From face wash to moisturizer and eye masks to lip masks, having a skincare routine has become increasingly popular. However, many people do not know which products are worth using. Name-brand skincare products tend to appear more effective, but they come at a high price, so an alternative could be products from Trader Joe’s, which we compared and tested for effectiveness. 

It’s important to consider that everyone has different skin types and that certain products can be better for each individual, so we compared factors such as price, quantity, and most importantly, quality. We tested each of the products on human skin, comparing the results and analyzing the ingredients to decide which product, if any, is a better buy.

“I think [Trader Joe’s products are] just as good,” a Trader Joe’s employee said. “I think they’re better in terms of pricing.” 

On average, Trader Joe’s prices were $31.75 less expensive than their name-brand competitors, marking a significant difference between the products. Therefore, it is not surprising that most of the high-end original products performed better, while also containing safer and more effective ingredients. However, this is not the case for all the products. 

When comparing Clinique’s Moisture Surge Gel ($30) to the Ultra Hydrating Gel Moisturizer from Trader Joe’s ($9), we found that the Trader Joe’s version offered deeper hydration, in addition to containing many plant-based ingredients and healthier alternatives to harmful chemicals. Both moisturizers include several similar ingredients, such as dimethicone and other common silicones. The most notable difference in ingredients is Clinique’s use of synthetic dyes such as Red 4 (Ci 14700), and Yellow 5 (Ci 19140), according to INCIDecoder, making the Trader Joe’s dupe cleaner and a safer alternative for sensitive skin.

From a health perspective, the Brazil Nut Body Butter from Trader Joe’s ($6) is slightly better than Sol de Janiero’s Bum Bum Cream ($36). The ingredients are very similar in both of the products, where they both contain coconut oil, shea butter, and Brazil nut seed oil, but the higher quantity of Brazil nut seed oil in the Trader Joe’s product provides more health and antioxidant benefits for peoples skin than the Bum Bum Cream. Despite that, the products are both primarily made of moisturizing oils and have similar effects on the skin. Sol De Janeros is more lightweight and long-lasting in the tests we conducted, but it is also $30 more expensive. 

Many individuals utilize Trader Joe’s skincare dupes and other beauty products in their daily routines, taking advantage of the lower price and the comparative quality. 

“Honestly, any girl here probably [uses Trader Joe’s skincare],” a Trader Joe’s employee said. 

In some cases, the only true difference between the products is the price. Similar to the moisturizer, the quality of Trader Joe’s Facial Oil ($7) did not disappoint. Both Drunk Elephant’s Luxury Face Oil ($69) and Trader Joe’s are made with 100% Sclerocarya Birrea (Marula) Seed Oil, a naturally occurring oil with hydrating and firming benefits. Considering the products have the exact same material makeup, the only difference, apart from the fancy packaging, appears to be the price tag and the size. Even the smallest size of the Drunk Elephant Luxury face oil at 25ml is $62 more than the Trader Joe’s face oil, which is 5ml larger. 

The Supergoop Unseen sunscreen ($48) contains more natural ingredients, such as shea butter. Whereas the Trader Joe’s alternative ($9) contains mostly chemical emollients and solvents. This illustrates that while both versions consist of the same Isododecane sunscreen makeup, Supergoop contains natural ingredients that will work to replenish the skin barrier and hydrate in addition to offering the same UV protection. 

“[The Supergroup Unseen sunscreen is] definitely worth it for the quality and the amount of product you get,” a San Luis Obispo Sephora employee said. 

Much like Supergoop, the original Laneige Lip mask ($24) contains higher quality ingredients when compared to the Trader Joe’s version. Laneige derives its colors and fragrances from fruit (raspberry, blueberry, and strawberry) extracts, whereas the Trader Joe’s counterpart ($4) uses artificial fragrance, a generic term for synthetic chemical (between 30-50) compounds designed to improve the smell of the finished product. While this manufacturing technique may improve sales by making a product look and smell more appealing, it is neither healthy nor beneficial for human consumers. 

Due to the simplicity of their recipes, Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Ultra-Fine Mist ($29) is very similar to Trader Joe’s Watermelon Face Mist ($4). The products are nearly identical in most ways, both containing Hyaluronic Acid, which hydrates skin, and watermelon extract, which is soothing to the skin and reduces aging. However, Trader Joe’s Mist has a stronger scent, coming from more artificial ingredients, which ends up being worse for people’s skin. So, although there are many similarities, valuing quality is important when deciding what products to spray on your face every day and night.

In some instances, neither the expensive nor cheap product is good for the consumer. While it may make your hair feel softer and appear shinier, products such as Oaui leave-in Conditioner ($30) and its Trader Joe’s leave-in conditioner counterpart ($6) are made with harsh chemicals. 

“Both Oaui and many Trader Joe’s hair products contain chemicals that are horrible for your skin and hair,” a Sephora employee and hairdresser said. 

Oaui and Trader Joe’s Leave-in Conditioner contain several different compounds of alcohol and perfume fragrances extremely high up on the ingredient list, working to improve the appearance of a consumer’s hair, rather than its health. Unfortunately, this is a situation often prevalent with consumer-targeted beauty products such as these, so it is important to be aware of the seller’s goals when purchasing each and every product. 

“Just be sure to consider ingredients when pinpointing the overall quality of a product,” the hairdresser said.

To conclude, when shopping for skin care products, there are many important factors that should be taken into consideration, and although some pricing can seem outrageous, it can sometimes be better in the long run. Great deals can come from shopping and using primarily dupes, but when health is on the line, price should not be the only thing taken into consideration before making decisions.