I’ve been thinking a lot lately about where it actually makes sense to spend more on beauty.
Because expensive doesn’t automatically mean better. Sometimes you’re paying for a gorgeous compact and a fancy name. But other times? The formula, finish and experience really are that good.
So I went down the luxury makeup rabbit hole.
I looked at the cult classics, the products makeup artists have loved for years, the newer launches everyone is talking about—and, yes, a few things I mostly want because they’re ridiculously beautiful.
But instead of giving you a list of 30 products, I’m editing it down.
One product from each category. The luxury makeup I think is actually worth knowing about.
Consider this the Dear Lucy Luxury Makeup Edit.
BLUSH
Westman Atelier Baby Cheeks Blush Stick
My pick: Petal
If I’m going to spend more on blush, I want something that makes makeup easier—not more complicated.
Westman Atelier Baby Cheeks gives you that beautiful cream finish that looks like it belongs on your skin rather than sitting on top of it.
And Petal is exactly the kind of color I want: a soft, dusty rose that feels sophisticated and incredibly wearable.
Swipe. Blend. Done.
THE DEAR LUCY EDIT: Pair it with bronzed skin, mascara and a neutral lip for an easy five-minute face.
[SHOP WESTMAN ATELIER BABY CHEEKS →]
BRONZER
CHANEL LES BEIGES Healthy Glow Bronzing Cream
There are some products that become icons, and CHANEL's cream bronzer is one of them.
What I like about this one is that the goal isn't to look bronzed. It's to give your skin that subtle warmth that makes everything else look better.
A little around the forehead, cheekbones and jawline, add blush and suddenly you look considerably more pulled together.
And yes. It's CHANEL. The experience is part of the fun.
WORTH THE SPLURGE? Bronzer is something I use constantly, so this is a category where I'd consider spending more.
GLOW DROPS
Westman Atelier Sun Tone Bronzing Drops
I'm very into the idea of makeup that doesn't really look like makeup.
Westman Atelier's Sun Tone Bronzing Drops add sheer warmth to the skin and are perfect for those mornings when you don't want foundation—you just want to look a little healthier and more awake.
Mix them into your moisturizer or use them over skincare, add Baby Cheeks and mascara and call it a day.
THE DEAR LUCY EDIT: This is exactly the kind of product I want in my makeup bag now: maximum impact, minimum effort.
[SHOP WESTMAN ATELIER SUN TONE →]
FOUNDATION
Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation
If you've spent any time looking into luxury foundation, you've probably heard about Armani Luminous Silk.
There's a reason it has remained such a beauty favorite.
At this point, I don't want foundation that makes my skin look perfectly covered. I want foundation that makes my actual skin look better.
Luminous Silk gives you buildable coverage with that beautiful, natural-looking luminous finish.
Especially after 40, I'll take glow over heavy matte coverage every time.
WORTH THE SPLURGE? Foundation is one of the categories where I think the right formula can absolutely be worth spending more.
CONCEALER
Clé de Peau Beauté Concealer SPF 27
This may be one of the most famous expensive concealers in beauty.
And at this price, it better be good.
Clé de Peau's cult stick concealer gives you targeted, buildable coverage without requiring another layer of foundation over your entire face.
Under the eyes. Around the nose. A spot here or there.
That's much more how I want to wear makeup now.
THE DEAR LUCY EDIT: Use less than you think you need and tap it into the skin with your finger.
[SHOP CLÉ DE PEAU CONCEALER →]
SETTING POWDER
Hourglass Veil Translucent Setting Powder
Powder and I have a more complicated relationship than we did 20 years ago. 😂
I want my makeup to stay put. I do not want my face to look dry, flat or noticeably powdered.
Hourglass Veil is a finely milled setting powder made to take down unwanted shine and set makeup while maintaining a natural-looking finish.
The trick? Don't powder your entire face.
THE DEAR LUCY EDIT: Lightly hit the T-zone, around the nose and anywhere your makeup tends to move. Leave the rest of your glow alone.
EYELINER
Victoria Beckham Beauty Satin Kajal Liner
This might be one of the products I'm most excited about in the entire edit.
The Victoria Beckham Satin Kajal Liner is creamy enough to smudge, which means you don't need to be particularly skilled with eyeliner to get that slightly smoky, effortless eye.
And I love the shade Cocoa for everyday wear.
Black eyeliner can sometimes feel harsh. A beautiful brown gives you definition without screaming EYELINER.
THE DEAR LUCY EDIT: Run it right along the lashes, smudge it slightly and add mascara.
Done.
[SHOP VICTORIA BECKHAM BEAUTY →]
MASCARA
Lancôme Lash Idôle Mascara
This is where I don't think we need to spend $70 just because we're doing a Luxury Makeup Edit.
Lancôme has been making great mascara forever, and Lash Idôle is designed for lift, length and volume without making lashes look heavy.
This plus the Victoria Beckham liner?
That's basically my entire everyday eye.
EYESHADOW
Dior Backstage Eye Palette
I no longer need 14 eyeshadow palettes with 147 colors I'm never going to wear.
Give me one really good neutral palette.
The Dior Backstage Eye Palette gives you coordinated shades that can take you from an easy daytime eye to something a little smokier at night.
And—important—I can actually imagine using more than two of the colors.
THE DEAR LUCY EDIT: Light shade on the lid, medium shade through the crease, deeper shade near the lash line. Don't overthink it.
EVERYDAY LIP
Dior Addict Lip Glow
This is the lip product I'd throw into my handbag and actually use.
Dior Lip Glow sits somewhere between skincare and makeup: comfortable like a balm but with enough sheer color to make you look finished.
No mirror required.
No complicated lip routine.
And the Dior tube doesn't exactly hurt.
LIPSTICK
Gucci Rouge à Lèvres Satin Lipstick
And then sometimes you want an actual lipstick.
Gucci Rouge à Lèvres gives us that classic satin lipstick moment—and possibly the prettiest tube in the makeup bag.
This isn't the barely-there lip. It's what I'd reach for when I want lipstick to be part of the outfit.
Do I need Gucci lipstick?
No.
Do I enjoy the idea of pulling a Gucci lipstick out of my bag at dinner?
Very much. 😂
THE FINISHING TOUCH
Hourglass Ambient Lighting Palette
This is where I want glow—not glitter.
The Hourglass Ambient Lighting powders are meant to give the skin a soft, diffused finish rather than an obvious stripe of highlighter.
It's subtle.
And that's exactly the point.
THE DEAR LUCY EDIT: Sweep a little over the high points of the face once everything else is finished.
The goal isn't look at my highlighter.
It's why does her skin look so good?
[SHOP HOURGLASS AMBIENT LIGHTING →]
SO...IS LUXURY MAKEUP WORTH IT?
Sometimes.
I don't think you need a $50 version of everything in your makeup bag. And I definitely don't think a luxury label automatically makes something better.
But there are certain categories where formula, texture, finish and ease of application really matter.
Personally, I'd rather own a smaller makeup bag filled with products I genuinely love and use than a drawer overflowing with things I bought because TikTok told me to.
That's really the philosophy behind Dear Lucy Edits anyway:
Less stuff. Better stuff. And only the things worth knowing about.
I put the rest of the products that caught my eye into my full Luxury Makeup Edit on ShopMy.
[SHOP THE FULL LUXURY MAKEUP EDIT →]
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