Alopexy, Alostil or Kirkland Minoxidil compared on price and excipients

Alopexy, Alostil and Kirkland Minoxidil all contain 5% minoxidil: 50 mg per ml lotion, and with Alostil Foam 50 mg per gram of foam. The instructions for use are also almost the same: 1 ml of lotion on the dry scalp, 2 times a day. The real differences are in who makes it, the excipients, the form (lotion or foam), where you buy it and what you pay per month. Alopexy was the cheapest per month in the French online pharmacies we looked at, Alostil is close to Kirkland in price, and Kirkland Minoxidil is easy to buy in Dutch with shipping from one webshop. Below we compare them honestly, so you can choose for yourself.

Contents

• Who makes Alopexy and Alostil?
• Does all three contain the same amount of minoxidil?
• What do Alopexy, Alostil and Kirkland cost per month?
• Lotion or foam, which form suits you best? you?
• Where do you buy Alopexy and Alostil from the Netherlands or Belgium?
• Which one do you choose?
• What do you pay attention to with each 5% product?
• Frequently asked questions
• Sources

Who makes Alopexy and Alostil?

Alopexy is a minoxidil lotion from the French company Pierre Fabre. In the French database, Pierre Fabre Médicament is listed as the registration holder, and Alopexy 50 mg/ml is available there without a prescription.^[1] In Switzerland, Alopexy 5% is registered by Pierre Fabre Pharma AG.^[6]

Alostil is the name of Kenvue's minoxidil line in France. Kenvue France is registered as the holder of Alostil 5% solution.^[2] The French agency ANSM places Alopexy 5%, Alostil 5% and Regaine 5% solution in the same generic group.^[4] Alostil is therefore comparable to the Regaine that you know in the Netherlands.

Kirkland Minoxidil comes from the United States. The American label of the lotion states 5% minoxidil with the other ingredients being alcohol, propylene glycol and purified water.^[7]

Does all three contain the same amount of minoxidil?

Yes. The lotions all contain 50 mg minoxidil per ml, and Alostil Foam contains 50 mg minoxidil per gram of foam.^[1][2][3][7] The difference is in the excipients. This is especially important if you have a sensitive scalp, as propylene glycol can irritate the scalp in some people.

Sources for this table: Alopexy^[1], Alostil solution^[2], Alostil foam^[3][5], Kirkland^[7].

Remarkable: Alopexy contains less than half of the propylene glycol per ml that is in Alostil solution. In Alostil Foam, propylene glycol is not among the excipients with a known effect; the foam mainly contains alcohol.^[3] If lotion makes it itchy, foam is often the logical first step. You can read more about this in our blog minoxidil foam or lotion.

What do Alopexy, Alostil and Kirkland cost per month?

At 2 ml per day, a 60 ml bottle will last you about a month. A box of 3 bottles is therefore approximately 3 months. For Alostil Foam we calculate with the maximum 2 grams per day, so approximately a month per 60 gram can. We looked at the prices below on November 11, 2026 at two French online pharmacies and at Minodeals. Pharmacies in France determine their own prices, so elsewhere it may be different.^[8][9][10]

To be fair: purely on price per month, Alopexy clearly wins, if you can buy it in a French pharmacy. With Kirkland Minoxidil Lotion, the price per month drops to about €16 if you take 12 bottles at once, and then you are at the level of Alostil. Do add the shipping costs for French web shops: at Soin et Nature shipping is only free from €129.^[8] At Minodeals this is from €40.

Lowest price per month at Minodeals

Kirkland Minoxidil Lotion 5% 6 Months For Men

6 bottles of 60 ml with pipette, approximately €18.33 per month. Also available as 12 bottles.

€109,99View the lotion →

Lotion or foam, which form suits you?

Alopexy is only available as a lotion, with a pipette or a pump. For 1 ml you press the pump 6 times.^[1] Alostil and Kirkland are both available as lotion and as foam.

• Lotion is usually cheaper and runs easily between the hair and onto the scalp. Disadvantage: the propylene glycol can irritate and the hair can look a bit greasy.
• Foam dries faster, does not drip and is more pleasant if you are sensitive to propylene glycol. Disadvantage: more expensive per month and more difficult to get to the skin with long hair.

Alostil Foam is applied to dry hair and a dry scalp.^[3] This applies in practice to any form: apply to a dry scalp and allow it to be absorbed thoroughly.

For a sensitive scalp

Kirkland Minoxidil Foam 5% 3 Months For Men

Foam that dries quickly and does not drip, for 3 months of use.

€84,99View the foam →

Where can you buy Alopexy and Alostil from the Netherlands or Belgium?

Alopexy and Alostil are mainly French names. In Belgium, according to a Belgian online pharmacy, minoxidil is available as a 2% and 5% lotion, where 5% used to be prescription only and is now available over the counter.^[11] From the Netherlands, Alopexy and Alostil usually come from a French online pharmacy. Then pay attention to three things:

• Stock: on November 11, 2026, Alopexy 5% and Alostil Foam were out of stock at Soin et Nature.^[8]
• Shipping costs: a low price per box becomes less favorable if you drop below the limit for free shipping remains.
• Language: the packaging and leaflet are in French. Always read them carefully, or ask your pharmacist for explanation.

