Archived Post

What is the most expensive product you've purchased? Was it worth it?

Tom Ford Lips & Boys boxed set from last year I believe (might have been two years ago?) – the box itself wasn’t worth it at all; just not worth the up-charge and came with scratches as it was not really boxed well (less the retailer’s fault as it should have had peel-off plastic to begin with to protect the glossy finish).

— Christine

49 Comments

Comments that do not adhere to our comment policy may be removed. Discussion and debate are highly encouraged but we expect community members to participate respectfully. Please keep discussion on-topic, and if you have general feedback, a product review request, an off-topic question, or need technical support, please contact us!

Please help us streamline the comments' section and be more efficient: double-check the post above for more basic information like pricing, availability, and so on to make sure your question wasn't answered already. Comments alerting us to typos or small errors in the post are appreciated (!) but will typically be removed after errors are fixed (unless a response is needed).

We appreciate enthusiasm for new releases but ask readers to please hold questions regarding if/when a review will be posted as we can't commit to or guarantee product reviews. We don't want to set expectations and then disappoint readers as even products that are swatched don't always end up being reviewed due to time constraints and changes in priorities! Thank you for understanding!

Comments on this post are closed.
Mariella Avatar

Either the Nars Dual Intensity e/s palette or Guerlain’s Cruel Gardenia Meteorites from some years back (the one that was pressed to look like a blossom). Worth it? Hard to say. I love them both and would never have considered returning either one of them, but neither is so much better than products costing less (Becca highlighters, MAC Extra Dimension shadows, etc.)

Jenny Avatar

Cle De Peau silky cream foundation. Absolutely worth it, I feel SO pretty in it. Just wish the packaging was a little more luxurious for the price. Like their highlighter makes me feel like a princess!

Christina D. Avatar

Not all at once but over time: Natasha Denona Star palette and Sunset palette (Lila to follow soon I hope); all the Viseart eye shadow and blush palettes; UD Naked Vault II.

AB Avatar

For makeup, two Tom Ford products come to mind: Honeymoon eyeshadow quad (an excellent product, but a lesson learned that shimmery doesn’t really work for me) and Snowdon lipstick (nice, but I’ve since decided too expensive for a lip product for my budget).

Laura Avatar

As of yet, my most expensive makeup purchase was the Charlotte Tilbury Filmstar Bronze and Glow, which is around $80. I have the Natural Beauty palette as well, which retails for $80 or $90, but got that on sale for $50-ish. The Bronze and Glow is worth it without a doubt – a perfect, neutral bronze/contour shade and the most glowy champagne highlight (for light to medium skin, anyway). They make skin look radiant without being over-the-top, and her fine powders work so well on dry skin. I’ve been using it for ages and have barely made a dent, so I feel they’re worth the price in terms of the amount you get, as well as performance.
I have to admit that I’m glad I got the Natural Beauty palette on sale as it might not have been worth the full price. The products blend beautifully and are flattering, but the eye shadows are really sheer even on my light skin. And I like a sheer, natural eye look! I wouldn’t recommend it if you have medium or deep skin. I have high hopes for the Beauty Glow palette and might try that next.

Leslie Avatar

My most expensive product (which I still use) is Lancôme Renergie moisturizer and Genefique serum, at around $100 each. I buy more every time I run out because, yes, they’re that good. The serum smooths the skin and lines…makes it almost flawless and the moisturizer plumps and moisturizes….it makes the skin feel warm….gets the blood circulating. I sometimes almost forget to apply foundation, it makes my skin look that good lol. And I’m 51 years old. I also use Dr. Brandt Age Defying microdermabrasion scrub…..$90. Totally worth the money. I tend to spend more on skin care than I do cosmetics, although all of my makeup is high end…except my mascara. 🙂

WARPAINTandUnicorns Avatar

Natasha Denona Sunset palette which are excellent eyeshadows for all of them…. even at $168CAN (dies a little still).

