Want affordable Kbeauty alternatives that are better than their pricer counterparts at Sephora? Whether it’s similarities in ingredients, texture, or benefits, we found some dupe-worthy Kbeauty skincare that will give Sephora bestsellers run for their money! Here are the top three affordable Kbeauty alternatives to Sephora top-rated products you need to try next!
1. La Mer The Treatment Lotion
Shared Key Ingredient: Fermented Seaweed
How do they compare?
Ever heard of La Mer’s “miracle broth?” Its fermented sea kelp is what makes the “miracle broth” into the special “cell-renewing elixir” that La Mer fans can’t get enough of.
La Mer The Treatment Lotion is a watery toner-like lotion that helps regenerate and repair the skin, while soothing irritations and plumping fine lines.
The Phykology Bright Tomorrow Multi Tasking Toner features a fermented seaweed infused “miracle broth” of their own and does all of the above—at a fraction of the price!
The Phykology Bright Tomorrow Multi Tasking Toner actually has a higher concentration of fermented seaweed than La Mer The Treatment Lotion.
They both have a similar viscous toner texture that absorbs into the skin quickly, but with The Phykology, you get more of fermented seaweed’s regenerative power.
The Phykology toner is scentless and colorant-free unlike La Mer The Treatment Lotion (which has both colorant and fragrances). The Phykology toner also contains Kbeauty favorite ingredients like Niacinamide, Adenosine, and Centella Asiatica.
And just like La Mer, Phykology also has an entire skincare line featuring fermented seaweed including a skin-plumping serum and a barrier protecting cream.
2. Fresh Black Tea Kombucha Facial Treatment Essence
Shared Key Ingredient: Kombucha
How do they compare?
The Fresh Black Tea Kombucha Facial Treatment Essence features Kombucha (fermented black tea) which is rich in antioxidants and probiotics. Kombucha infused skincare offers:
- Clear and refined pores
- Balanced and glowing skin
- Hydrated and plump skin
The Fresh “treatment essence” functions as a toner-like-essence. Reviewers often rave about how clear and balanced their skin looks afterward—thanks to the benefits of Kombucha.
The Aqulabo Kombucha First Breath-Like Toner features 88.33% of Kombucha to be exact (whereas the amount in the Fresh essence is unknown).
Both products are watery with a slight viscous texture that absorbs quickly. However, the Fresh one is more suitable for dehydrated or drier skin types as it’s heavier with a moisturizing finish.
The Aqulabo Kombucha toner is better for oily or combination skin types that seek the pore clarifying and light hydration benefits of Kombucha.
If you’re sensitive to added fragrances, go with the Aqulabo Kombucha toner as it’s fragrance-free as opposed to the Fresh Kombucha essence which has added fragrance.
Lastly, the Aqulabo Kombucha toner has 100ml more in the bottle at a total of 250ml… for 1/3 the price! So, if you’re looking for an affordable Kombucha skincare product, this is the one for you.
3. Farmacy Green Clean Makeup Removing Cleansing Balm
Shared Key Ingredient: Papaya Fruit, Moringa Seed, Eggplant, Turmeric Root
How do they compare?
This just might be the dupe-iest out of all three affordable Kbeauty alternatives to Sephora top-rated products! It makes sense since they’re both manufactured in Korea (yup, did you know that Farmacy cleansing balm is made in Korea?!), the capital of skincare.
The Farmacy Green Clean Makeup Removing Cleansing Balm and Hyggee Soft Reset Green Cleansing Balm are both naturally green colored cleansing balms that feature Papaya Fruit, Moringa Seed, Eggplant, and Tumeric Root. They both do a great job at removing waterproof makeup without stinging the eyes. And they both deeply cleanse the pores without stripping the skin dry.
However, there’s a slight difference in the textures. The Farmacy cleansing balm has a silky balm texture whereas the Hyggee cleansing balm is a soft buttery balm texture.
The Hyggee cleansing balm also features Jojoba Seed Oil which is one of the best ingredients for a first oil cleanse. This is because Jojoba Oil mimics our skin’s natural sebum composition so it pulls out excess sebum from our skin like no other.
The Hyggee Soft Reset Green Cleansing Balm removes all make up and excess sebum.
Another difference is that the Hyggee cleansing balm is unscented whereas the Farmacy balm has added fragrance. (Read the full Hyggee Soft Reset Green Cleansing Balm Review here!)
Affordable Kbeauty Alternatives to Sephora Top-Rated Products
There’s so many Korean skincare ‘dupes’ or alternatives to high-end Western skincare products out there that deserve more attention! These products offer the same benefits from shared feature ingredients and benefits with the bonus of no added fragrances.
The Phykology Bright Tomorrow Multi Tasking Toner, Aqulabo Kombucha First Breath-Like Toner, and Hyggee Soft Reset Green Cleansing Balm are the top three affordable Kbeauty alternatives to Sephora top-rated skincare products you need to try!
