Just because something is expensive, it doesn’t mean it’s better. Case in point: affordable K-beauty skincare that helps you achieve healthy, strong and glowing skin at the fraction of the cost of high-end products on the market. The Korean skincare industry is one of the most competitive in the game with age-old secrets and new innovations in play, proving even the more affordable options can best what’s more expensive without compromising on quality and visible results.
This is your guide to 8 K-beauty skincare dupes for high-end products from Tatcha, Drunk Elephant and more that don’t skimp on effective ingredients and formulas to help you achieve the skin of your dreams, while giving you major bang for your buck; we can already hear your bank account and skin cheering you on. Keep scrolling for the full rundown.
The HG: Dior's Prestige La Crème Texture Essentielle: Intensive Repair
The Dupe: Dr. Jart+'s Cicapair Intensive Soothing Repair Cream
Courtesy of Korean Skincare Brand - Dr. Jart+
The luxurious formula of the Dior Prestige La Crème Texture Essentielle: Intensive Repair is accompanied by a hefty price tag, but after discovering the Dr. Jart+ Cicapair Intensive Soothing Repair Cream, we’ve found no need to break the bank. Identical ingredients found in both creams include Shea Butter, Centella Asiatica and Hyaluronic Acid, but our Dr. Jart+ dupe goes the extra mile with a newly improved CICA complex that, when combined with its integrated cool sonic technology, delivers rich hydration and quickly relieves the skin of irritation and redness.
The HG: Lancome's Advanced Genifique Youth Activating Serum
The Dupe: NEOGEN Dermalogy's Real Ferment Micro Serum
Courtesy of Korean Skincare Brand - NEOGEN Dermalogy
If a $135 price tag is a little hard to stomach, rest assured you’re not the only one feeling the same way. Swap out the pricey Lancome Advanced Genifique Youth Activating Serum for the NEOGEN Dermalogy Real Ferment Micro Serum; the two boosters mirror each other in their inclusion of Bifida Ferment Lysate, Hyaluronic Acid and Vitamin E within their formulas. The former is a more affordable option that still provides amazing skin-smoothing and strengthening benefits, in addition to imparting a honey-like glow to the skin.
The HG: Tatcha's The Camellia Oil 2-in-1 Makeup Remover and Cleanser
The Dupe: ma:nyo's Pure Cleansing Oil
Courtesy of Korean Skincare Brand - ma:nyo
A near-identical dupe for the Tatcha The Camellia Oil 2-in-1 Makeup Remover and Cleanser is the viral ma:nyo Pure Cleansing Oil. The 2 formulas are powered by Rice Bran Oil, Rice Ferment Filtrate and Camellia Oil, and ma:nyo’s offering includes Aloe Vera Leaf extract for an additional touch of hydration during the first cleanse. After cleansing the skin is restored of its natural moisture and pH balance, and it’s a formula that works for any skin type, including sensitive skin.
The HG: Estee Lauder's Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Multi-Recovery Complex
The Dupe: MISSHA's Time Revolution Night Repair Ampoule 5X
Courtesy of Korean Skincare Brand - MISSHA
The Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Multi-Recovery Complex is an all-time, highly-rated skincare bestseller, and coincidentally so is its reasonably priced dupe within the world of K-beauty, the MISSHA Time Revolution Night Repair Ampoule 5X. Both treatments harness Bifida Ferment Lysate, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin and more to signs of aging, including fine lines, dullness and sagging skin. MISSHA’s dupe is the product's fifth generation, further improved to nourish and transform the skin overnight.
The HG: Tatcha's The Dewy Serum
The Dupe: Haruharu WONDER's Black Rice Hyaluronic Anti-Wrinkle Serum
Courtesy of Korean Skincare Brand - Haruharu WONDER
We’re 2 for 2 on the Tatcha dupes! Love the look of the Tatcha The Dewy Serum but not its high price tag? You need the Haruharu WONDER Black Rice Hyaluronic Anti-Wrinkle Serum in your life ASAP. Rice Ferment Filtrate, Hyaluronic Acid and Vitamin E come together to reverse the effects of current wrinkles, as well as prevent future ones from forming. The affordable serum utilizes an Ultra Deep Technology to enhance the skin’s absorption of product and effectively deliver the benefits of its active ingredients.
The HG: Gisou's Lip Oil
The Dupe: PETITFEE's Super Seed Lip Oil
Courtesy of Korean Skincare Brand - PETITFEE
Yes, the Gisou Lip Oil has the aesthetic packaging that’s a total girly girl’s dream, but is the formula worth its price? The PETITFEE Super Seed Lip Oil proves effective formulas can be wallet-friendly. Both lip oils are made with Honey, Sunflower Seed Oil and Rose Canina Fruit Oil, with the PETITFEE option providing dead skin cell care to revitalize dry and flaky lips. The non-sticky coats your pout to prevent moisture loss, ensuring the skin barrier remains strong and fortified.
The HG: Skinfix's Barrier+ Triple Liquid-Peptide Cream
The Dupe: CELIMAX's Dual Barrier Skin Wearable Cream
Courtesy of Korean Skincare Brand - CELIMAX
The Skinfix Barrier+ Triple Liquid-Peptide Cream has amassed an impressive number of awards under its belt, and it’s only our pleasure to spill the K-beauty dupe that shares many of its key ingredients: the CELIMAX Dual Barrier Skin Wearable Cream. Both creams feature Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopherol, Glycerin and botanical oils, but the CELIMAX staple also boasts 5 types of Ceramides to strengthen and maintain the skin barrier. The vegan formula addresses dry and sensitive complexions, leaving them plumped and dewy upon application.
The HG: Drunk Elephant's T.L.C. Framboos™ Glycolic Resurfacing Night Serum
The Dupe: Isntree's Chestnut BHA 2% Clear Liquid
Courtesy of Korean Skincare Brand - Isntree
Instead of spending too much money on the Drunk Elephant T.L.C. Framboos™ Glycolic Resurfacing Night Serum, get the same effects at a lower price with the Isntree Chestnut BHA 2% Clear Liquid. Like its more expensive counterpart, it’s formulated with AHA, Salicylic Acid, Hyaluronic Acid and Allantoin; these ingredients work hand-in-hand to sweep away dead skin cells and improve clogged pores. The result is a bright, clear and smooth complexion that’s even in tone and balanced.
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