How much money do beauty editors actually spend on skincare?

When you read about all the latest and greatest skin care products, you might take a step back, wondering what is really needed in your daily life, not to mention what is worth the price. You are not alone. From cleansers and toners to moisturizers, eye creams and serums, the shopping options can seem pretty endless. And while they're pretty much like that, that doesn't mean you have to stock up on everything that comes last. To help you better navigate the world of skincare—in other words, find out what's worth spending on—we conducted an in-office survey to find out how much money beauty editors actually spend on their skincare routines as well as products. that always match the brand.

Ready to know what to buy and maybe pick your jaw off the floor about how much effective skincare can cost true skincare aficionados? If the answer is yes, read on!

Margaret Fisher

Standard cost:

$115

Basic skin care products:

Makeup wipes, micellar water, face cream, eye cream and face masks.

At the end of each day, I remove makeup with a makeup wipe and apply micellar water. From there I apply face cream and eye cream. Depending on how my skin behaves on a given day, I put on a face mask to pamper myself a little.

Savannah Maroni

Standard cost:

$269

Basic skin care products:

Sonic cleansing brush, cleanser, face wipes, micellar water, toner, day cream, spot treatment and eye cream.

I would be lost without my Clarisonic. I use it every day to cleanse my face of all the day's grime and debris. Before use, I wash off makeup with a tissue or micellar water. Then, after cleansing with a brush, I apply toner, day cream, and eye cream. If I'm dealing with acne, I also use spot treatments to speed up the healing process.

Christina Heiser

Standard cost:

$150

Basic skin care products:

Cleanser, moisturizer with SPF, retinol night cream, vitamin C serum and face masks.

While my regular skincare costs about $150, I regularly buy new cleansers, moisturizers with SPF, retinol night creams, vitamin C serums, and face masks, which adds up to about $50 per month. .

Emily Arata

Standard cost:

$147

Basic skin care products:

Cleanser, facial exfoliator, SPF, day cream, serum, eye cream and night cream.

My mantra: you need to spend money on creams and save on cosmetics. For this reason, I use a cleanser, cream, serum and exfoliator. Oh, and you can't forget SPF is one of the most important preventative skincare steps you can take.

Jelani Addams Rose

Standard cost:

$383

Basic skin care products:

Sonic Cleansing Brush, Glycolic Foam Cleanser, Toner, Spot Treatment, Drying Lotion, Eye Serum, SPF Moisturizer, Night Cream, Clay Masks and Peeling Pads.

My morning and evening skincare routine always starts with rubbing a glycol foam cleanser into my skin using a sonic cleanser. After I dry my face, I immediately apply toner to my face depending on the time of day. From there, I apply a moisturizer with SPF or a night cream, as well as an eye serum. If I have breakouts, I use an acne gel or drying lotion at night to minimize the appearance of any blemishes. Last but not least, I use clay masks once or twice a week for a little pampering.

Jackie Burns Brisman

Standard cost:

$447

Basic skin care products:

Makeup remover wipes, lactic acid cleanser, moisturizer, sulfur-based spot treatment, serum and face masks. 

Once a month, I replenish my stock of Garnier make-up remover wipes. I used to use Clean+ Refreshing Remover Cleansing wipes but have since become obsessed with micellar makeup remover wipes. They are so soft and really remove all my makeup before I start my other skincare routine... which is saying something because I wear a lot of mascara.

From there I use a lactic acid cleanser and a sulfur based spot cleanser that I can get in a kit.

After that, I have an independent skin care line moisturizer that I'm obsessed with, and it's pricey, but after using it for the past few years, I've come to the conclusion that it's worth it. This is probably the biggest waste of money in my skin care. It has a really natural scent that I have loved since my days in the spa industry and instantly brings me back every night when I put it on my skin. 

Then I get most of my favorite masks and serums for free from the brands I work with at L'Oréal, so I definitely save money by being a beauty editor. If I had to guess, it would cost me an extra $200-$300 every few months I ran out of money. 

So while the out-of-pocket expenses are around $137, my total skin care routine is around $447.

Rebecca Norris

Standard cost:

$612

Basic skin care products:

Sonic Cleansing Brush, Clay Cleanser, Micellar Water, Facial Peels, Hydrating Night Serum, Hyaluronic Acid Night Cream, Vitamin C Day Serum, Mattifying Day Cream with SPF, Tripeptide Eye Cream and Face Masks.

Okay, come on, pick up your jaw. I know it sounds crazy, but you have to remember that as beauty editors we are always trying new products and often they are sent to us for free for review. Either way, when it comes to taking care of my skin, I start my day with a quick wipe with Garnier SkinActive All-in-1 Mattifying Micellar Cleansing Water. After cleansing my skin of any impurities that may have accumulated overnight, I apply Vitamin C Day Serum, SPF Mattifying Day Cream, and Tri-Peptide Eye Cream. In the evening, I wash my make-up off with the same micellar water and then do a deeper clean with L'Oréal Paris Pure Clay Purify & Mattify Cleanser.—which I received for free from the brand—and Clarisonic Mia Fit. While my skin is still damp, I apply a hydrating night serum, followed by a hyaluronic acid night cream, and the same tripeptide eye cream. Every other day (or every three days, depending on my skin) I remove dead cells with peels or face masks. Of course, this is a waste, but it's worth it. After all, preventive skin care is everything.

Editor's Note: Remember: skin care products are not for everyone, which means that while these essential products may suit our editors, your skin's unique needs may require something different. It's all trial and error, ladies!