Beauty can be an expensive habit, as anyone who has misplaced their makeup bag will tell you. (2015. A train. I still think about it…). In the shadow of luxury beauty’s booming industry, dupe culture has flourished: the TikTok-whetted appetite for products that look, feel and last just like the real thing. Listen, sometimes only the original will do (we’re still looking for the perfect Frédéric Malle Portrait Of A Lady substitute), but there’s no shame in seeking out affordable replacements for designer favourites. And when beauty dupes are this good, no one will ever know…
If you love Fenty Beauty’s Diamond Bomb Highlighter, try…
KIKO’s Glitter Baked Highlighter
Rihanna’s Fenty Beauty never misses the mark, and her Diamond Bomb All-Over Veil went viral for good reason: it’s a sheer, shimmery jelly that takes fairy dust out of folklore and puts it into your makeup bag. While not quite as sparkly as the original, KIKO Milano’s Glitter Baked Highlighter is a very worthy alternative. Apply to cheekbones, browbones and collarbones for instant luminosity.
If you love Charlotte Tilbury’s Pillowtalk Lip Cheat liner, try…
The L’Oreál Paris Color Riche Lipliner in Beige A Nu 630
The nude that launched a thousand dupes, Charlotte Tilbury’s iconic Pillowtalk is a shade that suits absolutely everyone while giving the wearer the ability to reshape and resize their lips. L’Oréal’s Color Riche lipliner range is a wallet-friendly alternative and shade 630 is a dead ringer for the CT original. Use it to contour your lips or wear it all over with just a balm on top.
If you love Milk MAKEUP’s Hydro Grip primer, try…
The e.l.f. Power Grip Primer
If dewy skin’s your thing, primer is a no-brainer: it locks in moisture, turning your skin into a smooth canvas upon which you can let your creativity run riot. Milk’s cult-hit primer is a sell-out sensation, but this e.l.f. dupe is incredibly similar in formula and finish. Infused with hyaluronic acid, it’ll prep your skin to perfection for a fraction of the price.
If you love Sol de Janeiro’s Brazilian Bum Bum cream, try…
Soap and Glory’s Smoothie Star Body Butter Cream
Not just for booties, BBBC took the world by storm with its iconic yellow packaging, better-than-butter finish and whopping price tag. Soap & Glory’s ultra-rich crème is a delicious alternative, with its whipped texture and coconutm pistachio, almond and shea extracts. Slather it over your limbs before nights out and thank us later.
If you love Mac’s Russian Red lipstick, try…
Maybelline Ruby For Me Red Lipstick
Adopted by Madonna in 1989 for her Blonde Ambition tour and beloved by aficionados ever since, MAC’s vivid matte red has been synonymous with haute glamour for three decades. At half the price, we think Maybelline’s squalene-rich, ultra-pigmented alternative is a worthy competitor and one of the top must-have beauty dupes when it comes to a classic red lip.
If you love Glossier Cloud Paint, try…
Maybelline Cheek Heat Sheer Blusher
Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ll have heard all about Glossier’s dreamy cream blusher, with its blurring properties and silky finish. Like the original, Maybelline’s version is housed in a cute paint-style tube and like the original, its water-based formula gives a buildable blush that’ll leave you looking fresh as the morning dew. Unlike the original, however, the price is truly a steal.
If you love the YSL Volume Effect Faux Cils Mascara, try…
L’Oréal’s Voluminous Mascara
When brand new, this mascara is a stone-cold classic, but is it just us, or does the wand deteriorate mighty quickly for something so expensive? Luckily for us, L’Oréal has a version that’ll have you defecting for life.
If you love Dior’s Lip Glow Oil, try…
NYX Fat Oil Lip Drip
An industry legend, Dior’s Lip Oil has a legion of devotees – and for good reason: its glossy, never tacky formula gives lips the perfect hint o’ tint. If you’re looking for a budget-friendly lip oil, look no further than NYX’s Lip Drip. One of the best beauty dupes in the business, it’s non-sticky, plumps pouts and hydrates lips for 12 hours. Obsessed.
