The Christmas skincare splurges experts say are worth it, and the famous ones that split them
A Christmas skincare splurge should feel like a treat and still do its job. So before you wrap something expensive for yourself or someone you love, here is what the experts think of the luxury buys. Six of them hold a Guru Score of 85% or higher, each from at least 8 of the skincare experts we track, led by SkinCeuticals Phloretin CF and Tatcha Rice Polish at 89%. And four of the most famous splurges of all split the experts, with a real share of them saying no.
- SkinCeuticals Phloretin CF (89%, 10 experts) and Tatcha Rice Polish (89%, 9 experts) lead the luxury buys the experts back.
- Not one of the 10 experts behind Phloretin CF, the 8 behind Shani Darden Retinol Reform or the 10 behind the Allies of Skin firming treatment said no.
- Augustinus Bader Rich Cream (62%), Charlotte Tilbury Magic Cream (61%), Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair (64%) and Drunk Elephant Protini (65%) all sit below the 75% mark the experts' approval starts at.
- A splurge is a treat, not a requirement. In every one of our Splurge or Save checks, the experts' verdict was save.
Dr. Daniel Sugai · 10 reviewers, 89% said yes
Dr. Sam Ellis · 9 reviewers, 89% said yes
Tea with MD · 11 reviewers, 86% said yes
Hyram · 8 reviewers, 86% said yes
Allie Glines · 10 reviewers, 85% said yes
Doctorly · 9 reviewers, 85% said yes
Dr Dray · 17 reviewers, 62% said yes
Mad About Skin · 12 reviewers, 61% said yes
Dr. Sam Ellis · 16 reviewers, 64% said yes
Kelly Driscoll · 18 reviewers, 65% said yesHow did we pick the skincare splurges worth it?
Every product we track carries a Guru Score, which rolls up how the experts who reviewed it came down on it. For this list we took the products we file as luxury and kept the skincare ones the experts rate highest.
Worth the splurge here means a Guru Score of 85% or more, from at least 8 experts, with no list entry where most of the reviews were sponsored. Splits the experts means a famous luxury product that sits below 75%, where the approval band starts, because a real share of the experts who tried it said mixed or no.
Which luxury skincare splurges are worth it?
SkinCeuticals Phloretin CF and Tatcha Rice Polish share the top Guru Score here, 89%. All 10 experts behind Phloretin CF said yes to it, and several dermatologists call it the gentler of the SkinCeuticals vitamin C serums. The Rice Polish is a powder exfoliant you mix with water, and 8 of its 9 experts said yes.
SkinBetter Science Alto Advanced Defense and Repair Serum scores 86% across 11 experts, the biggest crowd on this list. Dermatologists including Dr. Whitney Bowe and Dr. Aleksandra Brown say it suits patients with sensitive skin who cannot take a classic vitamin C serum.
Shani Darden Retinol Reform 1% Encapsulated Retinol (86%) is an encapsulated retinol, and all 8 of its experts said yes to it. Allies of Skin Peptides and Antioxidants Firming Daily Treatment (85%) is a daily cream with peptides and antioxidants, and none of its 10 experts said no.
And for a pure treat, Tatcha Indigo Overnight Repair Serum in Cream (85%, 9 experts) is a rich night cream the experts reach for when skin is red or irritated. Doctorly names it as the treat-yourself product.
Which famous skincare splurges split the experts?
Augustinus Bader Rich Cream is the one people ask about most, and it splits the experts: a Guru Score of 62% across 17 experts, with 5 saying no and 3 mixed. Fans love the feel. The doubters keep landing on the same point, that nothing in it clearly beats a well-made moisturizer.
Charlotte Tilbury Magic Cream scores 61% across 12 experts, and 4 of them said no, calling it overhyped for a basic moisturizer. Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Multi-Recovery Complex sits at 64% across 16 experts, with 3 no and 4 mixed: a pleasant serum, the doubters say, that does not do what people buy it for.
Drunk Elephant Protini Polypeptide Cream scores 65% across 18 experts. Only 3 said no, but 6 more were mixed, on its texture and on whether it is worth what it costs.
Splits the experts does not mean bad. If someone has asked for one of these by name, it may well suit their skin. It means the experts would not put their money on it first.
Is a skincare splurge ever worth it?
Most of the time the experts would save. In our Splurge or Save checks, which put the best budget cleanser, moisturizer, retinoid, sunscreen and serum against the best luxury one, the verdict was save every time.
So a splurge is about the treat: a texture, a ritual, a product that feels special to use. The six above are the rare ones where the experts agree that the treat also works.
What makes a good skincare gift?
If you do not know someone's skin well, choose something that suits most skin types, such as a gentle exfoliant or a rich night cream, over a strong active like a retinol. Save the retinol for someone you know already uses one.
And for any product, read the expert verdicts on its page first. That way the gift is something the experts back, not just the box in every ad this Christmas.