I’d venture that anybody with a vague interest in beauty can name at least one of the best Elizabeth Arden products. The brand has been around for more than 100 years and, as such, it can truly call itself iconic.
At a time when women didn’t have as much of a presence in the world of business, Arden was something of a pioneer. She famously created a red lipstick to match the uniforms of women serving in WWII, for example. And, according to the brand, she was also the first to launch samples and travel-sized products—as well as the “makeover”. In other words, she really is a key figure in the beauty industry’s history.
Today, many of the products still feature the red door logo that represents those of her salons.
Having tested quite a few of them in our beauty journalism careers, these are the best Elizabeth Arden products beyond the iconic Eight Hour Cream (though, of course, that features here) chosen by myself and Fashion’s Digest’s Senior Beauty Editor Katie Thomas.
(Image credit: Lucy Abbersteen)
The best Elizabeth Arden products, reviewed by beauty editors
1. Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream Skin Protectant
(Image credit: Elizabeth Arden)
“It would feel wrong to write a guide to the best Elizabeth Arden products and not mention this iconic cream. Actually more of an oily balm, Eight Hour Cream was invented by Arden almost a century ago and, according to the brand, is considered the first “multipurpose” beauty product. It got its name after one of her customers used it on her child’s scraped knee and, within eight hours, it was healed. If you have given Eight Hour Cream a test and liked the texture but weren’t so keen on its heady scent, you’ll likely get on better with the Lightly Scented edition, which has a barely-there sweetness to it.” – Lucy
2. Elizabeth Arden Prevage City Smart Hydrating SPF 50
(Image credit: Elizabeth Arden Prevage City Smart Hydrating SPF 50)
“The first thing I noticed when I tried the Prevage sunscreen—one of the best facial sunscreens in Fashion’s Digest’s guide—is how lightweight and non-greasy it is. The formula has a kind of beige tint, which rubbed in to be barely detectable on my pale skin (though I obviously can’t say from my experience how it looks on warmer and deeper skin tones). As well as the user experience, this formula offers broad-spectrum protection, meaning it protects against both UVA and UVB, as well as defending against pollution.” Lucy
3. Elizabeth Arden Retinol + HPR Ceramide Rapid Skin Renewing Water Cream
(Image credit: Elizabeth Arden)
“This was the standout retinol product of 2023. Every beauty editor I spoke to last year was using it and had fallen in love with it. It’s rather special because it combines retinol with HPR (high performance retinol), which delivers retinol-like results without the dreaded retinol purge. Not only that, but there are ceramides and peptides in the formula for good measure. It’s so gentle it can be used night and day (yes, daytime), which makes it one heck of good moisturiser for mature skin.” – Katie
4. Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream Intensive Lip Repair Balm
(Image credit: Elizabeth Arden)
“Elizabeth Arden has a couple of lip balm options in its roster and within the Eight Hour line. I’ve tried both and this one has the edge. It’s easy to think that lip balm is just lip balm and any will do a good enough job, until you try one that noticeably takes the edge off of dry, cracked lips in a single application. This is that. You only need to use a tiny bit at a time so the pot will last ages. I also have it on good authority that the Fashion’s Digest beauty editors also deem it one of the best lip balms in existence.” -Lucy
5. Elizabeth Arden White Tea EDP
(Image credit: Elizabeth Arden)
“Elizabeth Arden’s White Tea fragrance is one of the brand’s best-sellers. With rose, tonka bean, musk among its notes, it’s what I would describe as a nice, wearable, everyday floral fragrance—not punchy or a striking signature statement, but lovely nevertheless. Where it performs particularly well is its longevity, which actually surprised me considering it has a fairly low price tag, as fragrance goes. Get it if you want something light and elegant that will lend itself well to any occasion at any time of year.” – Lucy
6. Elizabeth Arden Flawless Finish Skincaring Foundation
(Image credit: Elizabeth Arden)
“There are so many incredible contenders for the best foundation that it’s increasingly difficult to stand out in the market. On first impressions, this base did impress me, however. Despite its slightly unassuming packaging, it’s extremely comfortable to wear and blends seamlessly, yielding medium, buildable coverage that looks like your skin but a bit healthier, glowier and more even-toned. The shade range is also decent, with 40 shades that span a wide range.” – Lucy
7. Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Miracle Hydrating Mist
(Image credit: Elizabeth Arden)
“Face mists aren’t as essential a part of your skincare routine as sun protection, but they are a nice extra to have—particularly at this time of year when the skin gets hot, parched and uncomfortable (as do we). And this one from the Eight Hour range is really, really good. Ideal for topping up your skin’s moisture levels throughout the day, it’s lightweight, refreshing and particularly good for skin that gets dehydrated. Keep it in the fridge if you want an extra cool hit.” – Lucy
8. Elizabeth Arden Advanced Ceramide Capsules Daily Youth Restoring Serum
(Image credit: Elizabeth Arden)
“Naturally, I had to include some of the brand’s iconic capsules and, for me, it had to be these. The ceramide serum pods can always be relied on when my skin barrier is having a funny moment. Ceramides are the glue that holds your skin in place, so as I get older and my skin’s natural stock slows down I find myself leaning on these much more. I love that each one contains exactly the right amount you need. If you’re concerned with how sustainable they are – they are fully biodegradable. The serum is a little rich so I prefer to apply it at night, but if you have particularly dry skin you might love it both in the mornings and evenings.” – Katie