Started by two dermatologists, Rodan + Fields has products that address all sorts of beauty concerns, from clearing acne and restoring hydration to lengthening your natural lashes. And the brand has plenty of customer reviews raving about its effectiveness. But the price point of these items (say, $170 for a single tube of Lash Boost) can put a serious dent in any budget. So if you’re not able to spend a small fortune on your skin care, or if you’re avoiding the brand for other reasons, these cheaper alternatives to Rodan + Fields offer the same active ingredients with the same results at a fraction of the price.
To save you some of the work, I've read the product descriptions and scoured the ingredients lists carefully to find alternatives that offer the same benefits and feature many of the same star ingredients. Plus, I made sure real-life customers have been happy with the results of these products.
Scroll on for fan-approved alternatives to everything from Rodan + Fields’ Lash Boost to the brand’s Unblemish acne system. Not a single one is more than $50. Another plus? These can all be ordered on Amazon and delivered straight to your door.
1. The Best Lash Boost Alternative
While Rodan + Fields’ Lash Boost promises fuller, longer-looking lashes, the $170 price point is certainly enough to put most people off. But fear not, you’ll save more than $100 with this lash serum from Grande Cosmetics, which uses the same active ingredient — isopropyl cloprostenate — to enhance lashes with continued use. Similar to Rodan + Fields, the formula contains moisturizing ingredients like hyaluronic acid and panthenol to nourish your lashes, but it also contains more than a half dozen amino acids, which are the building blocks of protein (including keratin, which is primarily what your hair is made of). You’ll need to commit to using this nightly for at least three months to notice the full lengthening and thickening results, which, according to thousands of Amazon reviewers, are worth the wait. One word of caution before you add the product to your cart, however; you may want to run this one by your ophthalmologist first, as isopropyl cloprostenate is a prostaglandin analogue that can have some adverse side effects that include redness and permanent discoloration.
Relevant Review: “It has made my lashes grow so long! Love it! I switched from Rodan and Fields to this stuff and it works just as well, if not better, for half the price!”
Shared Ingredients: Isopropyl Cloprostenate, Panthenol, Hyaluronic Acid | Other Beneficial Ingredients: Radish Root Extract, Grapeseed Extract, Honey Extract, Aloe Vera, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Vitamin E, Amino Acids | Size: 0.03 oz. | Cruelty-free: Yes
2. The Best Radiant Defense Perfecting Liquid Alternative
The Rodan + Fields Radiant Defense Perfecting Liquid accrued a following for its multi-tasking abilities that include evening the skin tone, moisturizing, and protecting with SPF 30. For less than $20, the e.l.f. Camo CC Cream will bring you those same benefits in a formula that still feels lightweight on the skin, but is capable of giving you medium to full coverage. Like the R+F tinted moisturizer, e.l.f.’s formula blurs imperfections and smooths skin with a blend of peptides and moisturizing ingredients. The CC cream also boosts your morning sunscreen with SPF 30, but it slightly differs from R+F by blending mineral sun blockers with chemical sunscreen filters.
Relevant Review: “This product makes the skin look flawless and there are many shades to choose from. The price is great too.”
Finish: Natural | Coverage: Medium-To-Full | Shared Ingredients: Titanium Dioxide, Zinc Oxide, Peptides | Other Beneficial Ingredients: Vitamin E, Hyaluronic Acid, Niacinamide, Panthenol, Carrot Root Extract, Sunflower Seed Oil | Size: 1 oz. | Available Shades: 17 | Cruelty-free: Yes
3. The Best Unblemish Acne System Alternative
If you’re looking for a comprehensive skin care system to take on your acne, La Roche-Posay’s three-step acne-fighting set stacks up quite nicely against the four-piece Rodan + Fields Unblemish kit. Both work to remove excess oil and clear pores of the dirt and debris that can cause acne in the first place with ingredients like salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide. But even though La Roche-Posay’s system is more than $175 cheaper, it actually offers those active ingredients in higher doses (the R+F face wash only includes a 0.5% concentration of salicylic acid, while La Roche-Posay’s formula gives you a 2% concentration). Those with active breakouts will also like that the La Roche-Posay system comes with a spot treatment that uses a 5.5% concentration of benzoyl peroxide to reduce inflammation while you sleep and prevent the growth of acne-causing bacteria. You’ll definitely still need to pair this set with a good moisturizer and SPF, but all of the products include moisturizing ingredients like glycerin and snow mushroom to help counteract some of the dryness that the active ingredients can cause.
