Lisa Rinna recently showed off her skincare products in an Instagram story. Although several products were from the same line, including a $55 lip balm(!) and a $250 “calming serum,” she said that it wasn’t an ad and that it represented her daily routine. Page Six did a breakdown of the prices and its around $2k worth of stuff, which sounds about right for a celebrity. How many times have we heard stories about expensive skincare routines like this? A few.
Lisa Rinna, 55, took to her Instagram Stories to reveal what “essentials” she uses on a day-to-day basis, and the price tag adds up quickly.
The extensive skin care selection includes several Dr. Barbara Sturm products, such as the brand’s Glow Drops ($145) and Sun Drops ($145), as well as its Hyaluronic Serum ($300), Calming Serum ($250), Enzyme Cleanser ($75), Face Mask ($160), Face Cream ($215) and Lip Balm ($55).
Rinna also uses the High Maintenance Cream ($106), Deep Exfoliating Mask ($66) and Luminous Glow Cream Complexion Perfector ($60) from Dr. Sebagh, whom she called one of her “favorite doctors in the world.”
Other slightly more accessible products on her bathroom sink include a Nurse Jamie beauty roller ($69), iS Clinical Hydra-Cool Serum ($90), Dr. Lancer Advanced Retinol Treatment ($95) and affordable picks like Mario Badescu Drying Lotion ($17) and Alba unscented body lotion ($9).
Lest anyone think her collection of products is overkill, Rinna assured fans that she uses “everything” on her vanity and “it’s not an ad, just my skin and haircare essentials.”
[From Page Six via Reality Tea]
A few months ago, after we started featuring skincare products in the affiliate posts, I bought a bunch of stuff. I spent over $200 if I include products for my son. That is definitely a splurge for me and has to be more of my disposable income than $2k is to Lisa Rinna. So this number isn’t surprising to me and doesn’t sound particularly extravagant, for her. I also don’t regret it at all. I don’t need all that and am not going to replace everything, but some things did make a difference (glycolic acid, retinol, this lip mask) and my skin has been a lot softer and smoother since. Maybe my wrinkles are less noticeable too. Plus I’m going to write some of it off I’m not going to lie. I reviewed it therefore it’s a legitimate expense! I wonder if celebrities do that too, like if they show their stuff in an Instagram story that counts as a write off since it’s promoting their brand. Lisa Rinna just got press for it.
Remember when Jamie Lee Curtis said last year that expensive skincare was a scam? I do think that really expensive stuff in most product categories is a scam. When I used to drink wine I thought that too. The cheapest wine is swill, but you can get good wine around $15-$20 a bottle so why spend more than that? Once I had a $60 bottle though and before I knew how much it cost I thought that it tasted amazing. I wonder what difference there is between cream around the $15-$30 price point and cream that costs $200 and up. The $200 cream can’t be 10 TIMES better to justify that cost. I wouldn’t mind walking around with $2k worth of crap on my face though. Let’s be real, Lisa Rinna’s face costs a lot more than that.
i used to spend alot of $$ and had a 12 step routine for my skin, but honestly I’ve noticed that if I keep myself hydrated and eating a colorful plant-based diet, all I really need is a gentle cleanser, acid toner , retinol, and face oil and my skin glows…it’s really easy to get sucked in to the world of skincare products!
I couldn’t agree more! My skin looks great after a big health kick and no amount of amazing potions can undo the effects of alcohol and lack of sleep!
Back in the day, when I had much more money than I do now, I was spending a small fortune on skincare. Now after having much less money but knowing much more about the ingredients, I completely believe that high end skincare is a rip off and it’s all about marketing.
The expensive stuff I used to buy made little difference to my skin and no difference compared to what a decent but cheap moisturiser could have done. You can cheaply and easily buy the quality raw ingredients and get higher concentrations, cutting out all the fillers.
My bestie and I call her Lips, Inc.
My Mum calls her Big Lips. She likes her now that she’s on RH, but ever since Melrose Place she hated her and always just called her Big Lips “ugh there’s big lips again”, “ugh big lips is in that movie”, etc, etc.
I think it’s important to exfoliate and to protect. I use a retinol now too. I also think a lot of how you age is genes! What I have discovered over the years is that everyone just has to figure out what works and what doesn’t work for them. It really is an individual process. Like, I was soooooo worried about crows feet in my 20’s, I used to slather eye cream on, which led to milia on my eyelids. I’m 42 and never did gets crows feet, though. But now I go super duper light with eye cream, and I use one with retinol.
I LOVE beauty products and if I had Lisa Rinna’s $$$, I would spend tons as well.
