Who hasn't been tempted by the outrageously expensive beauty product? The $60 body scrub that promises immediate thigh firming? Or the wrinkle cream with wild Himalayan yak's milk that costs more than your last phone bill? Sometimes these indulgences turn out to be worth every dime, "but a lot of times, much of the cost is hype — the marketing, the packaging. Most expensive doesn't always mean better," says Stuart H. Kaplan, a dermatologist in Beverly Hills.

So what's worth the money? Here, experts reveal where to invest and where to save, from eye shadow to facial cleanser. You may be surprised at what products you can scrimp on — and those for which it might just be worth disconnecting your phone.

Skin

The first step to saving on skin products? Use less. If your method is to begin with a big dollop of face cream and then smear it between your hands, that is where most of the cream will stay. Instead, dab a dot on your forehead, cheeks, and nose, then spread it and rub in. Here's the penny-wise way to choose what skin products to use.

Makeup

It's no coincidence that lipstick sales go up when the economy slumps: A $3.99 tube is a cheaper pick-me-up than a new cocktail dress (or even a cocktail!). But all those inexpensive tubes, pencils, and cases at the bottom of your handbag do add up. Sometimes it's better to invest in staple colors that are integral to your look and avoid impulse buys. Learn when to splurge.

Hair Care

Conserve conditioner by slowly adding it to your hair's ends, rather than your entire head, then rinsing excess away, says Maité Lopez, a stylist at the James Joseph salon, in Boston. Where else to save? Read on.