by Budget store brands
There are many ways to reduce the cost of your skincare routine – from daily moisturisers to powerful serums.
Raj Arora, GP and skin care specialist, says: “Many budget brands use the same key ingredients as luxury lines. Save on cleansers, toners and moisturisers, and spend a little more on your retinoids, peptides and sunscreen.
Boots and Superdrug also have their own skincare lines and often run promotions and deals.
For example, Superdrug’s Me+, Naturally Radiant, Vitamin E and B. Skincare ranges are a fraction of the cost of many high-end options – a 200ml bottle of toner in the Me+ range is now £8.99 and is available on a “buy one, get second half price” for loyalty card holders.
Brands such as The Ordinary, The Inkey List, CeraVe and Simple offer a range of products for different skin types and problems at a more affordable price tag than some luxury ranges. The Normal Oatmeal cleansing balm, for example, costs £12 for 150ml.
Says Arora: “If you find a budget product that works for you, try the other products in the range to suit you too.”
Look for refills
Many skin care brands have embraced sustainability by offering refills. For example, Neal’s Yard and Charlotte Tilbury have refillable options across their ranges. At Charlotte Tilbury a moist 50ml jar of Magic Cream costs £79, and a refill is £69.
Brands such as Kiehl’s and L’Occitane have introduced in-store stations where customers can refill containers. These offer discounted product prices when using the refills, as well as being more environmentally friendly.
Iltask
Get more mileage out of your skin care products by using them for multiple purposes. For example, you don’t need a separate neck cream – you could use a facial moisturizer on your neck and décolletage. Likewise, you can skip a dedicated eye cream, and gently apply your face serum around the delicate eye area.
You may be able to find products around your home that could be part of your routine.
Professional makeup artist and skincare expert Joyce Connor says: “Coconut oil is great for removing makeup and good for hair. It is very rich, so it is not suitable for oiler skins. Coconut oil is also great for dry hands and cuticles.”
Compare costs
Compare prices between different retailers and brands before making any skin care purchase. Sites like Cosmetify find the best deals on the products you love, ensuring you never overpay. You can also set alerts on your favorite products so you’ll be notified when their prices drop.
An app, Skin Rocks, founded by skincare expert Caroline Hirons, enables users to search from hundreds of cleansers, masks, serums and SPFs, sorted by price. You can get recommendations and find the products that are within your budget.
If you have an expensive product that you love, try to find it for a cheaper price on resale sites like eBay and Vinted.
Use dupes
A dupe is a cheaper option that usually looks very similar to a high-end product. You can also search for the cheapest dupes of your favorite products recommended by social media influencers. For example, Aldi’s Lacura range offers budget-friendly luxury skincare products and is well rated by users. The night cream is £5.99 for 50ml. The products are only available in Aldi stores and the next “special buys” promotion is due to start on May 5.
Revolution Beauty is a social media favorite – its Miracle Cream moisturizer costs £10 for a 50ml jar.
Try searching the Dupeshop platform if you’re looking for a cheaper version of one of your favorites. It compares similar products to see if the budget versions are worth buying. For example, if you like Elemis Pro Collagen Cleansing Balm, he says you might want to try the M&S Pure Rose Cleansing Balm.
Make your own
Get creative and make your own DIY skin care treatments at home. An avocado, egg and olive oil mask can deep condition your hair, for example.
Or, a coconut oil, honey and sugar scrub gently exfoliates and hydrates your body.
Julie Macken, founder and director of natural skincare brand Neve’s Bees, says: “Typically, skin cream is somewhere between 60% and 80% water. A lotion is about 85% water, and a gel product is about 95% water. Basically, most people prefer to wash the skin with water and use simple oils (jojoba, apricot, sunflower) to moisturize.”
Samples and boxes
Enjoy free samples. Many brands also offer free product testing opportunities in exchange for honest reviews, allowing you to try before you buy. For example, try the Elemis Review Panel and the Boots Volunteer Panel.
There are many subscription boxes that you can sign up for to enable you to receive a range of luxury products at a deep discount. For example, you pay £26 for £173 worth of products in the Latest in Beauty box. You can also make your own box by picking out your own six products.
Other beauty box options include Mintd, Cosmetips, Jarmabox and Next.
Another option is the Agora app. Skincare and beauty lovers share video content of their favorite products and earn “coins” that can be placed on beauty items. You can also buy Agora’s “Edit” boxes with up to 85% discounts on beauty items inside.
Share skin care
If you live with your partner, split the cost of your basic skin care rather than buying your own products.
Budget brands that may be good for couples include The Inkey List, The Ordinary, CeraVe, Cetaphil and Nivea.
Connor says: “These brands have products that are suitable for all skin types. There are also multi-use products within these ranges, such as moisturizers with SPF and serum-based cleansers. This could take over an entire skin care routine [down] with a few products.”