For a single product DIOR Diorskin Nude Air Luminizer Powder in 002 PINK GLOW. I need to do a dare to compare post with this one because nothing is really worth $68CAN for a pressed highlighter… But I love the finish.

Wednesday Avatar

Just talking cosmetics and not tools or brushes.. A couple of standouts: I spent stupid on EvilB for LE TF Stavros, only to have it become permanent. I went through my foundation obsession stage and spent too much for a few foundations which were otherwise not that remarkable: A CdP over $100 comes to mind.

An exception: LaMer loose setting powder. Still my HE. I’ve gone through 2. I’m not certain the original formulation is still avail. Laura Mercier (co-inky they are both LM) is nice and good for me for summer with better oil control, but the slight blur finish and more traceless set makes LaMer makes it worthy of the splurge.

kjh Avatar

Did not know Stavros had become perm…good idea, though. My only near dupe is way old Dior Violet metal. Man, I thought I had gotten the gold for finding Stavros @CCO and d/c’d. NOT.
To answer the question, would guess it would be the first MJ 20 palette, that I bought for self and for bff. It is versatile and used fairly often. but in reading the newest Nancy Drew: The Curse of the Overstashed Magpie, I realized….not nearly enough.

Wednesday Avatar

You’re correct.. not permanent.. My mistake. Stavros released and s/o within seconds with 2014 boys collection and then re-released 2015 boys if I recall correctly. When is was re-released, I had just purchased off EvilB for about 150 buckeroos a few months prior.. to my chagrin.

Sarah Avatar

Honestly, I think it was a jar of La Mer. I thought it was worth it, my skin just isn’t the same without it (I ran out a little while back, and I haven’t been able to replace it quite yet as it is such a splurge!). I don’t recall ever spending that much on anything else but I justified it by remembering that great skin care = a great base for makeup.

MoMerrell Avatar

I’m cautious of how much I spend on one item of makeup so the most expensive item purchased was the Pat McGrath Trio lipset for $96 which ended up going back to the store and I got 6 great product instead. The trio wasn’t worth it for me because the formula did not work for me but the product itself was worth it for keepsake even – the packaging and lipstick tube design are phenomenal.

I purchased the Naked Heat Palette for $54 but didn’t like it enough to keep it so I returned it and then got it as a birthday gift lol.

My most expensive lipstick was Burberry for $36 and I love it!

Shannon. N Avatar

It’s a tie up between NARS audacious lipstick in Rita, or YSL Rouge Pur Couture The Mats in 208. Both are $40+ here. And as a student, thats a lot of money i’v spent on lipstick!!

Sadly, i’m not a fan of the NARS audacious lipstick I own!! It makes my normal lips FLAKE!!! It dries them out SO SEVERELY!!

Anna Avatar

Armani Night Light Palette. It cost me 130 Euros and wasn’t really worth it, since I could have gotten 10 HE eyeshadows for cheaper. The concealer didn’t really match me that well and I am not a huge fan of the powder for all over my face. So I use the concealers and powder as an eyeshadow base and apply the eyeshadow on top, but I don’t feel like this purchase was necessary. It is fine for traveling but I don’t do that much of it.

thirteenthirteen Avatar

For a single product (I have palettes that cost more) Hourglass Mood Exposure blush. I don’t know, I like it a lot, it’s a beautiful blush, but I don’t know if it’s really worth the price. Fortunately blushes last for ages so I don’t anticipate having to worry about whether or not I should replace it for a long time.

LindaP Avatar

If skincare counts it was a moisturizer by Biologique Rechereche. Was it worth it? I don’t think my skin ever looked so good using that as part of their line. Will I buy it again….I really want to, but I haven’t been able to bring myself to spend the money again…..Maybe a winter only purchase.

