5 Cheap Yet Sustainable Skincare Dupes (Because You Can Still Be Responsible While Scoring A Deal)

The price of skincare is going up as we continue to face inflation and a cost-of-living crisis. While we might have first felt the changes in the cost of housing, groceries, and energy bills, beauty and cosmetic brands are increasing their price tags too. In October 2022, The British Beauty Council noted that inflation was hitting cosmetics, beauty products, and skincare. They said that the cost of shampoo had increased by 8% over the year, and the price of shower gel had spiked by 11%. Facial moisturizer had also gone up by 11% while deodorant was 8% more expensive. Even toothpaste got hit.

Why the cost increase in these products? Two big reasons: the war in Ukraine was making it more expensive for businesses to run, and the coronavirus pandemic created job vacancies. Companies had to offer higher wages to prospective employees, thus raising the prices of the products themselves.

The British Beauty Council cited global surveys revealing that people were forced to reconsider what they bought in terms of skincare. Many stopped buying certain products altogether in order to cut down on overall costs, and customers reported that the cost increase stopped them from buying sustainable and eco-friendly skincare products in order to make more budget-friendly decisions.

In light of all of this, we're looking at ways to have it all. Instead of buying top-priced skincare, we've sourced several dupes that not only achieve everything their more expensive counterparts do, but are also sustainable and good for the environment. Here's what we've found.

Another fan favorite was Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Omega-Rich Cloud Cream, but as fans pointed out on Ulta Beauty's subreddit, there was a notable price increase. What makes the product so popular is that it's full of Omega 3 Oil, Omega 6 Oil, and Fatty Acids that deeply hydrate and restore skin while you sleep. However, at $60 per 1.7 fl. ounces, this price point is out of reach for a lot of people.

Paula's Choice offers an Omega + Complex Moisturizer that rings in at $37 for the same size. It contains Omegas 3, 6, and 9 as well as ceramides to protect the skin's moisture barrier. The brand is environmentally gentle, with reported efforts made to reduce plastic packaging. They also have a recycling program with TerraCycle and partnered with both Tree-Nation and Cloverly to offset the carbon emissions caused by their employee travel, as well as shipments of their products.

Another dupe for restorative night creams is Weleda's Skin Food Face Care Nourishing Night Cream. The night cream is rich with sacha inchi oil, cica, and squalane to restore skin and costs $24.99 for 1.3 fl oz. Even better, Weleda is committed to sustainability and making its company future-proof for the environment. They also opt for glass whenever possible, to avoid plastics.

We love Dr. Jart+ Cicapair Tiger Grass Serum. This product targets redness and sensitivity and soothes irritation, but the only challenge is that it's $52 for 1.01 fl oz. We've found a very compelling dupe for this wonderful product: Purito's Centella Green Level Buffet Serum, costing $19.50 for 2.0 fl oz and promising many of the same benefits, such as reducing inflammation and boosting the skin's natural barrier. It has Centella Asiatica Extract — also known as tiger grass which is famous for its healing properties — making it an even more compelling dupe for the Dr. Jart+ serum.

What makes Purito such an attractive brand is its efforts toward sustainability. They use post-consumer recycled materials to reduce plastic and also use paper-based tubes for many of their products with the intent to eliminate plastic altogether. Purito also uses biodegradable boxes made from sugarcane fibers and prints with soy-based ink for easy recycling.

For those who love Dr. Jart+ products in general, Purito is a really good option because both brands use Centella Asiatica Extract, or "Tiger Grass," in many of their products. In fact, Purito has an entire line of Centella products, so those seeking sustainability and affordability can get everything they need there. Purito has a toner, eye cream, and recovery cream with Tiger Grass.