5 Cheaper Farmacy Honey Halo Alternatives

Let’s face it – the recession is here.

And with it, our skincare budgets have to tighten like we’re back to the first year in college.

But when it comes to choosing a moisturizer, you’re probably looking for the best option out there.

One of the most-loved face creams on the market is the Farmacy Honey Halo Ultra Ceramide Hydrating Moisturizer – it’s as good as it ever gets.

But although people simply love this product, it has an expensive price tag, which some of us no longer can pay.

Naturally, I began an investigation for a Farmacy Honey Halo replacement on Reddit, across other skincare blogs, and of course – from personal tests and experiments with products that look and sound similar.

In this article, you’ll find:

• An overview of the Farmacy Honey Halo Moisturizer and why people love it
• 5 outstanding Farmacy Honey Halo alternatives that you’ll love just as much.

Why do people love Farmacy’s Honey Halo Moisturizer?

As the name suggests, this Farmacy moisturizer is rich in ultra-hydrating ingredients and skin-loving ceramides. It’s designed to protect the skin’s moisture barrier, restore its healthy function, plump the skin, reduce fine lines and wrinkles, and replenish dry skin.

If you’ve researched this product before you may have come across the Farmacy Honey Halo vs Honey Drop debate – essentially, the two products are very similar, yet the honey drop is much more lightweight and contains a few different ingredients.

But why do people love the Hydrating Moisturizer so much? It all comes down to the Farmacy Honey Halo ingredients:

Water/​Aqua/​Eau, Glycerin, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Vegetable Oil/​Olus Oil, C13-15 Alkane, Cetearyl Alcohol, Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-1, Diisostearyl Malate, Xylitylglucoside, Honey Extract, Betaine, Panthenol, Phytosterols, Ceramide NP, Propolis Extract, Royal Jelly Extract, Tocopherol, Ficus Carica (Fig) Fruit Extract, Hippophae Rhamnoides Oil, Glucose, Bisabolol, Xylitol, Anhydroxylitol, Cetearyl Glucoside, Triolein, Acrylates/​C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/​Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Arginine, Flavor (Aroma)*, Hydroxyacetophenone, Xanthan Gum, Glyceryl Dioleate, Sodium Dilauramidoglutamide Lysine, Sodium Phytate, Sorbitan Isostearate, Citric Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate

The potent ceramide in the formula is blended with other skin-loving compounds. This allows the product to prevent moisture loss and strengthen the skin barrier.

The mix of glycerin, shea butter, and fig fruit extract help further hydrate the skin by restoring moisture and locking it in.

Furthermore, honey, royal jelly, and propolis extracts have anti-inflammatory properties, helping soothe the skin and reducing redness and irritation. Royal jelly encourages collagen production and protects the skin against ultraviolet radiation.

Overall, a good substitute for this product would be extremely moisturizing, protective, and non-irritating.

5 affordable Farmacy Beauty Honey Halo alternatives

Top choice: Naturium Plant Ceramide Rich Moisture Cream

The first Farmacy Honey Halo Ultra-hydrating Ceramide Moisturizer alternative I’d like to introduce you to is a replacement that also contains ceramides – the Naturium Plant Ceramide Rich Moisture Cream.

Naturium is a brand that is known for its effective formulations combined with reasonable pricing. I like the fact that the brand is created by a fellow skincare lover – Susan Yara – who has shown that she does think about the minutiae and gives her best when launching a new product.

This nourishing, occlusive cream comes with a rich, plant-derived formula and an excellent, luxurious texture.

It offers intense hydration and provides excellent support for the lipid barrier while leaving the skin feeling soft, plump, and smooth.

This face cream is ideal for sensitive, dry, aging, and combination skin and comes in a jar of 50 ml or 1.7 oz for a price of around $25. However, it can also be found in smaller and larger packages, should you want to just try it out or stockpile it as I do.

Just like the original Honey Halo moisturizer, this one has glycerin, shea butter, and ceramides. Some of its additional star ingredients include:

• Hyaluronic acid and squalane for superior hydration and protection of the skin’s lipid layer.
• Rosemary Leaf Extract is a powerful antioxidant and an anti-inflammatory agent with anti-bacterial and toning properties. It gives good support to skin prone to acne.
• Linoleic Acid is rich in omega-6 and vitamin F that hydrate and plump the skin, and protect it against UV light and oxidative stress.
• Sunflower extract has some anti-inflammatory minerals, soothing properties of amino acids, and antioxidant capabilities that further boost everything that we’ve seen so far.

What we like:
The texture is certainly something that won me over with this alternative to the Honey Halo cream.

It’s non-greasy, rich, and somewhat resembles that of the Honey Halo. My skin didn’t feel oily, yet it got the hydration it needed. There’s no fragrance here, which I honestly consider an advantage, especially for people with sensitive skin.

