Affordable Dupes for 10 Popular High-End Makeup Products (2022)
My last post was about skin care dupes, so it’s only right that I did one for makeup as well.
Makeup can get quite pricy, and I find it to be a bit more tricky than skin care, because things like shades and undertones come into play. Spending money on a quality product that works is no issue for me, but nothing hurts more than spending money on a product that doesn’t look good on my skin. For this reason, I love to experiment with drugstore makeup products. Save your coins, and try out makeup products that are more affordable.
*Disclaimer: These alternatives are NOT exact matches. Look at them as similar products that have comparable shades, formulas, ect.
1. NARS Light Reflecting Advanced Skincare Foundation vs NYX Born To Glow Medium Coverage Naturally Radiant Foundation
The NARS Light Reflecting Advanced Skincare Foundation is one of my favorite foundation releases in a long time. It’s a hydrating, medium, but buildable foundation that gives the skin a beautiful, radiant glow. It comes in a ton of shades, which I appreciate because no one is left out. $49 for a foundation is expensive though, so if you’re looking a nice, radiant foundation, I would look to the NYX Born To Glow Medium Coverage Naturally Radiant Foundation. It also has a great shade range, and looks beautiful on the skin.
2. Fenty Beauty Bright Fix Eye Brightener Concealer vs Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Eraser Dark Circle Treatment Concealer
I really should say that the Fenty Beauty Bright Fix Eye Brightener Concealer is a more expensive version of the Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Eraser Dark Circle Treatment Concealer, because this Maybelline concealer has been around for ages! It was one of the first concealers I used when I started wearing makeup in high school, and I still swear by it. Both of these concealers do a great job of concealing dark circles by brightening the under eye area. If you love the Fenty under eye concealer, I think you will live the Maybelline one as well. I actually find that it has more coverage due to the thicker consistency.
3. Charlotte Tilbury Beautiful Skin Medium Coverage Liquid Foundation with Hyaluronic Acid vs Milani Glow Hydrating Skin Tint
Charlotte Tilbury is starting to creep their way up to being one of my favorite high-end makeup brands; they make great complexion products. The Charlotte Tilbury Beautiful Skin Medium Coverage Liquid Foundation with Hyaluronic Acid is a makeup/skin care hybrid foundation that has a skin-like finish. It also gives your skin a gorgeous glow. It’s truly one of those products that you can use on its own as a complexion perfecting product. It gives you that “I woke up like this” look. I also love that it contains hyaluronic acid, which helps keep the skin hydrated. If you’re looking for a similar makeup/skin care hybrid foundation, Milani’s Glow Hydrating Skin Tint is a great dupe. It contains squalane and coconut water to keep the skin hydrated, and also gives the skin a natural and radiant glow.
4. Urban Decay All Nighter Long-Lasting Makeup Setting Spray vs e.l.f. Cosmetics Stay All Night Micro-Fine Setting Mist
I love All Nighter by Urban Decay. It takes away the powdery look of my makeup, and also helps my makeup last all day. I’m not a huge fan of the cost, because I bathe in setting spray! I go through setting spray pretty quickly, so cheaper alternatives are always welcome. e.l.f. Cosmetics’ Stay All Night Micro-Fine Setting Mist is a great alternative that promises the same things as Urban Decay’s All Nighter.
5. Iconic London Illuminator Liquid Highlight vs Shop Miss A Paw Paw Glow Baby Liquid Highlighter
I love liquid highlighters; they’re starting to replace all of my powder highlighters. Iconic London Illuminator Liquid Highlight is truly iconic (pun intended). It comes in a variety of shades that fit multiple skin tones, and gives you that glowing from within look. It looks great applied before foundation, mixed with foundation, or used on the high points of the face on-top of foundation. It’s a great product, but $60?! Sheesh! If you’ve never checked out shopmissa.com, stop what you’re doing and head there now (well, after you finish reading this post 😉 ). They have great quality products, and most items are between $1-$5. Yes, you read that correctly…$1-$5. Check out their Paw Paw Glow Baby Liquid Highlighter. It’s a great liquid highlighter that comes in multiple shades, and is a great dupe for the one by Iconic London.
6. Rare Beauty Soft Pinch Liquid Blush vs NYX Sweet Cheeks Soft Cheek Tint Blush
I’m not going to lie, Rare Beauty’s liquid blushes are top notch. They’re super pigmented, and blend beautifully into the skin. I do understand that liquid blushes can be intimidating though. If you are a liquid blush pro, I recommend getting the real deal by Rare Beauty, but if you’re new to liquid blushes and looking to try one out without spending too much money, I would recommend trying the NYX Sweet Cheeks Soft Cheek Tint Blushes. They come in a few different shades, are easy to apply, and blend easily into the skin.
7. Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder (Honey) vs Ben Nye Banana Powder
Ben Nye is the blueprint, honey. There would be no Laura Mercier power if Ben Nye had not stepped out into the scene. I’ve tried plenty of powders, but Ben Nye’s Banana Powder really is amazing. It has a yellow undertone, so it works well for multiple skin tones, and it doesn’t give you that ghostly flashback with photography. Your powder will more than likely expire before you even finish it, so why not grab something that’s affordable?
8. Lilly Lashes 3D Faux Mink Lashes vs Shop Miss A 3D Faux Mink Lashes
Listen…let me tell you something…you don’t need those expensive lashes, sis! As an avid user of the Shop Miss A lashes, I promise you, they are A+ quality. The $2 3D faux mink lashes are a steal. I love them because not only can I pick up multiple lash styles, but each pair is also reusable. I’ve gone months with just 3 pairs of lashes. that’s only $6, y’all! Sorry Lilly, but Shop Miss A has my heart when it comes to strip lashes.
9. KVD Beauty Good Apple Skin-Perfecting Hydrating Foundation Balm vs Milani Conceal + Perfect Smooth Finish Cream-To-Powder Foundation
KVD Beauty’s Good Apple Skin-Perfecting Hydrating Foundation Balm caused a lot of craze last year. It’s a great product! I’m usually not a huge fan of cream foundations, but I was curious due to all of the hype, and decided to try it out. It’s amazing! It’s great for those looking for full coverage, it hides imperfections without giving you a cakey look, and it applies beautifully on the skin. I have to give credit where credit is due though, because Milani’s Conceal + Perfect Smooth Finish Cream-To-Powder Foundation came first, and also looks beautiful on the skin. Interested in trying a cream foundation, but don’t want to spend too much money on it? Try on Milani’s foundation first. The reason I actually prefer the Milani cream foundation over KVD’s is because it actually dries down to a powder, which gives it longer lasting power.
10. Saie Sun Melt Natural Cream Bronzer vs ColourPop SOL Face & Body Bronzing Balm
Cream bronzers are in this summer! I love me a good cream bronzer because they melt right into the skin to give you a natural, sun-kissed look. If I could sunbathe, I honestly would, but the sun is damaging, so bronzers will just have to do. Saie’s & ColourPop’s cream bronzers are quite similar, but Colourpop has a bit of an edge over Saie’s due to the fact that there are more shades and it’s half the price!