Four budget-friendly serum stick alternatives, perfect for preventing eczema flare ups as seen in a viral TikTok of the Tatcha product saving a fan as Beyoncé concert reduces her to tears
Beyonce’s Cowboy Carter tour has arrived in the UK, causing a wave of social media videos of fans going wild as Queen Bey arrived at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. One particular video went viral this weekend as an emotional Beyoncé fan shared her skincare top tip as she teared up during a performance.
Content creator @littlemissplumful’s mid-concert ‘touch-up’ has over 2.2 million views and shows her recovering from an emotional part of the show with a serum stick that she claims protects her skin by preventing an eczema breakout.
Applying the serum around her eyes, she captioned the post: “Tears always trigger eczema rashes around my eyes so I try to apply an emollient to protect my skin barrier when I know I might cry. Yes even in the middle of a Beyoncé concert because I cried all night”. The caption ended with the creator, called Elise, saying: “That’s my #eczemahack of the day for you”.
But some beauty-obsessed users wanted more information, with one writing: “I get eczema under and around my eyes too but have never heard of this!!! What is this product? Does it actually work on dry patches? Because I have a dry patch on my cheek, and was considering this, because no matter how much I moisturize it is still there”.
Elise’s recommendation, which is The Serum Stick by Tatcha, has been met by a round of virtual applause for her normalisation of facial eczema and pocket-sized solution.
What is the Tatcha The Serum Stick?
User @Carly_Pro supported the video’s claims, saying: “The Tatcha serum stick is my babe. I can never be without her!”. Priced at nearly £50 a pop, this eight gram balm stick has received five star reviews on Tatcha’s website, promising to be “hydrating, healthy aging” and for “all skin types”.
According to the Tatcha website, “95% [of users] showed improvement in skin texture after 2 weeks” and another “95% showed improvement in the look of fine lines after 4 weeks”. These results were based on a clinical study of 23 panellists.
Great for troublesome and tricky skin conditions, the serum does not include mineral oils, synthetic fragrance, sulfates, detergents, parabens, urea, DEA, TEA or phthalates, making it perfect for sensitive patches. What’s more, the serum-stick is now on sale on SpaceNK for £39.20, saving you nearly £10!
But if that’s just not enough of a bargain for you, here’s some affordable alternatives that are just as good and a fraction of the price.
Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Barrier Balm, £24.80 was £31
The Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Barrier Balm is a brilliant Serum Stick alternative and is also suitable for all skin types, promising 24 hours of hydration.
With a similar ingredient list and no sulphates in sight, the nine gram stick offers an eighth more product, “glacial glycoprotein,” “long-chain lipids” that lock in moisture and “squalene: a readily-absorbed, stabilised, hydrating emollient”.
And if the brand’s raving reviews are not enough, Look Fantastic are now selling the Barrier Balm for £24.80, more than £6 off.
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Eucerin UltraSensitive Soothing Care, £19
The UltraSensitive Soothing Care is a 50ml stick catering to dry skin and acting as both a day and night cream. The moisturiser helps to treat hypersensitive skin caused by a “weakened skin barrier, nerve-fibre hyperresponsiveness and stress inflammation,” which produces resulting “hyper-reactivity, redness and irritation,” says the Sephora website.
A recent review rated the product five stars, a customer writing: “I have searched for the last year and spent a lot on products that aggravate my very sensitive skin. This one works, I am so relieved”.
Aquaphor Healing Balm Stick, £11.51
In the comment section of the Elise’s TikTok, one user dropped her own recommendation, sharing that “the Aquaphor sticks are a game changer for patchy spots”.
At 18.4g, the Immediate Relief Healing Balm Stick contains the most product so far. Costing under £12, the skin protectant contains avocado oil and shea butter, and is more that £37 less than Tatcha’s original price.
The paraben and fragrance free stick can also be used for: chafing; dry irritated skin friction & windburn; cracked heels & feet; and has a “non-sticky feel”.
Vaseline Paraben and Fragrance Free
And last but not least, the Vaseline All-Over Body Balm is the most affordable alternative, an eighth of the Tatcha’s £49. Fragrance free and a friend to your wallet, customers cannot stop raving about this drugstore alternative.
One happy customer left a review on iHerb which said: “Unscented so it’s safe for those sensitive to scents. Can be used for rough heels, dry elbows and knees, your lips, eyebrows, nails, almost anywhere Since it’s solid/stick form, can be easily packed for your travels It’s quite big, so you can use for a long time Good quality, cheaper by a bit as compared to the Aquaphor stick”.