The only drugstore product I use is one by Neutrogena. Everything else comes from department stores and is mid-to-low high price range. For me, it makes a big difference to use what I have discovered works for me. I love Erno Laszlo White Marble cleansing products and their Timeless Skin serum is wonderful. Not all high $$$ stuff is a rip-off.
I’ve actually tried a lot of the products she used. Wasn’t that impressed by the Dr Sebagh products. But I’m in my 20s and have good skin (thanks to my genes), so I’m probably not the targeted clientele. Is clinical and Barbara Sturm I liked, but they’re a bit pricey, especially Barbara Sturm ($300 for hyaluronic acid).
My mom just spent over $500 at Sephora the other day during their spring sale. And my mom is a minimalist when it comes to beauty products. She just uses eye cream, moisturizer, and sunblock. So I don’t think 2k for someone like LR is that much.
Some expensive products are worth the hype, and some aren’t. One of my favorite cleansers is the ReVive gentil one. Whenever I use it, I really do get the revive glow. But it’s like $70, so I haven’t repurchased it in awhile. Now I’m using the is clinical one, which is also expensive for a cleanser, but not as much as the revive one.
Since we’re speaking of expensive skincare. Has anyone tried the Augustinus Bader moisturizer? Is it worth the hype?
I just ordered it! I bought the smallest size but it still cost $80! I haven’t received it yet.
Let’s not forget all the help she’s had from doctors. That skin is not aging without some type of surgeon coming in or some injections. If she is touching up the lips she is definitely touching her face. Not throwing shade, but all the awesome creams won’t do 100%. Plus, I’m sure she takes care of herself and doesn’t have normal stressors – like the rest of us.
Whoever “helped” her with her lips should not be practising medicine.
Trish, agreed. I want to give her an ice pack and a Benadryl when I look at her lips.
@Seraphina,
I snorted!! So funny!! Angioedema queen!
…and that Doctor needs to be fired. Se as for a longtime looked older than her age and “weathered”.
so botox costs 2k now? sounds about right.
I don’t think her skincare regimen and cost is over the top at all. She’s in show business and makes money from her appearance so it makes sense. I spend a lot of money on skincare for myself so $2,000 for her and her budget seems fair.
If you watch RHOBH, you can see that she does not have great skin. At least when filming.
Barely a shadow of her former Melrose Place self thanks to Botox, silicone and fillers. Her look is not based solely on her daily regimen.
I think that’s pretty typical for a celebrity. it’s not just the demands of the industry but also what would come recommended – experts would be suggesting higher end products for her.
When I think about it, I pour a decent amount of money into my skin for a non-celeb. Most of them are “common sense” moisturizing and SPF-protection products. If I tally it up, there’s probably well over $100 going into that regimen.
That’s really not bad. I mix high-end, mid-level, and drug store brands — Chanel, First Aid Beauty, RoC, and Neutrogena all have a place in my skincare routine, but if I had the money I could easily hit $2k. I love skincare.
I am in my late 30’s and for most of my life had oily but clear skin. Shine for days but never dry or wrinkly. In the last six months, hormones brought an unwelcome visitor: adult acne. Bad, bad adult acne. I felt like this time last year I had my skin care routine down to a science. I had products on auto-order cause I knew exactly what worked. Now, I’m scraping around to find a solution and waiting to see a dermatologist… in all honesty, if there was something that worked and I could afford it like Lisa, bring it on. Its ruining my (rather well established) self confidence.
Hi, Sleanne. I had the exact same problem. I am very fair skinned, but have had quite oily skin all my life. I am 52 now, but in my mid 30s my hormones really changed and I started having terrible deep acne triggered at certain times of the month. My OBGYN was very experienced at treating all women’s issues and immediately put me on a RX med called Spironolactone. It is a generic diuretic, but works amazing for skin problems because it attaches to the male hormones under the skin or some such. I was taking 100 mg 2x per day, but now use it only 1x per day. I tried to go off it once about 10 years ago, but I noticed such a difference in the texture of my skin, I went back on. It does make you pee a lot at first, but you adjust. Lol! This may be something to talk to your doctor about. My OBGYN retired a few years ago, but I still have my new practitioner prescribe it to me.
Use differin gel. it’s OTC now. It’s amazing.
Thanks a bunch! I will look into those options! Heard about Differin but have heard its hard to come by in Canada OTC. 🙁
I’ve had acne my whole life so I can only imagine the shock of suddenly having to deal with it. I envy people who have never struggled with it…so I’m so sorry! I also had a regimen that worked….then 2 years ago…a different kind of hormonal acne reared its head and none of my stuff worked!
