Affordable Dupes for 10 Popular High-End Skin Care Products (2019)
Sometimes it feels as if we have to spend loads of money on high-end skin care products. Truth be told, you don’t need to empty your pockets to build a quality skin care routine. While there are luxury skin care products I think are worth the splurge, there are also tons of affordable options right on Amazon or in your local drugstore!
Here’s a list of 10 top rated skin care products, and affordable alternatives that give similar results
1. Drunk Elephant’s Baby Facial vs. The Ordinary’s AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution
I’ve never tried Drunk Elephant’s Baby Facial, and I sure as hell won’t ever need to since I’ve tried The Ordinary’s 10 Minute Mask. They are both quick application, wash-off chemical exfoliants that utilize AHAs and BHAs to target texture, dark spots, and fine lines. The Ordinary’s 10 Minute Facial is a fraction of the price of Drunk Elephant’s Baby Facial, and does a fabulous job! This mask is a dream come true. I spread a thin layer all over my face, let it sit for 10 minutes, wash it off, and I’m left with flake-free, buttery smooth skin. I’m always raving about this mask because it’s that good! The quality you get for the price cannot be beat!
2. Sunday Riley’s Good Genes All-In-One Lactic Acid Treatment vs The Ordinary’s Lactic Acid superficial peeling formulation
Sunday Riley’s Good Genes is amazing. It’s a Lactic Acid chemical exfoliant that works to hydrate the skin, & reduce dark spots, fine lines, texture, and uneven skin tone. Almost any skin issue you have can be solved with lactic acid. Sunday Riley’s Good Genes is arguably the best lactic acid treatment on the market, but The Ordinary’s Lactic Acid is not too far behind. In fact, The Ordinary’s treatment has more lactic acid in it than Sunday Riley’s, meaning it may be more effective. This product is definitely on my to try list!
3. Fresh Soy Face Cleanser vs Yes To Cucumbers’ Soothing Daily Gentle Cleanser
Fresh’s Soy Face Cleanser is on my top 3 favorite cleansers list. I love how gentle it is! It’s made with simple ingredients, cleanses the skin without stripping it of its natural oils, and it smells like fresh cucumbers! My only issue with it is the price. Fortunately, there is a cheaper alternative that doesn’t require you to sacrifice quality. Yes to Cucumber’s Soothing Daily Gel Cleanser is comparable to Fresh’s Soy Face Cleanser. It’s also a cucumber-scented, simple ingredient, gentle cleanser.
4. Farmacy’s Honey Potion Renewing Antioxidant Hydration Mask vs. Bliss’ In the Honey Mask
I constantly rave about Farmacy’s Honey Potion mask! I think it’s great for people with dry/combination skin that need a pick-me-up. Honey offers major skin care benefits. It’s antibacterial, and it clarifies, soothes, and moisturizes the skin. Whenever my skin is dry and stressed out, I reach for Farmacy’s Honey Potion. Bliss’ In the Honey Mask is a $15 alternative of this mask. It is also honey-based and rids skin of dullness, dryness, and irritation.
5. Clinique’s Moisture Surge 72 Hour Auto-Replenishing Hydrator vs. Garnier SkinActive’s Moisture Rescue Refreshing Gel-Cream
Clinique’s Moisture Surge is one of my go-to moisturizers. I love testing out different moisturizers, but this product is one that I always seem to return to. It's a lightweight gel-cream moisturizer that works perfectly on my combination skin. It moisturizes my dry patches without being too greasy for the oily parts of my skin. It also stays true to it's name, and keeps my skin well-moisturized for days. If you're looking for a moisturizer with these qualities for a fraction of the price, check out Garnier SkinActive’s Moisture Rescue Refreshing Gel-Cream. It has a similar lightweight, gel-cream formula that penetrates into the skin and locks in moisture for 24-hours.
