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Is there really that much difference?

6 replies

FestiveFancy · 09/04/2026 11:23

Hi all

I am having a bit of a skincare overhaul and my beautician has put me into Biodroga, and I can't argue, it has made the world of difference, although I appreciate that is partly because I'm using the right items for my skin, and using it more regularly. Previously I think I was scatter gunning and overwhelming my skin with too many different active ingredients and making it sore and sensitive.

The issue is they are SO expensive. And if they are really worth it, I'll suck it up, but if there are comparable alternatives, the extra money could be spent elsewhere (I'd love a monthly facial, for example, and the difference in cost between some of these would cover the majority of that!!

I'm currently using their cleansing toner - surely there must be other, cheaper toners that are just there to cleanse?!

Their 10% azelaic acid serum. I love this, but there are others online significantly cheaper with the same active ingredient so I don't know if I need to be paying £40 a month on this? They also gave me a tester for their nicanamide serum which I have used and I think I actually prefer that, but is also really expensive.

I'll keep using their eye cream as I find it real effective and it lasts ages, but I've also been using their moisture rich moisturiser which was amazing but again, expensive (although has lasted reasonably well)

I have retinol that I use separately, and it feels like everything on the market is full of added extras/vitamins/retinol etc, and I think the plainer products with serums for active ingredients suited my skin much better. It's historically always been incredibly oily, passed through a patch of combination and now tends to be fairly dry, but still sensitive, can be prone to acne periodically (especially when hormonal) and can get oily when I have make up on (but this has improved a lost since using a thicker moisturizer and I wonder if that was my skin trying to replenish the oils I kept stripping out of it!

Any guidance gratefully received!

OP posts:
NoneSoBlindAsThoseThatWillNotSee · 09/04/2026 13:15

With things like this I go on chatgpt and ask it to ‘find a dupe for X item’. It will pop up with a few suggestions, in order of rating by the whole internet, who have gone through all the trial and error for you. It’s pretty good for things like skincare and makeup dupes. It will even filter products based on your skin type and what you are trying to achieve. It’s overhauled my whole skincare regime and my skin looks better and better than it has done for years!

FestiveFancy · 09/04/2026 15:27

Thanks all, I never would have thought of chat GPT! It's come up with some alternatives so I'll give them a try!

OP posts:
1emma19 · 09/04/2026 20:44

Yes! There are good alternatives at lower price points... You can try and check the INCI list on drugstore options, you'll often find near-identical formulations at a fraction of the price.

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