The dermatologist will help you some I’m sure. So hang in there! They placed me on spironolactone which helps inhibit testosterone. But it wasn’t 100% I had fractora done 4 times. It really has made the most difference in my skin with regards to acne. So you should look into that. I don’t even take the spironolactone anymore. (I probably should to get even better skin…but I already take a lot of medications and just didn’t want to take one more.)
I use a million products but recently one dermatologist sent me home with Obagi sulfur mask which can also be used as a spot treatment. It’s probably the best actual acne treatment I’ve used (ie, retinols/glycolic acids/ etc are all long-range type products where as this actually seems to get rid of the actual pimples). The women at the other place I go to started using Nutrofol — an oral product/neutraceutical used for hair loss. I think because it targets testosterone for hair loss…they all say that it has helped their hormonal acne. I’m buying 3 bottles today and see where that takes me. Good luck!!!!
When rich people release the skincare they use, for all of the money they spend, you rarely see products that are actually changing like acids & Retin-A NOT retinol but Retin-A. They are full of gimicky products that do nothing but moisturize the skin. I’ve narrowed down my skincare to what actually works versus what tricks the eye and it has made a big difference .
I follow a few beauty experts on Instagram and youtube and they all say the same thing – the ingredients on the whole aren’t expensive, its initially laboratory expenses and trials, then promotion and packaging that you pay for.
In the end, you will use what your skin likes and what you like using – and that can be an expensive trial and error experiment, particularly as your skin can change dramatically over time.
I’m not even a celeb and my skincare is on the expensive side. But I try to mix low end products in with my more expensive stuff. For instance, I used to use CeraVe cleanser. Now I’ve stopped using cleanser at all and only use Sensibio micellar water…still not breaking the bank at $15/bottle and my skin is cleaner and softer. I’m 1/3 way through my first bottle and I’ve had it a month.
I use serums from The Ordinary, which are usually less than $20/each. I use vitamin c, ferulic acid, and zinc serum.
But my big splurges are on GlamGlow Supermud masks, which costs $60 for a small jar, but they recently started offering a giant tube for $80 and I love it because it’s more sanitary and I waste less product.
I have tried every exfoliant on the market and they all break me out. I even hang with it for 2 months in case my skin is “purging.” Nope, my skin just hates exfoliating (and it’s oily, so WTF). But the supermud exfoliates, quickly clears up breakouts and calms my skin.
My other splurge is Hanacure face masks. About $110/month for a weekly mask. But they’re awesome for my hyperpigmentation issues.
Last week I decided I’m going to save up and have laser acne scar removal. It’s silly, and I’m vain, but the scars bug me, and I want them gone. I can’t cover them with makeup unless I apply it with a trowel, which is a skin no-no for me. And at 33, I’m wearing less makeup, so good skin is a must.
So far, I need a good oily skin moisturizer, but I’ve found nothing that works. Sigh.
La Roche Posay makes a sébum regulator moisturizer. I tried it. It worked okay. But my favorite is Filorga. I have oily skin, I’m from Texas, we have lots of humidity but now that I live in Paris I have this weird dry spell from Oct-Mar. in the summer though it goes back to super oil production because in Paris it gets hot, no air conditioning, so I need to be careful. The Filorga worked best. It’s thin and not oily. It’s expensive though. You’re going to be spending 50€ every two months? Maybe more if you use more than twice a day. The LaRoche is only like 12€ for a tube. But it’s particularly targeted to stop oil production.
Can you tell me which Filorga product you are talking about? Thank you 🙂
I posted this in the links thread a few days ago, but my cost is about $900 a year. My biggest cost coming from my vitamin C serum, which I’ll never give up.
When I was younger I got away with using cheaper moisturizers (old school Oil of Olay was my favorite) but I need something a little heavier now, but not greasy. I’ve switched all my products to Skinceuticals just because it’s easier to remember to order it when I’m ordering my Vit C serum.
Vit C is one of the very few ingredients which have been proven to work. Moisturizer can’t penetrate your skin and if the product says it can, its a lie. It basically acts as barrier on the skin so when choosing one you need to choose one which protects the skin barrier with a good PH level. Expensive moisturizers are maybe the biggest gimmick on the market. They often have very poor ingredients that break down the skin barrier. I’ve tried expensive moisturizers and the one which always works is Cerave. Also another very inexpensive choice & Dermatologists often recommend it is Aquaphor (it was made initially for wound healing/good in barrier). Cheap with quality ingredients.
Oh, I know. But now that I’m older my skin is a little dryer so I need something heavier to hold what moisture I have in. I should have mentioned I have rosacea so I’m limited in what’s going to work for me. I’ve had lasering done to get rid of the redness from rosacea, so I’m extra careful on using products that make my skin red, like Aquaphor. Once I find something that doesn’t cause redness, I stick with it.