Relevant Review: “I have used everything from proactive to Rodan and Fields to Dermalogica and paid a ton for skin care lines. This is the best system I’ve used hands down. And for the price, it’s insane how well this works. […] I went from constant acne across my jaw line and chin that was painful and embarrassing to clear, smooth skin. […]”
Shared Ingredients: Salicylic Acid, Benzoyl Peroxide, Glycolic Acid, Vitamin E, Glycerin | Other Beneficial Ingredients: Snow Mushroom, Willow Herb Extract, Zinc Gluconate | Size: 3 Pieces | Cruelty-free: No
4. The Best Active Hydration Serum Alternative
Facial serums in general tend to come with a higher price tag, thanks to their higher concentration of active ingredients. But if you’re using it every day, it’s also something that needs to be replaced often, which can add to the expense. This hyaluronic acid serum from CeraVe is an Amazon favorite with more than 20,000 five-star ratings, and it’s $100 cheaper than the Rodan + Fields option. Like the R+F formula, this hyaluronic acid serum pairs the skin-plumping ingredient with multiple ceramides to help strengthen the skin barrier and lock in moisture. In addition to a more budget-friendly price, CeraVe’s hyaluronic acid serum also gets bonus points for being fragrance-free and noncomedogenic for anyone who is sensitive to synthetic fragrances or prone to breakouts.
Relevant Review: “I’ve been using this for about 6 months or more now and have bought it multiple times. It lasts a long time. Goes on smoothly and absorbs quickly. No strong fragrance. Feels nice. Most importantly, my skin looks and feels better than it ever has. Smaller pores, less blemishes, less redness. Generally healthier.”
Shared Ingredients: Glycerin, Hyaluronic Acid, Ceramides | Other Beneficial Ingredients: Panthenol | Size: 1 oz. | Cruelty-free: No
5. The Best Active Hydration Body Replenish Alternative
Just like the pricy Rodan + Fields Active Hydration Body Replenish, CeraVe’s dermatologist-recommended moisturizer is also packed with glycerin, ceramides, and hyaluronic acid to provide long-lasting moisture. Both products promise intense hydration and the prevention of moisture loss, but CeraVe’s lightweight formula works for up to 24 hours — plus, it comes in a pump bottle to keep your fingers (and germs!) out of the lotion. Not only is CeraVe’s lotion more than $50 less expensive than the R+F option, but at 19 ounces, it’s also more than double the size. If your skin is dry, there’s the Intensive version that introduces shea butter into the mix, but both formulas are noncomedogenic and fragrance-free for those with sensitive skin.
Relevant Review: “Goes on light and smooth, no stickiness, constantly using for hands and body. A new favorite for me.”
Shared Ingredients: Glycerin, Hyaluronic Acid, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP | Size: 19 oz. | Cruelty-free: No
6. The Best Redefine Multi-Function Eye Cream Alternative
Like Rodan + Fields’ cult-favorite Redefine eye cream, this one from Honest Beauty works to combat signs of fatigue (including unwanted dark circles and puffiness) with a combination of vitamin C and daisy extract. This less expensive take on the eye cream also offers plenty of hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid, sunflower seed oil, and shea butter to keep skin feeling smooth and plump (and by extension, to help prevent any creasing with your under-eye makeup). However, multiple reviewers on Amazon noted that the tube packaging was less than ideal, as the product kept spilling out.
Relevant Review: “I have a lot of trouble with dark circles and bags under my eyes for many years. I like this product for giving that bit of depuff and brightening in the mornings! I still need to apply makeup afterwards, but this is a good start!”
Shared Ingredients: Vitamin C, Daisy Extract, Glycerin, Hyaluronic Acid, Vitamin E | Other Beneficial Ingredients: Sunflower Seed Oil, Shea Butter | Size: 0.5 oz. | Cruelty-free: Yes
7. The Best Redefine Intensive Renewing Serum Alternative
RoC's retinol serum speeds up your skin cell renewal process with retinol, much like Rodan + Fields' Redefine Intensive Renewing Serum. Luckily for your wallet, RoC does it for less than $20. In addition to retinol, RoC’s serum contains vitamin C for more help with evening out the skin tone and preventing hyperpigmentation from popping up. While RoC’s formula uses a slightly less potent version of the vitamin A derivative than R+F, it still delivers the active ingredient via a non-greasy and fast-absorbing serum. Plus, the less potent active (combined with moisturizing ingredients like sunflower seed oil and vitamin E) also means this is a gentler retinol serum — though you’ll still want to start by applying it just once or twice weekly and slowly working your way up, depending on how your skin tolerates it.
Relevant Review: “I’ve been using this product for about a month now. I am seeing a difference. It goes on smoothly, feels great, no smell and I’m seeing a slight difference in fine lines and the smoothness of my skin.”
