Top 5 Affordable Skincare Dupes
So let’s face it, skincare is very expensive. Some of the products I absolutely love are just very pricey and I find myself scrimping on how much I am using when I get to the bottom of the jar or tube because I know what running out means… it means by bank account is going to be frowning at me again.
So, that’s why I have spent a little time trying out some affordable skincare dupes and, whilst a lot of them are never going to be as amazing as the big brands, they are, in my humble opinion, the best you can get… for less!
Cleansing Balm
The first product on my list is a cleansing balm. I fell in love with cleansing balms not that long ago and now I literally cannot go a day without using one. My favourite? Currently it’s a toss up between Drunk Elephant’s Slaai Make-up Melting Butter Cleanser (although technically not a balm it basically is one) and Emma Hardie’s Moringa Cleansing balm. Both of these are beautiful clean beauty cleansers which soften my dry skin and keeps it dewy. However these cost a pretty penny! The DE one is £29 for 110g and Emma Hardie Cleanser is £47 for 100ml. Whilst I definitely think these are worth it as I absolutely LOVE them, when I am a little short I must say a very similar balm I also love is the No 7 Cleansing Balm. It melts off all my make-up and leaves my skin feeling soft and smooth. I will say that I love this because my skin is dry. It could be a little oily for anyone with naturally oily skin. This is available from Boots for £13.
Hydrating Serum / Gel
Now I love a hydrating serum or gel so much and my all time favourite is Kiehl’s Hydro Plumping Serum Concentrate. It leaves my dry skin feeling suddenly full of moisture, so hydrated and ready to help make-up glide on. It seems to smooth away the fine lines which I definitely need in my old age. I also love the Drunk Elephant B Hydra which is pretty similar. It is cited as a ‘drink of water for your skin’ and helps to keep you hydrated all day. However, as with the cleansers, these are quite pricey. The Kiehl’s one is £41 and DE is £44. My favourite dupe I have found for this so far is the Pixi Beauty H20 Skin Drink. This gel adds a burst of moisture and whilst it might not go as deep into the skin as a traditional serum, it’s still a great hydrating product which is about half the price. Available from £24.
Tinted Moisturiser / CC Cream
In the summer I love a tinted moisturiser, BB or CC cream. It’s always a little too hot to pack on the foundation in the same way you might do for winter or for a night out and so less is definitely more. My favourite version of this is currently the Chanel CC Cream. It smooths out my complexion and has a sunscreen in there too. The issue? Obviously Chanel ain’t cheap. So I have been looking for a way to get this for less. There is no way! Chanel is Chanel BUT there is an alternative. The closest dupe I can find is actually the Beauty Pie illuminating primer. Although this is a different product I actually find this has great coverage and does the same job at smoothing out my complexion. It’s also laced with Vitamin E so it’s good for you. So when you look at the price Chanel is £48 and the Beauty Pie Primer is only £24 for non-members or, if you’re a member, you get it for £5.32 - bargain!
Liquid Lip
My all time favourite liquid lips come from Kylie Cosmetics. I love the velvet formulas specifically and the colours. I know I am a sucker for marketing so I know there are lots of dupes out there for these. The issue especially in the UK is that even though the liquid lips are only $17 - once you account for shipping and customs charges it’s a very expensive product. A great dupe for these are the NYX soft matte lip creams. They have a great range of colours and whilst they do not stay on in the same way Kylie’s do, they feel and look great. And the best thing? They are available for £6! Amazing.
Eyebrow Pencils
If there is one product out there that I have tried and tested, it’s the eyebrow pencil. Check my Instagram if you don’t believe me. Whether it’s the Kybrow set, the MAC pencil or the Benefit Brow styler - I have tested. I used to use the Mac pencil religiously. However at £19 a pop, and I have a lot of brow that needs adding, it’s quite an expensive product. For a long time I tried the NYX micro brow pencil and although this is cheaper at £9 it still is quite a lot when you get through as many as me. So, when I did an affordable tutorial a few weeks back and bought a pencil for from MakeUp Academy in Superdrug for £2.50 I thought it was going to be shocking. Now? I use it everyday. It’s great and so cheap. Not only a dupe as it might be better than the original. Recommended!