I haven’t tried Cerave, but someone on here said it did the opposite and made their skin drier. I don’t remember exactly what they said though.
I kind of love her on Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. She’s just so daffy and shameless.
One youtuber dermatologist (cannot remember which one…) said there are 3 essential things – a retinol product, sunscreen & Vitamin C. I use prescription tretinoin. My vitamin C is from Timeless ($20 something a bottle), the rest from the drugstore. But I also use peptide and Niacinamide serums from the Ordinary, both well under $20.
Amazing, I was composing my question (below) & found out when I finished that you had an answer already! I use prescription tretinoin, so I wanted to know how to use Vit C with that. Do you put the Vit C on first, and then the tretinoin over it?
I use retional a (not prescription level tho) after I exfoliate with the Oridinary’s lactic acid or BHA acid by Paula’s Choice. I switch between retional and vitamin c in the evening. Partially because they make skin photo sensitive (which chemical exfoliation does as well) and I live in Australia where the UV levels are insane. Also alternating between the two makes both products last longer.
I have dry skin and I find this approach works for me.
Retional A, Latic Acid and Vitamin C are my favourite skincare ingredients.
MarcelMarcel gives good advice. Another option – if your skin is sensitive use Vit C in am and tretinoin in the evening. I must have the hide of an alligator – I use both at night. In the am I use the niacinamide and sunscreen. If I need extra moisture Weleda Skin Food is super hydrating – a little goes a long way.
I use prescription tretinoin (Curology) at night, followed by a really hydrating moisturizer, and vitamin C in the morning (in the form of Sunday Riley C.E.O. moisturizer — I find that serums are too strong for me!). The Ordinary makes a vitamin C suspension that is effective, if super strong, which would probably go well under a light daytime moisturizer. Don’t forget the SPF!!
I’d love to know how you use the 3 products (glycolic acid, retinol, and lip mask) which you mentioned that made such a difference in your complexion. Do you use the glycolic acid and retinol at the same time?
For the retinol you had a link to Eve Hansen’s 3 products, Hyaluronic Acid, retinol, and Vitamin C. Do you use all 3 of these products?
There was probably a post where you covered this – maybe you could just reply with the link.
I love Celebitchy and the Podcast. So much fun!! Thanks! Iona
To be fair I make a lot less money than she does and if I wanted to add up everything in my skincare routine it would be a lot:
Filorga Moisturizer 50€
Filorga Optimeyes 30€
Lierac Serum (use morning) 60€
Ordinary Retinol (use night) 6€
La Roche facewash 10€
La Roche hydralonic sérum (use night) 35€
Sheet mask every other day 3€ each
Cicabifane chapstick 6€
And I don’t even use half of what other people do. I have a Lierac toner but stopped using it (26€). I mean skincare is a crazy, crazy costly thing. And in France with all of the products they have it’s crazy insane. Oddly enough all of the money I spend on this stuff, and yes I don’t look my age, but my skin doesn’t look practicularly smoother, my pores never get smaller, I can’t even tell any difference from one product to the next. I’ve changed up many times and it might be amazing the first 3 days but then my skin goes back to “normal”. I keep trying new stuff hoping the effect lasts longer but it doesn’t. Most of the time my skin might just look good because ovulation week makes me pretty. Jamie Lee Curtis is probably right, it is a scam.
A lot of the expensive creams can be scams, but keep in mind that a lot of them are also spending more money on research and the science behind the products. They have a markup in their pricing to cover those overhead costs, and then that research trickles down and lower priced products can take advantage of the public information available related to it.
I love Olay regenerist cream $35), but needed something for my redness, and over time it was being exacerbated by it. I switched to shiseido glow cream and it was okay (at $108 it needed to be great), but I just switched again to Caudalie’s Vinoperfect Glycolic night cream $65) and I am in love. In one week it has changed my texture, complexion, everything. Highly recommend.
Tretinoin, good sunscreen, and moisture, moisture, moisture!
Stratia is one of my favorite brands. The science is on point, they are remarkably transparent about percentages of ingredients (which is awesome for things like getting the 3:1:1 ratio of ceramides, cholesterol, and fatty acids), there’s no fluffy packaging or marketing, and the price point is excellent. There’s a reason it’s got a cult following on reddit.
I’m a lot less judgy about celebrities spending $2K on skin care than I am about them spending $15K or even $500K to get their kids into college. (Thank you, Varsity Blues scandal, for this important life lesson.)
I highly recommend looking at breakdowns of products on beautypedia.com . You’ll see that many of the very high end products are rated lowest, while Olay and CeraVe (drugstore products) are rated highly. Really for long term aging retinol is the only thing proven to make a difference in the long run.