Boots offers a wide range of skincare products for men, but savvy female shoppers can make smart swaps to save money without compromising on results.
There’s something frustratingly familiar about picking up your favourite skincare product, turning it over to check the price and wondering why it suddenly feels so expensive.
The answer could lie in the pink tax — the maddening trend of products marketed to women costing more than their male equivalents, even when the formulation is virtually identical.
But a growing number of savvy shoppers are calling it out and cashing in. Finance influencer Claire (@the_finance_gurl) went viral for highlighting a quiet pricing discrepancy at Boots — one that could save you more than 50% on a single skincare staple.
Here’s how to make those savings work for you, no compromises required.
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Hyaluronic acid — save 53%
Hyaluronic acid is the hydration hero in many skincare routines — and for good reason. It’s lightweight, effective and suits most skin types.
In the men’s aisle, Boots’ own-brand men’s version in green packaging costs just £6 — for a 50ml bottle.
When you compare the ingredients of the women and men’s hyaluronic acid side-by-side, they’re virtually identical. The only real difference is the packaging.
If you’re looking to streamline your routine without sacrificing results, this swap is a no-brainer.
It’s not just hyaluronic acid, there are plenty of other skincare swaps you should make.
Read more: These perfumes smell just like Jo Malone’s cult fragrances – and cost up to 80% less
Caffeine eye cream — save 10%
The eye area is often where we see signs of fatigue first, which is why caffeine eye creams are such a staple. Boots’ caffeine eye cream for women is priced at £6.60. Their men’s version? Just £6.
That 60p difference might not sound like much in isolation, but if you’re regularly topping up on skincare, it quickly adds up — especially when the ingredients are delivering the same benefits. Both target puffiness and dark circles with caffeine as the star, but the men’s version skips the luxe marketing.
Sometimes it’s what a product doesn’t promise that makes it more affordable.
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Tea tree face wash — save 9%
The Boots Tea Tree & Witch Hazel range has long been a go-to for those with oily or blemish-prone skin. But the women’s foaming face wash comes in at £4.95, compared to £4.50 for the men’s.
The formulas are nearly interchangeable — both contain tea tree oil and witch hazel to help tone and clarify — but once again, the packaging and gendered marketing nudge the price up. If you don’t mind the slightly darker bottle, the men’s version offers the same efficacy for less.
Razors — save up to 40%
If you happen to need a disposable razor, buying a Gilette Venus pack of three currently costs around £6.50.
The sell for women, apparently, is the smooth, close shave that comes with curve-hugging blades and soothing aloe.
However,¬¬ the men’s Wilkinson Sword Xtreme razors not only come in a pack of four, but they also boast the same flexible razors and soothing aloe vera strips and currently cost £4.60.
Switching to men’s razors isn’t new — a 2011 study by Venus found that 30% of women had made the switch, and we can only imagine this number has risen amid the cost-of-living crisis.
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Shower gel — save up to 44%
We all like to get clean, but the price discrepancy might leave you feeling a bit grubby. After all, the Dove Men+Care Body and Face Wash is currently on sale for £2.50. For the women, Dove’s Advanced Care Body Wash Deeply Nourishing Skin Natural Nourishers starts at £4.50.
But compare the ingredients and they’re nearly identical. They both use the same core cleansing and moisturising acids and components, like lauric acid (known for its cleansing and antimicrobial qualities) and glycerin (known for helping skin retain moisture).
Cotton buds — save 22% (via the baby aisle)
This swap doesn’t involve a gendered product, but it’s another smart switch for budget-conscious shoppers.
A pack of 200 standard cotton buds at Boots is £1.10. Over in the baby aisle, the equivalent product — same size, same cotton, just a gentler marketing angle — is 85p.
You’ll find similar savings across the baby section, including on cotton pads, bubble bath and body moisturiser. It’s an aisle worth visiting, even if you don’t have children.
Read more: 15 best Boots beauty dupes, including Laneige and Rhode — save up to 88%
So, why does the pink tax still exist — and what can you do about it?
Kristy Thomas, a registered nutritionist and consumer wellness expert at Prowise Healthcare, says these price gaps aren’t about quality. “The active ingredients are almost always the same,” she explains. “With razors, deodorants, moisturisers and even shampoo, the core formulations don’t vary between men’s and women’s versions. But branding does, and that’s what you’re paying extra for.”
Her advice? Flip the bottle over. Look at the ingredients. If the product is doing the same thing with the same components, there’s no reason to pay more for a ‘feminine’ label.
You don’t need to overhaul your beauty routine to save money, you just need to cross the aisle. Whether it’s skincare, shower products or everyday essentials, a little label-swapping could save you more than you think.
Feature image: Pexels
