose can go a lot further than fast beauty shopping.
However, again, when it comes to your skin I will always be team ‘it pays to invest’.
And if you’re unsure where to start - start with addressing your skin concerns.
That way, you won’t waste your money.
Still confused?
Well, you’re in luck.
Below I’ve rounded up some of my favourite spendy products for different concerns on Adore Beauty for you to look into.
For Acne-Prone Skin.
Best spendy swipeys for acne:
- What: Powerful toning pads full of actives to decrease acne breakouts and minimise oil production.
- Ingredients: Glycolic acid resurfaces, salicylic decongests and antioxidants enhance clear skin results.
- How to use: You can either use these as needed (i.e. the week before your period) or a few times a week to help minimise breakouts.
- Why it's worth investing: These are a sure fire way to decongest and clear the skin and can be used alongside stronger vit A serums (I’d even use these on the body!).
Best spendy moisturiser for oily acne-prone skin:
- What: This is an oil-free mattifying moisturiser designed for oily/acne-prone skin.
- Ingredients: pink pepper leaf extract to control oil and rosa centifolia flower extract and hydrolyzed rice extract to deliver all day hydration.
- How to use: Apply morning and night post-cleansing and after serums.
- What it does: Hydrates oily/acne-prone skin without weighing it down.
- Why it's worth investing: This is the spendy moisturiser to invest in if you are acne-prone and hate moisturiser. It will hydrate, but won’t feel heavy at all.
For Age Management.
Best spendy serums for age management:
- What: This is a well-researched, clinically backed vitamin C serum.
- Ingredients: L-ascorbic acid (vit C), alpha tocopherol (vit E) - powerful antioxidants coupled with ferulic acid to maximise antioxidant protection.
- How to use: Apply post-cleansing and before your moisturiser every morning.
- What it does: It protects the skin against free radical damage which accelerates premature ageing.
- Why it's worth investing: It’s gained cult status for a reason. It brightens, protects the skin and has the research to back up its claims.
- What: This is a vitamin A serum designed to treat age management concerns and stimulate collagen production. Best for seasoned vit A users.
- Ingredients: This contains the most powerful form of retinaldehyde which is the highest derivative of vit A you can get sans prescription. Alongside calming ingredients like niacinamide and additional peptides.
- How to use: Start slowly, 1-3 times a week after cleansing and before your moisturiser.
- What it does: This serum treats ageing and helps with pigmentation
- Why it's worth investing: Not everyone needs to be on a prescription strength vit A. This product delivers for seasoned vit A users, without the irritation.
Best spendy sunscreen for age management:
- What: This is a sunscreen with specific tyrosinase inhibitors to help fight ageing and pigmentation simultaneously.
- Ingredients: Potassium azelaoyl diglycinate and mesoprotech® complex.
- How to use: Apply after cleansing and moisturising in the morning. Re-apply every two hours when outside.
- What it does: Protects your skin against UV exposure which accelerates premature ageing, worsens pigmentation and can lead to skin cancers.
- Why it's worth investing: This is a bougie SPF investment for someone that is keen to tackle pigment with as many skincare steps.
For Dry/Dehydrated Skin.
Best spendy serum for dry/dehydrated skin:
- What: This is an ultra dewy hyaluronic acid serum.
- Ingredients: 1.5% hyaluronic acid, niacinamide and kiwi fruit water.
- How to use: Can be used either AM or PM as a hydrating serum step.
- What it does: Plumps the appearance of fine lines, hydrates the skin and improves skin texture.
- Why it's worth investing: It’s a seriously glowy, calming and brightening hyaluronic acid serum. Sinks right in, never pills and works for both AM and PM. I personally love the gummy bear smell too!
Best spendy moisturiser for dry/dehydrated skin:Skinceuticals Triple Lipid Restore 2:4:2
- What: This is THE moisturiser to be using if your skin is severely dry/dehydrated/ageing.
- Ingredients: 2% ceramides, 4% cholesterol, 2% fatty acids - this is a lipid ratio optimal for barrier restoration.
- How to use: Use every AM or PM as your moisturising step.
- What it does: Reinforces the skin’s barrier, repairs, hydrates and moisturises - whilst helping to treat the effects of skin ageing.
- Why it's worth investing: This is another cult classic that delivers a full, youthful, hydrated and moisturised appearance. Exxy but worth the ingredients and research behind the brand.
For Pigmentation.
Best spendy serums for pigmentation:
- What: This is both a brightening and calming pigmentation serum that helps with dark spots and treats uneven skin tone. Can be used by every skin type - including during pregnancy.
- Ingredients: 6% niacinamide which fights redness and promotes an even skin tone, mulberry and green tea extract alongside Oligopeptide-51 which decreases the production of pigment alongside hydrators like glycerin.
- How to use: Use every AM or PM as your serum step.
- What it does: Brightens and calms the skin, evens out the skin tone and helps treat unwanted pigment.
- Why it's worth investing: It is such a beautiful serum I cannot go on about it enough. It does everything it says it does, all while being super calming and gentle on the skin.
- What: This is a well-researched, clinically backed vitamin C serum with additional ingredients to treat skin discolouration and pigmentation.
- Ingredients: 10% l-ascorbic acid (vit C), 2% phloretin - both powerful antioxidants (although phloretin improves uneven skin tone) all coupled with ferulic acid to maximise antioxidant protection.
- How to use: Apply post-cleansing and before your moisturiser every morning.
- What it does: Protects the skin against free radical damage which accelerates premature ageing.
- Why it's worth investing: It’s gained cult status for a reason, it brightens, protects the skin and has the research to back up its claims.
For Redness/ Sensitivity.
Best spendy serum for redness/sensitivity: mesoestetic skin balance
- What: This is a skin restoring and rebalancing serum. Great for imapired barriers or anyone with increased skin sensitivity.
- Ingredients: Aloe vera to soothe, panthenol to hydrate and calm alongside purpurea seed and rhodosorus marinus extracts to strengthen.
- How to use: Use every AM or PM as your serum step.
- What it does: It’s intensively calming and boosts the skin's barrier to strengthen and restore it.
- Why it's worth investing: If you have sensitive/sensitised skin or have impaired your barrier this serum will restore it back to health.
Best spendy moisturiser for redness/sensitivity:
- What: This is an anti-inflammatory moisturiser that is great for inflammatory skin concerns like eczema, rosacea, psoriasis or even perioral dermatitis. It can be used up to four times a day and can be used post clinical treatment.
- Ingredients: Chamomile, aloe vera, centella asiatica, hyaluronic acid, allantoin, panthenol and shea butter. Everything calming and soothing inflammatory skin conditions need.
- How to use: Use every AM or PM as your moisturising step - more when skin is feeling inflamed.
- What it does: Calms, moisturises and hydrates the skin.
- Why it's worth investing: This is the moisturiser to be using if you want to improve itchiness and discomfort associated with inflammatory skin concerns. It’s calming, hydrating and everything inflamed skin needs.
Want more articles on skincare? Check out these BIQ articles below:
Have a skincare question? Joanna answers the most asked skincare questions in this YouTube video below:
