The Best Substitutes for High-Priced Luxury Beauty Products

Back in the day, it was common for fashion and beauty magazines to publish lists that compared a “splurge” and a “steal.” They would juxtapose a high-priced luxury item and its effective – and far more affordable – twin. We love the idea of substitutions at a time when saving money is paramount  – and when the best luxury of the moment is the purchase that doesn’t lead to buyer’s remorse. Our correspondent Jillian Tangen has curated a list of the best and most effective drugstore substitutes for high-priced luxury beauty and personal care products, including cleansers, serums, moisturizers, toners, eye creams, masks, and sunscreen.

drugstore beauty and personal care products take center stage

As of a week ago, nearly 95% of Americans were under stay-at-home orders. And with countless storefronts closed around the country, people are turning to online shopping to acquire their everyday essentials. From their weekly groceries to home improvement tools to at-home gym equipment to skin care products, online sales are up more than 30% according to market research firm Rakuten Intelligence. That is significantly more growth – about 50% more – than the annual 20% growth in online shopping the firm has become accustomed to seeing.

What does this mean for your beauty and personal care regimen? Well, all that online shopping – coupled with understaffed warehouses and overwhelmed delivery services – means that your orders might be taking more time than usual to get to your doorstep. So in addition to shopping early (hint, hint last minute Mother’s Day shoppers), you might have to do some substitutions when it comes to your favorite go-to products.

Case in point: we ordered our favorite Good Genes Serum ($85) from Sunday Riley well over a week ago – and were only notified this morning that it has finally shipped. Quite the change from the 2-day shipping we’ve all grown accustomed to. We know, this is the very definition of A Champagne Problem. But still. You know what we mean.

increased focus on value, not just on exclusivity

And of course there are also the daily – really, hourly – grim headlines about the economy, employment and the prospects for the coming months on the jobs front. Which is making even those who feel economically secure a lot more focused on getting real value for money – and conserving cash.

Both of these trends have led us to assess this pressing issue: what are the best substitute beauty products available in drugstores that perform well for the price against our luxurious traditional favorites? 

After a little research and a lot of fun, it turns out that high-end brands aren’t the only place to find the best of the best when it comes to caring for our skin. These days, drugstores carry products for everyone, regardless of your skin type, tone or texture. The packaging mimics the clean minimalist lines of the top-tier beauty brands. Even better? Some of these less-expensive products are on par with their more expensive counterparts when it comes to results.

The Best Substitutes for High-Priced Luxury Beauty Products

Whether it’s that you’re still waiting for your best-loved skincare product to ship, or you are just looking something new that is less expensive but still effective, we’ve rounded up 14 of the leading cleansers, moisturizers, serums, eye creams, toners, sunscreens and masks.

These are all available at your local drugstore. Just make sure you have some space ready in your medicine cabinets for your-soon-to-be new treasured favs. Don’t say we didn’t warn you.

1. cleansers

Say hello to the holy grail of drugstore cleansers and one of my personal favorites: CeraVe’s Hydrating Facial Cleanser ($11). Developed with the brand’s ceramide trifecta, this gentle wash replenishes moisture and restores the skin’s barrier. It uses a unique delivery technology that continuously supplies support to the skin throughout the day.

If you have normal to dry skin, try La Roche-Posay’s Toleriane Hydrating Gentle Face Cleanser ($15). This is a French drugstore staple beloved by generations of women. Enriched with thermal water, ceramides, brightening niacinamide and hydrating glycerin, it’s a gentle cream formula that effectively removes makeup and dirt while restoring the epidermal barrier and maintaining hydration.

2. serums

For a boost of vitamin C, we like Vichy’s LiftActiv Vitamin C Serum ($28.50). It has a combo of 15% ascorbic acid (one of the most stable forms of vitamin C) and hyaluronic acid. It works wonders on dry, dull skin without irritating it. Having used it a number of times we think it’s well on par with the pricier Mario Badescu C Serum ($45).

 

Looking to combat fine lines and wrinkles? CeraVe’s affordable Skin Renewing Retinol Face Cream Serum ($17) is the one to try. Retinol is a key ingredient in skin cell turnover, which helps smooth fine lines and diminish the look of wrinkles. And this product is gentle enough that it won’t clog your pores.