Shared Ingredients: Vitamin A | Other Beneficial Ingredients: Vitamin C, Allantoin, Vitamin E, Sunflower Seed Oil, Zinc Gluconate, Copper Gluconate | Size: 1 oz. | Cruelty-free: Yes
8. The Best Reverse Intensive Brightening Toner Alternative
The BACIEL Hydra Barrier Cica Essence Toner features brightening niacinamide and moisturizing sodium hyaluronate, just like the R + F Reverse Intensive Brightening Toner, but costs less than half the price. Though the toner includes multiple good-for-skin ingredients, the star of the show is centella asiatica extract, a K-beauty favorite for its ability to soothe and repair skin while also stimulating collagen production. That centella asiatica, paired with the fact that the formula is free from exfoliating acids, alcohols, fragrances, and essential oils, also means this toner is a better pick for those with sensitive skin.
Relevant Review: “At first I wasn’t sure about this product, since I was using it for the first time. But I can tell you it’s so awesome. This gentle product leaves my face feeling so soft and smooth. Absolutely no drying or stickiness. It just works… Will definitely purchase again.”
Shared Ingredients: Niacinamide, Glycerin, Hyaluronic Acid, Panthenol | Other Beneficial Ingredients: Amino Acids, Glutamic Acid, Sweet Almond Oil, Allantoin | Size: 6.76 oz. | Cruelty-free: Unclear
9. The Best Soothe Rescue Mask Alternative
The hero ingredient in R+F’s Soothe Rescue Mask is the same calamine you’d find in a poison ivy cream, so it makes sense that it helps with irritated skin. Patchology’s soothing mask also features calamine to help reduce redness, but it adds colloidal oatmeal and niacinamide into the mix to further help minimize redness and inflammation. This single-use mask means you’ll need to stock up, but because it’s in a sheet mask form, it’s also way less messy to apply. And while the mask doesn’t currently have any reviews on Amazon, it has a solid 4.7 rating on the brand’s site.
Relevant Review: “I love the soothing and hydrating effects of this mud mask. The no-mess application is very convenient. However, the scent is a bit stronger than I prefer. Despite this, it’s a very good product.”
Shared Ingredients: Glycerin, Kaolin, Calamine, Bentonite | Other Beneficial Ingredients: Niacinamide, Colloidal Oatmeal, Hyaluronic Acid, Oat Kernel Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract | Size: 1 Mask | Cruelty-free: Yes
10. The Best Soothe Moisturizing Rescue Cream Alternative
Those with sensitive skin looking for an alternative to the Soothe Moisturizing Rescue Cream would be smart to zero in on Aveeno’s Calm + Restore Oat Gel Moisturizer. It’s packed with powerful but lightweight moisturizers like glycerin and panthenol, along with the ultra-soothing colloidal oatmeal that’s the star of the R+F product. The gel-cream hybrid means it’s suitable for oily skin as well as normal and dry skin types, and it’s fragrance-, alcohol-, and dye-free to reduce the chances of irritation if you’re on the sensitive side (which is obviously highly likely if you’re looking for a calming moisturizer).
Relevant Review: “I have very sensitive skin. It’s dry in patches, oily in others & I have rosacea to top it off. Moisturizers with fragrances irritate my skin, burn & make my face even more red. This stuff is AMAZING. It’s completely unscented, which I LOVE. It feels so cool & hydrating and best of all not greasy! It dried super fast so I could continue with my makeup routine almost immediately. My makeup has stayed in place & dry patches are invisible. […]”
Shared Ingredients: Colloidal Oatmeal, Glycerin, Panthenol | Other Beneficial Ingredients: Feverfew Flower Extract | Size: 1.7 oz. | Cruelty-free: No
11. The Best Active Hydration Bright Eye Complex Alternative
R+F’s best-selling Active Hydration Bright Eye Complex gel-cream pairs a moisturizing blend of glycerin and hyaluronic acid with brightening caffeine. Vichy’s fan-favorite Minéral 89 Hyaluronic Acid Eye Gel features all three of those ingredients, and it’s backed by more than 10,000 five-star ratings on Amazon. The derm-approved brand is also designed to be safe for sensitive skin, and it’s free of fragrance, alcohol, and mineral oil.
Relevant Review: “This serum is light and makes my eyes look like new. I’ve been using it daily, every morning, for 2 weeks and I can already see the difference. The fine lines and dark areas under my eyes are starting to fade.”
Shared Ingredients: Glycerin, Hyaluronic Acid, Caffeine, Adenosine, Algae Extract | Other Beneficial Ingredients: Shea Butter | Size: 2.72 oz. | Cruelty-free: No
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