6. GLAMGLOW’s SUPERMUD® Activated Charcoal Treatment Mask vs. L’Oreal Paris’ Detox & Brighten Pure Clay Mask
I love Glam Glow’s Supermud Mask! I highly recommend it for those with acne-prone skin. It contains activated charcoal that works to detoxify and fight skin imperfections by sucking out dirt and bacteria from pores, resulting in clearer, smoother skin. Although I love this mask, I haven’t purchased it in a while due to the price tag. Whenever I would purchase it, I would just pick up the mini size in order to save money. Fortunately, L'Oreal has an affordable activated charcoal mask that I’ve been reaching for instead! Like Glam Glow's Supermud Mask, L'Oreal's Detox & Brighten Clay Mask works to detoxify and rid the skin of impurities; leaving you with clear, purified skin.
7. Peter Thomas Roth’s 8% Glycolic Solutions Toner vs. Pixi’s Glow Tonic Exfoliating and a Brightening Toner
Peter Thomas Roth's 8% Glycolic Solutions Toner is a highly raved about toner. It's a chemical exfoliator enriched with 8% glycolic acid that works to quickly turnover skin cells and help reduce the appearance of pores, dark marks, fine lines, texture, and wrinkles. This toner also contains witch hazel, allantoin, chamomile, and aloe vera which help hydrate, calm and smooth the skin. This popular toner sells for a pretty hefty price of $40 for a 150 mL bottle. Pixi's Glow Tonic Exfoliating and Brightening Toner is $29 for an even larger bottle! This product is pretty comparable to Peter Thomas Roth's toner. It’s an alcohol-free chemical exfoliating toner enriched with 5% glycolic acid. Like Peter Thomas Roth's 8% Glycolic Solutions Toner, Pixi's Glow Tonic exfoliates the skin to reveal brighter, smoother, and more radiant skin. This toner also contains aloe vera which soothes the skin during the exfoliation process.
8. Olehenriksen’s Truth Serum vs. 40 Carrots’ Carrot + C Vitamin Serum
Vitamin C is a must have for me. I use Ole Henriksen's Truth Serum every single morning. Vitamin C has amazing anti/aging and antioxidant properties that help brighten, energize, firm, and hydrate the skin. My skin has looked a lot more radiant since I've included the Truth Serum into my morning routine. Although I love Ole Henriksen's Truth Serum, I must admit that it is on the pricer side, and using it everyday doesn't help my pockets at all lol. I've been on the lookout for a more affordable vitamin C serum, and landed on 40 Carrots’ Carrot + C Vitamin Serum. This serum has such great reviews. It's a retinol-rich serum that contains carrots and vitamin C that work to recharge, brighten, firm, and hydrate the skin.
9. Youth to the People’s KALE + Green Tea & Spinach Vitamins Superfood Antioxidant Cleanser vs. Garnier SkinActive’s Deep Pore Face Wash with Green Tea
Oily/Combination skin folks, I've found a dupe of my all time favorite cleanser that will work for you! Y'all know I love Youth to the People's Superfood Cleaner. I'm a huge fan of it because it's a clean, gentle, gel-based formula that cleanses the skin without stripping it of its moisture. It's also suitable for all skin types! One of its key ingredients is green tea, which is anti-bacterial and inflammatory. Green tea is essentially a non-harsh, clean ingredient that keeps skin clear. I have nothing but good things to say about this cleanser, except that I wish it was more affordable. Luckily, I've found a cheaper alternative. Garnier SkinActive's Deep Pore Face Wash with Green Tea is a sulfate-free green tea based gel face wash. This cleanser also does a great job of purifying the skin. The only downside is that it does have mattifying properties, so it may not be suitable for those with super dry skin. If you have oily/combination skin, I recommend trying this $9 cleanser out!
10. Clarisonic’s Mia Prima Sonic Facial Cleansing Brush vs Vanity Planet’s Glowspin Facial Brush
Having a facial cleansing device is a blessing. They give you a deeper clean than your hands can provide, but they definitely require maintenance. You have to first purchase the device and then re-purchase replacement brush heads every 3-6 months. The Clarisonic is probably the most popular facial cleansing device. It comes in different models and sizes, but they’re all $90+, and the replacement brush heads are $20+. Vanity Planet’s Glowspin is $36 and works just as well as the Clarisonic, and the brush heads are only $10!