Affordable Dupes for 10 Popular High-End Skin Care Products (2022)
Everyone loves a good dupe!
This is one of my favorite posts of the year, and judging by the stats, it’s one of your favorites as well! More expensive does not always equal better, and I’m here to show you that there are affordable options to popular high-end skin care products!
*Disclaimer: Please don’t get hung up by the word “dupe.” These alternatives are NOT exact matches. Look at them as similar products that have some of the same ingredients and/or work to target the same skin issues.
1. Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant Exfoliator vs Good Molecules Pineapple Exfoliating Powder
There aren’t a ton of powder-based exfoliators on the market, but the ones that are, are very effective because they contain both physical and chemical exfoliating properties. Dermalogica’s Daily Microfoliant is a gentle powder exfoliant that contains salicylic acid, rice bran-derived phytic acid, and colloidal oatmeal. All of these ingredients work in tandem to reduce oil, clear clogged pores, gently exfoliate, calm the skin, smooth the skin, and brighten the skin. Luckily, there is a more affordable option by Good Molecules. Good Molecules’ Pineapple Exfoliating Powder contains starch and silk powder, calamine, allantoin, and fruit extracts to gently exfoliate, smooth, and brighten the skin. At only $16, this is a steal!
2. Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Niacinamide Dew Drops vs e.l.f. Cosmetics’ Jelly Pop Dew Face Primer
The Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Dew Drops is one of my favorite serums. It’s packed with niacinamide, which works to add moisture and brightness to the skin. I love to use it on its own, prior to makeup application, or mixed in with my foundation. elf’s Jelly Pop Dew Face Primer has a similar gel texture. The great thing about it is that it actually doubles as a primer, so it keeps your makeup in place while also moisturizing the skin. It includes hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, vitamins A, C & E, and watermelon extract.
3. Peter Thomas Roth Cucumber Gel Mask Extreme Detoxifying Hydrator vs Yes To Cucumbers Soothing + Cooling Jelly Mask
Peter Thomas Roth’s Cucumber Gel Mask is my absolute fave. It cools and calms the skin, and reduces inflammation, redness and puffiness. Whenever I damage my skin barrier, I pop this mask in the fridge for 30-mins and then apply it. It truly makes my skin feel like heaven. It’s super soothing and cooling. If you are looking for a similar mask, look no further than Yes To Cumbers Soothing & Cooling Jelly Mask. It has the same benefits at a fraction of the cost!
4. Glow Recipe Watermelon Pink Juice Oil-Free Moisturizer vs Yes To Watermelon Daily Gel Moisturizer
Glow Recipe’s Watermelon Pink Juice Oil-Free Moisturizer is perfect for those with oily/combo skin. It’s a lightweight, brightening moisturizer packed with hyaluronic acid, antioxidants and watermelon extract to brighten, protect, and hydrate the skin. Yes To has a similar gel moisturizer that’s lightweight, and is also formulated with watermelon extract to help cool and hydrate the skin. It’s also rich in Vitamin C to help brighten the skin, and sodium hyaluronate to help improve texture. So, if you’re a fan of the Glow Recipe moisturizer but not a huge fan of the price, definitely check out the alternative by Yes To.
5. Paula's Choice Discoloration Repair Serum vs The INKEY List Tranexamic Acid Serum
Hyperpigmentation is my number 1 skin care concern. I breakout here and there, which wouldn’t be a huge issue for me if all my spots didn’t cause hyperpigmentation. You heard that right…every single one of my breakouts (even the small ones) leaves behind a lovely dark mark. Luckily there are products on the market that can fade my spots. Tranexamic acid is one of my favorite OTC ingredients when it comes to treating hyperpigmentation. It’s relatively gentle, and works well with other products. Paula's Choice’s Discoloration Repair Serum contains tranexamic acid, bakuchiol and niacinamide to help fade dark spots. The INKEY Lists’s Tranexamic Acid Serum rivals Paula’s Choice. It’s formulated with tranexamic acid, vitamin c, and acai berry to target dark spots.
6. Tatcha The Clarifying Clay Mask Exfoliating Pore Treatment vs innisfree Pore Clearing Clay Mask
I think a good clay mask is a must for everyone to have in their skin care collection. Clay masks clear out your pores by absorbing excesses oil and sebum. This helps treat and prevent breakouts. The Tatcha Clarifying Clay Mask is great because it also includes Japanese Konjac, which gently exfoliates dead skin and dirt, and Japanese volcanic ash, which opens the pores by creating a warming sensation. This makes it even more effective when it comes to drawing out impurities. Clay Masks can last you a long time, but $70 is pretty expensive for just one product. If you’re interested in another clay mask that will give you the same results, check out the one by innisfree. It’s formulated with absorbent Jeju Super Volcanic Clusters™ and AHA, which gently exfoliates the skin and clears pores.
7. Drunk Elephant Beste™ No. 9 Jelly Cleanser vs BYOMA Creamy Jelly Cleanser
I actually really love Drunk Elephant’s Jelly Cleanser. It’s a no frills, simple cleanser that cleanses the skin without drying it out. That price thooooo….I can do without that. If you’re on the market for a similar, simple jelly cleanser, I recommed checking out the one by BYOMA. It’s a pH balanced cleanser that’s alcohol and fragrance-free, vegan and cruelty free, and is infused with ceramides, licorice root and green tea extracts to nourish the skin, and cleanse without leaving a tight, dry feeling.
8. Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant vs Peach Slices Acne Exfoliating Toner
Exfoliating toners are great to have, especially if you deal with acne. Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant is a top seller for a good reason. It’s a toner that contains 2% salicylic acid and green tea to unclog pores, even skin tone and texture, and improve and prevent acne. It works, and it works fast. Peach Slices’ Acne Exfoliating Toner works great as well if you’re looking for something cheaper. It also contains 2% salicylic acid, which effectively clears and prevents acne, and is formulated with calming and soothing properties.
9. Skinfix Barrier+ Skin Barrier Niacinamide Restoring Gel Cream vs BYOMA Moisturizing Gel Cream
Skinfix’s Barrier+ Skin Barrier Niacinamide Restoring Gel Cream is an excellent moisturizer! It’s packed with hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, zinc PCA, and antimicrobial peptides to hydrate and moisturize the skin. It’s suitable for all skin types, and works to heal and maintain the skin’s moisture barrier. While it is a great moisturizer, the price is a bit hefty. If you’re looking for a similar gel-cream moisturizer, I would recommend trying BYOMA’s Moisturizing Gel Cream. It has ceramides to maintain the skin’s moisture barrier, as well as niacinamide and green tea to brighten, soothe, and moisturize the skin.
10. Kate Somerville EradiKate™ Acne Treatment vs Mario Badescu Drying Lotion
If you struggle with acne, head to Ulta or Sephora right now and pick up a drying lotion. Drying lotions are acne spot treatments that soak up the gunk in zits, which helps minimize them and get rid of them quicker. Both Kate Somerville and Mario Badescu products contain salicylic acid, sulfur, and zinc oxide to help target acne spots. Speaking as someone who has used Mario Badescu’s Drying Lotion for years, you don’t need the Kate Somerville one. Go for the cheaper option, because it works great.