I’m happy with the fact that you can get this cream in different sizes, making it so much more convenient for any purpose. You can easily travel with the small option or buy a larger bottle if you do end up liking the product – this reduces the carbon footprint and is overall super convenient!

Although the cream is thick, it’s easily absorbed, which is always a plus if you want to quickly continue your routine or apply makeup. Specially applied in your PM routine, you can rest assured that your skin will be getting all of the hydration it needs while you sleep.

I noticed that it blends beautifully with my sunscreen and it doesn’t feel heavy or pill.

What to have in mind:
I have no remarks regarding this product. It’s simply one of the best I’ve personally used and no wonder – Naturium is a creation of a skinfluencer with years of experience and a ton of product knowledge. She did a great job at bringing board-certified dermatologists as consultants when developing the products.

I’m from Rice Cream

Next up on my list of Farmacy Beauty Honey Halo replacement products is the I’m From Rice Cream.

In a nutshell, if you’re looking for a similar face lotion to that of Honey Halo but without the fragrance and the essential oils – this is a safe option to try.

It comes in a jar of 50 ml or 1.7 oz for around $30.

Similarly to the original, this cream features shea butter, ceramides, and glycerin. It’s also packed with:

• Phytosphingosine – a lipid with anti-bacterial properties that can boost your anti-acne efforts.
• Rice bran oil – a highly potent ingredient with moisturizing fatty acids like oleic acid and linoleic acid, vitamin E, and antioxidants. It hydrates the skin, but also has healing, soothing, and restructuring properties.
• Bisabolol and panthenol make this cream soothing and calming with their anti-inflammatory and protective properties.
• Adenosine is an anti-aging ingredient that reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

Just like the previous dupe I shared with you, the product also contains hyaluronic acid and Vitamin E.

What we like:
One of the things I love about this face cream is that it works wonderfully in controlling sebum production and preventing excess oiliness. So, this dupe is for those of my readers, who struggle with these concerns – combo and oily folks.

This is thanks to the phytic acid that is contained in rice bran. If you have oily skin, you’ll definitely be able to get the level of hydration you need without making your face feel greasy or producing more oil than necessary.

From the very first time I opened the product and tried it, it felt very luxurious and high-end. Considering its price point, this is definitely a great thing.

It blends nicely like a rich water cream and leaves my skin well-hydrated and baby-smooth. I saw no pilling with this one too.

The package is a substantial glass, which further contributes to the high-end feel of this. It’s definitely something I would gift to a friend.

What to have in mind:
Dry skin folks – opt for other options in this list as this won’t be enough to quench your skin and give it the hydration it needs. In the summer it can be good, but you’ll need something more substantial in winter.

I’m from Honey Glow Cream

This Farmacy Moisturizer alternative is another good replacement you can try.

It also boosts the skin barrier’s strength and balances the water-oil ratio in the skin. It’s sold for $32 and comes in a package of 50 ml or 1.7 oz.

When I looked at it the first time, I honestly thought that one of the brands ripped off the other – the packaging is very similar!

Like the original, it has glycerin and honey. In fact, the product is enriched with 30.63% honey complex – the brand’s so-called “honey glow queen” complex, which uniquely combines 7 active ingredients:

• Honey – offers powerful antimicrobial and antibacterial properties, hydrates the skin, prevents signs of premature aging, fights acne, and tackles hyperpigmentation.
• Black bee propolis – reduces wrinkles and smoothes out the skin.
• Royal jelly – as mentioned above, it slows down the signs of skin aging and minimizes dark spots associated with the aging process.
• Bee venom – boosts blood circulation, stimulates collagen production, and enhances elastin production, making the skin look firm and youthful.
• Turmeric – provides anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, and makes the skin look brighter.
• Bee pollen – is an antifungal, antimicrobial, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, and immunostimulating agent that is often used in skincare products.
• Cinnamon – tackles hyperpigmentation, brightens the skin, and slows down the appearance of signs of aging.

Apart from these, the cream also has niacinamide, which is another skin-brightener and anti-aging ingredient.

What we like:
I love the fact that this cream is very occlusive, making it ideal if you have dry skin. I would say that it’s most suitable for people with dry, normal, and combination skin, especially if you have acne too since the moisturizer is rich in ingredients that can benefit such conditions.

The texture is extremely thick, which I personally feel good about, but it could be a challenge for people who have very oily skin. It’s super moisturizing and non-sticky. It’s thick, yet light enough that you can comfortably wear it under your makeup and apply it in your morning routine without having to worry about any residue or excessive oiliness.

I used it in both my morning and evening routines and loved how hydrating and soothing it was. My skin instantly felt rejuvenated and moisturized.

