Premium skincare is an ever growing market, and whilst more affordable options are becoming more readily available every day, there is a still a massive demand for skincare that boasts a much higher price point. Over recent years the makeup market has democratised with more affordable and effective options than ever lining the aisles of Boots and newer retailers. Whilst this change is starting to become more visible within skincare, with brands such as The Ordinary, there is still some way to go. The luxury skincare market continues to expand with better ingredients, new innovations and exciting launches constantly emerging. Unlike with premium makeup it always seems that there is more a risk associated with premium skincare. With makeup you can judge pretty quickly if it will work for you before you part with your money, whereas with skincare it's harder to tell. It's a known fact that spending more does not necessarily guarantee a better products or more impressive results, however, there are several skincare products and brands that do have a premium price point and really do deliver on results. Elemis is a brand that never disappoints. Every product I have tried from them has been beautifully crafted, it has given men actual visible results after a handful of uses and made my skin feel instantly softer, brighter and smoother when used. Their Biotech range is specifically designed to leave skin looking and feeling more energised, radiant and combat the stresses from everyday life. Despite being a gel formula the cleanser is gentle on the skin and does not foam and bubble, it melts into the skin and then is easy to rinse away with a warm flannel. It contacts Succinic, Lactic and Ferulic acid to leave your skin smooth, brighter and genuinely softer. My go-to second cleanser for months, it lasts for ages and is a lovely addition to your routine. The Day Cream counter-part to this is also a wonderfully light texture. It hydrates your skin and gives the perfect base for makeup. My skin feels so soft after use, hydrated all day long and leaves it looking that bit brighter and radiant.

The stand-out Elemis product for me though is their Superfood Facial Oil. The formula contains broccoli extract, flax seed and Daikon Radish to help plump & smooth the skin and it has made a very noticeable difference on my dry, dehydrated winter skin that is beginning to look increasingly dull. Now my summer tan has evaporated my complexion has started to look much drier and the occasional blemish is not healing as quickly as it usually would a facial oil has slotted into my evening routine nicely. Two drops at the end of my routine work nicely to melt into the skin and leave it looking visibly more glowing immediately. As it works overnight I wake in the morning with my skin looking more radiant but not at all greasy and with no residual oil left on my face from the night before. Two drops is plenty for my skin, I find any more tend to sit on the skin for a little longer as each drop is so rich and thins as you warm it between your fingers and press it into the skin. Scars have healed much faster whilst using this and new blemishes have not been as aggressive as they usually would be.

Fresh know how to do masks very well. They have one for every possible skin complaint you have, from congestions to dryness to tiredness, they will have a solution for you. When my skin starts to look a dull and there are some marks left behind from blemishes the Black Tea Instant Perfection is the one I always reach for. The texture is inspired by clouds so it doesn't dry down or set onto the skin, instead its much more comfortable to wear as it starts to gently exfoliate and brighten the skin with the help to AHA's and Kombucha. 10 minutes later you can remove it with a warm flannel and your skin feels incredibly soft, much smoother and the rest of my routine always seems to feel that bit better. With the colder weather taking hold my skin is often visibly dry and dehydrated so their Rose Hydration Mask is also often in rotation. The formula is gel-like so is comfortable and cooling to wear on the skin, particularly nice after a long day when you want to sit back and relax. The rosewater helps to calm the skin whilst hyaluronic acid deeply hydrated and nourishes the skin. If you need a quick boost of moisture you can layer this on, leave for 10 minutes then wipe away however, if you need a little more then you can leave this on until it's fully absorbed. Alternatively you can apply before bed and wake up in the morning with beautifully supple and hydrated skin.

Sisley is renowed for its Black Rose collection, their cult mask is loved by many and it always perks my skin straight up when its looking dry and dull. It smells gorgeous, doesn't feel heavy and absorbs quickly into the skin. This year they extended the range to include the Black Rose Facial Moisturiser, their answer to an everyday way to incorporate Black Rose into your routine. The formula is incredibly light on the skin, as you massage it into the skin the silky cream seems to thin to an almost water-like texture making it a refreshing way to round of your morning skincare routine. It creates a perfectly hydrated base for makeup that doesn't disturb foundation but does provide all of the moisture that my skin needs throughout the day.

If premium skincare is something you don't want to, or aren't able to, invest in then there are plenty of options appearing in the market that will still deliver good results and help to solve your skincare concerns. However, if you want to invest more into your skincare, you want a certain sensorial experience and certain results from your regime then premium skincare brands can offer some of the best solutions available.