All About Skin Studio

£232 vs £59.25. Same Boots trip, very different receipt babeehhhhhh. 5 expensive skincare products and the cheaper Boots alternatives that actually work, from a qualified skin specialist. Part 6 of my don’t buy this, buy this instead series.

Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm £15 (20g) → No7 Good Intent Glow Grind Cleansing Balm £12.95 (43g). Double the balm, less money, and honestly I prefer it.

Sunday Riley Auto Correct Eye Cream £60 (15ml) → The INKEY List Caffeine Eye Cream £12 (15ml). Same size, £48 cheaper, and I actually love this one.

Paula’s Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant £36 (118ml) → Boots Skin Clear Salicylic Acid BHA Exfoliating Toner £5 (150ml). Salicylic acid in a really similar base, and a bigger bottle for £31 less.

Naturium Vitamin C Complex Serum £22 (30ml) → The Ordinary Ascorbyl Glucoside Solution 12% £14.10 (30ml). Brightening vitamin C for less.

Medik8 Crystal Retinal 20 £99 (30ml) → The Ordinary Retinal 0.2% Emulsion £15.20 (15ml). The same 0.2% retinal strength for a fraction of the price per ml. Advanced users only, so build up to it.

Part 7 is coming. Follow so you don’t miss it, and save this for your next Boots trip. Meg x

Your basket called again. It’s still had enough.

Part 2 of my don’t buy these, buy these instead series. What I’d tell you if you were my best friend, from a qualified skin specialist bigggg dogs 🤟🏻🤟🏻🤟🏻

Simple Age Resist+ Day Cream SPF15 £9.99 (50ml) → CeraVe Invisible Hydrating Fluid SPF50 £17.89 (50ml)

Keep the moisturiser, but get your protection from a proper SPF.

Garnier Pure Active Charcoal Peel Off £5.99 (50ml) → Me+ Kaolin Clay Mask £8 (100ml)

All the clearing, none of the ripping.

Bioré Ultra Strength Pore Strips £8.99 (6 strips) → Me+ BHA Toner £9 (200ml)

Works inside the pore instead of ripping the top off it.

Free Soul Apple C***r Vinegar Gummies £14.99 (60 gummies) → £0

Sugar first, skin benefits nowhere.

H&B Hyaluronic Acid 50mg £20.49 (30 tablets) → Boots Ingredients Plumping Triple Hyaluronic Acid Moisturiser £6 (50ml)

Hydration you can actually feel, for a third of the price.

Which one have you got in your bathroom right now? Be honest 👀

meg x

You asked! Can you help me fix my part 2!

Made for dry, sensitive skin. It tops up lost ceramides to support a weak barrier. Fragrance free, alcohol free and lightweight enough for your face. In Curél Japanese Skincare we trust!

QV Skincare UK is a firm household favourite here. For dry, sensitive and eczema-prone skin. It’s richer and great for flare up patches. Fragrance free, lanolin free, and suitable for the whole family, babies included, result.

I love Q+A | 98% Natural | Ingredient-Led. Caffeine helps de puff, and the rollerball feels lovely and cooling. Keep it in the fridge for extra de puffing. Morning and night. But tbh I say a retinoid eye cream at night.

Made for reactive skin that flushes. Helps calm the look of redness and protects the barrier. Fragrance free, lightweight, and a nice base under makeup.
Wear SPF every day too, because sun is one of the biggest rosacea triggers. You already know this 🫡

You can’t shrink pores, but you can stop them looking stretched. The AHA and BHA pads clear them out, the retinol helps skin look smoother. Use them on alternate nights, never together, and SPF every morning. Skip the retinol if pregnant pls.

Didn’t see your skin concern?
Tell me in the comments and I’ll do a part 3.
Follow for more affordable finds.
Meg x

Here are my hot takes about the beauty industry that might make you follow or unfollow me

Bad skincare advice is everywhere online. Check who you’re taking it from.

At home dermaplaning is just face shaving. No, your facial hair won’t grow back thicker. It’s all good.

A skincare qualification or a big following doesn’t make someone an expert. Included me!

“Toxic” ingredient fear sells products. Always check what they’re selling.

“Acne safe” and non comedogenic labels have no set standard. Look at the whole formula.

Facials: Facials vs your daily skincare routine. What you do at home matters most.

Follow for honest skincare advice with no nonsense. Meg xx

Your basket called. Its had enough of the s**t. Let me educated you. Swipe for what I’d swap, all from Boots and Superdrug.

Bettervits Biotin Complex £30 (60 capsules) → Boots Vitamin D 10µg £4 (90 tablets)
Biotin is the most overbought supplement on that shelf. Vitamin D is the one you actually need right now.

Don’t buy something because Kendall Jenner is the face. Please. The INKEY List are affordable and reliable!!

Starface Hydro-Stars £11.99 (24 patches) → Acnecide 5% Gel £13.99 (30g - this will last you SO much longer!!!)
One hides a spot. The other actually treats your acne.

Hairburst Chewable Hair Vitamins £21.80 (60 pastilles) → a GP appointment, £0
£21.80 a month for sweets. Get your bloods checked instead.

La Roche-Posay Hyalu B5 Serum £45 (30ml) → The Ordinary Multi-Peptide + HA Serum £15.90 (30ml)
Almost £30 cheaper, and it does more than just hydrate.

Simple Cleansing Wipes £4.36 (25 wipes) → E45 Face Foaming Cleanser £7.99 (150ml - again lasts so much longer !!)
Lasts for months, and your skin will actually feel clean.

Which one are you swapping first? Tell me below 👇 Part 2 is already on my list. Follow so you don’t miss it. meg x