Is Perricone MD worth the money? I tried some of its most popular products to find out + 20% off

I’ve spoken about Perricone MD on my blog before. I was very impressed by the brand’s science-backed skincare products and fell in love with its uncomplicated No Makeup Makeup range.

When it comes to skincare formulas, Perricone MD is top of the range. Its products are backed by clinical or consumer trials, offer high-quality INCI lists, and deliver noticeable results. Ultimately, this is a skincare brand that you can trust to improve the look and feel of your skin.

But there’s no denying that this brand is expensive. Is Perricone MD worth the money? Or are there similar and more affordable products out there that deliver the same results? I’m sharing my honest thoughts in this post.

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Products in this review

I’m reviewing the following 4 Perricone MD skincare products today:

1. High Potency Hyaluronic Intensive Hydrating Serum
2. High Potency Retinol Recovery Overnight Moisturizer
3. Vitamin C Ester CCC + Ferulic Brightening Complex 20%
4. Essential FX Acyl-Glutathione Chia Cleansing Balm

I’m diving into my thoughts on each product below before sharing my overall Perricone MD brand review and whether it’s worth the money.

1. Perricone MD High Potency Hyaluronic Intensive Hydrating Serum

£83 for 59ml

I’ve tried the Perricone MD High Potency Hyaluronic Intensive Hydrating Serum before and loved it.

In a clinical study of 35 women, 97% showed improvement in skin hydration for 72 hours, and 80% showed improvement in skin barrier function after 8 weeks.

The Perricone MD serum boasts 4 forms and 2 natural building blocks of hyaluronic acid to deeply hydrate for a smoother and plumper-looking complexion. A mix of molecular weights is optimal, as this allows hyaluronic acid to penetrate different layers of skin, expert Dr Dennis Gross says. This enables the popular ingredient to work its magic throughout the skin tissue.

Alongside hyaluronic acid, the serum also incorporates the multi-beneficial ingredient niacinamide, the emollient dimethicone, and skin barrier-strengthening squalane.

The results of this intensely hydrating serum speak for themselves. This instantly makes my skin feel more hydrated, smooth, and plump. The texture is fairly thick for a serum, but it absorbs quickly and doesn’t feel greasy on my oily skin.

Since using this serum, my skin not only feels more hydrated immediately after use, but it leaves my skin feeling noticeably more hydrated in the medium term. It also makes my skin feel soft and look subtly dewy.

Because of these benefits, this serum is wonderful for skin prep before makeup application, as it gives base products a hydrated, even, and smooth canvas to work with. It also prevents makeup from clinging to dry patches, which can result in patchy makeup.

Rating: 5 stars

This is definitely one of the best hyaluronic acid serums I’ve tried. The benefits are more noticeable and long-lasting compared to most – if not all – other hyaluronic acid serums I’ve used.

2. Perricone MD High Potency Retinol Recovery Overnight Moisturizer

£20 for 15ml or £82 for 59ml

The Perricone MD High Potency Retinol Recovery Overnight Moisturizer is a great night-time moisturiser.

In a clinical study of 30 women after 8 weeks, 100% showed significant improvement in skin hydration, 80% showed significant improvement in skin brightness and radiance, and participants showed significant improvement in skin texture, tone, and elasticity.

This night cream features a triple blend of encapsulated retinol, retinol ester, and phyto-retinol to help visibly reduce fine lines and wrinkles by accelerating surface skin exfoliation and renewal. Other key ingredients include dewy propanediol, nourishing shea butter, and skin-replenishing caprylic/capric triglyceride.

I like this night cream a lot. It’s nourishing, lightweight, and makes my skin soft and radiant by the morning. It has a delicate rose scent, which I love. But that’s something to be mindful of if you’re not a fan of fragranced skincare. The scent disappears quickly once applied.

At 28, I don’t have many fine lines. I don’t typically see huge results from retinol creams, as they tend to be weaker than targeted retinol serums. This is the case with the Perricone MD moisturiser. I haven’t noticed a difference in the few non-prominent fine lines I have. But I expect this. However, I’m confident that I’d notice a difference if I had more mature skin, as the formula is fab.

My skin feels noticeably more hydrated throughout the day after using this night cream. The retinol in this moisturiser also helps to even out my complexion, both in terms of texture and tone. A more even complexion is the main benefit I tend to get from decent retinol products at my age, and this one certainly delivers in this area.

