This post has been such a long time coming, mostly because you need a really good amount of time to test out skincare products. But here it is! I pulled 10 cult skincare products out from my stash and shopped around for affordable alternatives, then put them to the test to decide if I'd make the swap permanently to the cheaper option.
Gel-to-Oil Cleanser: Oskia Renaissance Cleansing Gel | £29.50 vs B. Clean Melting Gel Cleanser | £6.99
Recently, the price of this Oskia cleanser increased a little and I decided 'enough is enough': I needed to find a cheaper alternative, as it was hard enough to justify before (even with a discount code!) I was actually suggested this cleanser as an alternative by the lovely Life of Ellie Grace (so thank you for the tip), as it was reduced on top of the already low price I felt I had little to lose in giving it a shot. The formula is extremely similar, though the B version is a little runnier. Obviously the Oskia has more luxurious packaging with a pump, whereas B's alternative comes in a basic squeeze tube, however with that price difference you really can't complain too much. When I massage a little into my face, the B formulation is decidedly stickier and not as smooth and luxurious as the Oskia, however it still feels nice enough. Neither are particularly great at removing makeup, so as a morning cleanser I look for those wider skincare benefits. Overall the Oskia doesn't *do* a huge amount for all the price and the hype, however it leaves my skin feeling that bit healthier, plumper and more glowing. On the other hand, I can't say I've noticed a difference at all in my skin when using the B. They do have a few ingredients in common, however overall the Oskia far more is packed with vitamins.
Would I make the swap? No, however I also don't think I can justify buying the Oskia again when this bottle runs out. Is there a third option...?
Solid Oil-Based Cleanser: Emma Hardie Amazing Face Moringa Cleansing Balm | £38 vs The Body Shop Sumptuous Camomile Cleansing Butter | £13
Both of these products are solid cleansers, which you warm between your fingers before massaging on your face and across your eyes to remove any makeup. You simply wipe clean your face afterwards with a warm, damp muslin cloth and you're done! It's obvious why something so quick and easy has become my preferred method for makeup removal. The Emma Hardie cleansing balm is admittedly a once-a-week treat for me and I still can't quite believe I splurged so much on it! It just smells so beautiful, is really gentle on my sensitive eyes and has this amazing, luxurious texture. It's also incredibly effective at removing makeup without leaving a residue on the skin. However I have to say that the Body Shop offering, whilst not quite having that luxury touch, does the job for me whilst still being very gentle. It's not *quite* as effective, however what is taking an extra 30 seconds to work the product in when you're saving yourself a whopping £25? They are both made of various fruit and plant oils, with the Emma Hardie selection being admittedly more premium (neroli essential oil vs. olive oil, for example).
Would I make the swap?: Yes, although the Emma Hardie is a beautiful product, with that price difference I can happily use the Body Shop's offering most of the time and if money was tight when my Emma Hardie was running out, I would be more than happy to keep using it.
Cleansing Oil: DHC Deep Cleansing Oil | £21.50 vs The Body Shop Silky Camomile Cleansing Oil | £11
If I fancy switching it up from a solid cleanser, I opt for an oil, as it has a similar effect. Again, I look for products that will be gentle on my eyes, won't leave my skin feeling greasy afterwards and most importantly: get the job done. I just use these by squirting a pump or two onto my fingers and massaging it directly onto my skin, though you can use cotton wool if you want. I find these extremely similar in terms of their light consistency and their effectiveness. The main difference for me is that the Body Shop version has a light scent and isn't quite so gentle on my eyes (though is still gentle enough for daily use). The DHC has no scent at all and I really can't see it causing sensitivity for anyone.
Would I make the swap? This is one of the few that's a very easy 'yes' for me.