Which one do you choose?

Because the active substance and the dosage are the same, we expect no difference in effect between these brands. Therefore, choose what matters most to you:

• As cheap as possible and you can easily buy in France: Alopexy 5% lotion.
• Lotion that you order in Dutch, with a 120-day money-back guarantee: Kirkland Minoxidil Lotion 5%, the cheapest per month in packages of 6 or 12 bottles.
• Sensitive scalp or you don't want greasy hair: foam, such as Kirkland Minoxidil Foam 5% or Alostil Foam.
• You want the brand behind Alostil, but with Dutch service: Regaine Lotion 5% for men. That is the most expensive option per month.

Are you unsure between Kirkland and Regaine? Then also read Kirkland of Regaine.

The brand behind Alostil

Regaine Lotion 3 Months 5% for Men

The European Regaine lotion with 5% minoxidil, 3 bottles for 3 months.

€109,99View Regaine →

What should you look for with each 5% product?

The rules are the same for all three brands, and they are stated in the package leaflets:

• Only for adult men. Alopexy 5% is not recommended for women in France, due to limited effectiveness and unwanted hair growth elsewhere on the body in 37% of women in research.^[1] Alostil Foam is also not intended for women, and the Kirkland label states that the lotion is not for women.^[5][7] Women usually choose 2% lotion or 5% foam that is specifically intended for women.
• Not under 18 years.^[1][3]
• Heart or blood pressure: do you have a heart disease or cardiac arrhythmia, consult your doctor first.^[12]
• Pregnancy and breastfeeding: Do not use.^[5][6]
• Not in case of sudden or patchy hair loss or if the cause is unknown.^[3] First consult your doctor.
• Do not apply more than prescribed. Applying more or more often does not give better results.^[2]

Rely on patience. The first results may become visible after 2 to 4 months. If you see no improvement after 4 months, the French leaflet for Alostil recommends stopping.^[1][2] If you stop, your hair can return to how it was within 3 to 4 months.^[2]

Frequently asked questions

Is Alopexy the same as Regaine?

Not the same brand, but the same active ingredient in the same strength. Alopexy 5% is listed by the French agency ANSM in the same generic group as Alostil 5% and Regaine 5% solution. The excipients do differ: Alopexy contains less propylene glycol per ml than Alostil solution.

Is Alostil the French name of Regaine?

Alostil is the minoxidil line that Kenvue France sells in France, and it is in the same generic group as Regaine 5%. In practice, it is the French counterpart of Regaine, with its own packaging and French leaflet.

Does Alopexy work better than Kirkland Minoxidil?

There is no evidence for this. Both contain 50 mg minoxidil per ml and you use them in the same way. The result mainly depends on the type of hair loss and whether you maintain it every day. Results vary per person.

Can I switch from Alopexy or Alostil to Kirkland?

Yes, at the same strength and dosage you can switch without a break. Do not stop in between, because then you can lose the result within a few months. If you get itching or redness after the switch, this may be due to other additives; foam is then an option.

Can women use Alopexy or Alostil 5%?

The 5% lotions and Alostil Foam are intended for men, according to the French leaflets. Women usually choose a 2% lotion or a 5% foam that is specially registered for women. If in doubt, consult your doctor or pharmacist.

This article is general information and does not replace medical advice. Always read the package leaflet and, if in doubt, consult your doctor or pharmacist. Prices are as of November 2026.

Sources

1. Base de données publique des médicaments (ANSM), ALOPEXY 50 mg/ml, solution for application cutanée: RCP (French)
2. Base de données publique des medicaments (ANSM), ALOSTIL 5%, solution for application cutaneous: RCP (French)
3. Base de données publique des medicaments (ANSM), ALOSTIL 5%, mousse for application cutaneous in bottle pressurisé: RCP (French)
4. ANSM, Alopexy: titculaire et groupe générique (French)
5. Pharmacie de Cayeux, RCP ALOSTIL 5% mousse (ANSM) (French)
6. Medikamio, Alopexy 5%, solution for application cutanée: notice Suisse (French)
7. Drugs.com, Mens Kirkland Minoxidil Extra Strength: package insert (English)
8. Soin et Nature, Hair loss treatment: prices and stock (accessed November 11, 2026)
9. Pharma GDD, Minoxidil cheveux: Alopexy and Alostil mousse (French, viewed November 2026)
10. Pharma GDD, Alostil Minoxidil 5% solution 3 x 60 ml (French, viewed November 2026)
11. Pharmacodel, Minoxidil against hair loss: does it really work?
12. Pharmacie Lafayette, Alostil 5% minoxidil mousse: précautions d'emploi (French)