Spendy:Kate Somerville ExfoliKate Acne Clearing, $65
Thrifty:Neutrogena Healthy Skin Anti-Wrinkle Anti-Blemish Scrub, $7.99
Money saved: $57
Why you'll love it: The ExfoliKate is a "scrub with enzymes and alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) ingredients, but the enzymes likely won't remain stable in the product," says Begoun. Plus, "this formula contains fragrant irritants that hurt skin's healing process." Instead, opt for Neutrogena's scrub, which has salicylic acid instead of enzymes to treat blemishes, and AHAs to smooth the appearance of fine lines.
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Eye cream
Spendy:La Mer The Eye Balm Intense, $145
Thrifty:ShiKai Borage Dry Skin Therapy 24-Hour Repair Cream, $15.99
Money saved: $129
Why you'll love it: Begoun says La Mer's eye cream commits three cardinal skin care sins:
1. It's packaged in a jar, so the most beneficial ingredients won't remain stable once the product is opened.
2. The formula contains several irritating ingredients that damage healthy collagen production, leading to skin that looks older due to daily chronic irritation.
3. The $145 price is tough on a tight budget.
Begoun says ShiKai Borage Dry Skin Therapy 24-Hour Repair Cream is a great swap. "This drugstore product has a similar emollient texture to La Mer's Eye Balm Intense, but without the irritating ingredients found in La Mer's product," she says.
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Cleansing brush
Spendy:Clarisonic Skincare System, $145
Thrifty:Olay Professional Pro-X Advanced Cleansing System, $29.95
Money saved: $115
Why you'll love it: Begoun says Olay's "battery-powered cleansing brush with soft synthetic bristles works well to give skin an extra level of cleansing." The Olay brush claims to clean skin six times better than the now archaic hand-to-face wash. Begoun adds, "To save even more money, use a gentle cotton washcloth instead."
Spendy:Peter Thomas Roth Firmx Growth Factor Extreme Neuropeptide Serum, $150
Thrifty:Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Serum, $26.99
Money saved: $123
Why you'll love it: "Peter Thomas Roth Firmx is a good serum, but it's needlessly pricey. It's actually closer to a moisturizer formula than a serum formula," says Begoun. Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Serum, which has amino-peptides and a B3 complex that penetrate deep into the skin to hydrate skin, will give you similar wrinkle-reducing results.
We all have that friend who goes to Sephora every day after work, drops by the department store beauty counter during her lunch break, and is the first to know about the newest moisturizer/eye cream/"it" anti-aging product.
For her, the mere thought of buying a drugstore skin care product makes her die a little inside.
Now don't get us wrong, we have nothing against beauty brand junkies. And we're the first to admit that cleansing with Clarins gives us not-so-cheap thrills, too. But what's a beauty editor on a budget to do? Find cheaper alternatives that work just as well as those crazy spendy products, of course.
Here's a little insider secret: While some prestige brands have hefty price tags to cover their high quality ingredients, a good chunk of their production costs go to their fancy-looking packaging. In fact, many brands spend more resources designing the package than creating the formula itself. On the flip side, drugstore brands' bucks go into researching the product formulas — which means much of what you can buy for $20 or less at CVS is pretty damn similar to what you'll pay $80 and up for at the department store.
That's why we went to skin care expert Paula Begoun, best-selling author of "Don't Go to the Cosmetics Counter Without Me," to find out which drugstore products are truly comparable with high-end faves. Now you too can have flawless skin like your Sephora-obsessed friend — except with more cash in your pocket to spend at H&M, too.
