I recently spotted a wildly expensive cream in a friend's bathroom. I knew exactly what it was, having researched it for a skin care story just a few days before, and I knew exactly how much she paid for it: A whopping $379.
Why did she spend so much on a jar of face cream? Wouldn't she rather buy a pair (well, half a pair) of Jimmy Choo's? She's 30 years old, single, and has a great job in advertising -- but it's not like she's got a ton of money to burn.
Fast forward a week and I find myself at the Lancôme counter at Saks Fifth Avenue for the unveiling of their newest moisturizer, Absolue L'Extrait Regenerating Ultimate Elixir. I listen as the marketing director explains the research behind the cream, the rarity of the rose cells it contains, and the vintage-inspired packaging. I imagine artisans in France working tirelessly to make a beautiful jar of cream just for me.
I'm seduced by the moisturizer, ready to throw down my American Express card regardless of the cost. The price tag: $350.
If you're skeptical, I don't blame you. There's a lot of hype that goes into selling any beauty product -- and that's particularly true when it comes to a crazy-expensive one. But a product can't succeed on hype alone, particularly when that product claims to transform your skin. At the very least it has to feel luxurious, smell amazing, and be beautifully packaged -- or else even a socialite on the daddy dole isn't going to buy it.
To find out if expensive creams are more than just nice formulas in pretty jars, I set out to uncover exactly what makes a spendy moisturizer so spendy. Here are six of the priciest moisturizers, and our editors' takes on whether or not they're worth the cash.
