I remember the first time I discovered Glossier.
A friend had raved about their skincare and makeup so I decided to give it a try.
I was instantly hooked by their clean, minimalist aesthetic and formulas that actually worked for my sensitive skin.
But as much as I loved Glossier, that price tag started adding up each time I reordered my favorites.
That’s when I decided to start searching for alternative brands with a similar vibe at a lower cost.
After trying several options, here are some of my top recommendations if you want to save money without compromising on quality:
The Ordinary
The Ordinary is similar to Glossier in its effective yet simple and minimalist approach to skincare.
Both brands believe in formulating products with just a few core functional ingredients rather than long lists of extras.
This makes it easy to understand what you’re putting on your skin.
Rather than general moisturizers or cleansers, their products target specific skin concerns like hydration, redness, acne, etc.
This makes it easy to shop by your individual needs.
While The Ordinary is markedly cheaper than Glossier, they both aim to make effective skincare accessible.
You won’t pay a high premium for gorgeous packaging.
Word of mouth from satisfied customers is a big reason these brands achieved such popularity.
Their formulas really seem to work for most skin types.
Pacifica Beauty
Pacifica Beauty is quite similar to Glossier in several ways.
Both brands create products free of harmful chemicals, using ingredients derived from nature whenever possible.
This appeals to customers interested in healthier beauty options.
Pacifica draws inspiration from the coast, with everything from their scent to packaging design feeling summery and carefree.
This gives their products a likable sensory experience like Glossier.
Many Pacifica items are 2-in-1 or 3-in-1 products, like tinted lip balms or highlighting lotions.
This versatility is key to Glossier’s DNA as well.
While Pacifica isn’t as budget-friendly as The Ordinary, their prices are still reasonable compared to many mainstream brands.
Glossier also works to make quality cosmetics affordable.
Similar to Glossier’s emphasis on simple, targeted products, Pacifica keeps things basic with functional ingredients listed in plain English.
Flower Beauty
Like Glossier aims to do, Flower strives to offer high-performing products you’d find at Ulta or Sephora for much less.
Both make prestige-level formulas affordable.
From tinted moisturizers to soft blushes and mascaras, their focus is on naturally enhancing your features rather than dramatic transformations.
This lines up with Glossier’s aesthetic.
The slim tubes and compacts feel light and uncluttered like Glossier’s signature pink and white cartons.
It’s all about the product.
Both Flower and Glossier realize “one size fits all” doesn’t work for complexions, and offer expansive color selections for many ethnicities.
While Glossier is online-only, Flower meets customers where they’re shopping with brick and mortar shelf space next to makeup many people already know and trust.
Created by celeb MUA Drew Barrymore, Flower captures that playful, fresh-faced style just like Glossier became renowned for in their early days.
e.l.f. Cosmetics
Both brands make high-quality makeup accessible with most products under $20.
e.l.f’s dollar lineup is especially budget-friendly.
The focus is on enhancing features rather than dramatic transformations.
Products provide sheer washes of color like putty blush and tinted balms.
Rather than offering every product type under the sun, they concentrate on essential items formulated to work well together.
Formulas like putty primers and camo concealers can be used on face, eyes and lips for versatility.
Both e.l.f and Glossier provide ingredient lists to keep formulas natural and harmless for sensitive skin.
Products emphasize simplicity through lightweight textures, balm-like finishes and fuss-free packaging in muted shades.
Great reviews and word-of-mouth have made these brands major players despite limited traditional marketing budgets.
Ilia Beauty
Both brands specialize in creating effective, targeted products using only clean, high-quality ingredients you can feel good about putting on your skin.
From tinted moisturizers to cream blushes and lip + cheek balms, their products have multiple applications for simplified routines.
Packaging is simple, with an earthy color palette.
The lightweight textures feel effortless instead of heavy or mask-like.
Hydrating, brightening actives and sheer coverage options allow your natural complexion to shine through rather than mask it.
Whenever possible, Glossier and Ilia choose biodegradable components and support regenerative farming for packaging products.
Selling direct-to-consumer allows controlling costs, standards and messaging instead of relying on retail markups.
Ilia’s Srikant Chellappa co-founded Glossier, so both brands share a commitment to natural beauty essentials.