These Budget Skincare Buys Are Just as Good as the Expensive Versions

After a feature on the affordable beauty products that I love just as much as their high-end counterparts, I had an influx of questions coming from friends and colleagues about what other beauty dupes were lurking on the shelves of the high street. Well, it turns out there are plenty.

Today, I’m going to be honing in on skincare—mainly because when it comes to my beauty routine, this is what most of my dosh goes on. Skin is big business in the industry, and generally, I think there’s a perception that spending more money on a skincare product means that it will work more effectively. Well, friends, I’m here to tell you otherwise.

While there are plenty of luxury skincare options in my regular routine, I’ve also found a fair amount of affordable alternatives for when you don’t want to splash the cash. Who knows? You just might find a new favourite.

Keep scrolling to shop 10 high-end skincare products that I love and their budget skincare dupes that are just as good.

The product that Jourdan Dunn swears by for actual supermodel skin, this glycolic toner has something of cult status within the industry. Sweep it onto clean skin with a cotton pad, and say hello to a brighter, more even complexion.

Another glycolic acid treatment that will remove impurities and brighten your face. At over half of the price of Pixi, it has to be worth a try, right? This has a higher concentration, so be careful if you’ve got more sensitive skin. 

This is one of my favourite balm cleansers, mainly because I feel so damn fancy whenever I use it. It’s packed with cocoa butter, chamomile, eucalyptus and clove oils and manages to remove makeup, calm blemishes and cleanse skin.

This is a really decadent cleansing balm that belies its affordable price point. It uses shea butter, jojoba and sweet almond oils to cleanse, hydrate and remove all traces of makeup. 

After big nights out or on particularly bleary-eyed mornings, these are the ultimate de-puffing eye solutions. They feel incredibly cool whether you’ve put them in the fridge or not and do a great job of fading dark circles and brightening tired eyes in just a few minutes.

Infused with purified water, soothing seaweed extract and brightening licorice, these more affordable options also do a great job of de-puffing your under-eyes. I’d pop them in the fridge beforehand to supercharge that cooling effect.

I’m lip balm–obsessed, and this one is top of my current love list. It’s incredibly moisturising, non-sticky and leaves lips looking plump and juicy.

This cult-classic lip balm provides that same rosy tint as By Terry but at a fraction of price. Admittedly, the texture of the same as its pricier counterpart, but it gets the job done and is great for chapped lips. Plus, it’s a bit easier to carry around with you.

I’ve spoken about my love of Drunk Elephant before, and this serum is one of my favourites. Yes, it is pricey, but when I use it a couple of times a week, it does an amazing job of evening out my skin tone and reducing the appearance of blemishes.

This actually has a higher concentration of AHAs than the pricier Drunk Elephant version, so if you want a really intense solution to battling blemishes and evening skin tone, then try this. Be warned, though: This stuff is strong, so stick to using it only a couple of times a week.

Celebrity facialist Shani Darden is the woman behind the glowing skin of everyone from Rosie Huntington-Whiteley to Chrissy Teigen. This retinol serum is something of a beauty insider secret thanks to the way it delivers facial-like results overnight.

The thing that people love most about Shani Darden’s formula is that it doesn’t irritate skin—something that retinol is known for. However, I’ve found that this affordable serum from The Inkey List is just as tolerable. I use it at night for a healthier-looking complexion come morning.

One of the best-selling skincare brands in the U.S., Peter Thomas Roth provides seriously hardworking skincare solutions for every complexion need. This intensely hydrating moisturiser is ideal for days when your skin is feeling particularly parched.

This more affordable option is also oil-free and packed with hyaluronic acid for a lightweight texture that penetrates the surface of the skin for intense hydration.

I particularly love this product during summer when I just want a hint of coverage on my skin. The tint releases as you massage it in along with protective SPF 30 and antioxidants to protect skin from environmental stressors. 

Admittedly, the SPF isn’t as high as the Perricone MD moisturiser, but this No7 version really delivers in terms of providing a hint of radiant coverage and protecting your skin against pollution and other skin-damaging nasties. A great option if you live in the city.

This has to be one of the most iconic serums in the world, and in fact, it was the first serum ever formulated. At its core, it’s a hyaluronic acid–based serum that restores moisture to your skin overnight and diminishes fine lines and pores.

This Korean skincare treatment is something of an insider secret with very similar ingredients and results to the classic ANR serum. It’s the priciest «affordable» option on my list, but it genuinely lives up to the Estée Lauder classic.

Disclaimer: I have not ever spent (and never will) this amount of money on face cream. However, this is a really beloved moisturiser in the beauty industry that’s packed with caviar extract to firm, brighten and hydrate skin. In essence, it’s a facial in a pot.

Undoubtedly, this budget moisturiser won’t have as luxurious as an ingredients list as the La Prairie version. However, it does contain brightening caviar, snow algae extract and moisturising hyaluronic acid, and it’s a genuinely good night cream.

The OG product that changed all of our night-time routines, thanks to its use by our fave models backstage. I use this to gently remove makeup and the mini version works a treat when travelling, if you’re avoiding face wipes. 

You can’t go wrong with this purse-friendly alternative, which works just as well on sensitive skin and still manages to get every inch of makeup off with ease. Win-win. 

Next up, the six affordable skincare brands that actually work.

To read the article in English. whowhatwear.co.uk