Jennifer benvenuti Avatar

Nars Steve Klien cheek palette comes to mind….. not worth it. It was like 92$ CAD or something like that. My first blushes ever so it has sentimental value to it but i never reach for it, i tend to forget it exists. Too faced peanut butter and jelly also cost a pretty penny to get to Canada.

Carolann Avatar

I spent around $275 for a Glamglow holiday set. It had full size versions of *I think* all of their masks, plus it included some lip scrubs and plumprers. The packaging was amazing too. It was actually a bargain considering how much product I got.

Anne Avatar

There have been many over the years (brushes and skincare in particular, mostly worth it), but the one makeup item that came instantly to mind was the Guerlain Meteorites compact. Was it worth it? Very debatable. it’s pretty, but I like the finish of the pearl meteorites better. That was a very weak moment — from years and years ago. I think I had just gotten a promotion, and was celebrating it. Big shot for a nanosecond, lol.

Deborah S. Avatar

As a single product I would say the Natasha Denona Green/Brown palette. I don’t think it was worth it, actually. I know that everyone loves Natasha Denona but I find they are very powdery and I could live with that except they blend out to a dirty mess. I use them mostly with shadows from other palettes to keep the look vibrant. I have TF Honeymoon palette and that wasn’t worth the price either. I have the Charlotte Tilbury Vintage Vamp (entire set with lipstick, eye shadow quad and liner) and those definitely aren’t worth it as they disappear off my lids in about 2 hours.
The products that I have purchased that were expensive and that actually were worth it is in my skincare. My Sunday Riley which I purchased all at the same time at Sephora and it was just under $500. I have repurchased a lot of it several times so it is worth it to me. I have purchased Tatcha and Dr. Dennis Gross and all are expensive but worth it.

Deborah S. Avatar

I love my Guerlain Meteorites and pick up the holiday edition every year. I use the O@ Claire for day to day. A beautiful product. I think some people are disappointed because they are expecting something more dramatic but it is the perfect setting powder with a subtle elegance. So nice and I love the scent. Hope everything is okay with you in Oregon. I am suffering the same smoke and ash here in Montana and it is really bad. The worst I have ever seen. Take care.

Rachel R. Avatar

Meteorites aren’t dramatic, but they make make a big difference without anyone being able to say, “Oh, that product makes your face look radiant.”

Sorry to hear you’re getting the smoke, too. Thanks for asking after me. I’m about 40 miles from the outer edge of the fire, in the suburbs. Ash has been falling here like snow, and the sky has been orange. Very difficult to breath when outside, especially with the temps being in the 90s-100s. Today was a bit better, because we got some flow of ocean air and it was cooler. Friends in Portland proper were describing it as a “dust bowl.” A couple of friends in Gresham are on notice they may need to evacuate, but they’re safe. 🙁

We’re still better off than Houston and now the victims of Irma. Praying for those hit and in her path.

kellly Avatar

I bought the Chanel holiday camellia-embossed highlighter several years ago after I’d gotten some extra money. It is so beautiful in the package with that raised camellia on it but as a highlighter, I really wasn’t all that thrilled with it. It’s prettier as an item than it is as a cosmetic product to me!

Mary Avatar

Ya know , somehow I can justify spending money on good skin care , and I a bit of a perfume fanatic and have splurged on perfumes .
However I bought a Cleau De Peau foundation and lipstick recently and having to,pay extra for the case on top of the high price of the product ! , ok I know next time it will just be a refill and less expensive but seriously I don’t usually use up all my stuff before moving on , anyway if Guerlain can include the case anyone can .
Also I splurged on a La Prairie foundation ages ago and really liked it ,but it has since been re formulated and It no longer works for me .

ShariP Avatar

In color cosmetics it would have to be Lancome Audacity in Paris…was it worth it? No, not even close. I should have returned it. So disappointing. Prior to that I loved their eyeshadow.

