It can be difficult to come up with a skincare routine that’s affordable to maintain, especially when moisturizers and serums can cost hundreds of dollars.
Luckily, board-certified dermatologist Dr. Lindsey Zubritsky gave her 1.5 million TikTok followers a holiday gift when she revealed the best ultra-expensive skin care products.
The viral video received more than 35,000 likes and 255 comments from beauty lovers who wanted affordable options.
“I can’t afford skin care, it’s too expensive,” Dr. Zubritsky, also known as Derm Guru, wrote in the video, before sharing a series of affordable options.
“Say it with me: skincare doesn’t have to be expensive to be effective,” she captioned the TikTok.
The doctor detailed swaps for celebrity favorites from brands like Skinceuticals, LANEIGE and Drunk Elephant.
For cleanser, instead of the $36 Farmacy Green Clean, Dr. Zubritsky suggested elf Makeup’s $19 Melting Cleansing Balm.
The Farmacy product, made with turmeric and papaya enzymes, received rave reviews in Zipporahwhere it has almost five stars and 458,000 hearts.
Board-certified dermatologist Dr. Lindsey Zubritsky gave her 1.5 million TikTok followers a holiday gift when she revealed the best ultra-expensive skincare products.
Drunk Elephant’s Bouncy Brightfacial, $69, is a viral favorite on TikTok, but the dermatologist suggested Naturium’s Azelaic Acid, $20, as an affordable alternative to help brighten skin.
The dermatologist suggested swapping the $80 SKII toner (left) for the $14 Anua 77s option (right), which Amazon reviewers described as the “perfect product for sensitive skin.”
The economical elf option is just as popular in destination websitewhere reviewers say it is a standout product that effectively removes makeup and leaves skin soft and hydrated.
While Skinceuticals ferulic CE It’s a cult classic and a favorite among dermatologists and celebrities like Gwyneth Paltrow, Tracee Ellis Ross and Hailey Bieber; It has a high price of 182 dollars.
Instead, Dr. Zubritsky, based in Ocean Springs, Mississippi, suggested Brandefy’s more affordable and less flashy $31 Vitamin C to correct dark spots and help with anti-aging.
The dermatologist also suggested switching from the $80 SKII toner to the $14 Anua 77s option, which is a hit among Amazon Reviewerswho describe the product as “perfect for sensitive skin.”
Drunk Elephant’s $69 Bouncy Brightfacial is a viral favorite on TikTok, but she suggested Naturium’s $20 Azelaic Acid as an affordable alternative to help brighten dull, lifeless skin.
Additionally, Dr. Zubritsky proposed using $13.99 Vichy Hyaluronic Acid instead of the celebrity-loved $45 LANEIGE Water Bank, as both are ultra-hydrating products.
Another of Dr. Zubritsky’s suggested budget changes was to switch from using the $390 La Mer moisturizer to the $9 Nivea moisturizer, which is a popular suggestion made by cosmetic chemists who previously compared ingredients and found notable similarities.
‘La Mer and Nivea… It seems like a lie, but it’s true,’ one commentator agreed.
Another budget change suggested by the dermatologist was to switch from the $390 La Mer moisturizing cream (left) to the $9 Nivea cream (right).
Dr. Zubritsky proposed using $13.99 Vichy Hyaluronic Acid (right) instead of the beloved $45 LANEIGE Water Bank (left), since they are both ultra-hydrating products.
La Mer products are a big hit with celebrities including Demi Moore, Kim Kardashian, Khloe Kardashian and Nicole Kidman.
However, one commenter noted that there are some differences: “Everyone says that Nivea cream has the same ingredients as La Mer cream, but I feel that Nivea is super heavy.”
Some people dropped their favorite impersonators in the comments.
“A better substitute for SKII essence is Mixsoon galactomyces toner or ma:nyo galactomyces, because it is the main ingredient in SKII essence,” explained one beauty lover.
While most followers appreciated the affordable trade-ins, many people asked for even cheaper items.
“I was expecting less than $10,” one person wrote, while another agreed: “If it’s more than $20, it’s a no from me.”
“I need items from Dollar Tree,” someone else commented.