Affordable Dupes for 10 Popular High-End Makeup Products
One of my goals this year is to spend less money on non-necessities. While I love makeup, it unfortunately falls under that category. Luckily, my love for makeup doesn’t need to be compromised, as I can still try out new products without hurting my products.
Here’s a list of 10 top rated makeup products, and affordable alternatives that give similar results.
*Note: Key Word = Similar, not Identical
1. Beauty Blender Original Blender vs. Shop Miss A’s AOA Wonder Blender
If you never heard of ShopMissA.com, I need you to open a new tab and browse the site immediately. Almost everything is $1! The first time I purchased from them I assumed everything would be cheap quality, so I wasn’t expecting much, but I ended up being pleasantly surprised and impressed with the quality of all of the items I bought. You can purchase affordable beauty sponges without having to sacrifice quality on ShopMissA.com. You don’t need to buy the beauty blender at all. They come is different colors and shapes; you can even purchase a bulk pack. Word on the street is that Shop Miss A’s AOA Wonder Blender is made in the same factory as the original Beauty Blender. While I’m not sure how true that claim is, I honestly wouldn’t be surprised given the feel nearly identical. Both are latex-free sponges that apply makeup flawlessly.
2. Too Faced’s Better Than Sex Volumizing Mascara vs L’Oreal’s Voluminous Lash Paradise Mascara
Too Faced’s Better Than Sex Mascara is one of my all time faves. It has great color payoff and volumizes my lashes without creating clumps. While it is a great mascara, mascaras are honestly one of those products you don’t need to splurge on. There are tons of drugstore options that perform just as great and even better than Better Than Sex. L'Oréal’s Voluminous Lash Paradise Mascara is one of those mascaras. It has a similar wand as Better Than Sex, and does a great job of intensifying and volumizing the lashes without too much clumping. Also, like Better Than Sex, it comes in a waterproof and non-waterproof formula so you can pick whichever suits your needs.
3. Tatcha Silk Canvas Primer vs e.l.f. Cosmetics’ Poreless Putty Primer
Tatcha’s Silk Canvas Primer is one of my faves, but the price hurts my soul a bit. Luckily, there is an affordable product on the market that’s similar, and that’s e.l.f.’s Poreless Putty Primer. Like Tatcha’s Silk Cavas Primer, e.l.f.’s Poreless Putty Primer easily glides on this skin, smoothing over imperfections and pores. It creates.a poreless effect, and helps your makeup look smooth and last all day.
4. Laura Mercier’s Translucent Loose Setting Powder vs. Maybelline’s Fit Me Loose Finishing Powder
I have both of these powders, and can honestly say that I reach for Maybelline’s Fit Me Powder more than I reach for Laura Mercier’s Loose Setting Powder. They are both sheer, lightweight mineral powders that are used to set makeup and control shine. Maybelline’s Fit Me Powder has a lot more shades, and caters to more skin tones which I love, because darker skinned girls tend to get the short end of the stick with powders. It does not give flashback and has a flawless, non-cakey finish.
5. Rare Beauty’s Liquid Touch Weightless Foundation vs. Wet n Wild’s Photo Focus Dewy Foundation
Rare Beauty’s Foundation has been my favorite foundation for everyday wear since it launched last year. It’s lightweight, but buildable; it also has the most beautiful skin-like finish. It’s great to see a drugstore foundation have the same qualities. While Wet n Wild’s Photo Focus Dewy Foundation does not have as large of a shade range as Rare Beauty, the price you pay for the quality is definitely worth potentially having to mix two shades to achieve your perfect match.
6. Glossier’s Cloud Paint vs. Flower Beauty’s Blush Bomb Color Drops
Glossier’s Cloud Paint is one of the best cream blushes that I’ve tried. The colors are flattering and suit multiple skin tones, they’re easy to blend, and give you a natural, non-streaky, flushed look. If you haven’t dipped your toes into the world of cream blushes yet, I would recommend trying Flower Beauty’s Blush Bomb Color Drops as a low-cost option to try out. Like Glossier, these blushes come in multiple shades, are easy to work with, and blend seamlessly into the skin.
7. Fenty Beauty’s Body Lava Body Luminizer vs. Makeup Revolution’s Glow Molten Body Liquid Illuminator
Who doesn’t love Fenty Beauty’s Body Lava? It’s definitely a go-to product for flawless, glowy skin during the summer. Fenty Beauty’s Body Lava is a shimmering body tint that comes in three different shades that compliment a wide range of skin tones. Makeup Revolution’s Glow Molten Body Liquid Illuminator is also a shimmering liquid body illuminator that comes in 3 shades. It’s a fraction of the price of Fenty’s Body Lava, and has more product.
8. Fenty Beauty’s Fenty Glow Gloss Bomb Universal Lip Luminizer vs. Rimmel London’s Down to Glow Stay Glossy Lip Gloss
While we’re still on the topic of Fenty Beauty, let’s talk about the Gloss Bomb. The Fenty Glow Gloss Bomb is a favorite of mine, but is it a necessity? No. As someone who goes through lip glosses quickly, and also misplaces them often, it’s more cost effective for me to just pick some up from the drug store. Rimmel London’s Stay Glossy Lipgloss in the shade “Down to Glow” is nearly identical to Fenty Beauty’s Gloss Bomb in the shade “Fenty Glow”. It is a universally flattering nude, provides great moisture, and even has similar sparkles as the Fenty gloss.
9. Tarte’s Shape Tape Concealer vs. e.l.f. Cosmetics’ 16hr Camo Concealer
Tarte’s Shape Tape is a crowd favorite concealer. It’s a crease-proof full coverage concealer that offers 16-hour wear, smooths, brightens, and blurs imperfections. e.l.f.’s 16hr Camo Concealer has a similar formula. It is a full coverage, matte concealer that provides 16-hour wear, and covers imperfections without cakeyness and settling into fine lines.
10. Benefit Cosmetics’ Precisely, My Brow Pencil Waterproof Eyebrow Definer vs ColourPop’s Brow Boss Pencil
I adore Benefit’s brow products. They have great color payoff, come in various realistic shades, and are long wearing. The Precisely, My Brow Pencil does exactly what it say it does. It’s a fine point, retractable brow pencil that allows you to create precise, realistic looking brow hair strokes. Colourpop’s Brow Boss Pencil is a pretty good dupe for Precisely, My Brow. Colourpop’s Brow Boss also has great color payoff, comes in various shades, and has a fine point, retractable point that can help you create natural looking hair-like strokes. It also comes with a spoolie attached like Benefit’s Precisely, My Brow.