Rating: 4 stars

I really like the night cream. However, I think I’d see more benefits if I had more fine lines and wrinkles, where the price would be more justifiable. I’d highly recommend this for more mature skin.

3. Perricone MD Vitamin C Ester CCC + Ferulic Brightening Complex 20%

£139 for 59ml

The Perricone MD Vitamin C Ester CCC + Ferulic Brightening Complex 20% is good.

In a clinical study with 42 women over 8 weeks, 92% showed improvement in the appearance of skin texture, and 76% showed improvement in the appearance of skin radiance.

This serum features 3-O-ethyl ascorbic acid, a derivative of pure vitamin C (ascorbic acid). Paula’s Choice explains that it’s a stable, water- and oil-soluble derivative of ascorbic acid that offers all of the primary benefits vitamin C is known for, such as brightening, wrinkle reduction, visible firming, and fading hyperpigmentation, to restore a more even skin tone and offsetting numerous triggers of environmental damage. This derivative is deemed more tolerable and stable than ascorbic acid.

To complement the vitamin C derivative, the antioxidant ferulic acid helps to stabilise the vitamin C and enhance its properties.

I really like this serum. Despite having a fairly thick consistency like the hyaluronic acid serum, it’s absorbent and lightweight. The serum is surprisingly hydrating, and my skin tolerates the formula well. It helps improve my skin’s texture and tone.

Compared to other vitamin C serums I’ve tried, this doesn’t deliver as noticeable luminous skin. Personally, this is something I look for in a vitamin C serum, so it’s a shame that this doesn’t make my skin appear as bright as other serums have in the past.

Rating: 4 stars

If you’re looking to improve the appearance of your skin’s tone and texture, this is a great, science-backed option. However, in my experience, there are more affordable serums out there that make your skin look more radiant.

4. Perricone MD Essential FX Acyl-Glutathione Chia Cleansing Balm

£39 for 96g

I love the Perricone MD Essential FX Acyl-Glutathione Chia Cleansing Balm.

There’s no clinical study for this cleansing balm. In a consumer study of 99 women after 7 days, 97% agreed skin looks hydrated, 97% agreed skin feels softer, supple, and smoother, 96% agreed skin it conditions skin, and 96% agreed it deeply cleanses without stripping skin.

This luxurious cleansing balm is enriched with the emollient rice bran oil, soothing and hydrating linseed oil, and chia seed oil, which is considered the richest plant source of omega-3 fatty acids.

Double cleansing is probably one of my fave steps in my skincare routine. There’s no nicer feeling than melting the day away with a rich, luxe cleansing balm. And this Perricone MD one is fab.

It melts away makeup, skincare, dirt, and grease effortlessly. You don’t need to do any harsh rubbing or scrubbing, which is far kinder to your skin. The consistency is rich and balmy, but it doesn’t make my skin feel greasy. It’s also easy to remove any trace of the balm with the second cleanse, so there’s no concern about clogging your pores with leftover oily residue.

After using the balm, my skin feels clean, fresh, soft, and non-stripped. It’s not sensitising for my rosacea-prone skin. My skin is left feeling nourished and looking glowy and healthy. It’s so satisfying to use.

This cleansing balm is fragranced, so be mindful of that if you’re sensitive to perfumed skincare products. It has a light floral scent.

Rating: 5 stars

This cleansing balm has quickly become one of my faves. I look forward to using it every evening.

Is Perricone MD worth the money? The final verdict

I think Perricone MD is worth the money. However, I’d recommend purchasing from this expensive skincare brand if you have a specific skincare concern that you’d like to target. This brand excels in formulas that are backed by clinical studies, so you can be reassured that the product will deliver the results you want. This will avoid any potential disappointment in investing in a product that ultimately won’t target your concern areas.

Rating: 5 stars

And, of course, if you’re not looking to target a specific area of your skin and simply love high-end skincare, Perricone MD is a brilliant option. I’ve loved every product I’ve tried.

Get 20% off Perricone MD with my code PMDM20. Save today!

Sarah Sarsby is the owner of A Woman's Confidence. With over 5 years' experience of writing in the fields of beauty and lifestyle, Sarah is passionate about all things content, makeup, skincare, wellness, and lifestyle. She has oily skin, is obsessed with lip gloss, and loves cookie dough.