Hot Cloth Cleanser: Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser | £14 vs Superdrug Vitamin E Hot Cloth Cleanser | £4.99
When I really don't want something oil-based and feel like keeping things fresh, a hot cloth cleanser does a similar job with a cream-based formula. It works in a similar way; you just massage this across your entire face (including eyes) then wipe off all your makeup with a muslin cloth (both of these products actually come with one). Obviously the Liz Earle comes in this nice pump packaging, which makes it a little easier to control the amount of product that comes out in comparison to Superdrug's squeezy tube. However looking past appearances and little practicalities, I have to say I find Superdrug's offering to be virtually as good as Liz Earle's! The formulas look and feel extremely similar and I have to say the effectiveness is also very much alike. I do think the Liz Earle gets rid of every scrap of makeup that little bit quicker, but at the end of the day you are saving 2/3s on an already not-unreasonably-priced product with Superdrug.
Would I make the swap? Yes, I think I would.
Micellar Water: Bioderma Sensibio H2O Micellar Water | £10.90 (250ml) vs Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water | £4.99 (400ml)
I know everyone and their grandma has done a comparison of these two (including me in my blog's early days...) but I still thought it was worth a mention here. I like to use a micellar water if I'm feeling a bit lazy or just to ensure all my makeup (especially in awkward places like my eyelashes) is completely gone after using a hot cloth or oil-based cleanser. In case you weren't aware: they have the consistency of water and claim to be just as gentle, however they contain micelles, which pick up makeup and impurities. These seem extremely similar on the surface, however I notice that with the Garnier version, I have to use so much more product to get the job done. It's almost a false economy in my opinion! I'm sure it's still a little cheaper overall, even going through it at the much faster pace that I do, however that doesn't factor in the fact it's also more effort and more time-consuming. I also note that the Garnier feels very slightly drying on my skin.
Would I make the swap? Unsurprisingly, no. Even in an emergency, when the little Boots at the station doesn't stock Bioderma I would opt for the gentle and effective Simple version as a second choice over Garnier's.
Glycolic Acid Exfoliating Face Pads:
First Aid Beauty Facial Radiance Pads | £12 (x28) vs Nip + Fab Glycolic Fix Exfoliating Face Pads | £12.99 (x60)
I love me an acid toner, however when travelling, it's so much more convenient to have these pads that are already soaked in a glycolic solution. If you don't know what these are all about, essentially they are an acid toner that removes dead skin cells without the need for abrasive, rough particles, revealing more glowing skin. With the First Aid Beauty you're paying 43p per pad, whereas with the Nip + Fab option it's just 22p; almost half the price! I have to hand it to Nip + Fab that they're generally ahead of the game when it comes to innovative products at affordable price-points. The Nip + Fab version is almost as effective as FAB's when it comes to giving my skin that healthy glow in minutes, however I do find them quite a bit more drying. A look at the ingredients reveals that the Nip + Fab contain alcohol, whereas the FAB do not, which could explain it.
Would I make the swap? Overall, I have to say no, as when I'm using an intensive treatment, I really don't want anything extra that's going to dry out my skin more!
Manuka Honey Face Mask: Antipodes Aura Manuka Honey Face Mask | £22.99 vs Good Things Manuka Honey Radiance Face Mask | £5.99
The Antipodes mask is a product that was always going to be hard to top. Manuka honey is naturally antibacterial so amazing for blemishes. The organic Antipodes offering also contains various natural oil extracts and has a runny honey-like formula, that's so moisturising as well as helping keep my skin clear. I also love the natural honey fragrance it has and how it doesn't dry hard on the skin at all; it's almost like it gets semi-absorbed during the 15 minutes I leave this on for. I've been pleasantly surprised by Good Things in the past so decided to check out their cheaper alternative. The first obvious difference I noticed is that this is a clay mask. They smell very similar however I have to say the ingredient list isn't quite as 'clean' and organic for the Good Things offering. It's not the most drying clay mask I've tried but it does harden on the skin. Whilst I do feel it helps my skin stay blemish-free, it isn't as hydrating as the Antipodes version and the reason I love that one so much is because it does both at the same time!