3. moisturizers

There’s a reason that Neutrogena Hydro Boost Hyaluronic Acid Gel Moisturizer for Dry Skin ($18.50) consistently makes it onto beauty editors’ Best Drugstore Buy lists year after year. Hyaluronic acid is the star ingredient. It can hold up to 1000x its weight in water, so you can count on this cream to restore moisture and protect against further moisture loss.

Over one billion jars of Olay’s Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream ($25) have sold, and 20 jars are sold every minute worldwide. Just let that sink in. If that’s not enough to convince you that this face cream is all sorts of iconic, we don’t know what would.

4. Toners

Pixi by Petra Glow Tonic has a cult-like following, and for good reason. Not only do you get the astringent benefits of witch hazel and the soothing benefits of aloe vera. This product also has the distinction of containing a 5% concentration of glycolic acid. With continued use, it helps dissolve dead skin cells, leaving your skin looking brighter and healthier. Consider us converts.

A true classic, Thayers Witch Hazel Alcohol-Free Toner ($11) is a dream for those with sensitive and dry skin. Free of alcohol, it will never irritate or over dry. Thanks to a helpful dose of organic aloe vera, it feels soothing to apply at the end of a long day. Plus it comes in six different scent options. The brand’s been around since 1874, so they must be doing something right.

5. eye creams

Full of lush, natural ingredients like vitamins C and E, rosehip seed oil and organic hibiscus flower extract, LilyAna Naturals Eye Cream ($20) can actually be used anywhere on the complexion. But it works best on dull and dehydrated under eye areas. Oh, and did we mention that it’s the second best-selling eye cream on Amazon?

Niacinamide, hyaluronic acid and licorice root are what make Cetaphil Hydrating Eye Gel-Cream ($18) a godsend for those looking to nourish and soothe their under-eyes. And while this hypo-allergenic drugstore pick is nourishing enough to be a cream, its featherweight gel texture helps it to absorb nearly instantaneously.

6. Masks

Aztec Secret Indian Healing Clay ($8) is one of those underground dark horses that pretty much every beauty editor and celebrity has hiding somewhere in their stash of skin-saving products. It’s made from 100% natural bentonite clay that works to clean deep down in the pores. Word to wise, be sure to only use this one once a week.

To get glowing skin fast, try Vichy’s Double Glow Peel Facial Mask ($20). Hero ingredients like AHA acids and mineralizing thermal water help boost radiance in as little as five minutes. It helps ramp up exfoliation so your complexion will look and feel smoother.

7. Sunscreens

La Roche-Posay’s Anthelios 60 ($30) is a smooth and fast-absorbing sunscreen that we always keep on hand in our house. It’s cream-to-water formula melts into your skin and provides a cooling sensation, perfect super hot days. The formula is fragrance-free, non comedogenic (making it a good choice for those with sensitive skin or for families with young kids like my own). It’s also water-resistant up to 80 minutes. Last but not least, it’s formulated with an SPF of 60. It has antioxidants, to keep your skin fully protected from both UVA and UVB rays.

Yes, the purveyor of your favorite frozen snacks also makes sunscreen. Trader Joe’s Nourish Spray Sunscreen SPF 50+ Broad Spectrum ($20) is another Tangen family favorite. And it was designed with sensitive skin in mind. The ingredient list contains natural propellants, as well as soothing aloe and vitamin E. It consistently ranks as one of Consumer Reports favorite sunscreens alongside La Roche-Posay’s Anthelios 60.

The Best Substitutes for High-Priced Luxury Beauty Products

That’s it, our favorite drugstore beauty finds to try. Are there any you love that we missed? 

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Jillian Tangen is the Head of Research at Dandelion Chandelier and a former Senior Research Analyst at McKinsey & Co and Analyst at Shearman & Sterling. She is an avid fan of Nordic design, having owned an independent lifestyle store and sales agency focused on emerging Scandinavian design. Jillian lives in New York and is married with three young children. She loves cross-country skiing, the New York Rangers, reading, travel and discovering new brands.

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