A MAKEUP fan has shared two affordable lipstick buys that are the perfect replacement for higher-end products.
Though they felt that many makeup dupes leave much to be desired, they were pleased by the near-identical drugstore finds.
Redditor Cloverbeam shared the money-saving products in a viral post.
Most “dupes,” they explained, often don’t measure up to the real thing.
“I think the problem with dupes is that many of them seem based on color alone, or even just a [similarity] in packaging,” they said.
“Few people go to the effort to look for true dupes in [the] formula, wear time, etc.”
Products that may appear to be dupes are often completely different cosmetics, they noted.
“For example, Mac Face and Body is completely different from Dior Face and Body in finish, coverage, and application, but people just say it’s the same thing for a ‘different skin type,'” they said.
Due to their higher standards for dupes, they explained that they don’t actively seek out look-alike products.
“I usually don’t really look for dupes, but if I’m just generally looking for a type of product, I can be perfectly happy with a cheaper option,” they said.
“Or, if there’s a different formula of a shade I know I like, I may want to have both!”
While actual dupes came far and between, they revealed a few they stumbled across.
After trying the $34 Nars Sex Appeal blush, they found that the $5 Essence The Blush in the shade Blooming is an exact dupe in both color and formulation.
“I didn’t know this and owned the Nars first, so I gave the Essence to a friend,” they said.
Two YSL dupes also saved them money, with one even outperforming the more expensive $45 version.
“L’Oreal Rouge Signature is a formula dupe for YSL Tatouage Couture,” they said.
“I prefer the L’Oreal for [its] range of shades and packaging.”
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Essence The Blush in Blooming, $5,79, Amazon
L’Oreal Rouge Signature Matte Lip Stain, $6.20, Amazon
L’Oreal Brilliant Signature Shiny Lip Stain, $11.99, L’Oreal
“L’Oreal Brilliant Signature is a very close dupe to [the] YSL Water Stain. It’s just slightly thicker,” they added.
Another makeup fan chimed in to explain why the two L’Oreal products have a similar formulation to YSL’s lippies.
“YSL and L’Oreal are under the same company, so that’s cool to know that these two ranges are really close to their counterparts!” they said.
One budget beauty fan seconded Cloverbeam’s drugstore recommendations.
“Can confirm [the] Essence blush is hella pigmented,” they said.
“[It has] more pigment than my Mac Baked blush, although the Mac is good if I’m trying to add a more subtle hue.”
Someone else agreed that the L’Oreal dupes are close to the real deal, but they had an issue with the drugstore version.
“Yes to the Brilliant Signature/Water Stain thing, but I’m bummed out that something in the L’Oreal one makes my lips dry out so much more than the water stain,” they said.