If we include perfume, I’ve bought a large bottle of YSL Mon Paris and Chanel Mademoiselle Coco. Mon Paris is my daily go to perfume. Love it. Mademoiselle Coco I wear occasionally, but I really like it.

Lea Avatar

For a makeup product, it would be my Armani Creme Nuda foundation at $200 per jar (though it’s a big jar) and I have been very pleased with it – it’s a foundation + skincare and I would buy it again if I ever run out. For a skincare item the priciest per ounce has to be my Cle de Peau eye cream at $255 which is totally nuts, but it is without doubt the most amazing eye cream that I have used so far. A little goes a long way, so the jar lasts quite a while for me and I can use it on my lids as well without them getting all puffy or making my eye makeup smear everywhere. I definitely think it’s worth it for me.

Genevieve Avatar

Probably my most expensive item was the Dior Jardin quint – which retailed here in Aus at about $100 – and it is a lovely set of eye shadows that I do use on an occasional basis. Normally I wouldn’t spend that much.
All of my UD Naked 1 & 2 palettes came in at around $80 each and the Vice 2 – at about $85. But I have used these a great deal, so they are worth it.
I wouldn’t spend that amount of money on something I would consume a lot of – eg skincare and foundation because, with a bit of research, you can always find what you want much cheaper.

Brenda C Avatar

The last most expensive purchase was Pat McGrath’s lipstick release in July. I received them just before I left for vacation. I took them with me and every day I wore a different one to show my mother and sisters what each of them looked like. They blew me away, they all suited me, they had amazing staying power and everyone of my four other judges agreed. I don’t usually buy high end lippies so these will have to do me for a while.

Tara Avatar

It’s a toss up between Chanel’s Poudre Signee de Chanel and Guerlain Meteorites Cruel Gardenia. I can’t remember which one cost more but they were both close to $100 CDN. Both are worth it to me because not only do I like both products but I also am a collector.

Natalia Avatar

Well, if ONE single product is concerned, it would be BECCA Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed in Moonlight. Here is the story. It costs ridiculous US $70 here! Yes it does! So, for the sheer amount it is the most expensive item. Mind you, I got half back in certificates to spend later in this store, but yeah. I even got Naked 3 palette cheaper, (for $57)!

Was it worth it? The palette definitely was! The highlighter…. I’m certainly happy that I have it, it’s beautiful, but not as much as to pay 70 bucks for it. No way!

Stacey Avatar

Guerlain Wulong Compact – found it on sale at Harrods.
Just love Harrods. Most expensive cosmetics…it was the case….not so much the powder…

Most expensive lipstick from Louboutin

Luxury face cream is La Mer

Luxurious brush is Suqqu….even Tom Ford doesn’t come close

Most expensive face bar was from Sisley…was $70.00 or so in the 1980’s for my acne….I used it sparingly…no akaline ingredients…was kind to my skin

Brittany Avatar

My Clarisonic Mia! I think I got my money’s worth since I’ve had it for about 3 years now and it definitely helps my skin when I use it at least a few times a week.

As far as a makeup product, though, I’m not one to buy very high end products. Some of them do look very nice, but the fact that I only wear full face makeup on occasion, I prefer buying mid or low price products.

Silvia Avatar

Most recent the Claudaline oil but it brakes out my face good thing I can use in hair or body but not in face. Back to L’Oréal night moistetuzer I like a kid!

Erica Avatar

Kat Von D Saint and Sinner Palette or HUDA Rose Gold are my most expensive purchases. More expensive than my Tom Ford blushes or Chanel bronzer. Only thing not worth it imo has been the HUDA Rose Gold Palette. Not worth the price tag for chunky glitter and dry eyeshadows that don’t look good together. The others have been worth it. I don’t buy things to be disappointed!

We try to approve comments within 24 hours (and reply to them within 72 hours) but can sometimes get behind and appreciate your patience! 🙂 If you have general feedback, product review requests, off-topic questions, or need technical support, please contact us directly. Thank you for your patience!