I’m a dermatologist – here are 3 cheap skincare swaps that are as good as expensive products
THE overly saturated skincare market can be challenging to wade through.
With products in all shapes and sizes ranging in price hugely: from just a few quid to hundreds of pounds.
It can often be hard to know if higher prices equals better results when it comes to skincare.
The short answer to this is no, according to dermatologists.
“It’s not about whether the product is cheap, or expensive,” GP and skincare expert Dr Ahmed El Muntasa, previously told The Sun.
“It’s about making sure the stuff you do buy is good quality medical grade stuff that will actually gets absorbed into your skin rather than sits on the surface,” he added.
Some skincare experts have shared their favourite cheap product swaps, which they believe work as well, or even better, than the expensive versions:
1. Neutrogena hydroboost water gel moisturiser (£8.66 in Boots)
Tatcha the water cream (£65 in Space NK)
Moisturiser is the building block of all good skin routines – so it’s important you have a good one.
In a video, posted to TikTok dermatologist Dr Lindsey Zubritsky said you should “really swap it out for Neutrogena hydroboost.”
Dr Jason Thomson, head of medical at Skin + Me, previously told The Sun the gel product is a great option for all skin types.
“This is a lightweight yet deeply hydrating product that contains hyaluronic acid (a chemical which retains moisture better than water),” he told The Sun.
“It’s also non-comedogenic which means it won’t clog pores,” he added.
2. Bondi Sands SPF (£6.99 in Boots)
Instead of SUPERGOOP! PLAY Everyday Lotion (£20 in Selfridges)
Ultimately, sun cream is the best way to prevent the signs of aging – as well as skin cancer.
According to cosmetic dermatologist, Denisse Serano, SPF is “often overlooked but so important”.
“It doesn’t matter which brand you buy, as long as you use it every single day and you love it, that’s what counts,” she explained in a TikTok video.
Aside from protecting our faces from the sun’s harmful UV rays, the product can also act as a barrier against the blue light on our screens.
GP and skincare expert Dr Ahmed El Muntasar suggests getting your hands on Bondi Sands in a Australian brand – because who better to trust when it comes to the sun than Aussies!
“It’s a great product,” according to Dr Ahmed.
The broad spectrum cream protects you from UVA and UVB rays, which are associated with skin cancer and skin burning, respectively.
3. Flannels (2x for £1 in Boots)
Instead of Foreo Luna cleansing brush (£209 in Boots)
A simple flannel can work as well, if not better than a cleansing brush, experts have said.
In fact, Dr Muneeb Shah, TikTok’s derm doctor urged people not to buy cleansing brushes.
The silicon face washing devices have been all the rage on social media over the last few years.
“The brushes can be a great addition to your routine, but are they necessary? No,” he said in a video shared on social media.
Several experts have even warned of their potentially damaging affects.
Dr David Leffell, the chief of dermatology at Yale School of Medicine, US, told Insider: “They can cause a form of acne, and generally traumatize the epidermis.”
Similarly, Christian Surber, a professor of dermatopharmacology at the University of Basel and the University of Zurich, told The New York Times that they “abuse the skin”.
Instead of investing in a brush, Dr Muneeb suggests people simply use their fingers to clean their face – which he says is just as effective, and free.
Or get yourself a flannel – which not only works to rub off dirt and makeup but can double up as an exfoliator.