Believe it or not, there are actually people who would splurge on the most #extra skincare products. These are more than just regular shea butter moisturizers and lavender-infused face oils. No, these luxury products will really make your jaw drop.
Just look at the likes of Angelina Jolie who uses a $700 moisturizer or Chrissy Teigen who has a $300 lotion to keep her skin smooth. There are also other products that are made with the most expensive ingredients out there—these can range from rare spices to labor-extensive amino acids you won’t find easily.
If you’re curious to know what these ingredients are and their benefits, check out the list below.
Saffron
We all know saffron from all the “MasterChef” episodes we’ve seen on TV. We also know it’s one of the priciest spices in the market. According to Byrdie, saffron flowers are only harvested for two weeks out of the year and they are handpicked, which explains the high price tag.
Skincare benefits: Saffron is filled with antioxidants, vitamin C, and anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties. It’s also rich in carotenoids (crocin and crocetin) which help skin recover from sun damage and also promote circulation in the skin.
White truffle
According to Mental Floss, white truffles can cost up to $168 per ounce. They are expensive because they are a rarity and are primarily found in Northern Italy. Vittorio Giordano, the vice president of Urbani Truffles USA, tells Mental Floss, “Truffle is a wild product, it is a natural product. It is not something you can cultivate or control.”
Skincare benefits: Aside from making your pizza taste great, white truffle is said to be good for fading any hyperpigmentation thanks to its high vitamin C content. Dermatologist Dr. Michele Green also tells Insider that it’s packed with vitamins B3, B6, and b12, which all aid in repairing damaged skin and prevent irritation.
Caviar
Financial Times notes that good quality caviar can cost between $2,500 and $3,500. This delicacy is harvested from the beluga sturgeon fish. Today, there are several sturgeon farms across the US, China, and France, but the prices are still pretty high. (Also, yes, more affordable caviar exists but they are usually wild salmon roe.)
Skincare benefits: Caviar-infused skincare has been around for a while and we have brands like La Prairie to thank for that. Elle emphasizes that products don’t use actual fish eggs, but the extracts from matrix that surrounds them. This is said to be rich in vitamins and amino acids that minimizes pores and smooth out skin texture.
Arginine
Insider explains that arginine is an amino acid that is naturally produced in the body. It gets expensive when beauty companies synthetically produce it for skincare products. “It is an expensive ingredient because the version in skincare is synthetically produced, and both the raw materials and fermentation technology used to produce it are expensive,” herbal skincare innovator Rachael Pontillo tells Insider.
Skincare benefits: Aside from being an amino acid, it’s also an antioxidant that can help treat wounds and promote skin regeneration, and it maintains skin’s moisture.
Gold
A lot of us have already seen skincare products with 24K gold particles or gold leaf in them. Once you see them, you just know it’s going to cost more than your usual creams.
Skincare benefits: New York-based dermatologist Jarrod Frank tells InStyle that gold is great for reducing inflammation and can brighten up the skin. But here’s the catch: Gold is an inactive ingredient and it doesn’t really do much for your skin in the long run. At least your products look shiny on your vanity, right?
Photo courtesy of Pixabay
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