I’m a Skin-Care Fanatic — These Are My Favorite Budget-Friendly Dupes for Summer

I have fair, sensitive skin, so I have always been hypervigilant about selecting which products to put on my face and body, but once I started learning about the power of active ingredients, my focus on skin care jumped to a whole new level. My job also requires me to test skin-care products often, and after trying hundreds of them (yes, literally hundreds), I’ve developed a sense of what makes a product great or overhyped.

Turns out, with a number of high-end products, you’re paying a premium for the brand, even when the ingredients aren’t worth the added expense. In fact, many skin-care products you’d find in a drugstore work just as well (if not better), and they cost a fraction of the price. That’s a real plus, given how expensive life can get. Here, I put together a comprehensive list of my favorites for summer — products that will give you all the benefits of those luxe-brand offerings, without the sticker shock.

I tried a ton of cleansers before I found ones that truly support my dry, sensitive skin, and surprise, surprise, the ones I keep coming back to are under $20. Cleansers are one area where you really don’t need to spend a ton to get a great product. They should leave your skin feeling clean, refreshed (but not tight), and never cause irritation. In the summer months, you also want a cleanser that’s lightweight yet good at removing excess buildup from sweat mixed with sunscreen. Bonus if it contains barrier-supportive ingredients, like ceramides and glycerin.

Serums are those active ingredient powerhouses that most people pick up when they start to notice signs of aging (dull skin, fine lines, dark spots, etc.). They’re usually designed to target specific skin concerns, and it can be truly dizzying to figure out which ones to invest in. Well, I’m here to tell you that you can finally save some money in this category. Budget versions of these products often contain the same active ingredients as higher-end products, but they tend to get overlooked because we assume less expensive means less effective. The products below dispel that misconception. They’re also lightweight and noncomedogenic, so they won’t clog pores that may be struggling on a hot, humid summer day.

Moisturizers run the gamut in terms of price. The more expensive ones are often packed with actives, allowing them to target specific skin issues as they hydrate. You might think that these multitasking moisturizers only come at a higher price tag, but a surprising number are budget-friendly. I’ve also found that many are just as effective as luxe-brand products, while claiming to address the very same skin issues.

Since we’re into the warmer months now, my list will focus on lightweight moisturizers that don’t feel heavy on the skin or clog pores. Fun fact: They can also double as primers (another money-saving hack). “[Moisturizers] work especially well in areas where makeup tends to crease, like under the eyes,” says Maryam Zamani, MD, a dual board-certified aesthetic plastic surgeon in Beverly Hills, California.

Shamsa Kanwal, MD, a board-certified dermatologist practicing remotely as a consultant dermatologist at myPsoriasisTeam, says it’s not so much about matching ingredients and more about the results that the products yield. “For me, a dupe does not need to be an ingredient-for-ingredient copy,” says Dr. Kanwal. “What matters more is whether it serves the same role in a routine, has a similar texture or finish, and delivers a comparable result for the same skin concern.”

The answer to this question is just as frustrating: It depends. If the products have pretty similar ingredients, they’ll likely be well-suited for the same skin types. However, even a one-ingredient difference can make a product less suitable for a specific skin type. Take two moisturizers, for example. They could both have a lightweight consistency and include niacinamide to address redness, but if one is oil-based, that one will be less ideal for oily or acne-prone skin types. And that’s just one element. Many others could also impact who can comfortably use a specific skin-care product.

“Two products can live in the same category and still behave very differently, because of fragrance, alcohol content, pH, added exfoliants, or how rich or matte the base feels, so I never assume a dupe is automatically interchangeable for every skin type,” says Kanwal. “That is especially true in summer, when oily or acne-prone skin often tolerates lighter textures better and sensitive skin may react more quickly to active-heavy formulas.”

All that is to say, make sure you check the ingredients on a dupe before you use it, even if you’ve had no issues with the expensive brand version. That’s the best way to determine whether there’s anything in there that might upset your skin’s delicate balance.

A product being budget-friendly doesn’t mean it’s automatically lower quality or less effective than a luxury brand’s product. Kanwal says that the wrapping and accents of those products are often why they yield higher price tags.

“In many cases, the cheaper product is simply more straightforward, with fewer luxury extras, less ornate packaging, or a less cosmetically elegant base,” she says. However, sometimes a luxury product’s formula is worth the price (such as when it actually does what it claims to). “I would not assume lower quality from price alone, but I also would not assume equal performance just because two labels share a few buzzword ingredients,” Kanwal notes.

To ensure that you’re getting a good wallet-friendly dupe that will do right by your skin, Kanwal says to look out for a lot of stuffer ingredients, like fragrances, tons of strong actives, or a high alcohol base. That goes double if you have sensitive or reactive skin.

Getting great skin-care never needs to blow your budget. CVS ExtraCare is a great way to save while you stock up on all your summer skin-care essentials (and nonessentials). Plus, lots of the products you find online are also available for pickup at your local CVS, so you can grab them and go before heading out on your next summer adventure.