The beauty industry will try to convince you that real confidence lives at the bottom of a $100 serum bottle.
But the truth is, the industry is overflowing with products that you don’t need.
The more I reflect, the less I’m influenced by ads, society, or trends telling me who to be. There’s a new desire for beauty spending with clarity.
So now, when I decide whether something is worth the splurge, I think less about whether it is expensive and more about whether it has a meaningful return.
In this post, we’ll talk about the “why” behind beauty purchases I love and how to decide what’s actually worth spending on, and not just consume.
Affiliate Disclosure: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you purchase through one of my links, at no additional cost to you. I only share products I genuinely use, love, or believe are worth considering.
Beauty Purchases I Will Never Regret
The best way to know what’s actually worth the splurge is to look back at your own receipts and memories. I’ve noticed that my favorite beauty purchases tend to fall into a few categories…
Products That Solve a Problem
The easiest beauty spending for me to justify is purchases that actually solve a problem.
For example, my holy grail Revlon One-Step Hair Dryer saves time and energy. It’s also helped me replace cheap blow-dryer attachments that would pop off every two seconds.
The design is simple for my kinky hair, and I no longer see wash day as a chore.
Is it the fanciest hair tool on the market? No.
But that’s exactly why I like it as an example of a worthwhile beauty purchase. I don’t need a hair tool to impress me with a long list of features. I need it to make my actual life easier.
Luxuries to Enjoy
Then, you have the products that don’t really solve anything, but they just make life feel better. And just for that, I’ll always make room for sensory luxuries.
The best example I can give is Twilly d’Hermès perfume. This scent made me obsessed with fragrance and boosts my confidence every time I wear it.
Twilly has that slight hint of sophistication that I associate with getting dressed when you actually take your time. It’s an all-time favorite.
Luxuries are a part of my beauty spending. At times, we’re so focused on whether something is necessary that we forget we’re actually supposed to enjoy our hard-earned money.
And this one is well worth the splurge.
Products Used Until the Last Drop
There’s something satisfying about actually finishing a beauty product.
You know the products I’m talking about. The ones where you start squeezing the bottle harder. The ones you turn upside down.The ones you cut open because there is somehow still another week’s worth hiding at the bottom.
We’ve all been there.
For me, this includes:
I don’t need the best version of each one. But if I’ve found something that works well for me and I finish it, then I’m willing to spend a little more.
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How to Decide What Beauty Products Are Worth the Splurge
1. I Ask If I Would Still Want It Without the Hype
Beauty trends move fast.
I remember when the Revlon Hair Dryer I have now first started trending with the natural girlies in 2019. I bought the product immediately.
But it wasn’t because of the hype. I saw the vision, and it was budget-friendly at a cool $40.
I don’t need upgrades every couple of years because it’s trendy. Mindless consumption looks like a different serum, foundation, or hair tool that apparently nobody can live without.
If I had never seen someone use it online, would it still solve a problem or fit into my routine? In this case, yes.
And she’s still kicking 8 years later.
2. I Check What I Already Own First
Before buying another beauty product, I take a quick look at what I already have.
I don’t restrict myself, but not keeping track of beauty products is why I have 5 different facial moisturizers in my drawer right now.
It helps to know whether I’m buying something genuinely different or buying another version of the same thing. More often than not, I already have exactly what I’m looking for.
I just forgot about it.
3. I Think About My Real Routine—Not My Fantasy Routine
When I was a flight attendant, I wore foundation often, not for vanity reasons, but to keep my skin from drying out.
After I changed careers and moved to Florida, I tried to keep doing makeup as part of my beauty routine and quickly realized I no longer had the patience. It wasn’t the same lifestyle.
Any foundation was going to melt, sweat, or get wiped off my face in the humidity. It was more of a hassle and a waste of money than providing a benefit.
Over time, I’ve noticed that the best splurges are the purchases that naturally fit my life.
4. I Consider How Often I Will Actually Use It
I don’t obsess over cost per use, but I do think about how often I’ll realistically use something.
- Everyday?
- Once a week?
- For special occasions?
I’ve used my blow-dryer almost every Sunday for the last 7 years. I would have no problem paying a higher price today, because I know I enjoy using the tool.
I’m also still willing to splurge on things I use less often. For example, I only use my Corsyx Viral PrepPair Kit when I travel, but the benefit of my skin staying balanced in different climates is worth it to me.
5. I Ask What It Is Replacing
Sometimes a splurge is not really an additional expense. It’s a replacement.
Maybe I am replacing a product I already use. Maybe I am spending on a beauty service instead of buying several products to recreate the result myself.
Maybe I am finally buying the one thing I actually want instead of collecting cheaper alternatives.
I ask myself:
What am I buying less of because I am choosing this?
That question helps me see whether a splurge is adding unnecessary spending or helping me simplify my habits.
6. I Use My GLOW Test
When you’re struggling with whether a decision is worth it, it helps to have a structure in place, so I created a simple framework I call the GLOW Test.
G: Gets Used: Will I realistically reach for this?
L: Lasts: How long will the product, service, or results actually last?
O: Offers Something Meaningful: Does it give me confidence, convenience, joy, or solve a real problem?
W: Worth Choosing: Is this something I would rather spend my beauty money on than other options?
I like this framework because it does not automatically label expensive beauty purchases as bad. It simply asks me to be more intentional about what I am getting in return.
For example: My Revlon One-Step Dryer passes the GLOW Test pretty easily. I use it regularly; it’s lasted for years, it solves a real problem, and I’d rather own one tool I love than keep buying cheaper alternatives.
7. I Pay Attention to My Emotional ROI
One thing I love to do for reflection is write in a money journal about how a purchase makes me feel after the excitement of buying it has worn off.
The more data you collect, the more confidence you build over time.
Journal prompts could include:
- Does this continue bringing me joy?
- Does it make my routine easier?
- Do I feel more confident when I use it?
Or did I only get a rush from clicking “add to cart”?
A beauty purchase can have an emotional return. But I want the emotional return to last longer than opening the package.
8. I Consider the Cost of the Cheap Option
We’ve all had a time when we bought the cheaper version of an item, only to find out the hard way why it was so cheap in the first place.
Only to buy the original product you wanted. Or maybe you’re trying to recreate the result yourself.
One time I bought press-on nails to DIY and discovered I do not enjoy doing my own nails. I’d rather pay the upcharge for a private nail tech.
Sometimes a dupe is good enough.
I still love finding a less expensive option when it truly works for me. But I don’t choose something solely because it costs less.
9. I Give Expensive Impulse Purchases Time
If something is a significant splurge, I rarely feel like I need to decide immediately. I let myself want it for a while.
If I still want it after the initial excitement has faded, that tells me much more than how badly I want it in the moment.
And if I completely forget about it?
Well, that tells me something too.
10. I Decide Whether I Want the Product—or the Feeling Behind It
If you can link your beauty spending to when you feel vulnerable, emotional spending might be the culprit.
When I feel a sudden urge to buy a lot of beauty products at once, I know it’s time to pause. Again, I don’t restrict myself, but I’ll ask:
What am I actually looking for right now?
A new product might be fun, but sometimes I have to be honest with myself about whether it will actually give me the feeling I am looking for.
A pause doesn’t always mean passing on an item, but taking the time to process your feelings is what matters.
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Final Thoughts
Splurging on beauty products is less about price and more about what enhances your life.
Someone else might invest in facials while I would rather spend money on clothes and accessories.
So now, when I’m tempted by something new, I ask myself:
Does this solve a problem, add something meaningful to my routine, or bring me lasting enjoyment?
Because beauty spending for what makes sense to your life is the best splurge of them all.
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