Which beauty products are worth the splurge?
With countless beauty brands making too-good-to-be-true claims and new products popping up weekly (looking at you, Instagram ads), the world of makeup, hair, and skincare can be really overwhelming—and quickly max out your wallet. However, the right products can truly make all the difference to your beauty routine, and stand the test of time if you know how to spend your money wisely.
I don’t know about you, but when it comes to my daily beauty routine, I want it quick, easy and trustworthy. Don’t get me wrong, I love trying on and testing beauty products, but over the years, I’ve found that I always go back to the tried and true products that I know works well for me.
But sometimes, determining what’s fluff versus facts can be tough. So who better to ask than a beauty expert, who built luxury beauty retailer BFF in Thailand—meet Por Sajika.
According to her, there are a lot of good luxury beauty brands in the market. But she’s “always looking for ones that show visible results, exceptional experience, and the story behind the brand.”
She added, “BFF as a luxury beauty curator only trusts brands that have products backed up by science and produce visible results. We make sure that the items we recommend are worth the price they command.”
And now, more than ever, splurging is a serious question. It was a challenge but it helped keep everything in perspective. Our regular beauty splurges—a day at the spa, fresh hair color, a regular manicure and pedicure—weren’t possible, but even so, beauty was still very much part of our lives. (And it always will be!) "The pandemic has been here for almost 1.5 years already and we don’t know when it’ll be over. The first year was better for the business, people still had disposable income to spare to buy beauty products. We actually saw a spike in sales during the first months in lockdown. This year is a bit more difficult because people are not prioritizing beauty as much."
To help you decide which beauty products are really worth the splurge, we asked the passionate beauty curators from the BFF team to share their picks!
FEMMUE Gypsy Rose Calming Mask
"I am obsessed with the FEMMUE Gypsy Rose Calming Mask. First, the color and texture combined, is a feast for the eyes. Second, the feel on my skin is invigorating. I can feel the Kaolin Clay doing its detox magic on my face.
“The best part is letting it dry and stay on my skin around 10 minutes. When I wash it off, my skin feels instantly tighter and smoother. I use this every weekend as my reward for a long week of hustling." —Kat
DR. BARBARA STURM Darker Skin Tones Face Cream Rich
"Since my first use, I've been a fan of Dr. Sturm's Darker Skin Tones Face Cream Rich. This is my go-to all-around cream, especially when my skin's feeling extra dry. After consistently using it, my skin got significantly hydrated, plumper, and glowing. I reduced my acne scars by using this together with FEMMUE Vital C and FEMMUE Rescue Rescue (alternating with Sturm DST Hyaluronic Serum).
“I just love how simple yet highly effective the formulation is, especially for Asian skin. It has Dr. Sturm's iconic anti-aging Purslane, infused with Lumicol for an extra glow. Best of all, it's non-irritating and doesn't feel too heavy on my skin." —Darla
CANE + AUSTIN Acne Retexture Pad 5% Glycolic Acid and 2% Salicylic Acid
"I love using the Cane + Austin Acne Retexture Pad 2%/5% because there are just days when I feel super tired and lazy, or too much in a rush to do a complete skincare routine. With the C+A pads, I just have to get one and gently pat all over my face, then finish up with a moisturizer and sunscreen.
“So far the results have been promising, as I have oily and acne-prone skin. After I started using this, my breakouts have dramatically decreased in frequency. Overall, pairing these pads with my other BFF Manila products have helped to clear up my skin and keep me sane amid the pandemic!" —Kelvin
111SKIN Aesthete's Wallet
"The Aesthete's Wallet gives you one of each variant - Rose Gold Illuminating, Celestial Black diamond and Sub-zero De-puffing. I love how all of them refresh and calm the skin under my eyes, especially since I'm awake for most of the day. I really need an instant self-care go-to product when it comes to my eyes, and these cute little masks make it look like I'm always well-rested." —Stef
PHILIP B Thermal Protection Spray and Maui Wowie Volumizing & Thickening Beach Mist
"I have never been the type to do my hair just 'cause I never got used to it growing up and every time I tried, it wouldn’t be like I imagined it to be, but when I got my hands on Philip B’s Thermal Protection Spray and Maui Wowie Volumizing & Thickening Beach Mist, my life literally changed.
“After washing my hair, I spritz on some heat protection before blow-drying my hair— after which, I do my beach waves then finish off with my Maui Wowie to set it for the day— and believe me, it keeps the curls and unravels naturally the way I like it throughout the day. Next up on my must-try-list is Philip B’s Rejuvenating Oil for a weekly r&r for my hair" —Moriah
