Being an Allure editor most definitely has its perks: The most obvious one being the chance to try just about any beauty product on or coming to the market. This means the hotly anticipated Kardashian-Jenner launches, all the Fenty goods, and rent-swallowing skin care have all hit our desks at one time or another, leaving us with the very important task of test-driving them — and then deeming their worthiness. For instance, there are countless lotions, potions, and creams out there, many of which are high-end with head-spinning price tags attached, but seldom deserve a precious spot in your medicine cabinet. On the other hand, the ones that do, are so divinely exquisite you'll find yourself justifying the cost after one use. Speaking of which: These 12 are The Ones. They're pricey, no doubt, but from editors' perspectives, they're worth every pretty penny. Ahead, find a Kim K. favorite, our editor in chief's must-have cream, a Chanel classic, and more.
Giorgio Armani Crema Nera Extrema
The obsidian glass housing Giorgio Armani's Crema Nera Extrema comes from thermal baths on an island off Sicily. The formula contains minerals to hydrate, firm, and brighten. It made our skin so silky, we'd dip our entire body in the stuff.
$380 (Shop Now)
Chanel Le Lift
Usually, "skin firming" is synonymous with "drying," but Chanel's Le Lift line hydrates a little (Crème Fine, for oily skin) or a lot (Crème Rich, for dry skin). Both contain a Chanel-exclusive form of dicaffeoylquinic acid, which targets a variety of skin concerns, like crepiness and sagging, thereby making our skin look more radiant and softer to the touch.
$16 (Shop Now)
Shiseido Future Solution LX Total Regenerating Cream
Shiseido's Future Solution LX Total Regenerating Cream is a peach-tinted night cream that's super-rich — as in, it makes your skin look (and feel) super hydrated. Its star ingredient is enmei herb extract, which smooths fine lines over time. Sounds great, but there is one downside: The cream's flowery scent is a little strong for our taste.
$280 (Shop Now)
Lancôme Absolue L'Extrait Ultimate Eye Contour Collection
If you've got an extra 10 minutes to spend on your eyes, Lancôme's Absolue L'Extrait Ultimate Eye Contour Collection really works. It comes with 10 cooling undereye masks made of bio-cellulose to depuff and a shea butter-infused balm that made our crow's feet less noticeable in a week.
$260 (Shop Now)
La Prairie White Caviar Crème Extraordinare
La Prairie's new White Caviar Crème Extraordinare features a powerful skin-brightening agent, called lumidose, which the brand patented after years of testing and research. It works by inhibiting the production of melanin, the pigment that causes dark spots, to even out skin tone. It also contains golden caviar, which is just as fancy as it sounds and provides firming benefits. Put it this way: Slather it on and you're one step closer to firmer, brighter skin.
$695 (Shop Now)
Clé de Peau Beauté La Crème
"It's a total splurge, but it does make your skin super glow-y the next day," says Allure editor in chief Michelle Lee of Clé de Peau's Beauté La Crème. "A little goes a long way, too." It also comes in this literal masterpiece of a jar, so there's that.
$795 (Shop Now)
Dr. Strum The Face Cream
When she's not slathering her skin in La Crème, Lee says she's uses Dr. Sturm's The Face Cream, which was created by renowned dermatologist Barbara Sturm. "It feels really hydrating, and I like that it's not heavily fragranced and has a light, non-greasy feel to it," says Lee. "I've been suffering from hormonal acne and sensitive skin for the past six months, and it feels gentle enough on my skin." To those who struggle with sensitive skin, this might be worth saving up for.
$210 (Shop Now)
Guerlain Orchidée Impériale Black Cream
As if the state-of-the-art packaging wasn't enough, Guerlain's luxurious new Orchidée Impériale Black Cream hydrates, protects, and retexturizes the skin so that it looks and feels soft, bright, and supple. It features blackimmune, a proprietary technology the brand says it developed for more than 15 years, which is more or less like a defense system for your skin. Simply apply the cream and use the special applicator to roll the product across your skin for a slightly contoured effect. (Did we mention Kim K. is fan of its predecessor, the Orchidée Impériale line?)
$1,340 (Shop Now)
Natura Bisse The Cure Cream
One editor swears by Natura Bisse's shea butter- and aloe vera-containing The Cure Cream for allowing her to go without foundation for the first time in years. "I just use a BB cream now because it's made my skin so clear and dewy — never greasy," she says. "My skin always feel so silky after applying it."
$210 (Shop Now)
Perricone MD Essential Fx Acyl-Glutathione Intensive Overnight Moisturizer
Allure's resident skin-care editor Sarah Kinonen is a big fan of Perricone MD's new Essential Fx Acyl-Glutathione Intensive Overnight Moisturizer. It's packed with skin-replenishing antioxidants and nourishing flaxseed and chia seed oils to fight fine lines and plump up skin. "A little bit goes a long way with this stuff, but that's not stopping me from slathering it everywhere," says Kinonen. "It's just so rich and creamy — I can't help myself."
$179 (Shop Now)
La Mer The Lifting Contour Serum
La Mer's The Lifting Contour Serum is a peach-tinted fluid that feels lighter than most serums, so it's ideal for layering. It has La Mer's famed Miracle Broth, as well as copper-rich blue-algae extract. Skeptical? "Copper has been shown to increase collagen production," says cosmetic chemist Ni'Kita Wilson.
$345 (Shop Now)
Lancer Legacy Youth Treatment
Formulated with 31 active ingredients, Lancer's Legacy Youth Treatment is the real deal. Our skin-care editor had the chance to put it to the test and noticed that after a week of use, her complexion looked and felt decidedly calmer. "I found my previously flakey nose and blotchy, red cheeks otherwise tamed and my skin baby smooth," says Kinonen. While it's obviously not a sustainable moisturizer option for most people, it could make for an amazing splurge next time you feel like treating yourself or a skin care-obsessed loved one.
$1,000 (Shop Now)
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