Where can I find cheaper skincare products?

July 21, 2012 5:58 PM

I'm looking for more affordable skin care alternatives to Rhonda Allison.

Hey, so it took me a long time but I found some skin care products that really work well for me. The problem is they are super pricey and I'm trying to rework my living expenses. Can you recommend some cheaper alternatives?
I use Rhonda Allison Glycolic Herbal Wash, Beta Green Tea Lotion (it's a toner actually), Blemish Serum, and Aloe Matte Moisture Cream.

If it helps I'm a male in my late twenties, slightly oily skin, living in San Francisco, CA.
thanks!

posted by matt_od to Clothing, Beauty, & Fashion (6 answers total)

Active ingredients are really what matters, although some fillers can cause breakouts/irritation. Some good places to look for high-quality skincare at a pretty low price point include Garden of Wisdom and Makeup Artist's Choice. Those places sell pure/strong stuff as well, some of it for formulation of skincare products that use it as pretty low ratios, so be sure to read the directions.
posted by R a c h e l at 7:09 PM on July 21, 2012

Alpha Hydrox
posted by DeltaForce at 9:15 PM on July 21, 2012

Are you under a financial crisis this second, or is it something that you're just saying, "everything's good now, but this isn't sustainable." It would be great if it were the latter, because then you could wean yourself off from products.

Dickinson's does a nice, simple Witch Hazel toner for about a twentieth the cost of your toner - if you like the green tea angle you could supplement that with a green tea mask once a week.
posted by Lt. Bunny Wigglesworth at 10:26 PM on July 21, 2012

Response by poster: Hey Lt.
It's just that I'm basically run out of the stuff and looking at dropping another $150 or so to purchase this stuff again is making my wallet hurt. I am kind of broke right now. But I don't want to be broke and acne prone!

thanks everyone.
posted by matt_od at 11:49 PM on July 21, 2012

If you're not opposed to using a direct marketing companies products, I have some friends that have had pretty amazing success using Skincerity products for acne/eczema. You can get it for around $60 wholesale. YMMV
posted by blue_beetle at 7:02 AM on July 22, 2012

Are you familiar with the Acne.org regimen? It involves benzoyl peroxide which has its downsides, but I highly recommend it for acne-prone skin (it's not cheap, but less expensive than what you're currently using). Also maybe check out Dermalogica, which is usually pretty widely available on eBay and other discount sites. Or Pangea Organics.
posted by désoeuvrée at 5:22 PM on July 22, 2012