What to have in mind:
Keep in mind that the product does contain fragrance, which might be a bit irritating for some. It smells like honey, so if you’re not a big fan – there’s a chance you won’t like this cream.

Oily-prone people will do best with another alternative. Check the I’m From Rice instead!

Skinfood Royal Honey Propolis Enrich Barrier Cream

Another product similar to Farmacy Honey Halo that deserves your attention is the Skinfood Royal Honey Propolis Enrich Barrier Cream.

This is yet another substitute that contains honey and propolis, ceramides, and it also features royal jelly – just like the original Honey Halo cream.

It comes in a jar of 63 ml or 2.13 oz and sells for around $30.

Apart from honey, propolis, and royal jelly, this moisturizer has vitamin E, soothing panthenol, and rosemary leaf oil. I’ve covered all of these ingredients in previous sections, so I won’t go into too much detail here.

The bottom line is that this face lotion is certainly hydrating, protective of the skin barrier, soothing, and rejuvenating – perfect for dry and dehydrated skin.

What we like:
I love how lightly the cream works into the face – it appears to be a light moisturizer but is actually very rich and substantial in terms of hydration. It has a wonderful gel texture and doesn’t give you any feeling of heaviness or oiliness.

When applied with your fingers it quickly melts into an oil and spreads across the skin – a very unique feeling, I can only compare it to some Korean sunscreens.

I noticed the hydrating effect instantly, at the time of application. There’s a slight scent to it, which I don’t consider a disadvantage in this case as you can barely feel it.

I also tried using it under makeup – it works well with other products, makeup, and sunscreen.

The texture suits itself to be used as a sleeping pack, especially if you want to boost hydration levels overnight.

What to have in mind:
Although it’s good for layering, keep in mind that it’s not instantly absorbed by the skin. Give the cream a few moments to settle in before continuing your routine.
If you’re combo or oily, this will be too heavy for you, unless you want to use it in winter or as a sleeping mask.

Pyunkang Yul Intensive Repair Cream

Last but not least, let me introduce you to the Pyunkang Yul Intensive Repair Cream. It comes in blue glass, an expensive-looking jar of 1.7 oz or 50 ml, and sells for around $20.

I was first introduced to the brand with their Facial Essence toner which I love using in the 7-step skin method. It impressed me with its simplistic ingredient list and intense moisturizing properties. So naturally, I had to try other products from the range.

This moisturizer is super hydrating. It’s specifically designed for extremely dry or sensitive skin. It also boasts a minimal ingredient list that prevents any irritation while boosting the skin’s natural strength and vitality.

Like the original Honey Halo product, it contains glycerin, ceramides, and shea butter. It’s also infused with:

• Copper Tripeptide-1 – contains 3 amino acids and creates moisture proteins for natural hydration of the skin.
• Myrtus Communis Extract and Tropaeolum Majus Extract – have antimicrobial and antibacterial properties and antioxidant capabilities.
• Macadamia seed oil – nourishes dry skin, and reduces inflammation, itching, and redness. It’s often used in products designed to treat eczema and psoriasis.
• Bark sap extract, Cornus officinalis extract, and turmeric extract – ingredients that shield the skin from reactive oxygen species, boost the natural skin tone, and calm the skin. They have anti-allergic and anti-inflammatory properties.

What we like:
I won’t hide the fact that I’m truly enthusiastic about this brand and I’ve used a number of their products in the past – all of which were awesome!

This moisturizer in particular is strong on root extracts that contain humectants and antioxidants, which are essential for barrier recovery. With a minimal ingredient list, it’s bound to be loved by those of you who show any sensitivity to fragrance, essential oils, and other common skin irritants.

I’ve chosen this cream as one of my personal favorites as it’s rich in not only humectants, but emollients, peptides, occlusives, and beeswax. All of these substances make the product a perfect choice if you want to minimize water loss in the skin.

I notice instant results upon application – my face looks luminous and glowy, without the undesired shiny effect or the greasy residue.

The experience using this face lotion is luxurious – there’s a gentle scent to it from all the natural extracts, it spreads well, and you only need a tiny bit of product to see results. The substantial jar and the minimalistic design of the label contribute to its expensive feel.

A small amount goes a long way and a single jar has lasted me for over six months of consistent use.

There’s a spatula in the packaging, which always guarantees better hygiene and no microbes in the product from your fingers. This is definitely one of those things I’d like to see more from brands.

What to have in mind:
I have nothing bad to say about this product except that it has no other honey ingredients than beeswax. That’s it.

There they are – the five Honey Halo alternatives that I would love for you to consider if you’re looking for a good alternative to the original.

Have you used any of these in the past and what’s your opinion on them? Or maybe you know about another similar product that isn’t on this list and you’d like me to try?

Share your thoughts and stories with me in the comments section below!