Shop budget brands
There are plenty of ways to reduce the cost of your skincare routine – from everyday moisturisers to potent serums.
Raj Arora, a GP and skincare 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 sunscreens.
Boots and Superdrug also have their own inexpensive skincare lines and frequently run promotions and deals.
For instance, 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 available on a “buy one, get second half-price” offer to loyalty card holders.
Brands such as The Ordinary, The Inkey List, CeraVe and Simple offer a range of products for various skin types and problems with a more affordable price tag than some luxury ranges. The Ordinary’s oat cleansing balm, for instance, costs £12 for 150ml.
Arora says: “If you find a budget product that works for you, try the other products in the range as they may suit you, too.”
Look for refills
Many skincare brands have embraced sustainability by offering refills. For example, Neal’s Yard and Charlotte Tilbury have refillable options available across their ranges. At Charlotte Tilbury a 50ml jar of Magic Cream moisturiser costs £79, while a refill the same size is £69.
Brands such as Kiehl’s and L’Occitane have introduced in-store stations where customers can refill containers. These offer discounted prices on products when using the refills, as well as being more environmentally friendly.
Multitask
Get more mileage out of your skincare products by using them for multiple purposes. For example, you don’t need a separate neck cream – you could use your face moisturiser on your neck and décolletage. Similarly, you may choose to skip a dedicated eye cream, and gently apply your face serum around the delicate eye area.
You may also be able to find products around your home that can become part of your routine.
Joyce Connor, a professional makeup artist and skincare expert, says: “Coconut oil is great for removing makeup, and good for hair. It is very rich, so not suitable for oilier skins. Coconut oil is also great for dry hands and cuticles.”
Compare costs
Compare prices across different retailers and brands before making any skincare purchase. Sites such as Cosmetify make it easy to find the best deals on the products you love, ensuring you never overpay. You can also set up alerts on your favourite products so that you are notified when their prices fall.
Caroline Hirons, a skincare expert, has set up an app, Skin Rocks, which enables users to search from hundreds of cleansers, masks, serums and SPFs, sorting by price. You can get recommendations and find the products that are within your budget.
If there’s an expensive product that you love, try searching for it at a cheaper price on resale sites such as eBay and Vinted.
Use dupes
A dupe is a cheaper option that is very similar to a typically high-end product. You can search for the cheapest dupe of your favourite products that influencers are recommending on social media, too. 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 health and beauty “special buys” promotion is due to start on 5 May.
Revolution Beauty is another favourite line with social media users – its Miracle Cream moisturiser costs £10 for a 50ml jar.
Try searching the Dupeshop platform if you are looking for a cheaper version of one of your favourites. It compares similar products to see if the budget versions are worth buying. For example, if you like Elemis Pro Collagen Cleansing Balm, it says you may want to try the M&S Pure Rose Cleansing Balm.
Make your own
Get creative and make your own DIY skincare treatments at home. An avocado, egg and olive oil mask can deeply condition your hair, for example.
Alternatively, a coconut oil, honey and sugar scrub gently exfoliates and hydrates your body.
Julie Macken, the founder and director of the natural skincare brand Neve’s Bees, says: “Typically, a 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 would be better off washing skin with just water and using simple oils (jojoba, apricot, sunflower) to moisturise.”
Samples and boxes
Take advantage of 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 numerous subscription boxes you can sign up to enabling you to get a range of luxury products at a big discount. For example, you pay £26 for the £173 worth of products in Latest in Beauty’s 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 favourite products and earn “coins” that can be put towards beauty items. You can also buy Agora “Edit” boxes with discounts of up to 85% on beauty items inside.
Share skincare
If you live with your partner, split the cost of your basic skincare rather than both buying your own products.
Budget brands that could 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 multiuse products within these ranges, such as moisturisers with SPF and serum-based cleansers. This could take a complete skincare routine [down] to just a few products.”