Primark has become of these high-street stores that you head to for some brilliant bargain purchases.
Whether you need a cute new outfit or some pretty home-décor, you always know that you're going to get some brilliant products that won't break the bank.
But, that's not all they offer, as the budget high-street fashion chain has slowly been expanding into premium beauty and skincare 'dupes' at budget-friendly prices.
For the past little while now, all I have been seeing on social media is beauty enthusiasts raving about the retailer's range of skincare products that regularly receive glowing reviews.
They've even been approved by Cosmopolitan for their range of affordable and luxurious skincare products.
So, because I am such a huge fan of skincare and budget 'dupes' myself, I decided to head to my local Primark to find out if their products were really worth the hype.
Considering quite a few good skincare products can occasionally be expensive and a luxury a few of us can't afford due to rising living costs, I wondered if it was worth switching to the retailer's own-brand.
It's worth mentioning that my current go-to brands for skincare are a mix. I mainly shop at Superdrug's own brand, which has sadly doubled in price recently. Other choices have been The Body Shop and Soap and Glory. So, I decided to use this opportunity to see if I could get decent skincare and make a saving.
What products did I try?
First things first, I did not expect Primark to have anywhere hear as much skincare products as they did, and I don't even think my local store had their whole range.
From cleansers and toners to treatment serums and face masks, shoppers are certainly spoiled for choice. Not to mention, I found their products include some popular ingredients, such as hyaluronic acid and salicylic acid.
For my own purchase, I decided to pick up products that were similar to what was already in my skincare routine. Since I suffer from dry skin a bit, I do tend to use a lot of Vitamin E and hyaluronic acid. Pop in a little vitamin C for good luck, and we are all good to go.
With prices starting at as little as £2, Primark's products cater to every skin type and were significantly cheaper than the products I am currently using.
In the end, I picked up a standard routine that included a cleanser, toner, serum, eye cream and moisturiser. Here were the products I picked up.
- Creamy cleanser with vitamin E and organic rose
- Clear + Cool refining toner
- Future's Bright facial serum
- Vitamin C eye gel
- Future's Bright featherweight light gel moisturiser.
Overall thoughts
Creamy cleanser with vitamin E and organic rose
I'll admit, I was sold on this product as soon as I seen it. The packaging was a cute pink and, as mentioned, I already use vitamin E. With the added organic rose, it felt like a luxurious purchase.
When I tried the cleanser, I was slightly disappointed that it didn't lather as much as I thought it would. That being said, it definitely did make my skin feel incredibly soft and clean. It was also really good at taking off my make-up.
Another good thing was the fragrance was quite light and wasn't overpowering.
Clear + Cool refining toner
If, like me, you've found yourself at the odd end of a breakout since the pandemic, then you'll know how important a good purifying toner is.
Which is exactly why this product is absolutely amazing. With tea tree and witch hazel, it really made my skin feel extra clean and refreshed.
I also didn't find the ingredients to be too harsh on my skin, which occasionally happens with some tea tree products that I have used before.
Future's Bright facial serum
Every good skincare routine needs a hydrating serum to give your skin a dewy and soft appearance, which is exactly why I picked up this serum. I have also seen rave reviews for it online, so I thought it was worth a shot.
I'll admit that I am slightly more mixed on this one.
On the one hand, the fruity watermelon scent was fresh and it did make my skin feel softer. That being said, I did feel like the consistency was just a little too watery for my liking, and it did take a while to fully absorb into the skin.
For £3.50 I am absolutely not complaining, but the texture was just a bit off for me.
Vitamin C brightening eye gel
I'm a huge sucker for vitamin C, because if something can make me look more energized than I truly am, then it's a winner in my book.
Of course, I went for the eye gel, as I wanted to see if it could work wonders on the dark circles under my eyes.
This little bottle was the one that packed quite the punch, as a little really went a long way. I only needed a few drops underneath my eyes and it absorbed super quickly.
I do think that, after a week, the circles under my eyes weren't as prominent and were a little more clearer, so that's always a good sign.
Featherweight gel moisturiser
Last, but certainly not least, on the skincare routine is a good moisturiser. Personally, I think a really good moisturiser should lock in all the other ingredients that you have used.
This gel moisturiser from the Future's Bright range is like the serum that I picked up, as it has hyaluronic acid, watermelon and pineapple extracts for hydrated skin.
While it definitely smelt gorgeous, I did find that this was the opposite to the serum. The consistency this time was a little bit on the thin side, and I did find that I had to use a little more than I usually needed to.
The verdict
Now, I know that a week trial is not the longest time to get a full result, but I did find that Primark's own-branded skincare products pack a bit of a punch.
Not all of them truly mesmerised me, but they certainly still did the trick and got my skin feeling clean, refreshed and hydrated every morning and evening.
The toner, cleanser and eye gel were the absolute standouts for me and worked like a charm.
While the serum and the moisturiser didn't blow me away, they still got the job done and I did feel like my skin had a bit more of a glow to it.
I was also impressed that the retailers affordable skincare includes high-end ingredients that many premium brands are using, meaning you're getting the same for much less. You can't really scoff at that can you?
And, in even better news, I found that the whole skincare haul cost me almost 50% less than my usual routine, and that was with an extra product.
All in all, I can't complain. I got mostly decent products that were way less than my usual skincare products and my skin still felt refreshed and hydrated after just one week.
Total savings
Usual skincare products
Items bought: Superdrug B cleanser (£4.49), Soap and Glory In The Glow How toner (£9.95), Superdrug hydrating serum (£7.49) and Superdrug Vitamin E moisturising day cream (£4.99).
Total: £26.92
Primark skincare
Items bought: Creamy cleanser (£2), Refining toner (£2), facial serum (£3.50), vitamin c eye gel (£3) and featherweight gel moisturiser (£3.)
Total: £13.50
Total savings: £13.42
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