These 15 Budget Serums Are Just as Good as the Expensive Versions

There’s no doubt that putting together and maintaining a skincare routine can be an expensive habit, and when it comes to serums in particular, prices can be eye-watering. Serums contain high amounts of active ingredients and often have complex formulas that call for a lot of research and development, which is reflected in their )often high) prices. That said, as a beauty editor and esthetician, I’ve tried hundreds of serums, from luxury formulas like Estee Lauder’s Advanced Night Repair through to budget serum dupes from affordable brands such as The Ordinary, Beauty Pie, and The Inkey List, and I’m here to tell you that expensive doesn’t always equal best. 

"There is a perception that expensive skincare is always better than cheap skincare and that’s not true at all,” agrees dermatologist Sonia Khorana. "Affordable options are often just as effective, as well as being kinder to your bank account. It is down to the ingredients that work for you and you can definitely find them in cheaper products too.” The key, she explains further, is to figure out which ingredients will cater to your skin’s specific needs. "Familiarise yourself with the ingredients in your favourite products so you can start to single out what works for you and see if those ingredients are present in some affordable products,” she recommends.

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(Image credit: @AYSHA.SOW)

But why are some products so much cheaper than others? Product prices are dictated by things like quality of ingredients, packaging supply chains, research and development, and marketing costs. But by reducing marketing budgets, keeping packaging minimal, and utilising ingredients that are already tried, tested, and proven to work, brands can keep costs low and pass on the savings to you. "Some brands can also afford to sell their products at lower prices simply because they can afford to produce a large amount of stock,” says esthetician and skin expert Katie Onyejekwe. "It's always worth remembering that brands can position themselves as luxury and charge a fortune for what is a basic formula housed in fancy packaging with a large marketing budget, but it all comes down to formula at the end of the day.”

With a little research, you’ll find that there are plenty of affordable options out there, many of which have similar textures, functions, or formulas which make them affordable alternatives to more expensive serums. Scroll down to discover 15 budget serum dupes that are seriously on par with their more expensive counterparts.

If you love: Skinceuticals C E Ferulic

Try: Revolution Skincare x Sali Hughes Must-C Daily Serum

If you love: Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair

Try: Bliss Youth Got This Advanced Skin Smoothing Serum

If you love: NIOD Copper Amino Isolate Serum

Try: The Ordinary Buffet + Copper Peptides 1%

If you love: Dermalogica Overnight Retinol Repair

Try: CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum

If you love: Sunday Riley Good Genes Glycolic Acid Treatment

Try: Nip + Fab Glycolic Fix Serum

If you love: Allies of Skin Multi Hyaluronic Antioxidant Hydration Serum

Try: PSA Skin The Most Hyaluronic Super Nutrient Hydration Serum

If you love: Drunk Elephant C-Firma Fresh Day Serum

Try: Naturium Vitamin C Complex Serum

If you love: Elizabeth Arden Advanced Ceramide Capsules

Try: Beauty Pie Superactive Capsules Essential Ceramides

If you love: Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Gel Exfoliant

Try: The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Solution

If you love: Origins Mega-Mushroom Face Serum

Try: By Beauty Bay SkinHit Calming Serum

If you love: Medik8 Liquid Peptides

Try: No7 Protect Perfect Advanced Serum

If you love: Dr Jart+ Ceramidin Serum

Try: Glow Hub The Barrier Builder

If you love: Glossier Super Bounce

Try: The Inkey List Hyaluronic Acid Serum

If you love: Dr Dennis Gross B3 Stress Rescue Super Serum

Try: Naturium Niacinamide 12% + Zinc 2%

If you love: Soho Skin Renewal Serum

Try: Byoma Brightening Serum

Next Up: 8 Cheap Anti-Ageing Moisturisers That Are Just as Good as These Expensive Ones

Freelance Beauty Editor

Grace Day is a beauty editor and content creator. She has over 10 years of beauty-industry experience, spanning editorial, retail, and e-commerce, which gives her a unique understanding into how people shop for their beauty routines.While studying for a history degree (specialising in the history of beauty) and working as a beauty adviser in department stores, Grace started writing her own beauty blog in order to share the products she discovered while dealing with acne. After graduating, she moved to Beauty Bay as beauty editor and content manager. Grace is currently a beauty contributor toBest Knockoff Luxury Clothing . She has also written for Hypebae and PopSugar and works as a brand consultant and copywriter.