Would I make the swap? No - the Good Things mask isn't a bad product by any stretch but the difference in formula takes away much of why the Antipodes mask is so great.
Anti-Blemish Charcoal Mask: Origins Clear Improvement Active Charcoal Mask | £23 (100ml) vs Quick Fix Facial Purifying Charcoal Mask | £4.99
Every so often, I like to use a deep cleansing mask to draw out all the impurities in my pores and charcoal tends to do the trick. I actually got the Origins mask in a little set (note that mine in 75ml, whereas the single version that's £23 is 100ml) and it sat unused for a while. However a couple of months back, I was really struggling with enlarged pores and dull skin so gave it a go. It's completely black in colour and although it sets on your skin, it isn't a typical clay mask so isn't too drying. Pretty much immediately after rinsing it off, my skin looks fresher, cleaner and all-round healthier and in the long-term it's really helped keep the spots at bay. Like the Origins version, the Quick Fix mask comes in a tube however the formula is a little bit runnier once squeezed out and feels a little lighter and thinner on the skin (not a bad thing as such). Although it dries down, it doesn't quite have the 'plastic-y' feeling that the Origins does. Overall, however, I feel the effects are very similar. It doesn't quite have as much of a 'wow my skin feels clean'-factor, however I can still certainly see the difference.
Would I make the swap? Yes - I actually think I would with this one as the difference between the two is pretty marginal!
Overnight Glycolic Peel: REN Wake Wonderful Night-Time Facial | £32 vs Superdrug Naturally Radiant Glycolic Overnight Serum |£5.99
As you may have guessed; I'm a big fan of AHA-based products and an overnight treatment saves the mess and time spent on doing a traditional face mask. Although the smell is a little off-putting, I really love the cream formula of the REN treatment and the practical pump packaging. You only need a small amount for your face and it doesn't leave my skin feeling overly sticky. It contains sodium lactate, acids and enzymes that really exfoliate my skin overnight so I wake up with fresher, healthier, more glowing skin. The Superdrug offering is a little different in that it's a clear, more traditional serum and less of a mask however I thought the two seemed comparable. I don't like the thick, gloopy texture and it does feel sticky on my skin but for the price difference, if it does the same thing that is definitely something I can live with. This serum contains glycolic acid and other fruit acids. I'd say that by morning I do see a bit of a difference; my skin definitely does look more radiant, however it doesn't have the same 'wow' factor.
Would I make the swap? I don't think so - the Superdrug alternative just doesn't pack the punch I'm used to from using REN.
Plumping Overnight Mask: The Body Shop Drops of Youth Bouncy Sleeping Mask* | £24 vs Superdrug Vitamin E Leave-On Moisture Mask | £2.99
Both of these masks are leave-on overnight treatments with a strange jelly-like texture (when you scoop up a bit of either of these, the formula will settle back to being perfectly even). Although the Body Shop's offering is babassu oil-based and Superdrug's is Vitamin E-based, they both have similar formulations and claim to hydrate and plump out the skin. The Body Shop version seems to 'melt' onto the skin a little more whereas Superdrug's has more of a sticky, tacky feel, however for £2.99 - if it works that really isn't going to be a deal-breaker. By next morning, using the Body Shop mask, I really feel like my tired skin is revived and any dehydration lines have almost vanished. By morning with the Superdrug offering, I certainly think my skin looks and feels more hydrated, however it doesn't quite have that plumping effect.
Would I make the swap? Overall I have to say no, because the Body Shop mask takes the effects to that next level. However the Superdrug mask is still pretty good so I'd recommend checking it out.
There were certainly more nos than yeses in this post, however for me it was well worth doing this experiment even just to save a little bit of money in the long-term!
What are your favourite bargain skincare products? Which luxury products couldn't you be without?
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*DISCLOSURE - PRODUCTS MARKED WITH AN ASTERISK ARE PR SAMPLES/GIFTS. ALL OPINIONS ARE MY OWN.
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