Skincare dupes that share the same active
A skincare dupe is only worth buying when the ingredient doing the work is the same one.
Which cheap skincare products have the same active ingredient as the expensive ones?
Vaseline Advanced Repair Body Lotion, Unscented, about $9.98 ($0.31 / fl oz), against the $25.50 Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion+, 95% less.
1. Vaseline Advanced Repair Body Lotion, Unscented
for Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion+
$9.98vs $25.50 $34−95% per oz
#61 in Body Lotions on Amazon
Made the same way: glycerin, mineral oil and petrolatum held in a stearic acid and triethanolamine emulsion with glyceryl stearate, the system under Clinique's yellow lotion, and both are fragrance-free.
What it does worse: Clinique adds sesame oil, urea, lanolin alcohol and hyaluronic acid and is sold for the face, while Vaseline adds panthenol, dimethicone and sunflower oil and is sold for the body, in a bottle nearly eight times the size.
2. NIVEA Soft Moisturizing Creme
for Embryolisse Lait-Crème Concentré
$10.99 $11.99vs $32−95% per oz
Same old-school recipe: mineral oil, stearic acid and glyceryl stearate in a light cream that sinks in and sits well under makeup.
What it does worse: Embryolisse adds beeswax, shea butter, aloe and soy protein, while NIVEA uses myristyl alcohol and glycerin with a little petrolatum, jojoba oil and vitamin E, and contains some denatured alcohol.
3. NIVEA Creme Moisturizing Cream
for La Mer Crème de la Mer Moisturizing Cream
$11.80vs $200−99% per oz
#18 in Body Creams on Amazon
Both are built on a mineral oil, petrolatum and glycerin base, which does most of the moisturizing.
What it does worse: NIVEA lacks the kelp ferment and has a stronger scent.
4. CeraVe Moisturizing Cream
for Dr.Jart+ Ceramidin Skin Barrier Moisturizing Cream
$18.96vs $46.80 $52−96% per oz
#1 in Body Creams on Amazon
Same barrier-repair base: glycerin, cetearyl alcohol, caprylic/capric triglyceride and ceramide NP lead both formulas.
What it does worse: Jart+ adds shea butter and a bifida ferment.
5. Neutrogena Beach Defense Sunscreen Lotion SPF 50
for Supergoop! PLAY Everyday Lotion SPF 50
$9.68vs $28−72% per oz
Same chemical filters at the core: avobenzone, homosalate and octisalate carry both, for broad-spectrum SPF 50 in a lotion made for face and body.
What it does worse: Neutrogena adds a fourth filter, octocrylene, while Supergoop keeps to three and adds sunflower extract.
6. The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Exfoliating Toner
for Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 8% AHA Gel Exfoliant
$13.50vs $37−85% per oz
#2 in Facial Toners & Astringents on Amazon
Same active at nearly the same strength: glycolic acid, second only to water in both (8% against 7%) and buffered in both, with aloe on both lists.
What it does worse: Paula's Choice is a leave-on gel with chamomile and green tea, while The Ordinary is a toner swiped on with a pad that adds rose water, ginseng and amino acids.
7. BRIOTECH Topical Skin Spray
for Tower 28 SOS Daily Rescue Facial Spray
$17.99vs $28−69% per oz
#7 in Face Mists on Amazon
Same active doing the same job: hypochlorous acid, misted on to calm redness and refresh sensitive skin.
What it does worse: Briotech is two ingredients, deionized water and salt, electrolyzed, and sold for face and body, while Tower 28 is pH-balanced and formulated for sensitive facial skin.
8. CeraVe BHA Exfoliating Facial Toner with Salicylic Acid & Niacinamide
for Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant
$16.97 $19.99vs $37−77% per oz
#77 in Facial Toners & Astringents on Amazon
The same active at the same strength, 2% salicylic acid in a leave-on liquid you sweep on with a cotton pad, in a base of water and butylene glycol with sodium hydroxide to set the pH.
What it does worse: CeraVe adds three ceramides, niacinamide, glycerin and a second, oil-loving salicylic acid (capryloyl salicylic acid) in a light gel, where Paula's Choice keeps to methylpropanediol and green tea.
9. Anua Rice 70 Glow Milky Toner
for rhode Glazing Milk
$20.90vs $32−68% per oz
#5 in Facial Toners & Astringents on Amazon
The same barrier set Glazing Milk leads with: ceramides NP, AP and EOP with cholesterol and phytosphingosine, in a thin milk patted on after cleansing, with glycerin and several forms of hyaluronic acid in both.
What it does worse: rhode builds its milk on light emollients, C12-15 alkyl benzoate and coconut alkanes, and adds beta-glucan and a copper, zinc and magnesium complex; Anua starts from 71% rice bran water with niacinamide and panthenol and a smaller oil phase, so it sits closer to a toner.
10. Garnier Erase It All Makeup Cleansing Balm with Hyaluronic Acid
for Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm
$11.99 $14.99vs $44−71% per oz
Built the same way as Take The Day Off: ethylhexyl palmitate first, polyethylene to hold it solid and a PEG glyceryl triisostearate emulsifier so it rinses off milky, with vitamin E in both.
What it does worse: Garnier trades Clinique's safflower oil and caprylic/capric triglyceride for shea butter and jojoba oil, adds hyaluronic acid, and is colored with two dyes the fragrance-free, dye-free Clinique balm doesn't carry.
How this list was made
These pairs name at least one identical key active on both labels (the same acid, peptide or filter), so the difference left over is texture, packaging and price. Each comparison also says what the cheaper formula gives up.
