Cheapie Swaps for High-End Skin Care

The chicks at TotalBeauty.com

I absolutely hate it when people call me "HM" (that's "high-maintenance" for all you late instant-message bloomers). That term makes me think of snobby, bourgeois, spoiled brats.

But if I'm totally honest, I admit I may have a strong inclination towards name brand items, like these high-end hair products that I'm willing to drop five hours' pay on, or these groundbreaking beauty must-haves that are 100 percent worth the splurge.

But skin care is my true Achilles' heel. Estee Lauder makes me drool, Shiseido makes me weak in the knees, and, of course, La Mer -- oh, how I dote on thee. Then just yesterday, my co-worker dragged me to CVS to show me this $15 cream that works just as well as La Mer. Let's just say I denounced my HM ways and became a drugstore aisle believer right then and there.

Turns out there are many more cheapie knock-offs for luxe skin care products. Even better, the experts I spoke to say the stuff that costs $20 and under are often more effective and less irritating than their spendy counterparts. Want to see the skin care swaps you should make now? Click here for the full list.

Related: Cheap Swaps for High-End Makeup


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: Skin care expert Paula Begoun, best-selling author of "Don't Go to the Cosmetics Counter Without Me," 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.


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."


ACNE EXFOLIATOR


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.


SUNBLOCK


Spendy: Shiseido Ultimate Sun Protection Cream SPF 55 PA+++, $35
Thrifty: Neutrogena Pure & Free Liquid Daily Sunblock SPF 50, $11.99
Money saved: $23
Why you'll love it: While Shiseido provides great broad-spectrum protection, Begoun says you can find similar coverage with Neutrogena's sunblock. "Be sure to pair this with an antioxidant serum to provide an additional measure of environmental protection and wrinkle repair," she says. Try Paula's Choice RESIST Super Antioxidant Concentrate Serum, $25.95.

Have you converted to a drugstore aisle believer as well? See the rest of the list now.

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