Science-Backed Skincare Dupes Saving My Patients Thousands | Dr. Sam Ellis
SkinCeuticals$185.00- “This product paved the way for every other vitamin C serum on the market because this exact formula has been clinically proven to enhance sun protection, reduce fine lines, and fade dark spots”▶ 1:02
- “It's not a bad place to spend your money, and I actually carry it in my own practice because it is the gold standard”▶ 1:22
- “The patent that SkinCeuticals held on this exact formula expired last year”▶ 1:27
Maelove$32.95
- “Another popular dupe is the Timeless 20% C E ferulic”▶ 2:04
- “A lot of people actually like this one better because it comes in a pump bottle rather than a dropper”▶ 2:13
- “If you don't have sensitive skin and that extra 5% increase in vitamin C isn't going to be problematic for you, it's another great alternative and it'll run you like 27 bucks”▶ 2:18
Prequel$28.99- “I wouldn't call Prequel's vitamin C serum a true dupe because it's more of an evolution of the SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic because instead of having vitamin E, it has a different antioxidant called ergothioneine”▶ 2:26
- “It was still formulated with the same goals of giving brighter, healthier skin and it's under $25”▶ 2:37
The Ordinary$32.00
SK-II$172.93- “SK-II is a Japanese brand with a decades-long cult following and their hero product is this lightweight watery essence that you pat into your skin after you cleanse but before you apply your serums”▶ 4:19
- “People who have used it for years describe their skin becoming progressively more even, radiant, and resilient over time”▶ 4:31
- “I actually love recommending this for sensitive skin types who maybe can't tolerate vitamin C or exfoliating acids”▶ 4:40
- “It's also $190”
COSRX$24.00- “The dupe of the beloved SK-II essence is from COSRX, it is their Galactomyces 95 Tone Balancing Essence, which is only $25”▶ 5:15
- “Both essences have a galactomyces ferment filtrate concentration of over 90% and both formulas have very few other ingredients”▶ 5:22
- “The COSRX version has 2% niacinamide, which is actually great for skin brightening and skin strengthening, but some people are sensitive to niacinamide, so I wanted to call that out”▶ 5:35
- “If you are looking for a little gentle oomph in your skincare or you already have a great skincare routine and you want to level up and not spend a fortune, the COSRX version is amazing”▶ 5:41
Augustinus Bader$315.00
INNBEAUTY PROJECT$50.00- “I also think you could swap this for the INNBEAUTY PROJECT Extreme Cream which is $50 and also be very satisfied”▶ 6:25
- “It has a very similar texture to Augustinus Bader because both are reverse emulsions, meaning that there are water droplets suspended in oil, which gives that rich but not greasy feel”▶ 6:32
- “While the Extreme Cream doesn't have TFC8, it does have its own blend of lipids and anti-aging peptides”▶ 6:42
- “If what you're after is a deeply nourishing skin rejuvenating moisturizer, the Extreme Cream gets you very close at a fraction of the price”▶ 6:50
Supergoop!$38.00- “The Supergoop! Unseen Sunscreen SPF 40 was considered very innovative when it first launched because unlike other sunscreens that are white creams or lotions, this is a clear silky gel that doubles as a primer and is invisible on all skin tones”▶ 7:01
- “It's also very popular with men because it's not shiny and it doesn't cling to facial hair”▶ 7:17
- “If this product helps you be consistent with your sunscreen application, it is worth every penny”▶ 7:28
Colorescience$42.00- “The Colorescience SPF 35 lip gloss was one of the first lip sunscreens I ever used and actually liked, but it's $42 a pop”▶ 8:11
- “It's a mineral lip sunscreen with no bad taste and comes in a variety of colors”▶ 8:21
- “If you are paying $42 for a lip gloss, you may not be reapplying it or even using it as much as you should”▶ 8:33
Iris & Romeo$29.00
Prequel$13.99- “My brand Prequel launched an SPF 30 lip gloss last year, and I am so proud of the formula”▶ 8:56
- “We used organic UV filters instead of zinc, which allowed us to get a truly sheer, lightweight gloss, which you just can't get when you formulate with zinc because zinc is a white powder”▶ 9:01
- “It also has a sweet minty taste and has none of that gross chemical sunscreen flavor”▶ 9:11
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