The Soho Bargain Hunt Begins
So I got tired of paying too much for The Ordinary serums. Everybody online was like “Soho has it!” but never said WHERE exactly, or how to not get ripped off. My mission? Find legit shops selling them cheap. Grabbed my bag, laced up my comfy sneakers, and hopped on the subway downtown. Gotta walk those Soho blocks, right?
Starting Points & False Hope
First stop? That big beauty store near the park entrance. You know the one. Rows and rows of stuff. Found The Ordinary section easy. Price tag? $12 for the Niacinamide. Nah man, that’s basically what I pay uptown. Knew I could do better. Didn’t even bother asking about deals; they look at you like you’re crazy.
Next, wandered down Broadway. Spotted another fancy boutique. Big window display, very chic. Prices inside were even higher. Like $14 for the same bottle! Smiled politely at the salesperson and noped out fast. This ain’t bargain territory.
Hitting Up The Drugstore Chains
Time for practicality. Headed towards the Boots store. Bit bigger, more normal people inside. Checked the skincare aisles… bingo! The Ordinary section! Prices looked okay… Hyaluronic Acid for $8.50? Okay, okay. Getting warmer. Scanned the shelves for any yellow discount stickers. Saw a few on other brands, but not on The Ordinary that day. Asked the cashier anyway: “Any promos on The Ordinary right now?” He checked his little scanner thing. “Nah mate, regular price today. Maybe next week?” Typical. Added Boots to the “maybe” list.
Figured, why not try the other big chain near the tube station? Same deal here. Found the products easily. Glycolic Acid Toning Solution for $10. Better than the boutiques, still not screaming “deal.” Checked the ends of aisles for clearance bins. Nothing doing. Noticed they do beauty points, though – might be worth it if you buy a lot? But I just wanted one or two cheap bottles now.
The Unexpected Win & Local Gem
Getting a bit footsore now. Cut through one of those little side streets, you know, where the shops are smaller? Saw a pharmacy sign that looked kinda old-school. Decided to peek in. Felt different – less shiny, more stacked shelves. Wandered towards the back. And there it was! Small section, but legit The Ordinary bottles. Grabbed the Salicylic Acid Masque. Braced myself for the price.
Holy smokes. $7.25. Double-checked the shelf tag. Yep! Compared it to the box. Exact same product. Almost dropped it trying to get my phone out to check online prices. Saw nothing online near this cheap right now. Asked the guy behind the counter – nice older fellow. “Is this price right for The Ordinary?” He chuckled. “Yeah honey, that’s ours. We keep it simple here.” Bought two bottles right then and there. Felt like I cracked a code!
What Worked & My Tip
- Skip the fancy boutiques: All show, outrageous prices. Just window shopping.
- Check the major drugstores (Boots, etc.): Better prices than boutiques (think $8-$10), ALWAYS ask about promos or loyalty points, and scan shelves for stickers.
- Explore smaller, local pharmacies: This was the REAL win. Found the Salicylic Acid Masque for $7.25. No fancy display, just honest prices.
Bottom Line
Found my cheap spot! Forget the flashy places charging $12+. Boots and similar are okay if you need it now and maybe score points. But for seriously cheap prices? Ditch the main drags. Duck into those smaller, older-looking pharmacies on the side streets. Ask nicely. That little pharmacy saved me almost $5 per bottle compared to the boutiques. Happy hunting! Life hack? Side street pharmacies are the secret stash.
